Fat Fines in Japan

Here's an interesting news clip about public policy in Japan.

Triple Threat Muscle vs Muscle Gaining Secrets

I'd like to offer some help for those trying to decide between Jason Ferruggia's two programs, Triple Threat Muscle and Muscle Gaining Secrets.

This will not be a long post.  I've already reviewed both programs (there are links below), so there's no need for me to describe them again.

I really like both of these programs, but the best way to choose is to decide what your primary goal is.

*If you are fairly new to training and your primary goal is to gain muscle mass, I'd recommend Muscle Gaining Secrets.

*I would recommend Triple Threat Muscle if you have been lifting weights for a few years and want to build power, strength and burn fat (or train for a sport that requires these). This was my situation, and the program was a good "fit" for me.

*Don't forget there's another option:  Minimalist Training is great for intermediate/advanced lifters who have already gained their first 10-20 lb. and need more helpful strength/size routines.   This program also has beginner routines, but I lean more towards Muscle Gaining Secrets for beginners.

Michael Ventrella Wins Biggest Loser 9

It's official, Michael Ventrella has won the Biggest Loser Season 9.  Michael started off as the biggest contestant ever, weighing over 500 lb.  He was 264 lb lighter at the final weigh in.

Congratulations also to Koli for winning the 100,000 prize.  Koli's starting weight was over 400 lb. 

Congratulations to all the "losers!"  I've followed this season from the start and all of the transformations have been amazing. 

Comparing the Bodybuilding Programs

Jason Ferruggia vs Vince Delmonte; Muscle Gaining Secrets vs No Nonsense Muscle Building

I’ve been meaning to make a post comparing these two programs.  Here goes:

Introduction—should I invest in one of these programs?

Here’s what really cracks me up: a lot of guys will think nothing of dropping 200 bucks on (worthless) supplements, then call Jason or Vince’s programs “scams.” Needless to say, I believe they’ve got things completely backwards. A solid training program is going to get you bigger and stronger faster than any supplement—period. Sadly, a lot of trainees have been brainwashed by bodybuilding magazines and the supplement industry.

But Kevin, can’t you get all kinds of training routines for free on forums? Yes, you can. But you often get what you pay for. Here’s the dilemma: most forums do have some really knowledgeable contributors. The same forums also have some complete idiots posting their routines and advice. Trust me—I’ve spent years on the forums and I’ve seen both.

Here’s another problem with “free” routines: the guys (or girls) posting these routines may not be doing what is best for the typical, genetically average trainee. You may just be following a routine posted by some guy who has exceptional genetics and some “pharmaceutical assistance” (steroids). This isn’t going to help you. You may be using a routine posted by some guy who has no real idea what he’s doing.

Yes, I do earn commission from these programs. But I honestly consider them to be good investments. Unlike other bloggers/websites, I don’t promote many supplements (that's how most of them make their money).  I just can’t do that with a clear conscience because I think most bodybuilding supplements are a complete waste of money (there are a few exceptions, but not many).

As I’ve said before, I really wish either one of these programs had been around twenty years ago when I first started training. I believe I would have seen faster results and wasted much less money on supplements.

OK, ranting and rambling is over. Now, let me get into the comparison:

Here’s what Muscle Gaining Secrets and No-Nonsense Bodybuilding Have in common:

*They are both good programs that work. For example: I have posted a video of a guy who put on 30 lb of muscle on Vince’s program.

*They are both designed for the average trainee that can spend three to four days in the gym.

*They both have a money back guarantee and a very low refund request rate. You can get your money back if you don’t like either program. But I have seen very few refund requests, which means people are generally happy with their purchase.

*They both include workout plans, ebooks, and menu plans that are very well designed and easy to follow.

*I've had email interactions with both authors (Vince and Jason), and they are both stand-up guys who have always treated me well.  

So, what’s the difference? Which one would I recommend?


I usually recommend Jason Ferruggia’s Muscles Gaining Secrets to friends who are beginners .

Here's the main reason: I've personally used some of Ferrugia's advanced programs (reviews linked below), so I can speak from personal experience as to their effectiveness. 
  
But just to be clear, No-Nonsense Muscle Building has its own strengths--the main one being the different types of media you get with the program (especially video content, webinars, etc).

You really can't go wrong with either if you are a beginner or relatively new to training.

Alternative Programs:

You may be an experienced trainee or have other goals besides building muscle.  Here are a few recommendations.


Women:

For women I'd recommend Flavia Del Monte's Full-Body-Licious program.

Fat Loss Programs:


You may be interested in reading my comparison of fat loss programs if you are more concerned with fat loss.  You'll notice I speak very highly of Vince Delmonte's fat loss program.  I actually think he "wins" in this category. 

Intermediate/Advanced Trainees:


If you are an intermediate/advanced trainee (over 2 years of training), I'd recommend completely different programs:

Don't Forget to Squat

I recommend Triple Threat Muscle if you are interested in mixing things up a bit and adding new elements to your weight training program (functional strength, fat burning, etc).

I recommend Minimalist Training if you are are looking for some simple but effective routines for strength and mass--this one has beginner, intermediate, and advanced programs (check out my review and learn how to get a special discount).


NOTE: Please use my links if you decide to try any of these programs.  You'll be supporting an honest voice in the fitness industry.

Feel free to email me if you have any questions.

Please visit StrongandFit at Facebook and click "like."

Razor-Sharp Abdominal Cardio Workouts (Free)

Needs some extra help getting that six pack?  Want a free copy of Vince Delmonte's 16 Week Razor-Sharp Abdominal Cardio Workouts? 

Just CLICK HERE.

This is a part of Vince's Your Six Pack Quest program--one of the programs I endorse here at Strongandfit.net.

You can read my review here:
Your Six Pack Quest Review

Weight Training for Women

Yesterday I had an email from a young woman asking about weight training for females.  She wanted to know if my website and the programs I endorse are just for men.

I explained that strongandfit.net is for anyone who wants fitness information--male or female.  I also told her male and female routines should be fairly similar. 

But there is something to keep in mind:  women tend to have more slow twitch/endurance fibers.  This is one reason they tend to like aerobics more than men. It's also one of the reasons (along with hormonal factors) that women don't tend to get as big and strong as men.  With this in mind, slight modifications can be made for female trainees in terms of weight training.


Here's a helpful quote from Muscle Gaining Secrets:

How should I alter the workouts if I am a female?

The MGS workouts are designed specifically for males but if a female wants to do them she should make the following changes:

• Add one set to every exercise in the main program. The beginner program can remain the same.

• Add one rep to the rep ranges. So if the rep range is 8-10 reps you would do 9-11. If the rep range is 4-6 you would do 5-7 and so on and so on. 

• Cut 180 second rest periods to 120. Cut 150 second rest periods to 90. Cut 90 second rest periods to 60. And cut 60 second rest periods to 45 seconds.

Females recover faster between sets and also tend to respond better to a slightly higher training volume than males do.  

One more thing I'll ad here for female readers: don't be afraid to lift weights.  Don't be afraid you'll look like one of those "shemale" bodybuilders (unless you take steroids, it isn't going to happen). Weight training is one of the best things you can do to transform your body. 

 Muscle Gaining Secrets is one of the programs I endorse. Just let me know if you have any questions about it. You can read my review here:  Muscle Gaining Secrets Review. 

Note--I've started endorsing a new program for women since writing this post: Flavia Del Monte's Full-Body-Licious

Triple Threat Muscle (3XM), Phase Two (training journal)

I'm now into the second phase of Jason Ferruggia's  Triple Threat Muscle.  

Yesterday I finished the first "cycle" of it.  Phase two consists of four workouts, but you are still only training 3x a week.  In other words, it takes more than a week to finish the four workouts (so I'll just call it a "cycle" instead of a week). 

This second phase has more "conventional" movements (bench press, squat, etc), so I'm a little more comfortable with it.  He allows longer rest periods for some of the lifts (thank God).  I think my cardio has improved because I don't seem to be struggling with the timed rest periods as much.

I'm still enjoying this program so I'll definitely finish phase 2.

Yesterday's workout (workout #4) started off with deadlift.  I ripped off one of the callouses on my right hand.  It hurts, but that's a rite of passage for deadlifting--not the first time this has happened to me.

Note: please use my links if you decide to try Triple Threat Muscle--you'll be supporting and honest voice in the fitness industry.  You can see my original review of 3XM here: Triple Threat Muscle Review.

Training Frequency for Maximum Muscle

How many times per week should you train? How often should you train a muscle? 

Before I answer, let me explain something: I’ve tried all kinds of different routines and programs, from Mike Mentzer’s “high intensity training” to German volume training. In other words, I’ve spent much of my training years being confused by the different philosophies. Some were more effective than others, and I’ve ended up with a pretty decent physique.

But I’m convinced I could have gotten bigger and stronger much faster if I had understood the best way to train for a natural lifter.

So let’s talk about training frequency. Generally speaking, you can train a muscle about once every 48 hours—about every 2-3 days. With this in mind, it makes sense to train a muscle 2-3 times a week. Training a muscle just once a week misses opportunities for growth. You could theoretically double (or triple) your progress just by using the correct frequency.

I’m not talking about working out six days a week like professional bodybuilders do. I’m referring to training three times a week with compound exercises and some overlap in the program design.

This is why I’ve said I wish Jason Ferruggia’s Muscle Gaining Secrets had been around 20 years ago when I first started working out. His program incorporates these principles for maximum muscle gains (you can read my review of Muscle Gaining Secrets by clicking here).

Burn the Fat Holy Grail Promo (Now through May 13)

The Holy Grail Promo is back: buy the Burn the Fat, Feed the Muscle ebook and get a free copy of The Holy Grail Body Transformation ebook ($47 value).

Venuto's work is solid, so I believe this would be a good investment.

NOTE: THIS OFFER IS NO LONGER VALID.  BUT YOU CAN CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE HOLY GRAIL BODY TRANSFORMATION PROGRAM. 

Shogun vs Couture?

Here's an interview with Mauricio Shogun Rua after his UFC 113 victory. He talks about fighting Randy Couture.

Shogun defeats Machida at UFC 113

UFC 113: Mauricio Shogun Rua avenged his previous controversial loss to Lyoto Machida to become the new light heavyweight champion.  Shogun was able to take down Machida in the first round and knock him out with punches from the mounted position.

Nutrition for Mixed Sports (MMA, Boxing, etc)

Lyle McDonald has a new product called Applied Nutrition for Mixed Sports.  This would be perfect for athletes such as mixed martial artists, boxers, etc.  Here's some information from the website:

Applied Nutrition for Mixed Sports examines the topic of nutrition for what are referred to as mixed sports. This includes almost all team sports along with many individual sports such as boxing, mixed martial arts and some track and field events.

Basically any sport that has requirements for both endurance and strength/power is considered a mixed sport. Because of the often odd nature of performance requirements, optimizing nutrition for these sports often presents problems that aren’t seen in either the pure strength/power or pure endurance sports.

The book, as well as the accompanying 2 DVD set, approaches the problem in an applied fashion building up the topic of nutrition from the ground up to present a comprehensive examination of how mixed sports athletes can optimize their nutrition.

This product started life as a seminar I did in Vancouver at Simon Fraser University in 2009 for their football and soccer teams on applied sports nutrition.  But rather than just slap the DVD together with the handouts and slides, I decided to write a complete stand alone book (derived primarily from the handouts).  Of course, the original DVD seminar is included along with the Powerpoint slides and the full package includes everything shown here.

Here's an excerpt from one of the videos:


This is a new product and I haven't had the opportunity to read/watch it.  But I've followed Lyle's writing for years and I recommend anything he writes or produces.  Just CLICK HERE to check it out.

The Truth About Abs Review

The Truth About Abs by Mike Geary: Review

I have to admit that I used to think The Truth About Abs was some kind of scam or gimmick. I’m a skeptical person—especially when it comes to fitness products. After seeing so many ads for it I figured it was some kind of trick.

Then I did a little more investigating and I realized it was pretty solid information. I started to market it here at Strongandfit.net, and it has become my #1 selling fat loss program. I’ve also had very few refund requests for it. It comes with a money-back guarantee, so buyers can change their mind if they aren’t satisfied. But so far I can only remember one such refund request.

I’ve finally had a chance to review the program, and I now understand why it is so successful—it’s the real deal. It isn’t some scam, fad diet, or gimmick. Geary simply lays out what is needed to have a lean physique.

Let’s talk about what you get when you order The Truth About Abs:

The Truth About Abs E-book: This is the centerpiece of Geary’s program. I’ll summarize it in two parts.

Diet: Mike Geary explains the basics of how to eat for leanness. He advises readers to eat a health balance of protein, fats, and complex carbohydrates while avoiding certain types of foods (like highly processed carbohydrates). I think he does an excellent job of explaining this—it is not overly complicated, but there’s enough information for you to use this e-book as a reference.

Exercise: Geary lays out a basic exercise plan for burning body fat and building muscle. He also explains why steady-state cardio (walking for hours on a treadmill) is often not the best strategy for getting lean. He recommends training 3-4 times a week, which is reasonable for most people (most of us have a full time job and can’t spend every day in the gym). The exercise plans are nicely illustrated—here’s a sample picture (barbell squat):

This e-book is a really good, basic blueprint for losing fat. I believe you will get lean if you follow Geary's plan.

This program also includes a few “bonuses” from other authors/trainers:

Advanced Abdominal Fat Burning Meal Plans: This e-book has some specific meal plans. It will give you more ideas on how to plan your meals.

The Dumbbell Bodyweight Fusion Program: This e-book is from the creators of Turbulence Training—great for those who want to train at home or work out with limited equipment.

Turbulence Training for Amazing Abs: Another Turbulence Training routine. As the name implies, this e-book is composed of abdominal routines.

I did disagree with Geary on a few points. First, he is kind of negative about low carb diets. I understand his concerns, but I think low carb diets can be very effective in some situations. I also don’t agree with him completely on the importance of 5-6 meals a day. While I think this strategy does have advantages, I’ve come to believe meal frequency isn’t that important (see my article entitle Meal Frequency for Fat Loss).

Conclusion:

The Truth About Abs is a cost-effective way to learn how to lose fat and get a lean, healthy physique.  I recommended it without hesitation.  Please use my links if you decide to try this program (just CLICK HERE).  You'll be getting a good deal and supporting an honest voice in the fitness industry.

One Final Note:

As far as I know, this program does not include video content.  If you are interested in a fat loss program with video content, try Vince Delmonte's Your Six Pack Quest.  It is more expensive, but it is also one of the programs I recommend.  But the bottom line is either one of these will work.

Just email me or comment here if you have any questions.

Training Journal: 5/7/09

My regular readers know I've been doing Triple Threat Muscle as my training program for the past few weeks. 

I've recently been completely out of the gym for almost two weeks.  The last time I've been out for more than one week was in '96, when I had a shoulder injury (I may write about it some day).  I didn't plan to be out for more than a week, but that's life.

I got back in the gym this afternoon and had a really good session.  I didn't really follow a specific workout plan.  I just did squats, bench press, incline press, calf work, and a few other things.  I imagine I'll be a little sore tomorrow, but training was easier than I thought it would be--it actually felt great.

I haven't decided what I'll do next week.  I may go into the second phase of Triple Threat Muscle.  But I might spend a few weeks doing a four day split (training 4x week) because I have a little more time that usual.

Nitric Oxide Booster Review (New Study)

I wrote a review of nitric oxide boosters a while back.   Here is a summary of that research:

*Actual research/testing of these NO supplements is “non-existent.”

*The primary ingredient of most NO supplements is L-arginine, which most of us already get plenty of through diet.

*Supplement companies often quote inappropriate research:
  1. The dosage (of L-arginine, for example) are often much lower in NO supplements vs research.
  2. The route of administration in much of the research was intravenous—not oral.

*The “pump” some get through NO supplements is likely caused by the sugar, which itself has a vasodilating effect.

*The only dietary supplement which has be scientifically proven to increase NO levels is Glycine Propionyl-L-Carnitine (GPLC). More research is needed to understand its usefulness for fitness/exercise.

A new study has come out, and here are the findings:

We compared Glycine Propionyl-L-Carnitine (GlycoCarn(R)) and three different pre-workout nutritional supplements on measures of skeletal muscle oxygen saturation (StO2), blood nitrate/nitrite (NOx), lactate (HLa), malondialdehyde (MDA), and exercise performance in men. Methods: Using a randomized, double-blind, cross-over design, 19 resistance trained men performed tests of muscular power (bench press throws) and endurance (10 sets of bench press to muscular failure). A placebo, GlycoCarn(R), or one of three dietary supplements (SUPP1, SUPP2, SUPP3) was consumed prior to exercise, with one week separating conditions. Blood was collected before receiving the condition and immediately after exercise. StO2 was measured during the endurance test using Near Infrared Spectroscopy. Heart rate (HR) and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) were determined at the end of each set. Results: A condition effect was noted for StO2 at the start of exercise (p=0.02), with GlycoCarn(R) higher than SUPP2. A condition effect was also noted for StO2 at the end of exercise (p=0.003), with SUPP1 lower than all other conditions. No statistically significant interaction, condition, or time effects were noted for NOx or MDA (p>0.05); however, MDA decreased 13.7% with GlycoCarn(R) and increased in all other conditions. Only a time effect was noted for HLa (p<0.0001), with values increasing from pre- to post-exercise. No effects were noted for HR, RPE, or for any exercise performance variables (p>0.05); however, GlycoCarn(R) resulted in a statistically insignificant greater total volume load compared to the placebo (3.3%), SUPP1 (4.2%), SUPP2 (2.5%), and SUPP3 (4.6%). Conclusion: None of the products tested resulted in favorable changes in our chosen outcome measures, with the exception of GlycoCarn(R) in terms of higher StO2 at the start of exercise. GlycoCarn(R) resulted in a 13.7% decrease in MDA from pre- to post-exercise and yielded a non-significant but greater total volume load compared to all other conditions. These data indicate that 1) a single ingredient (GlycoCarn(R)) can provide similar practical benefit than finished products containing multiple ingredients, and 2) while we do not have data in relation to post-exercise recovery parameters, the tested products are ineffective in terms of increasing blood flow and improving acute upper body exercise performance.

Quoted from the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition (emphasis mine).

So let's review the main points:

*With the exception of GlycoCarn (Glycine Propionyl-L-Carnitine), NONE of the NO supplements used did much of anything.

*None of the products (including GlycoCarn) significantly improved blood flow or performance.

Conclusion:
I still see no compelling reason to spend money on "nitric oxide boosters" for the goal of building muscle or increasing strength.

Alternatives:
I believe learning how to eat and train are much more important than supplements.

If you are a new trainee or "hardgainer" who wants to put on muscle I would recommend a program like Muscle Gaining Secrets or  Vince Delmonte's No-Nonsense Muscle Building. You can read my comparison of the programs if you are interested.

If you have been training for a while and want some new training method's I'd recommend Triple Threat Muscle.

Reviews--here are my reviews of the programs I've mentioned:

Muscle Gaining Secrets

No-Nonsense Muscle Building Review

Triple Threat Muscle Review

Note:  I do think L-arginine may have potential to improve sexual health/functioning when it's combined with another supplement.  You can learn more by reading Supplementation: Building Muscle Without Going Broke available free to all subscribers of this blog.  Just click here to subscribe and read my e-report.

5 Hour Energy Review

I occasionally use 5 hour energy drinks.  I'm guessing this is the most popular energy drink on the market.

What's so special about 5 hour energy?  To be honest--nothing.  Let's look at the ingredients:

It's basically a shot of caffeine, B vitamins, and a few other ingredients.  The energy lasts for about five hours because that is the typical half-life of caffeine.


The Bottom Line:


I think it is fine to use this product occasionally if you can tolerate caffeine.  Unlike many other energy drinks, 5 hour energy is not loaded with sugar.   But coffee and a b vitamin would be more cost effective and give you a very similar result.

Hilarious Fitness Video

Here's a gem from a few decades ago. From what I understand, she believes deep breathing and facial contortions are good for blood circulation.

Muscle Gaining Secrets Review (Jason Ferruggia)

A review of Jasson Ferruggia’s Muscle Gaining Secrets.

I’ve had the privilege of evaluating Ferruggia’s bodybuilding program. Before I give you my review, I'll tell you upfront that I make commission on the sale of this program.  But I only promote products I believe in.  Here's the standard I use: if I would recommend it to a friend or family member, I'll recommend it to my readers.  There are a lot of affiliate offers I turn down because they are scams and rip-offs.  Now, on to my review . .  .

About the author:

Jason Ferruggia is a highly sought after, world-renowned strength & conditioning specialist. Over the last 15 years he has personally trained more than 700 athletes from over 90 different NCAA, NFL, NHL and MLB organizations. He has also worked extensively with firefighters, police officers, military personnel, Hollywood stars and entertainers.

Now, let’s take a look of some of the program’s components:

Muscle Gaining Secrets: This ebook is the central component of the program. Ferruggia tells his own story of being a skinny kid (147 lb) even after spending years in the gym. The problem, he explains, was in his training—he was trying to imitate the training methods of professional bodybuilders (splitting his routine into six days a week, etc). He learned these methods just don’t work for genetically average, natural lifters.

Jason Ferruggia goes on to explain the Seven Critical Factors involved in designing a training program:
*Exercise Selection
*Training Volume
*Number of Reps Used
*Rep Speed
*Rest Intervals
*Training Session Length
*Training Session Frequency

Much of the ebook’s content is focused on explaining these seven factors and how to set up a program for maximum muscle gains. Ferruggia also discusses the different muscle groups and how to best train them (legs, back, etc). As a guy who has learned much through trial and error (20 years of it), I can tell you this program makes a lot of sense. This 147 page ebook is probably the best I’ve read in terms of helping you set up your training and nutrition. He covers all the basic questions a new trainee would have.

The Supplement Report: Ferruggia did an excellent job of exposing the supplement industry from a historical and personal perspective. He explains how the industry has scammed people of their hard-earned money with hype and steroid-using bodybuilders’ endorsements. Like me, he has made the mistake of spending way too much money on supplements. I sort of felt like I was reading my own story—I’ve fallen for some of the same scams (especially the ones that passed through in the 90’s). Ferruggia recommends a few cost-effective supplements (protein, creatine, etc) and encourages the readers to spend their money wisely. This report alone will save a new trainee hundreds of dollars.

Muscle Gaining Secrets Workout Guide: This is a four phase training manual and journal. It begins with a workout for beginners and progresses to more advanced routines. It is designed to be printed out and used as a training journal.

Muscle Gaining Secrets Meal Plans: There are nine different meal plans. Each plan is about ten pages’ worth of meals. The plans vary from 2,000 to 6,000 calories. You would simply select the one for your own caloric needs and use it as a guide.

Composition Tracker Software: A software that helps you track your progress.

The Exercise Database: This is a very well illustrated guide to how to properly do the exercises. Between the pictures and descriptions you shouldn’t have any trouble learning to lift properly.

10 Minute Muscle Meals: This is a nice addition to the program—quick, convenient, high protein recipes for meals and/or snacks.

Audio Interview (MP3): Ferruggia talks about his own fitness journey in this 45-minute interview. Once again I could related to this—he’s tried several different training methods through trial and error. He also answers questions about his training program (kind of an audio summary of the MSG ebook).

I really only found two things I disagree with:

First, Ferruggia doesn’t believe in the efficacy of Yohimbine HCL. I do think Yohimbine can help if the proper dosage and timing is implemented.

The second disagreement involves meal frequency. Ferruggia encourages trainees to eat six meals a day—every three hours. This is a controversial topic, but I’m not 100% convinced meal frequency is all that important. Having said that, I think most trainees will do much better eating at least four times a day. In other words, our advice would end up being similar: I would encourage trainees to try to eat 4-5 times a day but not fret too much over it (as long as you are getting enough protein and calories).

One final thing--Ferruggia recommends a specific brand of supplements.  I'm sure the brand he endorses is good, but be sure to shop around.  I just don't think it makes that much difference as long as you stick to the basics and use reputable brands.  

Conclusion:

Muscle Gaining Secrets is an excellent program and I think it is well worth the money. I really wish something like this had been available when I first started training. I would have wasted a lot less money on supplements and also wasted less time on inferior methods.  I think this would be especially helpful for beginners or "hardgainers" (you can see I mention some other programs below for more advanced trainees). 

If my review has helped you, please use my links to purchase this program. I only endorse programs I believe in and you’ll be supporting an honest voice in the fitness industry. Just CLICK HERE to check out the program.


NOTE: If you are an intermediate/advanced trainee I'd recommend trying one of Ferruggia's other programs, like Minimalist Training or Triple Threat Muscle.  These programs are designed for those who have been lifting for a while and/or already put on some muscle.

Monstermuscle.com (new affiliate)

I have a new affiliate: Monstermuscle.com

I've been buying stuff from them for years, so I'm really glad to have them as an affiliate partner. This is my store of choice for weightlifting belts, wraps, chalk, etc. Just click below to check them out.