Archive for the ‘Your Questions’ Category

Which One Should You Use – The Smith Machine or the Squat Rack?

Monday, July 24th, 2023
Smith machine vs squat rack

One of the endless fitness debates is the – “squat rack vs. Smith machine.” Along with “wrist wraps or not,” and “squat belt or not”, those are the two topics of conversation bound to cause a serious battle of opinions between gym rats. 

As you might guess, diving into both of these topics will take a ton of time so we will spare you the wrist wraps debacle and squat belt conundrum, and just head on to discussing the squat rack vs. the smith machine. In this article, we will go over the two types of fitness equipment, what they are good for, and why you should consider using one or the other, depending on your training goals. 

So let’s not keep you waiting any longer and dive straight into the topic. 

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How to Fix Your Posture: Shoulders Rounded Forward

Wednesday, December 14th, 2022
Your Questions

I get plenty of questions in various comments throughout the website, but I also get comments and questions via the Project Swole Contact Form. In particular, this topic of how to fix your posture is intriguing to investigate from a fitness programming standing for myself and for all athletes.

Generally, I address those questions through e-mail, but often I do not have the time to reply to each and every question personally.

The category, Your Health Questions is a more proactive approach to answering your questions so that everyone can benefit from the Q & A.

Dick wrote:

“I need to concentrate on the rear head of my shoulder.

I think I have overtrained the front head with all the benching and what not.

Someone told me my shoulders stick out of the front which wouldn’t be a problem if they stuck out of the back too.

What work out should I use to build them up?”

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What Can The Sauna Do For Athletes?

Friday, July 29th, 2022
young couple relaxing shows what can the sauna do for athletes

Full of physical and mental benefits, a sauna regimen can be amazing. So you ask, what can the sauna do for athletes? Well, the sauna offers benefits to your skin, body, and mood. People use saunas for a variety of reasons, whether at home, at the spa, or in the locker room at the gym. In Finland and other Scandinavian countries, the sauna has an important cultural role. It’s not uncommon for co-workers to hang out in the sauna, as workers in the US get a happy hour and many homes are built with home saunas.

Well, saunas can be of great help. In this post, we will explore the different types of saunas and the benefits of saunas after training. Read on to learn how saunas work and how they can boost your workout results.

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What Are the Army Combat Fitness Test Standards for 2022?

Saturday, June 25th, 2022
Army Combat Fitness Test deadlifts

The new army combat fitness test standards include new scoring standards, updated physical events, and allow soldiers to have at least six months to practice before the test. While the minimum requirements remain gender-neutral, the new test includes age-based performance results and performance based on third-party analysis by Rand Corporation.

“This test is an essential part of maintaining the readiness of the Army as we transform into the Army of 2030,” said Christine E. Wormuth, Secretary of the Army in a press release.

“The revisions to the ACFT are based on data and analysis, including an independent assessment required by Congress. We will continue to assess our implementation of the test to ensure it is fair and achieves our goal of strengthening the Army’s fitness culture.”

Christine Wormuth | The United States Army

This article covers all army combat fitness test standards and discusses the six events that fall under ACFT standards 2022.

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What Are People Looking for in Online Fitness Classes?

Friday, June 24th, 2022
Girl Attending Online Fitness Classes

Most trainers and gym owners wish to recreate the in-person training experience online. To make their online fitness classes a success they often question, “What do people look for when it comes to online fitness classes”? What makes them come back more often?

Here are some tips to help you get started figuring out what you are looking for in online fitness classes, personal trainers can take notes as well, so they can make their online fitness clients happier and healthier.

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How Can I Stay Healthy During Quarantine and Keep My Marriage Strong?

Thursday, May 14th, 2020
Stay Healthy During Quarantine

This entry in the Swole quarantine series answers a few questions relating health to healthy relationships during the pandemic. I’m hearing this same question a lot lately, “how can I stay healthy during quarantine?

There are also quite a few people asking, “how can I keep my marriage strong during quarantine?

If you think about it, those answers go hand-in-hand. Staying healthy in a stay-at-home lockdown is equally important for survival as it is for maintaining a solid relationship with your partner.

In any relationship, it is important to maintain a state of balance between work, health, communication, activities, alone-time, and so-on. This is especially applicable even when it comes to marriage. As important as it is to spend time together, find common interests, and indulge in shared activities, the importance of personal space and having time to yourself cannot be undermined. Having to stay indoors all the time, it is normal to feel frustrated, cranky, and even depressed at times.

When you are not feeling at your best, your mental state will likely be reflected in your behavior and projected to your partner. A healthy mind resides in a healthy body and although it is very easy to get off track in the absence of a routine, make sure to take out time to do activities that will keep you and your partner physically and mentally fit resulting in a healthy relationship and even stronger bond.

Here are a few health tips that you should practice during quarantine in order to keep your marriage healthy and thriving.

Eat a Healthy and Balanced Diet

A healthy and well-balanced diet rich in all required nutrients can keep you physically fit and also boost your immunity. Since you are more likely to adopt a sedentary lifestyle during the quarantine, portion control while ensuring the intake of all vital nutrients can keep you physically and mentally fit. It can also significantly boost your mood leading to a better relationship with your spouse.

Maintain a Workout Routine

It is easy to spend all day in your pajamas, eat junk food, and turn into a couch potato when you do not have anything to look forward to. However, it is important to keep a workout routine. You can partner up with your spouse and do a couple of workouts. Physical activity is also associated with a boost in the release of several neurotransmitters, the major regulators of mood and energy levels.

Look After Your Mental Health

As we are trying to adjust to the new reality of our quarantine life, it is normal to feel stressed and down. If these feelings are allowed to prolong, they can turn into serious mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. Your behavior is often a projection of your mental state which is why you should look for any unusual changes in your or your spouse’s behavior. Reach out to them, talk to them, and keep them busy with healthy activities. Although distanced, we are still connected in more ways than not. Video chat with your friends and extended family and if the situation does not improve, seek online counseling.

Limit Alcohol Consumption

During quarantine, day drinking has become a norm for most of us. It is important to keep your and your spouse’s drinking frequency in check. In addition, do not take any drugs that have not been prescribed to you in an attempt to deal with anxiety, fear, or any other negative feelings. Excessive day drinking and drug use is certainly one way to ensure you do NOT stay healthy during the quarantine.

Seek Marriage Counseling

If it is getting too overwhelming and none of the tips are helping, do not hesitate to seek online marriage counseling. Check out this helpful information on the benefits of getting quality marriage counseling if you think counseling is the next best step: https://www.regain.us/advice/marriage/ free-marriage-counseling-you-get-what-you-pay-for/.

As a matter of fact, quarantine is taking a toll on all of us. However, we are all in this together and although physically distanced, we can stay connected via technology. Maintaining a routine and keeping your spouse in the loop will not merely make you survive the quarantine but come out of it stronger.

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How to Bench Press

Monday, August 26th, 2019

How to Bench Press

Update: I found a sweet How to Bench Press video by elite powerlifter Dave Tate today. The video appears about halfway through this post. If you want to bench press for max strength and “think” you have perfect form, you NEED to watch this video. Therefore I am republishing this article today for every Swole Bench Presser’s benefit.

Your Questions

I get plenty of questions in various comments throughout the website, but I also get comments and questions via the Project Swole Contact Form.

Generally, I address those questions through e-mail, but often I do not have the time to reply to each and every question personally.

From now on I want to take a more proactive approach to answer Your Health Questions by posting them separately in the blog. This way we can be sure that everyone benefits from the Q & A.

Kyle wrote:

“Hey Steve, OK me and a friend got into an argument about how to bench. I said you should touch your chest and he said you shouldn’t because it can injure your shoulder you should stop like 1 inch away from your chest? What is the right way to bench?”

Response:

So, you want to know how to bench press properly?

How to Bench Press

The bench press is the most popular exercise in the gym among men. It is the strongest upper body exercise for most people and has been a social gauge (and wrongly so, in my opinion) of male strength and fitness for more than a century. Fortunately, bench presses are the #1 best exercise for building upper body strength and size, and so should be included in nearly all strength training routines.

On the downside, benching is responsible for many weight lifting injuries, especially in the shoulder area. Hopefully, this post will educate you as to how you should be bench pressing to avoid injury.

How to Bench Press

A concept of a bench press is simple:

Start by laying down on a bench. Place your hands on the barbell with your palms facing away from you (this is a pronated grip). Unrack the barbell and hold it straight up over your upper chest. Bend at the elbows to lower the barbell until it touches your mid-chest. Press it back up over your upper chest. That’s a rep.

In reality, using proper form on the bench press can be difficult to master, as you will see when you read this post in its entirety.

Now, to answer your questions…

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What is the Best Time to Schedule Cardio Training?

Thursday, April 20th, 2017

Your QuestionsI get plenty of questions in various comments throughout the website, but I also get comments and questions via the Project Swole Contact Form.

Generally I address those questions through e-mail, but often I do not have the time to reply to each and every question personally.

The category Your Health Questions attempts to take a more proactive approach to answering your questions so that everyone can benefit from the Q & A.

Scott wrote:

“First off very good site, very informative.

I am 33 5-11 170lbs. I just went from a split where I was doing 30 min low intensity cardio after the work out. I have been enjoying the full body workouts; I feel I get more out of it.

I am trying to maintain the muscle I have and get more ripped toned. Should I keep doing a low intensity cardio session after my work out or should I move to HIIT or some sort of other interval training on the off days?

I always read cardio after lifting or in the am is the best. So will I still burn fat doing cardio on the off days? Help!!”

Response:

First off, thank you for the kind words. I’m glad I can help someone with my babbling.

Second, I agree with you about full body workout routines. I find full body training to be far more effective at stimulating all kinds of gains than a traditional split routine.

Now, regarding your cardio questions, I have a couple responses and then I will discuss my reasoning:

  • My opinion is that you should focus more on high intensity interval training (HIIT) than on aerobic cardio.
  • If you insist on doing aerobic cardio at the same time as weight training, then it should be performed after weight training, but then you have to accept the drawbacks of doing cardio after weight training.
  • If you insist on doing aerobic cardio, not at the same time as weight training, but on the same day as weight training, it should be performed in the morning, on an empty stomach.
  • If you insist on doing aerobic cardio on a non-weight training day, then you have 2 choices:
    • in the morning on an empty stomach – to maximize fat loss
    • any other time of the day – used as active recovery
  • If you plan doing HIIT, it should not be performed before a workout.
  • Cardio in general works best when performed 8-10 hours before or after weight training, or on a separate day.

Female Sprinting

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Does Coffee (Caffeine) Help You Build Muscle?

Thursday, March 30th, 2017

Your QuestionsI get plenty of questions in various comments throughout the website, but I also get comments and questions via the contact form.

In the past I have address those questions through e-mail, but often I do not have the time to reply to each and every question personally. I want to take a more proactive approach to answering Your Questions by posting them in the blog. This way we can be sure that everyone benefits from the Q & A.

Joe wrote:

“I have heard that too much caffeine can be detrimental to muscle growth because of its tendency to increase cortisol which has catabolic effects. That being said, it also stimulates testosterone production, so its actual effects are a little unclear. Here’s a little medical study I found on the web to back it up:

Dose effect of caffeine on testosterone and cortisol responses to resistance exercise.

Just curious if you’ve heard anything along these lines and I’m interested to hear your take on it.”

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What Are the Side Effects of Protein Powder?

Monday, December 5th, 2016
Your Questions

I get plenty of questions in various comments throughout the website, but I also get comments and questions via the contact form.

Generally, I address those questions through e-mail, but often I do not have the time to reply to each and every question personally.

From now on I want to take a more proactive approach to answer your questions by posting them separately in the blog. This way we can be sure that everyone benefits from the Q & A.

Russel wrote:

“I’m 19 and am just starting to try to build some muscle. I was wondering what happens when you consume too much protein and your liver or kidneys can’t handle it, what are the side effects?”

Response:

First of all, there really are no side effects to using protein powder, as long as you use it intelligently. There’s no reason to eat more than 40 grams of protein in a meal. There’s also no reason to live on protein supplements.

side effects of protein powder

Real food will help keep you healthy.

Protein powder is just a ‘supplement’ to your normal whole food diet. Muscle Milk is definitely the best product to choose to ‘supplement’ your diet with extra protein, but you don’t want to base your entire nutrition plan around it.

That said, I want to examine this question from the following three angles:

  • regarding the digestion of lactose
  • regarding the digestion of excess protein and developing kidney stones
  • regarding your body being in a state of ketosis
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How Women Can Prevent Oily or Frizzy Hair After Intense Exercise

Friday, March 1st, 2013
Your Questions

I get plenty of questions in various comments throughout the website, but I also get comments and questions via the Project Swole Contact Form.

Generally I address those questions through e-mail, but often I do not have the time to reply to each and every question personally.

From now on I want to take a more proactive approach to answering Your Health Questions by posting them separately in the blog. This way we can be sure that everyone benefits from the Q & A.

Gillian Finnick wrote:

“Hi Steve. I know you don’t normally answer questions like this, but I’ve seen you address some female topics before, sometimes with female guest bloggers. Do you have any recommendations for taking care of my hair during a workout? I’m sick of getting my hair done then turning into a ball of frizz after just one workout. Please help!”

Response:

You are right Gillian, I don’t normally answer these types of questions, and in fact I can’t answer it right now. However, I have consulted with my fitness friend Heather who also happens to also be a hair dresser, and asked her to whip up a guest post with some tips. That being said, here you go!

How to Care for Fitness Hair

Frizzy HairWhether or not you put a lot of time and effort into your daily beauty routine, the last thing you want to do is add to your regimen needlessly. And the truth is that intense exercise can leave your hair oily, frizzy, or worse, both. For women who spend a lot of money at the salon for a particular coif, this can be a deal-breaker. But what good is perfect hair if the body it rests on is less than ideal?

Looking and feeling your best and attending to your overall health is more important than your hair, but it’s funny sometimes how our priorities get jumbled up. In any case, you don’t have to pick one or the other. You can find ways to keep your locks looking sleek even when you exercise. Here are just a few tips and tricks that will help you to stave off the frizzies and avoid the oily mess that might otherwise be the result of intense activity.

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Yes Hayden Gray, Plastic Containers do Decrease Testosterone Levels

Sunday, May 15th, 2011
Your Questions
Your Questions

I get plenty of questions in various comments throughout the website, but I also get comments and questions via the Project Swole Contact Form.

Generally I address those questions through e-mail, but often I do not have the time to reply to each and every question personally.

From now on I want to take a more proactive approach to answering Your Health Questions by posting them separately in the blog. This way we can be sure that everyone benefits from the Q & A.

Hayden Gray wrote:

“HAHA! Diet soda in plastic can decrease testosterone levels? HAHAHA!
Because of what the plastic is made out of? Oh, so if i drink water out of plastic my testosterone levels will drop. Most stupid thing ive ever heard. And if you think you’re right, where is the scientific evidence?”

Response:

Keep in mind that it’s pretty easy to avoid diet soda in plastic containers, simply by drinking is out of a can or glass. Regarding the safety of plastic containers, I have this to say:

Some people do agree with you about plastic containers, but facts are facts – using plastic containers will increase your estrogen levels thanks to Xenoestrogens such as PCB, BPA and Phthalates. The also reportedly decrease testosterone, specifically in young kids and pregnant mothers.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090326100714.htm
https://www.facebook.com/notes/faggiano-chiropractic/effects-of-palstic-products-on-testosterone/203842699650612
https://ehp03.niehs.nih.gov/article/fetchArticle.action?articleURI=info:doi/10.1289/ehp.8451
https://ehp03.niehs.nih.gov/article/fetchArticle.action?articleURI=info:doi/10.1289/ehp.7713
https://missourifamilies.org/features/nutritionarticles/nut244.htm
https://tnation.t-nation.com/free_online_forum/sports_body_training_performance_bodybuilding_senior/high_levels_of_bpa_

And look, here’s evidence that pregnant women shouldn’t use plastic containers because it can damage their child’s reproductive organs.
https://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/members/2002/110pA703-A707schonfelder/schonfelder-full.html

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How to Treat Shin Splints

Sunday, January 23rd, 2011
Your Questions
Your Questions

I get plenty of questions in various comments throughout the website, but I also get comments and questions via the Project Swole Contact Form.

Generally I address those questions through e-mail, but often I do not have the time to reply to each and every question personally.

From now on I want to take a more proactive approach to answering Your Health Questions by posting them separately in the blog. This way we can be sure that everyone benefits from the Q & A.

Kalee wrote:

I have shin splints right now so I can’t run or bike or anything but lift weights while sitting and do core exercises… unless you can think of anything that I could do for cardio that wouldn’t require me to use my legs. What exercises [should I use] until my shin splints heal? Thanks!

Response:

If you haven’t managed to avoid shin splints, then it is obvious that you haven’t read and understood my article about How to Avoid Shins Splints, but first, if you haven’t already, you should take a couple minutes to understand What Are Shin Splints. Once you’ve become well versed on shin splints, you can now read about how heal or treat shin splints. Let’s get this problem under control so you can get back to training.

Shin Splints
How to Treat Shin Splints

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How to Increase Your Bench Press

Thursday, August 5th, 2010
Your Questions
Your Questions

How to Increase Your Bench Press Strength

I get plenty of questions in various comments throughout the website, but I also get comments and questions via the Project Swole Contact Form.

Generally I address those questions through e-mail, but often I do not have the time to reply to each and every question personally.

The category, Your Health Questions is a more proactive approach to answering your questions so that everyone can benefit from the Q & A.

Mark asked:

Hi Steve.

My Goal is to bench 500 lbs. Currently pushing 420 Legal Lift raw. Chest work out consists of 1 warm up set of 135 for 20 reps. 1 set of 10 reps @ 315. 3 sets of 3 at 405. then 2 or 3 sets of 10 at 315. Then machine pec flyes to finish.

Program is Day 1 Chest and Bi’s / Day 2 Shoulders and Traps / Day 3 Back and Tri’s / Day 4 Legs

Two rest days that vary.

Supplements are Noxipro Pre-work out. Beast SuperTest and Isopure Protein.

What are your recommendations to help get to 500?

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Gaining Muscle and Losing Fat at the Same Time

Tuesday, August 3rd, 2010
Your Questions
Your Questions

I get plenty of questions in various comments throughout the website, but I also get comments and questions via the Project Swole Contact Form.

Generally I address those questions through e-mail, but often I do not have the time to reply to each and every question personally.

The category, Your Health Questions is a more proactive approach to answering your questions so that everyone can benefit from the Q & A.

Jake asked:

“Hey Steve, First I wanted to say thanks so much for taking the time to make this article. I just had a question. I am 16 and 6’4″ and about 200 LBS. I love doing cardio and used to be extremely overweight but i started running and eating right and it all shed off.

I have been working out on and off for about a year and a half now and I have found it pretty easy to put on muscle as long as I stay dedicated to the workout which is also my biggest problem. I have petty much the opposite body type of Taylor Lauter because I am taller and bigger built were he is shorter and was very skinny when he started. So I would thus like to lean out at the same time as i build muscle to achieve that lean muscle look.

My question is that if i were to take in less calories and carbs than recommeded for me but still took in the right amount of protein to build muscle, could I still bulk up and lose fat at the same time to achieve that leaner muscular look?”

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How Much Protein Should I Eat in One Meal?

Thursday, June 10th, 2010
Your Questions
Your Questions

I get plenty of questions in various comments throughout the website, but I also get comments and questions via the Project Swole Contact Form.

Generally I address those questions through e-mail, but often I do not have the time to reply to each and every question personally.

From now on I want to take a more proactive approach to answering Your Health Questions by posting them separately in the blog. This way we can be sure that everyone benefits from the Q & A.

Tim wrote:

“How many grams of protein should i take at one time, and how much time should i leave in between drinking my protein shakes in order to get the maximum benefit from it?”

Response:

On average, your digestive system can handle about 30 grams of protein at once.

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How Many Ounces in a Liter?

Friday, February 5th, 2010

How Many Ounces in a Liter?

Your Questions
Your Questions

I get plenty of questions in various comments throughout the website, but I also get comments and questions via the Project Swole Contact Form.

Generally I address those questions through e-mail, but often I do not have the time to reply to each and every question personally.

From now on I want to take a more proactive approach to answering Your Health Questions by posting them separately in the blog. This way we can be sure that everyone benefits from the Q & A.

Ellen wrote:

“I am trying to convert fluid ounces to liters for some recipes, but I am not sure how many ounces are in a liter. Can you help me?”

Response:

There are 33.8140226 fluid ounces (fl oz) in 1 liter (l).

Click here to view the super-easy-to-use full conversion table.

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Does Whey Protein Powder Cause Gout?

Thursday, January 28th, 2010
Your Questions
Your Questions

I get plenty of questions in various comments throughout the website, but I also get comments and questions via the Project Swole Contact Form.

Generally I address those questions through e-mail, but often I do not have the time to reply to each and every question personally.

From now on I want to take a more proactive approach to answering Your Health Questions by posting them separately in the blog. This way we can be sure that everyone benefits from the Q & A.

Jim R wrote:

“I am 61 and in generally good shape, bicycled for years (at least 1000 miles per year).

The past two years I’ve converted to weight training (three days a week) plus spinning (three days a week). I’ve always been thin 6’2 – 195lbs.

Joined a gym 2 months ago (with a personal trainer)and really haven’t seen the results I’ve been looking for. I’ve reduced my body fat but haven’t seen any gains in muscle mass. I feel better but would also like to look better.

Also I just had another issue arise – a minor case of gout. I have been using a Whey protein drink 40 grams a day and need to know if Whey based supplements contain large amounts Purine (the largest contributer to gout).

I’m looking for info for us ‘old guys’ that haven’t given up.”

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How to Gain Muscle and Lose Fat Most Effectively

Wednesday, January 13th, 2010
Your Questions
Your Questions

I get plenty of questions in various comments throughout the website, but I also get comments and questions via the Project Swole Contact Form.

Generally I address those questions through e-mail, but often I do not have the time to reply to each and every question personally.

The category, Your Health Questions is a more proactive approach to answering your questions so that everyone can benefit from the Q & A.

Greg wrote:

“Hi,

First, let me say thank you for this website and all the useful information you post here. I am 45 years old, at 6 foot 1 inches and 210 pounds, and my goal is to simply change my weight distribution (don’t mind weighing 210 if it’s muscle and not fat).

Since I am a ‘hard gainer’, I have read your recommendations on the best exercises/workouts to build mass, and I have two additional questions.

First, I’ve continually heard the following: higher reps + lighter weight = definition, and lower reps + heavier weight = mass. My question is, what is the sweet spot for mass AND definition? For example, if I do three sets of curls, how many reps for each set – 12, 10, 8 or maybe 10, 8, 6 (with progressively higher weight)?

Second, what about diet? I’ve also heard that you should eat like a horse – lots of protein and carbs. Of course, if you overdo it, you’ll gain fat as well. So again, where is the sweet spot?

Thank you!
Greg”

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What is the Best Arms Day Workout Routine?

Tuesday, December 29th, 2009
Your Questions
Your Questions

I get plenty of questions in various comments throughout the website, but I also get comments and questions via the Project Swole Contact Form.

Generally I address those questions through e-mail, but often I do not have the time to reply to each and every question personally.

The category, Your Health Questions is a more proactive approach to answering your questions so that everyone can benefit from the Q & A.

Scott wrote:

“First off, I would like to say your site is great. I’ve learned a lot reading your articles.

I just had one question: when you say not to have an ‘arms day’, should I just include a few biceps and triceps exercises everyday? And how many different exercises of each should I do?”

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