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The Top Article of the Week

 

It doesn't matter if you're training for strength or hypertrophy, to be strong as bull or jacked and tan. Being able to activate a specific muscle, rather than thinking of lifting as simply moving a weight, is important for "performance, aesthetics and rehabilitation." Even if the bulk of your clients are average gym-goers with simple fat loss and health goals, developing the mind-muscle connection can help them reach those goals more quickly and with greater body awareness. (Besides, being able to feel their lats or pecs working will spare you any more comments after bench press and pull-ups about how tired their arms are.) This week, Ian Padron offers coaching cues and tips for developing the mind-muscle connection throughout the body.

General Health

The Many Problems With Personal Training Certifications -- Jonathan Goodman, thePTDC.com

Degeneration? More Like Normal Aging -- Bret Contreras

Why Fat Shaming Doesn't Promote Health And What You Can Do Instead -- Erin Brown, GGS

Four Exercises to Eliminate Lower Back Pain -- Matthew Ibrahim, Lift Big Eat Big

5 Core Exercises You've Probably Never Done -- Dean Somerset

Bodybuilding

7 Secrets of Exercise Selection -- Menno Henselmans, JMax Fitness

Respect Your Elders -- Especially if They're Jacked -- Jason Helmes, BryanKrahn.com

3 People Who Can Benefit from Bodyweight Training -- John Romaniello

A Simple Guide To Getting A Bigger Chest At Home --Danavir Sarria, Iron Sensei

Disordered Eating and The Rise Of The Competitive Fitness Model -- Nadia Norman, thePTDC.com

Strength Training

Pull Ups Made Easier and Better -- Max Shank, BretContreras.com

I Make Mistakes So You Don't Have To: 2015 Edition, Part I -- Jacob Tsypkin, JTS Strength

Why Your Squat Sucks (And How to Fix It) -- Jordan Syatt, Roman Fitness Systems

The 10 Most Underrated Exercises from 10 Different Coaches -- Nate Palmer et al.

5 Things Louie Simmons Taught Me -- Brandon Lilly, JTS Strength

Fat Loss

The Cardio vs. Weights Cheat Sheet -- James Fell

The 5 Commandments Of Satiety During A Fat Loss Phase -- Rob Zand, Shredded By Science

Do Carbs Really Make you Pack on the Pounds? -- David O'Connor

The Ultimate Hunger & Satiety Guide: The KEY to Getting Lean -- Propane Fitness

Nutrition

Supplements, What Works, What Doesn't -- Anthony Dexmier

4 Methods To Boost Testosterone With Food -- Ericka Avila, T-Nation

Artificial Sweeteners - Is the evidence as sweet as the substitutes? -- Kamal Patel, Examine.com

Banning Trans Fats is a Start But No Panacea -- Tim DiFrancesco