🏋️‍♂️ how to get seriously strong after 40

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Here’s what to expect in today’s newsletter:

• How to start powerlifting when you’re over 40.

• The pros and cons of stim and non-stim pre-workout formulas.

• Do squats actually boost testosterone?

Powerlifting

Strength Booster

Getting serious about powerlifting in your 40s probably came from a different motivation than doing so in your 20s, but the benefits of starting a program may be even greater as you get a little older. If you need a primer for powerlifting once you hit 40, BarBend has you covered.

As your body starts to slow down and lose muscle mass, heavy lifting (with a purpose) can help keep healthy mass and bone density on your frame for years to come. Still, there are some specific precautions and strategies you need to adhere to when selecting the lift and intensity ranges you will be training in.

Respect the process, and go lift some weight with the tips below.

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Supplements

A Case of the Zoomies

Pre-workouts are among the most popular supplements on the market. And when you’re selecting which brand works best for you, you’ll need to decide whether to go with a high-stim formula or a no-stim supplement.

Stimulants like caffeine are vital to many pre-workouts, but not everyone likes feeling fidgety as they try to hit a PR on the bench. If you opt for non-stim varieties, you’ll find your powders filled with muscle-endurance-boosting beta-alanine and nitrous oxide to help you push those few extra pounds. 

There’s a lot to dig into, so we’ve taken the liberty of looking at the science behind both sides in order to help you find your pre-workout sweet spot below.

Exercise Science

You Anabolic, Brah?

Informally, an exercise like the squat is described as “anabolic” based on the supposition that it leads to increases in muscle-building hormones like testosterone.

Squats are thought to be more anabolic than other movements because they involve a large number of individual muscles — but how anabolic is it, really? Does the testosterone boost from squatting actually lead to a systematic long-term increase of muscle-building T in the body? Let the science be your guide as we walk you through one of weight training’s most enduring urban legends.

Everything Else

The Best Lift You’re Not Doing

• Rack pulls have been extensively used by some of the world’s greatest lifters to pile muscle onto their back and increase their body’s tolerance for heavy loads. Discover the magical, barbell-ruining world of rack pulls for yourself.

• Meal prep companies have burst onto the scene almost as profoundly as daily fantasy football betting sites. Save yourself some time while remaining confident in your macro profile with meals from these eight companies.

• Phillip Herndon recently wrapped his knees, strapped on his single-ply squat suit, and set an all-time record in a contest sanctioned by the IPA. Watch it here.