The Write Spotters

My Latest On Muscle & Fitness

The fasted workouts for fat loss have been around for a while and still do the rounds.

You know why?

People get confused about fat burning and fat loss. You'd think they would be the same thing, but they are not.

Here, with the help of a few coaching friends, we'll deep dive into whether fasted workouts really lead to more fat loss.

https://www.muscleandfitness.com/workouts/workout-tips/fasted-workouts-for-fat-loss-does-working-out-on-an-empty-stomach-really-burn-more-fat/

Thanks to Jeff Tomko and the contributing coaches for finally putting this one to bed. Night night.

Coach Shane

Fasted Workouts for Fat Loss: Does Working Out on an Empty Stomach Really Burn More Fat? - Muscle & Fitness Does fasted cardio actually help you lose more body fat? Experts break down the science behind fasted workouts, fat burning, muscle retention, and whether training before breakfast is worth it for men looking to get lean.

MY LATEST ON Muscle & Fitness

Forearm size and strength are big factors for grip strength. Many exercises rely on grip strength, so doesn't it follow that you need to train the forearms more than you are now?

Not everyone can crack open a can of spinach, but this is the ultimate guide for building rope forearms. All the information you need at your fingertips.

You're welcome.

https://www.muscleandfitness.com/workouts/workout-tips/the-forearm-training-guide-build-bigger-forearms-grip-strength-and-stronger-wrists/

Thanks for reading, and to Jeff Tomko for his editing skills.

Coach Shane McLean

The Forearm Training Guide: Build Bigger Forearms, Grip Strength, and Stronger Wrists - Muscle & Fitness Want bigger forearms and crushing grip strength? Learn the best forearm exercises, grip training methods, and wrist-strengthening workouts to build size, improve lifts, and prevent injuries.

My Latest On Muscle & Fitness

Some exercises are written off as useless; lifters scream it all over the internet, and then everyone follows.

Except me today.

The Pec Deck is one of those exercises. In my latest, I'll dive into why it's great for muscle and bust some myths about free-weight versus machine training.

You're welcome

https://www.muscleandfitness.com/workouts/workout-tips/pec-deck-vs-bench-press-why-this-overlooked-chest-exercise-could-be-the-secret-to-bigger-pecs/

Thanks for reading, and to Jeff Tomko for his time and talents.

Coach Shane

Pec Deck vs Bench Press: Why This Overlooked Chest Exercise Could Be the Secret to Bigger Pecs - Muscle & Fitness Is the pec deck machine underrated for building muscle? Learn the science-backed benefits of pec deck flyes, chest hypertrophy, muscle growth, and why bodybuilders still swear by this chest exercise.

My Latest On Muscle & Fitness

The Glute Ham Raise is tricky.

You need plenty of hamstring and glute strength, but that doesn't mean anything if you don't get your set-up right.

Here, I'll take you through the proper setup step by step for your glute goodness.

https://www.muscleandfitness.com/workouts/leg-exercises/glute-ham-raise-setup-guide-master-the-ghr-for-bigger-hamstrings-stronger-glutes-and-better-athletic-performance/

Thanks for reading, and make it a great day.

Coach Shane McLean

Glute-Ham Raise Setup Guide: Master the GHR for Bigger Hamstrings, Stronger Glutes, and Better Athletic Performance - Muscle & Fitness Struggling with Glute Ham Raises? Learn the perfect GHR setup, common mistakes to avoid, and expert coaching tips to build bigger hamstrings, stronger glutes, improve sprint speed, and boost athletic performance.

My Latest on Muscle & Fitness

There's a big difference between bending and hinging.

Some, including myself, find out the hard way. The hip hinge is possibly the most powerful human movement we have access to, so refining it, having access to it, and ensuring you're doing it right is important.

These five drills do just that. Mobilize the hips, load them, and good things happen.

https://www.muscleandfitness.com/workouts/workout-tips/5-hip-hinge-drills-everyone-should-master-for-greater-strength-and-lower-back-health/

Thanks for reading, and to Gareth Sapstead and Jeff Tomko for their time and talents.

Coach Shane McLean

5 Hip Hinge Drills Everyone Should Master for Greater Strength and Lower Back Health - Muscle & Fitness Struggling with deadlifts, kettlebell swings, or lower back pain? These 5 expert-approved hip hinge drills can improve mobility, build glute and hamstring strength, and help you lift heavier with better form.

My Latest on Muscle & Fitness

The lower back muscles are the most misunderstood and written-about muscle group in our bodies.

We feel pain there, we shut it down. Then the advice starts.

We feel lower back fatigue and give way during exercise; we assume it's weak and needs strengthening. If you've done either, this article is for you.

Here, my friends and I clear up myths about the lower back, what it really needs, and what to do when you suffer from lower back pain.

https://www.muscleandfitness.com/workouts/workout-tips/lower-back-strength-training-training-myths-best-exercises-and-how-to-build-a-bulletproof-spine/

I would like to thank Jeff Tomko and all the contributing coaches for their efforts in making this piece both actionable and informative.

Thank you for reading.

Coach Shane McLean

Lower Back Strength Training: Training Myths, Best Exercises, and How to Build a Bulletproof Spine - Muscle & Fitness Struggling with lower back fatigue during squats, deadlifts, or rows? Learn the truth about lower back strength, endurance, pain prevention, and the best coach-approved exercises to build a stronger, more resilient spine.

My Latest on Muscle & Fitness

If you love training the triceps, this is for you. If you don't, you should, and this article is also for you.

The triceps is one of our muscles that declines with age more than others. But it is not just for looks or benching; it is also for shoulder and elbow health and performance.

Here, I'll cover everything about triceps and how to train them for size, strength, and for the long haul.

https://www.muscleandfitness.com/workouts/workout-tips/the-triceps-training-guide-for-sleeve-stretching-size-and-lockout-strength/

Thanks for reading, and to Jeff Tomko for his time and talents.

Coach Shane McLean

The Triceps Training Guide for Sleeve-Stretching Size and Lockout Strength - Muscle & Fitness Want bigger arms and a stronger bench press? Learn the best triceps exercises, training methods, sets, reps, and recovery strategies to build muscle, improve pressing power, and keep your elbows healthy for years.

Want to Write Better? Read More.

Every writer wants to improve with a magical prompt that turns average writing into great writing.

But one habit helps more than all of them combined: Reading.

And not just fitness content.

A great way to improve your writing is to expose yourself to great writing. That's how you develop an ear for rhythm, sentence structure, storytelling, humor, and clarity. You start noticing how good writers make complicated ideas easy to understand and how they keep readers engaged from one paragraph to the next.

The best writers I've met are usually voracious readers. They're constantly picking up ideas, phrases, stories, and perspectives from books, magazines, articles, biographies, and even fiction. They understand that writing is input and output. The quality of one often determines the quality of the other.

And here's the part many fitness writers miss: don't limit yourself to reading fitness.

Read history. Read biographies. Read humor. Read fiction. Read anything written by people who know how to tell a story and communicate an idea. Some of the best lessons you'll learn about writing won't come from fitness at all.

Because at the end of the day, writing is communication.

And the more examples of great communication you expose yourself to, the better your own writing becomes.

What's the best non-fitness book you've read in the last year? Drop it below. You might help another writer find their next great read.

The Write Spotters Transforming Personal Trainers Into Fitness Writers

My Latest On Muscle & Fitness

Gym lore and bro science are strong. If it's said that an exercise is bad news, then it's often taken as gospel.

One such exercise is the behind-the-neck overhead press. Sure, the exercise has its problems, but it doesn't cause problems for everyone. Rather than believe everything you hear, get the actual truth before making any training decisions.

There are no bad exercises, just bad fits.

https://www.muscleandfitness.com/workouts/workout-tips/behind-the-neck-press-the-truth-about-this-controversial-shoulder-exercise/

Thanks for reading, and to Jeff Tomko and Matt Wenning for their time and talents.

Coach Shane

Behind-the-Neck Press: The Truth About This Controversial Shoulder Exercise - Muscle & Fitness Is the behind-the-neck press dangerous or underrated? Experts break down the risks, shoulder mobility demands, delt-building benefits, and who should avoid this controversial overhead press variation for bigger shoulders and upper-body strength.

Stephen King Hates Adverbs. Should You?

If you've ever read Stephen King's On Writing, you know he has strong feelings about adverbs. Very strong feelings. In fact, he famously wrote that "the road to hell is paved with adverbs."

Now, before you start deleting every word ending in "ly," let's talk about what he actually meant.

King's point wasn't that adverbs are evil. His point was that writers often use adverbs as a crutch instead of choosing stronger verbs or clearer language.

For example, instead of writing:

"The client walked slowly to the squat rack."

You could write:

"The client shuffled to the squat rack."

One stronger verb does the work of two words.

Or instead of:

"He explained the exercise carefully."

You might write:

"He demonstrated the exercise."

The sentence becomes tighter, clearer, and more vivid.

That said, I'm not in the "ban all adverbs" camp.

Here's a simple rule I like:

If you can remove the adverb and the sentence keeps its meaning, leave it out.

If removing the adverb changes the meaning of the sentence, keep it.

For example:

"The client nearly missed the lift."

Take out "nearly" and you get:

"The client missed the lift."

Those are two very different outcomes.

The adverb matters.

The goal isn't to eliminate adverbs. The goal is to make every word earn its place.

And sometimes that means replacing an adverb with a better verb. Sometimes it means leaving the adverb alone because it's doing an important job.

Good writing isn't about following rules blindly. It's about communicating clearly.

Look at one of your recent posts and circle every adverb. Which ones can go—and which ones actually deserve to stay?

The Write Spotters Transforming Personal Trainers Into Fitness Writers