The Brain – Gut Connection (It’s Real)

By Dr. Doug Kalman, Nutrition Editor Have you ever had the experience of being asked to speak in front of a group of people and you suddenly felt your stomach getting tingly or nervous?   You’ve no doubt heard the expression “gut-wrenching” or “butterflies in the stomach”.   The truth is, The brain has a direct effect […]

A Digital Muscle Update: The 30 Day Report!

By Dan Solomon, Publisher Editorial /Content Team Expansion Continues! Superstore Set to Open Soon! Production Crew Preparing for Arnold Classic Webcast! Details for New Season of PBW Radio Coming This Week!   Well, it’s only been a month since we launched Digital Muscle and we’ve already eclipsed many of the goals our team originally set […]

My Love Affair with the Barbell

By Scott Iardella The barbell had me at “hello.” I have to admit that when I started training over 30 years ago, it was the “barbell bug” that bit me from the very beginning.  But the harsh reality was that I had no idea how to really use this powerful tool.  The benefits are significant […]

Are you EATING a good night’s sleep?

By Max Plasencia, Lifestyle Editor If you find yourself tossing and turning at night, struggling to fall (or stay asleep) you may need to re-consider your eating habits before bedtime. Several studies have found that eating less fiber, more saturated fat and more sugar is associated with lighter and more disrupted sleep. The studies are […]

The Brotherhood of Bodybuilding

By Dan “The Mayor” Dillon I just returned from a trip to Montanari Brothers Gym, one of the East Coast’s great gyms, and I’m not sure if I will ever sleep again.  For my friend Rob and I, this was our first trip to the New Haven based gym, and man was it impressive!! It […]

Kettlebells: For Size and Strength!

By Scott Iardella In this writer’s opinion, kettlebell training is revolutionary!  It’s revolutionary because it’s a very simple, bad ass training tool that offers many benefits.  After weight training for many years now, I definitely have a sense for what works and what doesn’t.  And my hope is that more people will discover how to use kettlebells […]

Maximizing Hypertrophy: The Scientific Variables – Part II

By Scott Iardella In Part I of my Maximizing Hypertrophy series, we talked about 3 of the most important training variables: volume, intensity, and exercise selection. These 3 are critically important to maximizing muscle building or the hypertrophic response.  If you implement these 3 appropriately, maximizing hypertrophy could be much easier, yet there are more considerations […]

Pregnant & Powerful

By Chaundra Tangi I competed as an IFBB Figure Pro since its inaugural year in 2001 and I’ve been personal training since 1999. As a natural competitor my form of training has always been heavy and intense in the weight room. I was born with only one kidney, so I’ve had to work twice as […]

Arnold Memories: From a Hardcore Fan!

By Dan “The Mayor” Dillon With the kickoff of a new IFBB pro bodybuilding season, it’s hard to believe that my love of bodybuilding has now lasted for more than 30 years!  The arrival of a new season always makes me reflect back on all the great times bodybuilding has given me and the anticipation […]

Tart Cherry Powder: An Ergogenic Aid?

By: Matt Weik In an effort to get one step ahead of the competition, athletes are always looking for the next best thing to allow them to recover faster and boost their overall performance. A study by Texas A&M University is showing Tart Cherry powder could be the answer to endurance athletes’ prayers. Let’s first […]

Stay in the Game….after 40!!!

By Chaundra Tangi For an old-school bodybuilder like me, it was a bit challenging to accept that my 41-year old body isn’t quite the same as my 25-year old body. When I began to seriously lift weights over 19 years ago, I had the mindset of a “smaller” athlete, one who had to lift heavy […]

The Fitness Field: An Insider’s Keys to Success in 2016

By Rob Ziruolo, Site Manager A new year is upon us, and once again it’s time to engage in the annual self-reflection that most of us embark upon this time of year.  Looking back, was it a good year?  Is your 2016 starting point a stronger position than where you stood a year ago?  Did […]

Straight Talk for the New Year!

By Roger Lockridge How often have you logged on to your Instagram, Facebook or Twitter, seen the images or videos of some jacked dude or a hottie looking amazing, and thought to yourself “What I would give to look like that”? Perhaps you’ve aspired to make it onto a competitive stage, or to try your […]

Cardio for Muscle Contraction?

By Ben Pakulski Most people jump onto a cardio machine with the desired end result of ‘getting their heart rate up’, or maybe to ‘get their body temperature up to burn some calories’.  Sound familiar? Of course it does. Basically, we’re all looking for the most effective and efficient way to shed a few pounds […]

Joint Supplements: Not Exciting….but Necessary!

By: Matt Weik If you’re anything like me, you get excited to take your joint and bone support supplements every day (can you smell the sarcasm?). I keep them next to my bed on the nightstand so I can wake up to the bottle every morning.  You know what I’m talking about, right?  It’s exciting […]

Macros, Food Choices & Long-Term Success!

By Nicole Cress The Beauty Blog Have you ever wondered how many times a day you make choices about food? For some people, the way they eat reflects their way of life. Most people struggle when it comes to dieting because they correlate the word diet with deprivation. Often, they eliminate certain foods because they […]

Olympia 101: What You Need to Know (Weekend Primer)

By Ruth Silverman Managing Editor It’s called the Olympia, and many who reside outside of the fitness industry have only a vague idea, if any, of what goes on at the humongous bodybuilding and fitness weekend that takes place in Vegas each September. If you’re new to the bodybuilding scene, or just curious, here’s some […]

Lifestyle Choices and Cancer Risk

By: Matt Weik In May 2016, two new studies were published that touched on cancer risks and lifestyle choices. While it should come as no surprise and I’m sure I’m preaching to the choir, what you do and the choices you make every day can affect your chances of getting cancer. Too much time in […]

Anger, Disbelief & Friendship: Lessons From a Major Injury

By Shandy Ortiz The Beauty Blog Initially, the feeling was similar to what a racehorse must feel after it’s been retired and put out to pasture. I remember thinking, “That was it?” Everything I was working so hard for, and just like that, it was over?  The grind that I had pushed through—hour by hour, […]

Jessica’s Contest Prep: Saying Goodbye to Cheat Meals! (7 Weeks Out)

By Jessica Gilmartin The BeautyBlog by BeautyFit  By the time you read this, I’ll be in the last seven weeks of my contest prep before I hit the stage at the “Iron Man Naturally” on October 1. I am doing everything I absolutely should be doing at this point and starting to feel more fatigued […]

Fit Recipe: Herbal Dynamite (Salad Dressing)

By Ruth Silverman, Managing Editor Who doesn’t love a big, crisp salad? Whatever your pleasure when it comes to dressings, nothing’s better than a bowl of crunchy lettuce and salad veggies to balance out a savory meal. And if you’re on a diet, filling up on salad with lower-calorie dressings is a great tip. When […]

PBW Bodybuilding Radio (6/15/16) Chad and Tony

Two of the bodybuilding world’s top insiders, Chad Nicholls and Tony Doherty, come together on this all new edition of bodybuilding talk radio. Visit the show online at www.DigitalMuscle.com (Use the player link below to listen) Brought to you by PBW Show PublisherThe Pro Bodybuilding Worldwide Radio Show, bodybuilding’s radio voice, is presented by DigitalMuscle.com. Created in […]

Technology Update: The “Shop Well” App is a Must!

By: Matt Weik With so many apps on smartphones these days it almost seems like our phones aren’t only running our lives, but they’re also allowing us to get complacent and lazy as they do a lot of our work for us. Now there’s a new app. This one actually to helps you make better […]

Soy Story: Dr. Kalman Reveals What You Need To Know!

By Douglas Kalman PhD, RD, FACN Nutrition Editor “Soy”, just saying that word, the shortened descriptor for a healthy legume in some circles, can get you in trouble. Can you imagine that? For the past twenty or so years, soy has been thought predominately as a “female” protein. A protein source that was to solely […]

Fit Recipe: Crispy Peanut Butter Swirl Bars!

From the Kitchen of Robyn Maher I know they look sinful, but these Peanut Butter Swirl Bars are actually very healthful. Unlike traditional recipes for crispy rice bars, mine gets its fats from beneficial sources, such as natural peanut butter and coconut oil. Peanut butter is made up of mostly monounsaturated fat, and coconut oil […]

Never Settle!! The Great Ones Never Do.

By Roger Lockridge Who are your favorite sources of inspiration? Do you look up to people like Schwarzenegger, The Rock, Stallone? Regardless of who your personal idol is, if you take the time to analyze these incredibly successful people, you’ll see that they all have one thing in common. They never settled. They never sat […]

Muscle Beach Retro!

By Ruth Silverman Managing Editor Ah, Venice! And by that I mean Venice, California, a seaside section of Los Angeles where you can go from funk to fine dining just by turning a corner. The famed Ocean Front Walk is still the eclectic, Bohemian stroll it was when I arrived here many moons ago, and […]

Controversial Ingredient: 1,3-Dimethylamylamine (A Closer Look)

By Matt Samansky Supplement Review Editor In 2006, USP Labs unleashed Jack3D, a product now revered among the best of supplement lore. Why was this pre-workout so popular and what made it so effective? Its success was attributed to its incorporation of an ingredient known as 1, 3-Dimethylamylamine. Put simply, 1, 3DMAA is an extremely […]

Thinking of Competing? Nancy Noreman Talks Budget!

By Nancy Noreman How much does it cost to compete in your first amateur physique show? In the beginning, ignorance is bliss, but it can cost you!  Spending big bucks won’t guarantee you the winning trophy, and there are ways to cut expenses, especially when you are beginning your competition journey. You can spend as […]

A Gun Show…For Girls!

By Nicole Cress “Welcome to the gun show!” – Yeah, we’ve all heard that expression. Summertime is here, and that means tank-top season – time to show off those shapely arms you’ve worked so hard for! I have to say that I am proud of my baby biceps! How did I get them? For one […]

Nutrition Labels. More Changes Coming?

By: Matt Weik Not too long ago I wrote an article about how the nutrition labels found on packaging could soon have “exercise equivalents” on them.  The reason for this addition is to make people aware of how much someone would have to exercise in order to burn off a serving of whatever product they […]

Understanding Branched Chain Amino Acids

By Matt Samansky Supplement Review Editor BCAA’s have been a staple of the supplement industry since the turn of the century! For the sake of getting scientific, amino acids are the building blocks of proteins. As you chew on your chicken breast, not only are you ingesting dozens of grams of proteins, but thousands of […]

Supplement Review: Xtend by SciVation

By Matt Samansky Supplement Review Editor In an industry where copycat products flood the market, how many can say they were the first of its category to hit your shelf? Xtend by SciVation holds that distinction as the first branched-chain amino acid supplement to market. If you missed my introduction to branched-chain amino acids where […]

The Beauty and Fitness of Hawaii

By Magda and Paul Wilk Hi Guys and welcome back to our fit travel blog! As many of you already know we love to travel. We combine the love of fitness and travel and we organize fitness vacations. We always go to exotic places where conditions are ideal for different fitness activities. Today we want […]

Are the Animals Taking Over the Protein Market?

By: Matt Weik Exercisers around the United States are constantly shopping for a quality source of protein to use post workout. What they usually grab is a tub of their favorite flavor of whey protein from a manufacturer they trust.  Whey has been used for a very long time, giving the consumer the protein requirements […]

The “Hit the Road” Workout!

By Gigi Amurao Everybody travels. We jet-set here and there for leisure, for work, to see friends and family, or just to explore the world. It can be anything from a short getaway to weeks or even months away from home. No matter the length of time or the reason for our travel, one thing […]

Fit Recipe: Skinnier Guacamole

From the Kitchen of Robyn Maher Guacamole!!! A delicious dip that enhances any meal or summer barbecue. If you enjoy it too much, though, the calories from fat can add up quickly. Mixing garbanzo beans with the avocado in this recipe solves that problem. You can’t taste them, and the texture is great because you […]

Are Allergy Meds Killing Your Gains?

By: Matt Weik Yes, you read the title correctly. Your over-the-counter allergy meds could actually be diminishing your potential muscle gains.  Now don’t read this and say “I don’t care how bad I feel, I’m not taking any medication for my allergies.”  That’s not what this article is all about, nor does it make sense […]

There’s Only One Comparison That Matters

By Roger Lockridge Over the course of my nearly two decades in the fitness world, I’ve offered support to countless men and women, helping many reach their goals.  Something nearly everyone has in common is that someone inspired them! Whether it’s a celebrity, fitness industry star, or a successful person in their own hometown, someone inspired […]

Can Exercise Benefit Concussion Recovery?

By: Matt Weik When you think of concussions and other brain injuries, you generally think about contact sports like football to be the cause. While this is true, concussions can happen to anyone without having to get hit by a 285-pound linebacker.  A car accident, falling down and hitting your head, and several other “accidental” […]

Can You Keep Up With Karina? (Video)

Digital Muscle’s Karina Nascimento provides a look at one of her workouts in this new video. Produced by Kevin Ostajewski Visit the Digital Muscle Training Blog for More Great Content! Karina NascimentoA highly decorated Brazilian born physique champion, Karina Nascimento lights up stages around the world with her trademark swagger and world class physique. A […]

Report: The World Congress on Anti-Aging

By Dan Solomon Publisher Last weekend in Hollywood, Florida, I had the rare privilege of attending the World Congress on Anti-Aging & Regenerative Medicine, a pioneering organization co-founded by Dr. Bob Goldman. The anti-aging movement is the fastest growing segment of the global health & wellness industry, but more importantly, its impact on conventional medicine is immeasurable. […]

Fit Recipe: Spicy, Simple, N’awlins BBQ

By Ruth Silverman, Managing Editor Memorial Day was the unofficial ready-set-go for the summer barbecue season. Big parties, small parties, spur-of-the-moment get-togethers—there will be many opportunities to indulge, as Gigi Amurao pointed out in her helpful blog on avoiding temptation this summer. One way to keep the temptations to a minimum at a party is […]

Hardgainer Myth: No, You Can’t Eat Everything!!

By Evina Del Pizzo One of the biggest struggles I’ve had my whole life has been with food. With sports requiring me to eat more, and fashion modeling requiring me to eat less, I couldn’t help noticing that food was the common denominator affecting my weight. There’s a big misconception about the way ectomorphs eat. […]

Karina Nascimento Joins DigitalMuscle.com

DigitalMuscle.com, the fitness industry’s rapidly growing media hub, is pleased to announce the arrival of Karina Nascimento to its growing team of fitness minded personalities. The Brazilian born physique champion has spent the last decade lighting up stages around the world with her trademark swagger and world class physique. Karina joins Digital Muscle as part of Phase […]

Iso-holds: A Secret Weapon for Building Upper-Body Bikini Curves

By Evina Del Pizzo What’s the best workout for building nice, full but chiseled arms? My mentors usually gives me a quick look and giggle when I ask that question. Mostly the answer has been, “Time and consistency.” Looking back on what I’ve learned about training for my ectomorph body, it was partly the right […]

Fit Destination: South Beach!!!

By Magda & Paul Wilk Hi Guys and welcome back to our fitness and travel blog. Today we’re visiting Miami Beach, a city where fitness is visible everyhwere, a place where you’ll find fit people of all ages! It’s not unusual to see a senior citizen here with a visible six pack! Most people on […]

Avoiding the Summer BBQ Trap!

By Gigi Amurao Warmer weather is finally upon us! It’s time to clean out the pool, break out the grill, and get ready for those summer barbecues, starting with Memorial Day at the end of this month. Summer is for relaxing, basking in the sun, and spending time with family and friends, and it brings […]

Fit Recipe: Spicy Thai Chicken Salad

From the Kitchen of Robyn Maher I love to travel! In addition to the incredible sights I see and the fascinating people I meet, I enjoy the interesting and flavorful new foods that I discover when I make my way around the globe. One of my favorite cuisines is that of Thailand. I love their […]

Bigger. It’s Not Always Better

By John Hansen I recently interviewed an IFBB professional bodybuilder named Santiago Aragon about a decision he made to switch from the “Under 212lb” bodybuilding division to the new Classic Physique division.  Santi, who earned his pro card at the 2014 NPC Nationals as a Welterweight, had just made his pro debut at the Miami […]

Hope for Hardgainers!

From day one, in whatever I did, I’ve always been the token tall, skinny girl—but that’s never stopped me from achieving my goals. My introduction to the weight room came in high school, as with so many of us, through organized sports. I would lift and lift and lift, but gains were hard to come […]

Holiday Reminder: 40 Reasons to Keep Exercising!

By Shandy Ortiz The Beauty Blog Presented by BeautyFit The holiday season is entering the home stretch, and sugar and butter are still the stars of every food platter. With the hustle and bustle of the holidays, some things do have to be put off for later, but your exercise routine shouldn’t be one of […]

My Road to the Stage!!! (10 Weeks to Go)

By Jessica Gilmartin I’m almost 10 weeks out from my show in October and I feel like a sculptor slowly chiseling away the fat. The process of getting to the stage isn’t brand new to me; however, this time my approach is very different and much more intentional. I am feeling high energy, but I’m […]

What’s Your Risk Factor Score?

It’s a bottom line for fitness enthusiasts and athletes: everyone needs to have a baseline of fundamental human movement. Let me tell you about the Functional Movement Screen—why it makes sense and how it can potentially help reduce the risk of injury for athletes, strength enthusiasts, and recreational exercisers at all levels. The FMS was […]

50 Ways to Thrash Body Fat

By Dr. Doug Kalman, Nutrition Editor Whether you’re a competitive athlete or you just like the lean look, keeping your body fat in check may help to extend your lifespan.  I’ve put together a few tips, 50 to be exact, to help you thrash body fat, and in the process, help you to live life […]

Structuring a Diet for Fat Loss

By Ben Pakulski Question:  “How do you structure a diet for fat loss? Diet structuring for fat loss is a very popular and often misunderstood topic.  There are many different approaches and methods, such as maintaining a constant deficit by simply adjusting as plateaus are reached, or a calorie/carb cycling routine. I think the first […]