Day before Thanksgiving

I recently got an email asking about 'sticking points' and how to overcome them.  There's lot you can do but the first step is to get feedback on what you look like with photos.  A file containing photos taken of yourself every month or so will give you good indication of how your body is changing; and it is always changing.  Just because you don't get stronger all the time or gain weight doesn't mean you aren't making progress.  Progress in bodybuilding is visual, not numerical.  When you study photos of yourself you learn what other people see when they look at you.  The awareness gained from learning exactly what you look like is the first step in improving your training.  Simplest thing to do is lighten up the weights a little and do an extra rep or two each set, do slower negatives, stretch between sets (the 10 stretches I do are illustrated in Zane Body Training Manual and the Workouts book), and rest less between sets.  You'll get a better pump and start showing a difference in appearance.

Been working on the Winter 2010 issue of Building the Body and expect it to be published early January.

Here's one of my favorite photos taken by Art Zeller 1982 two weeks before the Mr. Olympia competition weighing 205 pounds, it was my biggest ever.

Building the Body Quarterly is published

 Pictured is Frank at age 50 appearing on the back cover of Building the Body Quarterly magazine.

The Autumn 2010 issue Building the Body Quarterly has just been mailed to subscribers.  I really like this issue, the first one to have color inside and outside full color covers.  Printed on high gloss paper the quality of reproduction is superb.

Here’s what’s contained within:

1. It’s Good to Be Back – I’m back to regular training 4 months after surgery with a few restrictions (no overhead pressing or barbell exercises, mainly light to moderate dumbbells and machines.)  Christine and I are training 4 or 5 times a week working upper body one day and legs the next.
2. Should You Deadlift? Drawing on my experience I relate how to safely employ top deadlifts to thicken and widen the back.
3. Robert Kennedy Improves – He writes his own story with before and after photos and tells how he packed on pounds of muscle.
4. Mr. Olympia 1980 – Here’s my take on what happened in the most controversial of all the Mr. Olympia competitions and what I learned.
5. Nutrition Q and A – Emails from readers pose interesting questions.
6. Mr. Olympia 2010 – Had a great time attending my first Mr. O in several years in Las Vegas, celebrated Joe Weider’s 90^th birthday, all the Mr. Olympias were presented onstage, and it was a great expo at the convention center.
7. The Greek Gets Great – How Anthony Eliopulos (the Greek) trained to get into terrific shape.
8. Biceps Tendonopothy – Dr. James Phillips explains what it is and how to treat and avoid it.
9. Ernest Eagleheart on Cloud 9 – Ernest’s grandmother teaches him about the range of human emotions and how to feel better more often.
10. Dennis Tinerino – Lots of photos from the five years I competed with this great champion before his passing away, he is missed.

Lots of great photos make this one of the best issues ever.  If you don’t already subscribe consider it; you get Frank’s viewpoint on training, nutrition, mind science and motivation without having to wade through endless advertising as in other muscle magazines.        Building the Body is free of paid ads and filled with factual information.  Subscribe with a friend and receive 5 issues instead of 4 for $24 a year.