Racking and unracking the bar

Racking and unracking the bar

The importance of properly unracking and racking the barbell during the squat is frequently overlooked. This is because lifters often do not feel the need to take it seriously when they are just beginning a linear progression and the weights are still light.

However, poorly unracking the barbell will at best rob you of the energy and strength you need to complete your working weight and at worst lead to a serious injury. Setting up good habits about racking and unracking the barbell will set you up to be successful and safe.

In this video, we will cover how to properly unrack and rack the barbell and show some common mistakes.

Let’s Destroy the Word “Bulky”

Let’s Destroy the Word “Bulky”

We are surrounded by messaging that tells women to be smaller, quieter, softer, thinner, leaner – to be less.  This is so glaringly obvious that it feels gratuitous to mention. We in the barbell community sometimes think we stand in opposition to these ideas, that we offer an alternative to the mainstream image of what a woman should be. I think we often fail at that, and even sometimes unwittingly reinforce those very ideals.

Buying a belt

Buying a belt

A weightlifting belt is an essential piece of equipment!

A belt used properly will add stability and safety to the spine and torso of the lifter. It is common gym mythology that a lifting belt allows the lifters core to disengage but this could not be further from the truth. The belt actually increases the lifters ability to contract the musculature of the core by providing tactile feedback around the waist.

Macro Calculator

Macro Calculator

Recovery is a critical aspect of strength training. If you don’t recover from your training, you don’t adapt, and you don’t get stronger.

And at the heart of recovery is nutrition. You need to eat enough calories, and you need to eat the right things.

If you are serious about your training, it is probably a good idea for you to track and measure what you eat.

But tracking and measuring is not useful if you don’t know what your goals are.

To that end, we’ve put together a macro calculator for you.

Equipment Guide – Shoes

Equipment Guide – Shoes

Ordering a weighlifting shoe can be confusing.  You can’t go to a brick and mortar store and try a pair on.  Even if you could, you would want to get under a load and squat to really know what would work best for you.  I’ve tried to identify which shoes tend to be...
Essential Equipment – Shoes

Essential Equipment – Shoes

“Shoes are the only piece of personal equipment that you really need to own.” Starting Strength: Basic  Barbell Training by Mark Rippetoe. Why do people think shoes are unimportant, or decide to wait to buy weightlifting shoes until they are lifting more? What makes...
Training log 101

Training log 101

When it comes to getting stronger your training log is an essential piece of equipment.

Keeping a complete and thorough training log means you will progress faster, have more fun and be more aware of how your body adapts and responds. Your training log provides important data that allows you or your coach to make smart and effective programming choices. Seeing your progress on paper is very rewarding and motivating.

In this video, I discuss how to make the most of your training log and show an example log book.

Your elbows and the press

Your elbows and the press

One aspect of the press that many lifters can stand to easily improve is the position of their elbows at the bottom (or rack) position of the press. It is incredibly common to see lifters, especially those who have not yet received proper coaching, perform an entire set without correctly setting their elbows once.

This article will briefly review where your elbows must be set at the bottom of the press, why this position tends to deteriorate throughout a set, and what you can do to fix it. Having a consistent rack position in the press is one key to effectively training the movement and making steady progress with it.

Lift and Eat, May 13th

Lift and Eat, May 13th

On Saturday, May 13th, join us for a fun afternoon of lifting heavy weights and eating delicious food!

All Bay Strength and Game Changer Fitness athletes are invited to gather for some exercise, food, and good company. We ask everyone to bring a food item, potluck style. We will also have a grill and be cooking fresh meat and veggies.