Frequently Asked Questions

I'm looking to gain as much muscle mass as possible, should I be taking a weight-gain supplement?
I have found that when I do dips, I experience a lot of pain in my shoulders, is there anything else I can do to train my pecs and triceps as productively?
Do you have any future projects planned like another book?

I'm looking to gain as much muscle mass as possible, should I be taking a weight-gain supplement?

Many bodybuilders play with this idea once or twice. And it is a reasonable idea. But, if you are training properly, i.e. progressively with compound exercises and allowing sufficient recovery time, then you should just increase your calorie intake through whole foods. But if it is a matter of an inability to consume enough calories through whole foods do to comfort, then a weight-gain supplement would be excellent to add to your already balanced diet.

I have found that when I do dips, I experience a lot of pain in my shoulders, is there anything else I can do to train my pecs and triceps as productively?

I too have been one of those many individuals that believed Dips to be the most productive triceps and pectoral exercise. But I have learned, with the brilliant work of Bill DeSimone, that not only is the dip not the best pectoral exercise available, but that it is damn near useless and dangerous (unless modified to be performed in a semi bench press style). The bench press (eating my own words) is actually the best exercise for stimulating the pectorals. The link I will add at the end with send you to a video of Bill demonstrating and explaining how to perform the bench press properly. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYkdQ-yCa9U

Do you have any future projects planned like another book?

I am planning on future studies that may lead into another book...but I am not sure. ...I will only publish another book if I have something important to say. And while my first book is not belabored with technical detail after technical detail, it explains that the fundamental imperative of every trainee, beginner or advanced, should be the basics: Very demanding movements, brief, infrequent enough to continue to progress every workout, and intense. If during my future research I learn something of particular interest I will attempt to share it...but I will not turn into a money grabbing author who publishes the same damn book over and over. If your concern is about what are the physiologic mechanics of the body in terms of its reaction to high intensity training I honestly suggest you consult John's and Dr. Doug Mcguff's new book Body by Science. And while I do not agree with their recommendations of the manner in which to perform their recommended exercises, the science and research behind it is unequivocal and damn near undeniable.