Approved Bodybuilding Ressources
This page is the compilation of every book, equipment, item, supplement etc, that I use and recommend you to do as well.
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Must Read Books
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The Strength Training Anatomy Workout I – by Frédéric Delavier & Michael D. Gundill. This book covers everything you need to know when you start training, from muscle growth principles to beginner, low in budget or equipment programming, even if gym training is included. If I was to go back to my teenage years, I would start here. Available in 25+ languages and twice the number of countries, here are the links I can propose to you : 🇺🇸 🇬🇧 🇨🇦 🇫🇷 🇮🇹 🇪🇸 🇩🇪
The Strength Training Anatomy Workout II – by Frédéric Delavier & Michael D. Gundill. After reaching intermediate level, and for sport professionals that want to expand their knowledge regarding biomechanics, morphology analysis, training mechanisms, precise exercise knowledge and such, this book is the corner stone you need. Anyone working with people training need it. I come back to this book every time I feel like I miss knowledge about something. Here are the links : 🇺🇸 🇬🇧 🇨🇦 🇫🇷 🇮🇹 🇪🇸 🇩🇪
The Strength Training Anatomy Workout III – by Frédéric Delavier & Michael D. Gundill. For the most advanced and knowledgeable athletes and sport professional that really want to push as far as they can, this book will be your favorite. It expands on everything a very advanced and seasoned lifter needs to know as well as very advanced and precise training and health related mechanisms you must be aware of as you get stronger, older and more experienced. Buying those three books and learning from them will make you one of the expert of training, biomechanics and anatomy. Links as followed : 🇺🇸 🇬🇧 🇨🇦 🇫🇷 🇮🇹 🇪🇸 🇩🇪
The New Encyclopedia of Modern Bodybuilding – by Arnold Schwarzenegger. For die hard bodybuilding fans and athletes, this is our bible. Not only is this a no nonsense training guide approach filled with dozen of programs and exercises tips, but the pictures and explanations by one of the best bodybuilding icon who ever lived is enough to fuel your fire for hardcore training sessions. Arnold doesn’t shy from giving personal experiences and life’s views either. Links : 🇺🇸 🇬🇧 🇨🇦 🇫🇷 🇮🇹 🇪🇸 🇩🇪
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Must Have Training Equipments
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Strength Belt : to keep your low back healthy and assist yourself for years in the gym. If you aren’t training powerlifting or strongman, I recommend a thin one that will assist you just fine up until you reach mid/late intermediate and beyond. At that time, I recommend investing in an extra high quality one from Elite Fts like I did. Links : 🇺🇸 🇬🇧 🇨🇦 🇫🇷 🇮🇹 🇪🇸 🇩🇪
Straps : at some point your grip will fail you on deadlifts and other back exercises. To both not get limited by grip strength/endurance in your back and legs training but also to not fatigue too much your nerves, straps are a staple. I recommend Ironmind and Strength Shop ones that all top athletes use. 🇺🇸 🇬🇧 🇨🇦 🇫🇷 🇮🇹 🇪🇸 🇩🇪
Fat Gripz : if your goal is to get the biggest arm possible with less wear and tear on joints and also develop meaty strong forearms, these are a staple. 🇺🇸 🇬🇧 🇨🇦 🇫🇷 🇮🇹 🇪🇸 🇩🇪
NeckFlex : best neck harness ever to build a thick, strong, pain-free yoke and to look both more manly and intimidating. Whatever your sport is, everyone benefits from a stronger neck as I already talked about here. NeckFlex is the brand you need for it. Here is my sponsored link, use my code Hersovyac10 for 10$ off your order.
GymPin : the best way to keep getting bigger is to keep adding weight, but what are you going to do when you max the stack or the plates on a machine ? You add more. With GymPin extenders, get ready for ridiculous poundages and proper hard training. They also got quality equipment like cable handles, long ropes etc. Check out their website and use my code Hersovyac for 10% off.
Bands : from helping your warm-up to adding variety to your training or allowing your for a quick home/travel workout, bands are a blessing for your joints and strength work. You should always have a little pack, two is better if you want to use same bands each side of a barbell. 🇺🇸 🇬🇧 🇨🇦 🇫🇷 🇮🇹 🇪🇸 🇩🇪
Knee Sleeves : help reduce the demand on your knees, assist their recovery and make you able to train healthy for a long time. Links : 🇺🇸 🇬🇧 🇨🇦 🇫🇷 🇮🇹 🇪🇸 🇩🇪
Elbow Sleeves : same thing for elbows. Want big arms ? Take care of your elbow then bro. 🇺🇸 🇬🇧 🇨🇦 🇫🇷 🇮🇹 🇪🇸 🇩🇪
Push Up/Dips Handles : if I learned something in 2020, is that lockdown sucks and chairs arent the most comfortable nor reliable training tool. So I got myself some thick sturdy handles and was able to train my handstand push-ups without problems. I recommend you do the same, for those time gym is closed and/or you are stuck inside. 🇺🇸 🇬🇧 🇨🇦 🇫🇷 🇮🇹 🇪🇸 🇩🇪
Pull Up Bar : same thing than for handles, you can do a lot of things with a pull up bar, from training them, to decompress your spine, loop bands around, or put it low and do nordic curls or bulgarian split squats. 🇺🇸 🇬🇧 🇨🇦 🇫🇷 🇮🇹 🇪🇸 🇩🇪
Gymnastic Rings : to finish the trifecta of a budget home gym, gymnastic rings are great to add in a lot of exercises variety to train specific movements, skills, muscles and have fun ! 🇺🇸 🇬🇧 🇨🇦 🇫🇷 🇮🇹 🇪🇸 🇩🇪
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Supplements that works for Health, Muscle & Strength
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I am blessed to represent and be sponsored by Nutrimuscle, a french-made supplement company who propose very high quality organic and GMO-free products since 1993. I use their supplements since a few months after I began training, late 2012/early 2013 and got nothing but good things to say about them. As such, I recommend to any european located reader to buy from them, and to use my affiliate link and code HERSO10 for 10%. For my americans, I have an affiliation with PureBulk, one of the top best brand for quality and sourcing, my code is Hersovyac10 for 10% off!
Vitamin D3 : most of people are deficient in this crucial vitamin who is also a pro hormone. Responsible for good calcium function, it is also key in mood regulation, brain function, strength and muscles development and endocrine balance. Make sure to get 5000-10000iU per day.
Vitamin K2 (MK4 or MK7): along with vitamin D3, this one kicks calcification in the ass and use instead the mineral better for bones, teeth, muscles etc. It is also a key element in cardiovascular health, blood cells formation and cancer prevention. Some testosterone boosting effects could also be possible; take 200 micrograms a day.
Magnesium : 80% of people are deficient in magnesium, missing out an active cofactor in more than 2000 enzymatic and endocrine reactions your body perform daily. Great myorelaxing agent, improve endocrine and sleep functions, take 250mg minimum per day, and do not be afraid to double or triple that amount in stressful periods. Best forms to get are citrate, glycinate and bisglycinate.
Zinc : same as magnesium, a very important cofactor for a healthy body, great anti oxydant and immune system booster amongst others things like testosterone support. Take 15mg minimum daily.
Collagen : raw material for all your soft tissues, skin and joints, collagen is rarely found in today’s food, and consuming a little bone broth here and there won’t cut it. I recommend 10gr per day for an average built man, and up to double for an active, big, muscular one.
Protein Powder : cheap, fast, practicable, easy way to get in your protein intake, I prefer native whey protein powder from milk, but if for any reason you can’t digest it, use egg protein powder. Most vegan ones aren’t gentle to your digestive track at all nor high quality.
Creatine Monohydrate : if there would be just one supplement for strength, power and cognitive function, this would be it. Take 3-5gr daily and never look back.
Glucosamine/Chondroitine : these two substances are candy for your tendons and joints to prevent and heal cartilage degradation, inflammation and help repair everything with proper synovia production. Taking one alone is already good, but the two synergize very well so if you really want to optimize joint health and recovery, take 500mg of each every day.
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Look Maxxing & Grooming
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Jawliner : your face is actually a lot of combined muscles, and training them is possible; especially the jaw ones, and thus, it is possible to get a wider, square jaw and more defined face via pure work ethic and not genetic only. This is what another sponsor of mine, Jawliner, promote and propose via gums and chewing-gums meant to strengthen your muscles and gums. Use my link for 10% off your order.
NeckFlex : yes him again ! Training your neck will enhance how your whole face look by visual emphasis on your jawline and chin. The wider, the better basically. Check my neck training guide here, and complete review of NeckFlex here. Use my code Hersovyac10 for 10$ off your order.
Marseille Soap : to take care of your skin and washing needs, I always recommend natural, raw soap. Olive oil, water, salt, baking soda, period. For mixed/normal skin, don’t go looking further than marseille soap. That’s what I use nowadays and never looked back from shower gel. Can also be used for dishes and clothes washing. 🇺🇸 🇬🇧 🇨🇦 🇫🇷 🇮🇹 🇪🇸 🇩🇪
Alep Soap : for very oily skin or for people that sweat a lot and end up with grease and dirt on their skin, this soap is way better. The main difference with Marseille soap is the added laurel oil, much stronger than olive oil. I used it for a while but it’s a tad too strong for my face’s skin and tend to irritate some others areas where it is very thin, like the armpit. 🇺🇸 🇬🇧 🇨🇦 🇫🇷 🇮🇹 🇪🇸 🇩🇪
Wood Comb/Brush : both for hair and beard, to massage scalp, promote blood flow, gently pull on the hair without breaking or pulling them, and not disrupting the magnetism and electricity of your hair (no conduction). Sebum repartition and styling are also facilitated believe it or not. 🇺🇸 🇬🇧 🇨🇦 🇫🇷 🇮🇹 🇪🇸 🇩🇪