The Body Issue 2011

Just recently, ESPN put out its annual Body Issue; an issue of their magazine dedicated to showcasing a bunch of athletes sans clothing.

Alicia Sacramone. Let's deadlift together?

I look forward to this issue every year. Why? I think it is an amazing way to show the general public (especially women) what your body is capable of looking like if you forget about aesthetics and focus on getting strong. What do all of these athletes have in common? They are all at or near the top of their respective sports. They all train their bodies to be strong, mobile and resilient. I'm willing to bet that none of these people spend their time on the Cybex Circuit when they go to the gym. They sure as hell aren't spending 45 minutes on the Arc Trainer trying to burn 350 calories.

Take a look at the women in this issue; not a single one among them are "big and bulky". Every one of them is a prime example of what a strong sexy female looks like. I applaud them.

Hope Solo

How do they train? Well, I'm not their trainer so I can't say for sure. But I'm pretty confident that they spend quite a bit of their time with a barbell or dumbbell in their hands, throwing medicine balls, sprinting and pushing or dragging weight sleds.

Yes, you can make the case that these elite level athletes are genetically different than you or I are. They have certain physiological attributes that make them elite. Too, their job is to train and be in amazing shape. You might be saying "well, if those are the differences, why should I bother training like them?" Training like a bodybuilder is no different, their lives also revolve around their training and eating. And steroids. Copious amounts of steroids. Why do I see so many Joe Schmoe's at the gym doing endless sets of bicep curls and tricep kickbacks then? 

Using compound exercises and sprints gets results. You gain muscle, lose fat and change your body composition. With the proper mobility work, you'll move and feel better too. That sounds good, doesn't it?

For the guys out there saying "Oh, well those elite level female athletes aren't very big", I suggest checking out St. Louis Ram's running back Stephen Jackson and deciding if hypertrophy is possible from a steady diet of strength and power training.

Beast Mode

Yeah...that's what I thought. Get strong and good things will happen to your body.

Go do your deadlifts, please.