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This mental approach is done for every single work set with a barbell. If you want to get good at singles, take some time to build your body. But you best have your mind ready to. Don't wait until the meet to practice. You have thousands of reps to practice; use them.

Not training for a specific sport allows a lot of freedom and is insanely easy to do. But like training for a sport, consistency and discipline are key to getting the job done.  Like I tell my athletes, "Strong legs, strong lungs!"

I never felt run down or beat up throughout any portion of this program...

And even though EliteFTS hosted training logs from different athletes all over the globe, the only way we really knew if something was real was meet time.  There was no social media to keep people updated or to showcase gym lifts; the proof was on meet day.  And Travis definitely lived up to expectations.  In other words, he wasn't all talk and no bite.

I love doing dips, although I'm 100% convinced they didn't help my bench press. I do think they helped my press, though.

Question: 

However, don't get too wrapped up in doing dips just to do dips - meaning there are a ton of great movements out there you can use for assistance work and still be awesome.

My response to a question regarding recovery:

I don't know how your surgery/back problems relate to mine but I'm going to assume that they are somewhat similar. I had trouble training, walking, sitting, sleeping... living. I had severe nerve impingement, sciatic pain and massive leg pain on both sides all the way down to the foot. However, it did give me a good excuse to fly first class...I just told me wife I needed more room. More room for free alcohol.

There seems to be a theme lately with people who are hurt/injured and can't do certain movements. Trust me, I know your pain.

In the last 13 weeks I also purloined the framework from Jim Wendler to construct THE strongest version of myself to date. Following a program outlined from his book I've been able to go Beyond what was once the outer reaches of my capabilities in the weight room. The ensuing words are not to recap my woes in the pursuit of adding more lbs on the bar than I have previously, its a recollection of the mindset awarded to me by having done just exactly that.

A few weeks ago, I did a Q/A on Instagram. Keep in mind that I asked that the questions be short/answers short - like most people I find typing on a phone ridiculous and impossible to write 16 week training cycles.  So I tried to be as precise with my answers as possible while not being so damn boring.

This is a classic case of an idea that works beautifully in theory but, at least in many cases, fails to pay off in the real world. The theory behind rack pulls is that they allow you to use more weight than you normally can handle in conventional deadlifts, which helps target  certain sticking points, namely the lockout position—a real sore spot for many lifters. Sounds good, huh?

The drama that is the Great Gear Debate is overwhelming. Powerlifting is one of the few sports where men will criticize what another man is wearing. I never thought powerlifting could end up on Bravo but it certainly looks like it might.

Are you saying you don't need to get slapped in the face before every set?

Listen, this is what I learned. When I was at the University of Arizona and Rob Waldrop, who was the Outland Trophy Winner (awarded to the best college football interior lineman), was squatting. This guy was insanely strong. That day he was squatting in the mid-600's for 7 or 8 reps, and he was just getting under the bar when some kid yells, "C'mon Rob, lets go man!"

Rob just stopped...