The Thinking Lifter

Welcome to the Thinking Lifter!

This blog will attempt to explore some of the finer points of lifting weights, bodybuilding, powerlifting, strength sports, training athletes, nutrition, and the supplement industry. From time to time, it may range into other topics that interest me, but it will always revolve around the iron.

Before I begin posting any real meat, an introduction to your humble blogger is probably in order. In terms of my lifting credentials, I'm a former INBF collegiate national bodybuilding champion (2001, middleweight division) who has also spent time training as a powerlifter and an athlete. I'm a former Gold's Gym personal trainer and the author of several fitness articles, one of which--"The Ten Commandments of Getting Cut"--has been making its way around the Web for over a year. I can't claim I'll always be right, but I can promise that whatever I say will be based on real experience under the bar, along with research, reading, and conversations with great minds in the field.

Outside of lifting, I've got an MA in English and have worked as a freelance and technical writer for the past 2 1/2 years. I'm a voracious reader and an avid movie buff, and you'll probably see me referring to books and films to illustrate points or introduce topics. I may even make a couple of dreaded "recommendations" posts.

I also want to explain the philosophy of this blog a bit. My training philosophy is simple: do what works. That means that I'm neither especially pro- or anti-HIT, volume, olympic lifts, or anything else. Everything works, nothing works forever, and nothing works equally well for everyone or for all goals.

My nutrition philosophy is also simple: eat whole foods, eat your veggies, get your protein, get your essential fats, and don't restrict your eating any more than you have to. Your diet is supposed to enhance your quality of life, not detract from it. Moreover, I believe in setting lifelong patterns of healthy eating as opposed to diets in the traditional sense, except for a bodybuilding competition or a contest with weight classes.

Finally, this blog is meant to be a dialogue. I'll allow new comments on posts, but please respect the rules of the blog: no profanity, no flaming, and please keep it on-topic. Otherwise, we'll have to hold dialogue through reprinted e-mails, and that's less fun for everyone.

I'm looking forward to discussing training with you!