The Strength Log

There's been much ado about bench press in this podcast. In episode 6 , we talked about the mistakes you should avoid if you want to become a great bench presser. But that episode focused on the negatives, and today we feel much more positive. What are the best practices of training the bench press , that you should implement immediately in your own workout routine? We've gathered our 10 best tips...

You asked, we answered. And what an amazing bunch of questions you sent in! Thank you for both listening and contributing to the podcast. The timestamps for all questions are listed below. We'll discuss yoga, sleeping positions, high-rep training for squats and deadlifts, rest days, and more! Timestamps: 04:30 – Question 1: Do you think the sleeping position matters for muscle growth? 08:45 – Ques...

How much does the lifting tempo you use in the gym matter? Well, a lot, at least according to a new meta-analysis that lays the foundation for today's episode. The study showed that lifting weights intentionally slowly leads to slower strength gains, while lifting them as fast as possible leads to faster ones. But what about injury risk? The eccentric phase of the lift? Take our hand and we'll sho...

Strength training and enough protein are the keys to stimulating muscle growth. Recovery and sleep matter, too, of course, and we'll cover those subjects in future episodes. But today we're talking about protein, buddy. Because everybody loves protein. How much protein should you eat daily for muscle growth? Does the amount change if you're also trying to lose weight? How much protein can you use...

If your goal in the gym is to train for muscle growth , you just need to know the basics and a few core principles. In this episode of The Strength Log, we'll break it down for you: How fast can you gain muscle mass? What causes your muscles to grow? How often should you train a muscle group? How many weekly sets should you hit your muscle groups with? How many reps should you do in each set? How...

Compound exercises are the closest thing you'll ever come to a shortcut in your strength training. These lifts will not only work a single muscle group; instead hitting several at once, saving you time. Compound lifts will enable you to train all major muscle groups quickly and with fewer exercises, compared to working each muscle separately with isolation exercises. This episode discusses the ben...

Which squat mistakes are actually holding you back from becoming a world-class squatter ? Or even a decent one? They might not be the ones you think (clickbait!), and in this episode of The Strength Log podcast, our mission is to make you less afraid of the stuff random squat gurus on the World Wide Web tell you that you must fix before you're allowed to put some real weights on the barbell. So, h...

We made it to ten episodes! That's worth a small celebration, don't you think? That's why this episode is fully dedicated to answering questions from our listeners.  From the ones you sent in, we picked eighth. See the timestamps below! Timestamps: 02:50 – Question 1: What rep ranges do you prefer when strength and muscle mass are the priorities? 06:40 – Question 2: How do I build bigger glutes wi...

Free weights are the superior choice at the gym, says many people. Barbells, dumbbells, kettlebells, and such are much more natural and functional ! Don't waste your time sucking up to the machines! But wait! Don't use free weights, you'll hurt yourself! Use machines instead, they are much safer and more efficient for building your muscles and strength! Says others*. Free weights vs machines : the...

What are the most common deadlift mistakes? In today's episode, we've compiled the deadlift mistakes we believe are holding people back, but are also easily correctable. If you want to improve your deadlift instantly, correcting these mistakes will be the closest you'll come to a quick fix. We also discuss injury prevention and equipment like shoes, lifting straps, and chalk, and recommend proven...

Do you build more muscle mass when you train to failure , versus stopping a few reps short? In today's episode, we discuss a new study that examined this. Then we'll zoom out and debate a lot of different scenarios, to give you a better understanding of when it might matter more if you train to fail, and when it might matter less.  Two common definitions of training to fail are muscular failure (w...

The bench press is not only the world's most popular barbell lift, it's also a technical lift that many people will struggle with for years before figuring it out. So, what are the most common bench press mistakes you should avoid to improve faster? If you google "common bench press mistakes", you'll find many articles trying to serve up one-size-fits-all solutions. Don't flare your elbows! There'...

The most important principle in strength training is progressive overload , i.e. to continuously lift more than you have before. In one way or the other. But does it matter if you progress by increasing the weight you lift or the number or reps you do?  In episode 5 of The Strength Log, we're discussing a new study that examined this, and give our opinions on how you should progress your training...

The squat is the most important lift in the toolbox for anyone looking to build stronger and bigger legs. If you squat with a barbell, you basically have two options: putting the barbell on your upper back, or putting it on your front deltoids, i.e. in front of your throat. So how does the front squat and back squat differ in terms of muscle growth and strength gain? In episode 4 of The Strength L...

This is episode 3 of The Strength Log, and it's time for a proper introduction. Who are we – your hosts – and how did we end up in your ears? And … Do we even lift? Since the answer obviously is yes, we'll expand the question into "Why?". Your strength training journey will hopefully continue through the rest of your life. But for it to do so, you'll also have to find new motivation and new goals...

Creatine is the one legal supplement to rule them all. At least if you're looking to become stronger and build more muscle mass. The supplement has been studied for decades by now, in thousands of trials. And the positive effects are very well documented, along with its safety for human consumption. Creatine improves strength, strength endurance, muscle growth and aids in recovery. It's also dirt...

Welcome to The Strength Log, a podcast about strength training, nutrition, health and fitness. Your hosts,  Daniel Richter  and  Philip Wildenstam , are two Swedish gym rats and science nerds, with decades of experience of helping people reach their fitness goals. In this premiere episode, we'll jump straight into a new study that finally shows us that protein timing is of much less importance tha...