In "Intensity Techniques Part One"
I gave some background as to why one might want to use the various intensity techniques that I covered. I recommend reading that article first:
In part two, I want to continue discussing some additional intensity techniques. Before proceeding, I want to clarify that I’m not suggesting that one train with these techniques as a sole method of training. I strongly believe in using more standard training techniques such as straight sets with heavier weights (among other more traditional workout structures such as Circuits, Antagonistic Supersets, etc.). Rather, these techniques are an excellent alternative that will allow you to maintain a high ‘intensity of effort’ while giving your joints a break from constant heavy loading. I have found they give me a serious pump as well!
When![photo[1]](/images/stories/Mens%20Physique/DuaneBrickhouse/photo[1].JPG)
I first began lifting weights I would typically work biceps with back and triceps with chest. As I spent more time weight training and learning about my body, I found that I could get more growth out of my arms by dedicating a day solely to them. On occasion I do still use a traditional chest/triceps or back/biceps split, because I believe that you need to constantly challenge your muscles with different methods in order to continue to see improvement. However, when I am able to stick to my normal gym schedule, I prefer to give them their own day...
Here
we are once again approaching the end of another year as well as the Off-Season for many! The Off-Season if used properly is one of the very best ways to improve your physique for the upcoming year, however far too many waste this valuable time. How can you have a successful Off-Season? Well, read on…
There's 
a time and place for everything, even "Little Debbies."
Congrats on a great showing! What made you decide to compete in the Men’s Physique Division?
I needed a sport to compete in! Living and breathing the fitness lifestyle, I’ve always kept in relatively good shape and this was a perfect outlet to showcase my hard work.
Can you tell us a little about the show in which you most recently competed?
I competed in both Physique and Fitness at the Southern States show in Fort Lauderdale. It was an awesome show and well worth the drive to Florida! I had so much fun competing and met some invaluable contacts while I was down there, including the photographer Pat Lee, who I got the opportunity to shoot with after the show...
Zach 
Morrow: Integrity and Intensity!
Congrats on a great showing! What made you decide to compete in the Men’s Physique Division?
Fitness and athletics have always played a major role in my life. With a passion for training, I was always drawn towards the sport of bodybuilding. My personal goals as far as my own physique were slightly different, however, than that of men’s bodybuilding. When I heard about the new division, the criteria aligned perfectly with my goals and seemed to be a great fit for my body. I made plans to compete the day I learned of the division. Having the ability to be a part of the competition and allowing me a platform to showcase my hard work seemed like a great combination...
Whether
you are a competitive physique athlete or simply a recreational gym user attempting to improve your physique, having the perfect midsection is frequently placed high on the list of priorities with respect to training goals. However, it is amazing how often you walk into a gym and see someone going through a heavy leg or arm routine and then finishing their workout with an abdominal routine that looks more like something taken straight from an early 90’s aerobics video!
The abdominals are like any other muscle group in the sense that if you want them to grow and to “pop” then they must be given sufficient stimulus to do so. You wouldn’t attempt to make your arms bigger by completing as many momentum-based reps of barbell curls as you can in 60 seconds, so why do the same for your abs? Sure, the cardio aspect may help burn some body fat, but there are better ways to do so and that is not the goal of the abdominal training itself...
The
holidays are a time to appreciate the things we have, spend time with the family, and take a break from our everyday stresses. For most it is also a time of multiple holiday dinners, eating out, and weight gain. Here are some tips that help me survive the holidays without gaining any weight...
If 
you are serious about competing and want to build a career in the fitness industry then you have probably been exploring the various social media platforms and trying to build your name and brand. Of course, you want to push for the most followers you can get, as well as build a fan base which boosts your credibility in the eyes of supplement companies. As your numbers grow, your name will become more well-known and you can claim – without bluffing – that you have inspired thousands of people.
However, with more followers come more problems, most commonly the jerks and the haters...
Breakdancing, 
black belt DJ? You must mean Men’s Physique competitor, Marfred Suazo!
Congrats on a great showing! What made you decide to compete in the Men’s Physique Division?
Thank you. I’ve always been athletic, and since a young age I’ve always liked to challenge my body in different sports, Men’s Physique being no different. It was another sport that I was excited to prove to myself I could do; the physical demands are intense and I was up for the challenge.
Can you tell us a little about the show in which you most recently competed?
The most recent was 2012 Team Universe, it was very overwhelming and exciting at the same time; greatly impressed by all the physiques competing. I was very happy to share the stage with such great talent. Although I had ACL surgery a few weeks prior to the national show I was still able to push through the agonizing pain and bring a pretty good package to the stage...
Andrew Cleary,
focused on improvement!
Congrats on a great showing! What made you decide to compete in the Men’s Physique Division?
I have always had a love for the bodybuilding lifestyle, and I felt Men’s Physique was the best fit to compete in. I am glad to have stepped on stage, and look forward to my next show in 2014.
Can you tell us a little about the show in which you most recently competed?
I just competed in the OPA (Ontario Physique Association) GNC Ottawa Championships in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. It is a Level 1 show, and I placed 7th in Men’s Physique tall class. I was second call out, and was placed in the middle, and was kept there...
This 
weekend marked the final chance in 2013 for National Level NPC Men's Physique Competitors to earn their pro status and join the ranks of IFBB Pros. With well over 200 MP competitors taking the stage spread across six height classes, it is clear that the level of competition was incredibly stiff. When the dust settled at the Nationals in Ft. Lauderdale Florida, twelve MP Competitors walked away with the right to request entrance into the IFBB. The new pros are as follows:
Overall
John Arterberry 
Earned Pro Card
Jermaine Ward
Austin Standage
Brandon Hendrickson
Andre Adams
Eric Heidelberg
John Farrell
Pierre Vuala
Reuben Gordon
John Arterberry
Qaadir Majeed
Josh Bowmar
Matt Pattison
For complete results and pictures visit the following link: http://gallery.rxmuscle.com/index.php?contest=96
Many congrats to all of the competitors taking the stage and making the NPC/IFBB THE place to compete!
There’s 
no doubt that progressive overload is the hallmark of resistance training. There comes a point however, where one can’t keep adding more and more weight as strength does not have an endless ceiling.
Additionally, if you listen to many older bodybuilders, including three-time Mr. Olympia Frank Zane, you often hear a common theme. That is upon reflection, they probably would have been better served in the long run had they not pounded their joints with so much constant heavy training in their younger years.
Frank specifically said that while that early heavy training did give him mass, that he would do things differently if given the chance to do it all over again. This is because of the ongoing price he has had to pay for past injuries!
Want
to know what's going on at The Nationals and who's earning their pro cards? Pre-judging and finals for the Men's Physique Division take place on Saturday. In the meantime, see what's going on in the other divisions! Click through on the following link for the live Play-by-Play with Dave Palumbo.
We
all know that the general population is pretty resistant to the idea of packing on the massive amounts of muscle which are seen in men’s and women’s bodybuilding. This has made the men’s physique and bikini divisions incredibly enticing since these divisions are represented by a lesser degree of muscularity. However, it drives me nuts when I hear people proclaim that they are going to jump onstage and compete simply because they are reasonably fit...
Deandre
Deans, MPD Dynamo!
Congrats on a great showing! What made you decide to compete in the Men’s Physique Division?
I’ve always competed in sports but I was also a skinny kid. I decided about six years ago to start lifting seriously. Since I was putting the work in at the gym and a few people telling me I should compete I decided to give it a shot. And I’m so happy I made that choice.
Can you tell us a little about the competition in which you just competed?
I just did the GNC Northern Colorado Open. It was an awesome show with a lot of great looking guys. The competition was good we had one of the biggest classes in my division (class C) which was 13 competitors...
When
it comes to trying to build muscle as quickly and efficiently as possible, there are many things you can spend your money on. In fact, you've probably already tried a number of these things.
Most athletes will not hesitate to spend a great deal of money on the latest supplements, training programs, coaches and mentors. They may also spend a considerable amount on their gym memberships or exercise equipment. Unfortunately, they overlook one of the most useful products when it comes to fitness, training and building a world-class physique...
Wakeboarding
or wakesurfing, Drew Jelen puts his boardshorts to good use on stage and in the surf!
Congrats on a great showing! What made you decide to compete in the Men’s Physique Division?
I went to watch a local show and was intrigued by the idea of stepping on stage, showing off my physique. Bodybuilding did not fit my physique and lifestyle but I saw the men’s physique category and thought it was a great fit for me...
The
typical question that is asked about any male’s activity in the gym is “How much do you bench?” Although I do believe that you have to “lift big to get big,” I do not believe that how much you can bench is a direct reflection on how well your chest is developed.
The key, in my opinion, to building a fully developed chest is to hit it with exercises that target all areas of the chest. The following takes you through one of my typical chest routines...
Chronic overtraining is a condition that no phys
ique athlete ever wants to experience. Once chronically over-trained, it can take months or even longer to fully recover and in the process of becoming chronically over-trained long-term resting hormone levels will become negatively impacted leading to losses in muscle mass as well as encouraging fat gain...
If 
you missed the Kentucky Muscle show in Louisville this weekend, you missed a great show. The Pro's showed up in big numbers to take the stage one last time before the end of the year. Twenty seven of the top pro's took the stage in the battle for the title of the first ever Kentucky Muscle Men's Physique Champion. In the end, the well deserved victory went to Tory Woodward. Tory is now automatically qualified for the 2014 Olympia. Following are the complete results...
If
you're like most people you spend a large part of your day sitting around behind a desk. In today's society we sit behind a computer, sit while driving to work, and sit while we watch TV. Our bodies are not designed to sit for long periods of time and our health is paying the price.
Sitting requires little energy expenditure, "calorie burning drops to one per minute, greatly reduces activation of low back muscles, electrical activity in the legs shut off, enzymes that help break down fat drop by 90 percent...
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