Check out this week’s list of recommended strength and conditioning reading:

9 Hardgainer Training Myths: Part 1 and Part 2 – I thought this two-part series from Jason Ferruggia was excellent. It’s definitely something anyone who claims they “can’t put on size” should read.

Round Back Deadlifts – This was an EPIC blog post from Mike Robertson. Of particular interest to me was his commentary on getting your breath TWICE in an ideal deadlifting set-up. This is something I’ve always done – once standing, and once in the bottom position – and I suspect it’s had something to do with my deadlifting success over the years. Coincidentally, I pulled heavier earlier today and you can pick up on the two points at which I set my breath before the first rep: the 10-11 second mark and the 12-13 second mark.

As an aside, you can tell I was strongly considering taking this for a third rep. I had it in me, but decided not to be stupid today. I guess I’m getting wiser in my old age.

How to Eliminate Distractions from Your Strength and Conditioning Program – I wrote this post up last summer, and was reminded of it during a conversation I had with one of our adult clients. If you’re looking for strategies to improve your exercise adherence and the quality of your training, this post is a must-read for you.