This is a great photo of Lee Haney at his peak, flexing his peak—the perfect shot and bodybuilder to usher the 100th edition of our Zen series. What a flawless physique—small waist, wide shoulders, every muscle developed perfectly.… [Read more…]
Moment of Bodybuilding Zen 95: Lee Haney Relaxed Mass Perfection
This is a great photo of Lee Haney at his peak, standing relaxed outside. Absolutely flawless mass. Imagine him holding a leash with a poodle at the end. Like a moving sculpture in a Speedo out walking his dog. LOL… [Read more…]
Moment of Bodybuilding Zen 91: Frank Zane Gym-Muscle Perfection
Frank Zane wasn’t the biggest bodybuilder of his era, but what a physique. He won the Mr. Olympia weighing around 190 at 5’9”. And 40 years later, the physique he displayed way back then is still considered an ultimate ideal by many, us included… [Read more…]
Moment of Bodybuilding Zen 83: Lee Labrada’s Mass Secret
Lee Labrada never won the Mr. Olympia, but he got close due to his incredible symmetry, proportions, and muscle size and density—“Mass With Class.” His physique was a work of art…
You can see that from this out-and-about photo by Michael Neveux of Lee in archer mode… [Read more…]
Moment of Bodybuilding Zen 67: Arnold Art vs Mass
A few Zens ago, we mentioned Arnold’s ability to look shockingly massive or aesthetically sculpted. See the comparison photos… [Read more…]
Major Muscle Mass with Lighter Weights
Q: I tried your 4×10 method on every exercise, and I’m amazed. The pump was incredible and my nervous system didn’t feel so hammered at the end of my workout as it has in the past. My question is, shouldn’t I do at least one warmup set on the more dangerous exercises, like squats?
A: In theory the first set or two in a 4×10 sequence should be a sufficient warmup. That’s because you use a weight you could get 15 reps with, but you only do 10. And you use that same poundage all the way through… [Read more…]
Moment of Bodybuilding Zen 61: Bob Paris Sculptor
We gravitate back to Bob Paris in our Zen newsletter often because he had one of the most perfectly proportioned physiques to ever grace a bodybuilding stage… [Read more…]
Muscle Size for Skinny Guys
Q: I’m having a really hard time putting on any muscle weight. I’m 6’1” and weigh 165. I just can’t seem to get much progress. I’m using your POF X-Rep program but have only gotten okay results in the first month, and I’m working it pretty hard. It’s frustrating when I see other guys who can get big fast while I’m a 26-year-old guy who can’t seem to make much progress. Do you have any suggestions to help?
A: Everyone’s genetics are different (plus, you may not know who’s getting pharmaceutical help). The bottom line is that you may not be perfectly suited for putting on muscle fast; however, with consistent hard training you should be able to transform your physique. Keep in mind that most bodybuilders only add about 10 to 15 pounds of muscle per year, which is about one pound a month… [Read more…]
Moment of Bodybuilding Zen 51: Rare Arnold Pic
Here’s a rare shot of Arnold, one we can’t recall ever seeing. We’re not sure who took it, but our friend the late Gene Mozee could be the photographer, as he shot Arnold at his biggest mostly outdoors.
In this shot, Arnold’s mass looks unreal, and his few flaws are well disguised… [Read more…]
Our At-Home Mass Workouts (what we’re doing)
Back in the 1990s, Steve’s very first book was titled Iron Man’s Home Gym Handbook. Looks like we’ve come full-circle. At the moment, there’s no place like home—or nowhere else to train but home…
Like most iron men and women, we’re at home with limited equipment. Luckily, our decades of bodybuilding experience have resulted in multiple mass-training tactics and moves to keep gains coming. Here’s Steve’s report on what he’s doing in his bare-bones pump-atorium. [Read more…]