It's July, and along with the summer sun comes motivation to keep getting stronger. I've been doing more outdoor workouts so I can get some of that sun!

CST was a new look, with a right column, so check that out. I'll be doing some more alterations in the next month or two so that the site gets an even bigger face lift.

Also, there's a ton of new material that's been added to the site this last month! The best articles are below, but you can check out the "What's New!" section of the site for a more complete list.

There's also an e-book in the works that I'm currently compiling. It'll be called Train Smart, Eat Smart: Exercise Nutrition Hacks!, and contains the best articles on nutrition and healthy eating from CST.

And there's a 5 day beginner weight training program in the works. This will walk newbies through starting a workout program, with a focus on getting them into the gym quickly and getting stronger.

So, there's lots of new stuff to look forward too. Keep that fire in your belly burning, and keep working hard!

"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are."

~ Theodore Roosevelt

1) Body By Science Review and Big 5 Workout PDFs

My review of the new workout book Body By Science, and PDFs of the Big 5 Workout you can download and try.

2) The Bruce Lee Diet: 11 Rules Every Martial Artist Should Know

How to use the Bruce Lee diet plan to build muscle and increase your performance.

3) The BMI Formula: What It Is, How To Use It, and Why NOT To Trust It

Get the BMI formula to calculate your own body mass index. There's also a handy BMI calculator, and info about why you shouldn't trust body mass index that much.

4) Top Submission: Muscle Recovery

I love to workout. So much that I wish to do so twice a day for 6 days a week with one rest day. I like to train intensely because I feel that if I am...

5) 4 Tips for Strength Training: Get More From Your Workouts

Here are some tips I've stumbled across/used/invented/found useful for kicking my own strength training up a notch…

◆ Burn your Muscles To Death

Put the max weight you can bench press on your barbell, in increments of 5 or 10 pounds. Do as many repetitions as you can, then take off 5 - 10 pounds from each side. And do as many reps as you can.

And take off a little more weight, and do as many reps as you can...

And take off a little more weight, and do as many reps as you can...

…

And do as many reps as you can with the bar.

Now (quickly) get down onto the floor and do as many push-ups as you can.

After than, put your knees on the floor and do as many of those wimpy push-ups as you can.

After that, push against the floor for 10 seconds in push-up position trying to get up. If you can't get up for another push-up, then you're done.

Now stumble away, eat an elephant, and sleep - you're done! Congratulations!

This one is why I'm so sore right now ;-)

◆ Use Diffusion

Diffusion is a neuromuscular principle that helps you contract your muscles harder. The principle is that when you contract larger muscle groups, the electrical neuro-signals going to your muscles actually increase the ability of smaller muscles to contract harder.

A good example of this is a handshake. Shake a friend's hand, tensing just your forearm as much as possible. Then, shake your friend's hand again tensing your butt and abs along with your forearm - your handshake will be much more powerful.

To use this for weight lifting, when lifting a weight create tension in your whole body. Any 'gaps', or loose muscle in your body, are potential strength not being used. Brace your body internally when lifting and you'll be able to lift much more weight.

◆ Like A Feather

When doing a lift, reach deep into your mind and imagine that your weight is as light as a feather and easy to lift. And then it will be easier to lift.

This technique is more beneficial after you have some experience lifting, and you've got a good mind-body connection. And while it sounds new-age-y-and-flaky, it actually works.

◆ Tense for 10 Seconds At the End of Your Set

At the end of your set of whatever, push against the bar/ground/dumbbells for 10 seconds when you can't move the weight. This extra little bit is really hard, but it creates that maximum level of fatigue in your muscles that you want.

The inability of your body to move tells your body that it was almost killed in a life or death struggle. Push it to the limit so that it has incentive to grow big and strong.

Starting Strong brings you the latest additions to Complete-Strength-Training.Com & select articles about how to get STRONG.

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Comments? Ideas? Feedback? I'd love to hear from you! Just reply to this e-zine and tell me what you think.

Train hard, do your best, & see you next month!

Aaron

www.Complete-Strength-Training.com/home