Lou Ferrigno is probably best known for his work as The Hulk in the TV series of the same name. While the series had it’s high and low points, Ferrigno has always kept his body up to par throughout the years even after competitive body building, TV and movies. Steroids where never really a controversial thing with him. People knew he did them a long time ago, as did most, if not all of the bodybuilders of his generation. Whether he still does or not is unknown to me. One thing is for sure though, he has kept up with his physical condition and at 56 he still looks good compared to the most of the bodybuilders he competed with, even though he was much younger than most of them. He still stands at a solid 265 (lbs) at 6′5″. Lou now works out with his sons, Brent and Lou Jr. In November’s Muscle & Fitness Magazine there is a great editorial of Lou working out with his sons, as well as a brief history of Lou and what he does these days to maintain his muscularity. Below is Lou’s training split and exercise selections from the 1970’s and now. Notice that there is not a lot of difference, but he still takes his age into consideration when training as not to push himself towards injury.

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The other day I talked about Vitamin D and mentioned a few things about fat Soluble and water soluble vitamins. I’ve mentioned in the past the importance of a good multi-vitamin. Now I have found a great resource to learn the effects of deficiency and an excess of different vitamins. Bodybuilding.com has a sub-site for teens now called Teenbodybuilding.com. Of course you don’t have to be a teenager to learn from it.

While Vitamins and Minerals are essential to your diet, it is nice to know what a serious deficiency and large excess of each can do to your mental and physical health! Learn more.

Image Source: teenbodybuilding.com

I don’t know how many times I’ve said this, but Bodybuilding.com is one of the best sites for bodybuilding resources and information. Once again they have some great tips for Teenagers looking to start bodybuilding or just get in to great shape. I wish I had these kind of resources when I was younger.

The author of the article, Anthony Lee gives great tips and information on everything from planning your workouts to training proportionally and supplements. Below is the article summary, but if you want the real deal and know-how, click on the picture at the bottom. Parents, if your teen has an interest in getting fit, training for football or bodybuilding, this is a great place to start even if they have already started their own routine.

Article Summary:

Image Source: Bodybuilding.com

The infamous weightlifting belt. You see them worn at the gym and during competitions by weightlifters and bodybuilders. While most weightlifters and bodybuilders will swear by them that they help, a recent article in Men’s Health Magazine says that they really do nothing for you.

“Even if you don’t think weight belts look ridiculous (they do), you should know that there is no benefit to wearing lumbar support. After reviewing 15 trials involving some 15,000 people, Dutch researchers discovered no convincing evidence that weight belts help prevent or treat back injuries, If anything, wearing one of these guy girdles may give you a false sense of security about your ability to lift heavier loads. (A better back saving strategy: Learn proper weight-lifting techniques at Menshealthtrainer.com)”

Some weight-lifters will tell you that you should save the belt for heavy lifts and learn to not use the belt for lighter loads and strengthen your back. Personally I’m on the fence about this one. While I do agree that proper lifting techniques should be studied and learned, I also think that there has got to be some kind of benefit of the support of a weight belt. However, I’m not a professional trainer so I can not support my opinion with facts. What is your take on weight belts?

Quote Source: Men’s Health Magazine September 2008 Issue

Everyone knows that anything that includes move large heavy pieces of steel is going to be dangerous. It doesn’t matter if you’re a construction worker or a bodybuilder. So what is the best way to do this type of work without hurting yourself or someone else? You take the proper precautions and you use the proper methods to do such work. It’s not rocket surgery, but you still get people that just think they are Superman or want to be Superman.

RT over at Realmuscleonline.com writes a great article as usual on:

Gym Safety: The 5 Biggest Dangers of Weight Lifting

If you get a chance check out his post on The Hindu Push Up as well.

And for a laugh check out this obviously fake picture

In the past month I took on another blog and kind of got off track here at Health And Men. New month, so lets get back on to my previous format and get this ball rolling right again. What better way to do that than get back to the Tuesday Muscle Maintenance feature with Arnold Schwarzenegger.

In this “Arnold Says…”, Arnold talks about “The Fear Of Smallness”. Now this entire chapter of The new Encyclopedia Of Modern Bodybuilding goes further in depth about the “Fear Of Smallness”, but I can only give you a small excerpt that will give you a basic idea.

On “The Fear Of Smallness” Arnold Says…

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There are millions of health websites out there and some are just difficult to read. Between boredom and too much medical jargon it’s not easy reading a lot of them. Like most men, I like it simple to the point and interesting. Below are some of my favorite links and even some are on my blogroll. If you get a moment take a look at them.

Hot Medical News has a great variety of medical and health information and I love the layout of the page!

Bodybuilding.com is a great resource whether you’re trying to get bugg, be a competetive bodybuilder or just want to get in better shape via weight lifting, bodybuilding.com is great for information, forums, supplements, and work-outs.

Smallstep.gov is a site from the U.S. Department of Health and has a lot of important information that can be used children as well as adults. Dieting and nutritional information and a lot of little health tips.

Joel Fuhrman and Gerald Pugliese write for Diseaseproof.com. Not only are they exceptional writers with very interesting topics, they have experience in healthcare…unlike yours truly.

Addicted.com is a good resource for people with addictions or people who perhaps think someone else may have a addiction and want to help.

Lastly for everything Health and Wellness click the image or link below.

The Health & Wellness Feed

About 6 months ago I started a weekly feature here at Healthandmen.com called Arnold Says… Arnold Says is a feature where I take bits of information as I find fit from Arnold Schwarzenegger’s New Encyclopedia Of Modern Bodybuilding. The New Encyclopedia Of Modern Bodybuilding was put together by Arnold himself and is such a great book full of information for anyone that is interested in getting into the world of bodybuilding (Competetive or not) Weight Lifting or just getting a great work out. Of put together 5 links here of some of my favorite Arnold Says… posts. But if you ever want to read through all of them feel free to browse the “Arnold Says…” category listing to the right. Enjoy.

• Arnold Says you have to train your mind as well as your body
• Arnold Says Machines are important as are free weights in bodybuilding
• Negative Training is very important in development of the muscles
• Arnold Speaks of the importance of Protein Supplements
• Arnold gives you tips on what you may want to look for in a gym

Keep an eye out for future Arnold Says… features here at healthandmen.com.

Image Source: Amazon.com

Pumping Iron Poster
11 in. x 17 in.
Buy at AllPosters.com

This to me is probably one of the most important things to look for if you are looking for a gym. Unless you have your own home gym or the space to accommodate one you will need to find a gym that suits you if you are serious about bodybuilding or just lifting weights. Arnold brings up some great points in the excerpt from Arnold Schwarzenegger’s New Encyclopedia Of Modern Bodybuilding.

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This year has been crazy so far. I have not really worked out since January and mid towards the end of February I packed my weight bench and equipment up against the wall in my “Home Gym” and made it my little play area with guitars, amps and a small computer desk that I use when I want to get some blogging done or listen to music for reviews for my other blog. I know I’ve slipped quite a bit so I brought two 35 pound dumb bells to work with me in an effort to get some work out time in during breaks and lunch.

A co-worker told me that another co-worker could tell that I stopped working out and that I’ve gotten a bit smaller than what I was before. This tends to happen when you cycle off of creatineand you lose water weight and “puffyness” in your muscles. So during breaks today I threw the dumb bells around and I was feeling really good afterwards. Long, boring story short, hearing that a co-worker noticed change was all the motivation I need to get back into it. Guess I’m going to have to do some rearranging in my play room and make room for the weights again. I’m even working slightly different hours than I was before, so I think I will get back in the cycle of getting up earlier to work out. It’s time for me to get back in the groove of things.