Moose was 17 years-old when I met him. And already over 200 pounds. Kind of chubby, yes, but certainly not fat. He was just… big. He was Moose. A ferocious college linebacker. Strong and intimidating, successful and popular. Moose was pushed to the weight room early and responded fast, weighing 265 pounds before his 22nd birthday. When he walked down the hallway even the faculty made room. “Here...

Years ago I was asked to track down the winners of the original EAS Physique Transformation Challenge. While the Phillips brothers had long since moved on and EAS faded into mass market purgatory, the contest itself might ring a bell -- the winners were featured in the original Body of Work movie. There were 10 contestants as I recall, and I was able to get a hold of 8 or 9 of them in a weekend....

Is Fat Beautiful? I wasn’t looking for Tess Holliday. But there I was, checking her out anyway. At a size 22, Tess Holliday (real name Tess Munster) is the biggest plus-sized model to ever sign a major modeling contract. I only know this because that’s what the click bait headline said. The one that brought Ms. Holliday and her accompanying shit storm to my attention. I should qualify: things...

You’re not that busy. It's not a lack of focus or willpower. And it’s definitely not due to some nefarious medical condition. No, the reason you’re fat is because you’re stupid. Yes, stupid. A moron, a fool, a slack-jawed mouth-breather. Or dumb as a post, if you prefer insults be analogies. Harsh? Hey, I was on your side. I had your back, love handles and all. I defended you on social media. I...

I guess I’m weird. I love the New Years resolution thing. It takes courage to say, even privately, “I’m not happy with myself. I need to do better.”  It shows humility and self-awareness. Qualities I respect and admire, especially when much of the world measures worth in followers and Facebook likes. For that reason, I get a kick out of the newbies getting after it in the gym every January. They...

I'll never be rich. I’m not proud of that statement. It’s certainly not part of some happy-smiley affirmation that I recite every morning while waiting for my Eggos to toast. But it’s a fact: the Buffets, Zuckerbergs, and Gates of the world needn’t worry. I won’t be running them out of the pages of Forbes anytime soon. And I really don’t care. I’m thinking of this today, in the midst of a sunny...

I’m a thief. Cause I’ve stolen everything I know about building a muscular body. I haven’t invented or discovered a damn thing. Zilch. Nor have I conducted any experiments, published any papers, and certainly haven’t been subject to peer review, unless you count the post workout posedowns I “used” to have with my bros in the locker room. But what I have been is exceptionally observant and...