It's been another busy month! I've been adding a ton of stuff to www.Complete-Strength-Training.com, and doing a lot of lifting besides.

It makes me remember the importance of trying new things, like isometrics and plyometrics exercises. These are the topics I focused on adding info about, since they address parts of my site that I hadn't filled out yet.

Also, I was reminded of the importance of someone who can massage you and attack you shoulders - because mine get really tense! Seriously, getting a friend or spouse to massage your muscles relaxes them, feels great, and places you in a great position to start lifting again.

You've gotten rid of all the excess tension in your muscles and can focus all that potential muscle power on lifting. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to find someone to give you a massage sometime before your next workout.

With that in mind, take a look at these isometrics, plyometrics, and other workout ideas!

1) Plyometrics Jump Training

Interested in jumping higher? This page is devoted to plyometric jump training and gives guidelines for safe, effective training - as well as a program for beginners.

2) Using Muscular Isometric Contraction in Your Workouts

Wonder about the best way to use isometric contraction in your workouts? This guide gives ideas for how to work isometrics into your routine.

It also gives info about what makes an isometric contraction isometric. Check it out, and learn something new!

3) Powerful Plyometrics for Speed

Plyometrics training is a great way to increase your speed. This info shows you how to personally tailor your plyometrics training for increased speed.

4) These Isometric Weight Loss Tips Are Almost Too Easy...

Curious about using isometric exercises for weight loss? Read these tips to get the most out of your routine, as well as mistakes to avoid.

If you're looking for a new or different exercise to try, that won't break the bank, take a look. You can lose weight and get stronger :-)

5) How to Lose Belly Fat

Want to know how to lose belly fat? Go here!

These simple suggestions will compliment your six pack abs workout and help you drop those pounds faster. Check it out, and learn something.

6) Custom Isometric Workouts

Want to try body-weight isometric workouts? Here's a list of exercises that you can use to build your own custom workout, as well as a free PDF sheet to download and record you exercises on.

7) Top 5 Tummy Toning Exercises!

These top 5 exercises will tone your tummy and help get you six pack abs. Just add these simple & highly effective exercises into your routine!

8) The Kettlebell Clean and Press

This exercise is a combination of the clean and the press, unsurprisingly. You get the benefits of both explosive movements in one exercise.

Learn the correct form for the exercise and use it to build functional, dynamic strength. Try it once you've got the hang of the clean and the press individually.

9) Top Submission: Over The Crest

I ran cross country and track in high school, and at the beginning of every season our coach would pose us a challenge. Several minutes up the road...

10) Top Submission: Strength Training with Little Time?

I'm a student and don't have a whole lot of time for going to the gym and things, but I do try to stay in shape. I walk everywhere in order to maintain...

11) The Essentials of Isometrics Muscle Exercise

Since I've added several articles about isometrics muscle exercise in the last month, I felt it only fitting to write something up on the topic for this newsletter. If you're using any of the isometric exercises or workouts I added, look through this list before working out.

These are the most important points for getting benefits from your isometrics workouts. They're simple, so be sure to follow them when you're doing your exercises.

• Go All Out!

With isometric muscle exercise you aren't moving anywhere, so you have to give it your all each time! You'll only see real results if you constantly tense & exert yourself as much as you can.

• Use Athletic-Movement Based Positions

If you need strength in punching, do various bench press isometric positions. If you want leg power, do squat positions.

Adapt your athletic moves to isometric positions. That'll give you the greatest carryover benefits.

Bruce Lee practiced pushing-hands, a Chinese martial arts form of sparring that involves constant contact, pushing, and pulling. He adapted isometrics to compliment and enhance the pushing part of that sparring.

Basically, use your imagination and find where you need the most power. Then practice that positions!

• Use Isometrics Regularly

Like any form of exercise, isometrics muscle exercise won't give you great results if you do it sporadically. Work it into your weekly routine so that it's something you normally practice.

• Listen to Your Body

Since you're going all-out in isometrics, listen to your body carefully. If you feel pain, see whether it's muscle fatigue or bad joint pain.

When you go all out you'll get warning signs about tight muscles and/or other potential injuries in progress. By listening carefully to your body you can identify these early and then avoid them, or work on healing them early.

It's a great testing environment for your body, and much better than hurting yourself later during a moment of extreme exertion - when you NEED your strength.

• Target Weak Points in Lifts and Moves

Have trouble with heavy weights at the bottom of the bench press? Or pushing through the middle of a deep squat? Target those positions!

When you find that part of one of your lift is weak, isolate the positioned that needs to be strengthened. Then, do isometrics with that position - get yourself into that position, pushing against something that won't move, and PUSH!

It's a great way to push through tough points, strengthen an entire lift, or break a plateau. A highly useful tool in your toolbox.

So, there they are. Just follow those guidelines and you'll get a lot out of your isometrics muscle exercise!

Starting Strong brings you the latest additions to Complete-Strength-Training.Com & select articles about how to get STRONG.

If you like this e-zine, do a friend and me a big favor and share it with them. If a friend forwarded this to you and if you like what you read, please subscribe by visiting Starting Strong.

Comments? Ideas? Feedback? I'd love to hear from you! Just reply to this e-zine and tell me what you think.

Train hard, do your best, & see you next month!

Aaron

www.Complete-Strength-Training.com