Yours Baldly serves up the bitterest of pills
12 November 2025
The other day, Jess and I got to talking about the importance of accepting your limitations. Example: If you start
The other day, Jess and I got to talking about the importance of accepting your limitations. Example: If you start
Received a Parthian shot from a disappointed chap to tell me he was unsubscribing because, while the free bonus eBook
I am looking for online personal training clients. If that is potentially of interest to you, please email me (phil
One of my biggest influences (perhaps THE biggest) is the late, great Gary Halbert. He was not an athlete or
Many moons ago, a friendly policemanofficer (who turned up to assist my colleague and I with a troublesome scene, long
Lately, Connie has taken to joining me on a lot of my early morning walks. It all started about a
From today until Sunday (9th), I am having a sale on my most precious book: “The Constance Chronicles” I say
Believe it or not, the people who benefit most from my teachings tend to be of a more distinguished vintage.
Was not surprised to stumble upon a news article about a woman who carked it after injecting some knock-off fat
A fair concern that has been raised about my weight loss philosophy is that I care little about diet. And
Yesterday, I made a passing comment about how I have not sold a weight loss offer (apart from my book
Did you know that you have a better chance of surviving a stage four melanoma (the deadliest form of skin
Something I did not know until very recently was that the idea that vampires cannot see their reflections was not
Talking to Jess the other day got me to thinking about how glad I am that I never got suckered
Without a doubt, the largest gap I see in most people’s training is a lack of good, old fashioned bodyweight
Lately, I’ve gotten back into listening to John Frusciante’s solo records (he’s been The Red Hot Chilli Pepper’s guitarist for
If the rumours are to be believed, come November, we’re in an act of financial pedication unlike anything since probably
My first exposure to the idea of “proper” high-frequency training (including training twice or even thrice in a single day)
Deadline to subscribe in time to get November’s special bumper (52 instead of 20ish page) issue of The Phil Tyreman
True story: Once upon a time, I was Very Fat. Not quite a full blown hamplanet, but I was very
Spent the better part of yesterday resurrecting my old “Training Confidence Quiz”. There was much wailing and gnashing of teeth
One myth that sticks around like a bad smell is that women ought to train differently to men. Quite why
Eight names to study, if you are interested in training productively without “chemical help”: 1. Steve Reeves 2. Reg Park
Today is my birthday (yes, I know I keep saying). Given this, and the fact it is also a Sunday,
Earlier this year, I got asked by a guy to write a book on strength and conditioning for amateur martial
What’s interesting about a lot of the “pre-steroid” era bodybuilders and sportspeople is the strong “anti-steroid” stance many of them
Rumours abound that the titans of the pre-steroid “Silver Era” such as Reg Park, Steve Reeves, Clancy Ross, John Grimek,
One lamentably forgotten legend of mid-20th century physical culture I have been studying recently is: Clancy Ross One of only
Lately, I cannot shake the sense of my mortality. Why? For the very first time in my life, I am
If you want a way of training that is so effective it’s hard not to find yourself stronger and more
1. The programme you are running tells you it is time to take a break for a week or whatever
Couple of weeks back, Connie managed her first “two hands anyhow”. If you are wondering, the two hands anyhow is
Behold a question from a reader (asked me to keep him anon): === “I’ve kind of resigned myself to a
True story: Couple of years ago, for reasons I am still not entirely clear on, I decided it would be
If you’re someone who struggles to consistently “find the time” to train, what follows may well prove very useful indeed.
If you’ve ever felt disheartened seeing monstrous loads being shifted by monstrous humans (who are almost always taking monstrous amounts
Year or so ago, I worked with a guy who really wanted to lose some weight. He wasn’t fat or
I’m looking for a small handful (not more than five) people who want to work towards getting stronger and more
One of my most popular books is: “Phil Tyreman’s Big Book of Fitness” Understandably so, considering you are actually getting
Should have been what I called the gym I briefly owned back in 2017. But alas, the awful name I
Last week, Jess and I got back into the habit of recording Q&As about training. The format is, she asks
I’ve long known my current way of eating (meat and veg only twice or thrice daily with the occasional “carb
Is the fact that I am a 5’ 7” bald manlet who has no special genes, according to Jess anyways.
Last “big” injury I had was in 2011. I’d been training about eighteen months and got it into my head
I used to listen to a lot of BBC Radio 4 back in the day. One programme I enjoyed in
Odd hobby of mine is poking around people’s funnels. (Marketing funnels, not whatever else you were thinking). Like recently, when
“6% of people with hip fractures die within 30 days, and roughly one third die within 12 months.” A pair
Are thus: Reason One: They can’t afford it At least, that’s what they tell themselves. A subscription costs £20 per
True story: There was this guy who frequented the gym I used to train at a long time ago. He
Yesterday afternoon, I rewrote an eBook of mine called: “How to Build Muscle and Strength Slowly” Clearer and more concise
Is the following, in my opinion: 1) Find and pay an appropriately qualified MEDICAL professional (i.e. a physio or doctor,
Because people keep asking… === Breakfast: * Generous portion of meat, fish, and/or fowl (including eggs) * Vegetables Lunch: Same
Behold a point I’ve made before (and will doubtless make again and again and again): Broadly speaking, you have two
“More lifters fail because they are bored with training than for any other reason. Static exercise programs don’t give results,
For as long as I can remember, I’ve taught that one ought to take a full rest week for every
Easily one of the most effective ways to improve the quality of your workouts is to write them out by
This morning, I recorded a short (circa 10 min) off the cuff audio on the thorny matter of how easy
Came a question from a reader: === Hey Phil, I’ve been watching more of Rips videos for guidance on form
Few days back I decided to see if I could rustle up some online personal training clients via a little
While I was out running the other day, I got to thinking about the various obstacles preventing me from taking
This morning, I got to reading an email by a lady friend of mine (anon, shall explain why in a
Back when I was young and dumb, I got it into my head that my squat and deadlift weren’t moving
If you’re unfortunate enough to have found yourself trapped in a cycle of training hard and getting results, only to
Couple months back I invented a programme I named: “Operation Winnow” Titled after Jess’ demand that I “winnow” my middle
Many years ago, when my self-worth was still intrinsically linked to how much I could squat, I was fortunate enough
The number one reason I managed to bench and overhead press heavy almost every week for knocking on the door
From now until Monday (8th), I am having a sale on my book called: “The Back and Legs Bundle” As
Guy I know is trying to Do The Right Thing™ by training to set a good example to his kids.
Yesterday, I mentioned how the unique challenges of parenthood demand you adopt a different approach and attitude towards training, lest
For about a year now, Jess has been badgering me to put something together for parents who want to set
Got an email from a reader a while back, and while I can’t recall the exact words he used, the
If you’d like me to take a look at your training routine, find the gaps stifling your progress (or stopping
Few things recently (won’t go into specifics) have gotten me to thinking about the moral dimension of obesity. The long
Lately, I’ve taken to listening to the musings of an austere Catholic monk who is a member of a controversial
Came across a news article recently featuring some porky people squealing about a “fat tax”. What consequences are they facing
Is being honest, in my humbly accurate opinion. Here’s what I mean by that: All fat people lie: * They
Came an email from a reader (who gave me permission to share anon): === Hey Phil, You have been a
Is twice weekly, in most cases, in my opinion. For the longest time, I refused to accept this; doggedly sticking
Literally nobody signed up to hear about my fiction writing escapades, but if you’ll indulge me for a moment… Of
So Jess has been doing some market research on my behalf (because I cannot be trusted to not ask leading
Guilty pleasure of mine is browsing Reddit. Especially batshyte insane subreddits like TwoXChromosones. Which, for the uninitiated, is a place
If you are struggling to make progress no matter how hard you train and feel like you’re drowning under a
As I’ve been squeezing your little pocketses pretty hard to fill my piggy bank pretty lately, how about something free?
As fun as it is to slap a bunch of plates on the bar and see how strong you really
While I was out walking through the cornfields the other day, I got to thinking about why some fork out
Lady fan of mine was telling me recently about how I have “ruined” other personal trainers for her. The context:
Sweetest thing happened while I was training the other day. Little Connie (who is very quickly becoming not so little)
Had a few people ask me why I don’t post much on social media any more. My answer? What I
“Didn’t realise you were giving a book away as well. Blimey, Phil, you really can’t do better than that.” So
The other morning, I was down in the kitchen hunting for something to listen to while I cooked breakfast for
What follows is a long and self-indulgent missive about what is going on in my World. So if you couldn’t
Nasty habit I used to have was basing my weights on what I’ve since called an “aspirational max”. An “aspirational
Something that has long baffled me is why so many pay so little attention to their shoulders. To illustrate the
One valid concern about following any sort of “peaking” or “specialisation” routine is loss of strength, muscularity, cardiorespiratory fitness or
“I don’t do Zercher squats because I’m not in prison” So remarked strength training legend Jim Wendler (I’m not sure
If you’re interested in getting stronger and more in shape, you’re going to have to put more weight on the
All you need to do is follow the programme in my short eBook called “The Six Week Peak”. Nothing is
First, a confession: I know very little about CrossFit. In fact, I tend to switch off whenever someone tells me
If you are of a certain vintage, you don’t need me to tell you that you ain’t going to achieve
Looks like I’ve been rumbled: === Good email Phil! I recognise that guy! And yes it had made me more
Few things sadden me quite like the state of the local parks. And by “state” I mean the absence of
Behold proof I am not kidding when I say proper training will enhance your whole entire life (so not just
“Trying to use too much weight, and by watching some other guy working out, and he’s using poor form and
Believe it or not, every now and again, I get days when I don’t much feel like training. Today is
The first of January 2013. A day when I was beyond excited about starting a programme I had purchased to
A common misconception is that “extreme” training regimes don’t work. Quite the contrary, they do. As a matter of fact,
Ten internet points if you get that reference. Anyway, it’s an appropriate introduction to the topic of today’s email which
Let me tell you a story: Once upon a time, I owned and operated a postage stamp-sized personal training gym
Does not exist. Although I came darn near close to creating it a couple of years back. By following this
Hark unto two unfortunate truths: 1) You’re probably a lot further away from being as strong and in shape as
Last Sunday, I trained with my mum for the first time in three years or so. She has been training
The question of how many days you “should” train for best results isn’t one with a straightforward answer. Mostly because
Hark unto the musings of a young man who has been following my wicked ways for a handful of months:
Something I haven’t intentionally done in probably five years now is take a set to muscular failure. Likewise, I haven’t
Saddest thing I ever saw in the gym was when I was lifting in this barebones 24-hour place (that actually
Couple weeks back, I was forced into taking a break from training. It was the culmination of trying (and spectacularly
Got to talking with a reader who mentioned to me how she is always hearing that: === “Running is bad
Below is what I am currently getting up to on the training front. I’ve decided I would like to get
Something we do at least three times per week is take our kids to one of the two large parks
On Saturday just gone, Jess, the kids, and I were en-route to spend the afternoon with one of her clients
It is no secret that I am not a fan of diet talk. This non-interest even extends to my work
Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about solving the problem of falling out of the habit of training for weeks
Came a question from a client during a coaching call: == “How do you deal with trolls saying your content
Unless you have been living under a rock, you will have heard talk of these magical weight loss injections. Just
Every now and again I get asked about how I will train my kids when they are old enough. My
Most weeks, I’ll get someone messaging me saying “I’m stuck”. It’s most often weight loss related, but every now and
If you’re fed up with slaving away in the gym for little (or no) return, behold a possible solution: I
Behold an editorial I originally penned for my town’s magazine, reproduced for your edutainment: === Last month, I promised to
“feels like the internet just supercharges everything out of all moderation and pushes everyone to compete in a really extreme
A hill I will die upon is that anyone who wants to build muscle should start by spending a good
If you’re frustrated because you’re training hard yet you still look broadly the same and your performance has plateaued, worry
Hark unto what I would do if I wanted to improve the aesthetic appeal of my physique: * First, I’d
If at least part of the reason you train is to look more attractive, what I’ve got here may be
Short letter to young Phil Behold some tidbits of advice that, had my younger self had access to, would have
You know the strongest critics of smokers are actually ex-smokers? The same is true of how a great many “ex-fats”
Many moons ago, I rescued Jess from the clutches of a Christian cult (a tale for another email). One of
Cannot help but notice the current trend of mostly middle-aged male celebrities suddenly getting “ripped” and “jacked” despite being a
Something that has never “worked” for me is calculating my weights using percentages and closely tracking the number of reps
Behold how to get strong and in shape: 1) Do some form of resistance training twice or thrice weekly (weights,
Couple of years ago, I penned the first of what is now over a dozen books on fitness. The idea
Came a note from one of my Phil Tyreman Letter subscribers: === “Small progress note: in the gym, in the
Actually, I sort of am in that I use it to run adverts inviting people to subscribe to this email
Last Sunday, I suffered a mild bout of heat exhaustion halfway through my usual run to the next town over
Following on from yesterday: While I said that an hour per day six days per week is something any serious
Behold a high-level overview of my training regime as of this writing: Monday: AM: Bodyweight Training PM: Bodyweight Training Tuesday
Alas, I have been a silly salmon. Yours Baldly has picked up a nasty shoulder injury. Believe it or not,
In the last week, not one but two clients have told me that their wives have started training. In one
Behold some scribblings I made in my “Outdoor Fitness: Goole” Facebook group that I run with Jess: === If you
Are: 1) You’re basically guaranteed to drop a bunch of unsightly body fat (provided you can be bothered to pay
The closure of gyms in 2020 and 2021 to keep everyone “safe” forced many a fat, lazy lifter to plug
If you are interested in learning how to get strong and in shape, potentially without ever setting foot in the
Long ago, I figured out the “secret” to getting strong and in shape is learning to daisy chain as many
Chap I’m working with at the moment (anon ‘cuz I don’t know if he wants me naming him) casually dropped
Something I am not is a purveyor of “paint by numbers” exercise routines. I’d probably make a truckload more cash
Got an out of the blue text from a former client and friend to tell me that he is still
Broadly speaking, there are four ways to increase the difficulty of your workouts to drive forward progress. These are: 1)
My old email marketing provider offered a little free text box people could use to send me “feedback” when they
For the better part of a decade, the summit of my athletic ability was being able to waddle up to
“Two steps forward, one step backward” roughly summarises my attitude towards taking time off from training. By that I mean,
Since January, I have unwittingly built a collection of copies of The Phil Tyreman Letter (my monthly print newsletter) by
Came a question from an anonymous reader (I always keep people anon unless they explicitly tell me I can name
Behold a point I have made many times before: === If you put 1000 people who only do bodyweight exercises,
Few days back as of this writing, I recorded an off the cuff overview of my system for training outdoors.
I’ve finally gotten around to completing the third edition of my free report “How to Build Muscle and Strength the
About a third of a mile from my house lies a park. In it are a couple of football pitches,
A recurring theme in the messages I get relates to juggling training alongside parental responsibilities. It’s an interesting subject, and
The phrase “low information voters” describes those who vote despite not really knowing who they’re voting for or why. And
One criticism that is sometimes levelled at me is that I don’t keep “up to date” with the latest and
Lately, I have been working my way through a book called, “The Diary of a U-boat Commander” by a chap
This morning while I was training in the park with nought but the rustling trees and occasional tweeting bird to
If you’ve ever wondered why you are stuck in the pernicious cycle of training hard and getting results, only to
I have a confession to make: Believe it or not, I was actually extremely nervous about binning off my gym
Here are answers to some (paraphrased) questions I get asked by people who are interested in becoming one of my
If you’ve ever found yourself going through the motions in the gym, I’d hazard a major cause of that is
It’s no secret I have somewhat of a reputation for being “mean”. Why is this? Mostly because I am fond
Behold a curious factoid: Researchers have found that the number of fat cells in your body remains more or less
Given I am on somewhat of a role with the freebies, I figured I shall continue. So. If you would
Below is a link to a page on my site where you can read (for free) the complete first chapter
Is something that has been said to me on more occasions than I care to remember. For example, there was
Paraphrasing another question on how I will introduce my eldest daughter (and two other kids) to training that comes up
Occasionally, I run the thought experiment of, “How would I train differently if I had my time again?”. My most
Came a message from a customer who I will keep anonymous because I’m not sure if he’s OK with me
Every now and again I get asked if I’m going to make my kiddos train when they are older. Answer:
Behold a reply from the venerable Jess to my email about the importance of reminding yourself of what is “healthy,
Something that happens when you offer “in person” personal training services is that you get enquiries from at least a
Behold a question from an anonymous reader (I always withhold names unless I’m given explicit consent to include them): ===
Today I am taking something called a “day off” because Jess says I’ve run myself into the ground by working
Behold another epiphany I had while out on the same run I mentioned yesterday: The main reason it took me
Well over a decade ago, I watched a great video by a guy called Scooby (one of the first big
“Sounds a bit dodgy meeting in a car park sorry ?” Came a comment from a lady on one of
Is a question I get asked in some way, shape, or form every now and again by my lady fans.
Something I have noticed is a growing contingent who treat studies by exercise scientists as Holy Writ. Hence, they won’t
Was the caption of a photograph featuring the late, great Steve Reeves alongside a handful of other bodybuilders at a
For the first time since 2017, I have decided to take on private, in-person personal training clients. What I am
It’s been nearly a month since I walked out of the gym vowing not to return. (I will go back
Today is Sunday (I write these emails a few days in advanced) and I have decided to “phone it in”.
“Junk Work” is the catch-all label I use for exercises that contribute little in the grand scheme of things. Examples
Behold a strange metaphor I did not invent but cannot for the life of me remember where I first read
Judging by the number of people who unsubscribe and sometimes announce their departure by voicing their displeasure like their opinion
Few days back I had a call with the man who is easily the most earnest person I have ever
The “perfect” training programme is one that allows you to gain muscle, get stronger, and lose fat all at the
Hark unto a true story: I got into higher density lifting pretty much by accident. It was something I’d dabbled
Of all the variables you can manipulate in your training to drive progress, “density” is easily the most underutilised. It’s
Probably my favourite troll of all time was when I copped for some doo-doo from an unemployed strength and conditioning
If you are okay with getting strong and in shape the slow way, I recommend becoming one of my paid
Some time ago, I took Connie on a little outing into town to get her a handful of these little
Is that it doesn’t involve hard work. Not so. It simply means you avoid things that skew the Risk:Reward ratio
The astute gentleman from a couple of days ago who asked me a two stellar questions after reading my book
Last month, I invited people to email me their training programmes for advice on how to make them more efficient
Behold a pair of questions from a customer who bought one of my books: === “Hi my friend, I read
Something I have never had is a regular training partner. Lunatic fans of mine will say that this is because
In the film “The Last Samurai” there is a scene where Tom Cruise’s character (who is actually based on an
Behold the words of a fine gentleman (who has a grave reason for remaining anonymous) on his experience of working
A hardgainer is someone who struggles greatly with putting on muscle and building strength. All the material written for this
Everyone who has been training for more than five minutes knows you need a solid foundation of strength to build
Since forever, I have taken a full week’s rest from training every 8-12 weeks or thereabouts. This approach has worked
Continuing the tale of the time I destroyed my entire posterior chain through training like a complete nugget: I struggled
Is something that has been said to me more times than I can count. (Truly, if I had a pound
True story: Late 2011, I decided to enter a powerlifting meet. Why? Ego. I’d been lifting for a shade over
Easily the most difficult of all the core barbell lifts to get strong in is the overhead press. Why? Too
Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about the pernicious influence of social media on the hearts, minds, and souls of
One common cause for why some struggle to enjoy much in the way of progress on the training front is
Behold an observation I am sure will upset at least a handful of people: Everybody starts training because they want
Behold a question from Martin, once client now good friend of mine: === “Is there a formula for calculating 10,
Yesterday, I mentioned how I am putting together a muscle building course. The plan is to put it all into
A short while ago, I completed a multi-year project I have codenamed: “Operation: Avoid Early Grave” Very long story short,
Believe it or not, there are days when I would rather stare unblinkingly at a featureless wall than write one
Here is something that confuses me greatly: The way many people spend well over one hundred and, in extreme cases,
Couple of weeks back I was in the gym and noticed a chap struggling away with barbell back squats. Stiff
“The Most Controversial Personal Trainer on the Internet” is a moniker I adopted a couple of years ago following an
Visit any gym, anywhere on the planet, and you will quickly notice that most everyone inside looks miserable. Yes, there
Hark unto a true story: When I was at school, careers “advice” was outsourced to a multiple choice quiz everyone
Sometimes, I can be very stupid. I know, it’s hard to believe that Yours Baldly is prone to profound fits
Came a question from a fan (anon as I don’t know if they’re happy to be named): === Going down
Behold a true story about how the “Fitness Internet” can ruin your life: About nine years ago, I was a
Venture back to the “Silver Era” of bodybuilding (the halcyon days between 1940 and 1959, just before steroids emerged onto
In the parable of the prodigal son, the younger of two brothers lusts after a wild lifestyle and his father
Recently I offered to critique my email subscribers’ training programmes for no charge. All barring a tiny handful of the
Today, I am a very proud husband. Here’s why: Jess took her first workout after giving birth to our youngest
Back when I used to watch fitness content on the internet, a lot of the time I’d wind up feeling
A significant minority of people who come to me for assistance with getting strong and in shape are amateur martial
“Diet is more important than exercise” Is one fitness rule I have consistently ignored for going on fifteen years. I
All things considered, the most effective exercises for building muscle, strength, and aesthetic appeal are the following: * Barbell stiff-leg
There are days when I wonder where I would be with my fitness business had I started it when I
Below is a tidbit of advice I gave a Phil Tyreman Letter subscriber on getting stronger (editorliaised for clarity as
If you would like me to critique your training regime (without charge), here is what you need to do: 1)
Probably the most shameful moment of my life was when I realised I was unable to safely carry my infant
A short while ago, the latest “Health Survey for England” data revealed 28% of adults are obese with a further
Peruse any weightlifting forum back in the day, and you would regularly see beginners asking variations of: “I’ve plateaued, what
This morning at 0308 hrs, my daughter, Lily, was born. To celebrate, I am having a sale on my book:
Every now and again I get asked: “What do you think about X food/ Y diet” To which my response
Something I have never been convinced of is the value of tracking anything more than weights and reps in the
Lately, I stumbled across an interview given to the legendary Reg Park by the equally legendary (but lamentably less well
Witness an observation from an anonymous reader: === “Love your emails. One thought – that may help some of your
Couple of weeks back, I put forward an offer for people who have fallen out of love with training. Long
You shouldn’t be slaving away in the gym for months (or even years) on end with little or nothing to
Phil Tyreman Letter subscriber who shall remain anonymous reports in: === “Gym progress feels great – moved to 3 sets
Behold a question from a customer (anonymised and editorialised to preserve privacy): === A question if I may, but please
Woke up to this message from a customer this morning (he gave me permission to share but I didn’t clarify
What I am about to write mostly concerns the subject of preparing for bodybuilding competitions, but it’s worth reading even
Asked roughly nine year old me of my then sixty-something year old grandmother out of nowhere as children are wont
Few things expose yawning gaps in your fitness quite like running. Behold why: * There is no way to “cheat”
The fat man was me, to my eternal shame. What’s worse is that I bore a passing resemblance to the
As it has been a while since I last talked about this, here is a high-level overview of what I
A very short and non-educational article today. If you have fallen out of love with training or you are feeling
A fair criticism laid at my door is that I only deal in “The Basics”. By that I mean if
Troublesome observation: Most who train are either strong OR in shape. The former are invariably pudgy; looking good in clothes
If you are interested in getting leaner without sacrificing too much muscle in the process, you would do well to
One of, if not the, best way to make your workouts more efficient and effective is to drastically reduce the
As it’s the day after Valentine’s day and because just one email featuring the wonderful Jess is insufficient, here is
Yesterday, something most peculiar happened while I was out on my morning run. It was one of those awful damp
“It was your brutal honesty and hilarious wit that got me off my fat arse and back into some kind
Yesterday’s missive on the BMI prompted an excellent question from a Silver Era Secrets graduate (who shall remain anonymous): ===
“My BMI is high because of muscle” is a firm contender for the most ridiculous statement in the universe. Why?
One fitness sacred cow that needs slaughtering yesterday is the concept of “bulking and cutting”. Why? It is typically practiced
A while back, my scribblings upset an unemployed strength and conditioning coach. For reasons that I am sure have nothing
One bad habit many otherwise earnest and hardworking people fall into is following broadly the same workouts, using the same
There are days when I wonder how much further ahead I’d be right now if only I had taken a
Behold 7 great reasons not to pursue new personal bests in the big barbell lifts: 1) You’re ill or injured,
Behold a lesson in the power of the mind: Many moons ago, I was away on a work trip so
Every responsible parent wants their kiddo(s) to have a healthy (i.e. non-obsessive) relationship with exercise. This necessarily involves leading by
If I had a tenner for every time a dad told me they were desperate to get strong and in
Easily the biggest downside to percentage-based training programmes (i.e. programmes where you calculate weights based off an estimated or true
If you would like to learn how to set modest personal bests in your core barbell lifts reliably and predictably,
The NFL Combine is an annual event where American Football players’ strength, endurance, speed, and so on are objectively evaluated
If you have ever made a bunch of progress (set a new PR, dropped a bunch of fat, etc) only
… is the decline bench press. What about this movement has drawn Yours Baldy’s ire? Much. But for the sake
At my university gym there was an absolute giant of a man called Roger. A plasterer by trade, he bore
Injuries to the chest (specifically to the pec major tendon) are one of, if not the, most common among lifters
Was the title of the first free PDF I ever downloaded from the internet (via a website banner ad no
If you would like to get strong and in shape slowly, my hopelessly biased recommendation is that you become my
Alright, I concede today’s subject line was hyperbolic. But Yours Baldly does know a thing or seven about building a
… is to spend time strengthening your back and legs. Why? * A thicker back furnishes you with a more
Behold probably the stupidest thing Yours Baldly has ever done: About six months before I was due to marry Jess,
I generally advise against learning the olympic lifts unless the person I am advising is interested in competing in olympic
Train hard enough for long enough, and you will happen upon a day when things do not go your way.
This email is going to lose me some subscribers. We begin: The Body Mass Index (BMI for short) takes flack
Believe it or not, you can identify potential issues with your form without taking a video or having someone take
Behold 11 pieces of advice I would give any person who wants to prevent needless stress and strife suffered in
In my humbly correct opinion, the easiest way to look better very quickly is to spend a chunk of time
Way back when I first started training in 2009, there weren’t many “fitness personalities” kicking around on the internet. I
It has long been trendy among certain online weightlifting circles to brag about not training arms. A line of thinking
A common complaint people (mostly men, believe it or not) come to me with is a lack of motivation. In
Take it away, Mr Reply Guy: === “I dunno man. I can only speak for myself, but I was in
Sometime in the spring of 2016, I walked into the Fareham branch of Lloyds for an appointment with a nice
Sunday’s snowpocolypse prompted me to write an informative and entertaining article for my intelligent and loyal personal training clients. It’s
Believe it or not, I can’t actually remember the last time I looked forward to going to the gym. If
“Base Building” is a concept by hypertrophy coach and author, Paul Carter that I first discovered a shade over a
If you are struggling to get results commensurate with your efforts in the gym, it’s quite possibly because you’re training
This is a fairly long post and it is entirely commercial in nature. So if that’s a problem you are
Once upon a time, I lived a stone’s throw away from a cheapo 24-hour gym. Single and with no drain
Behold a tidbit of advice (part of a much larger chain of emails) I sent to a client the other
Anonymous client asks: === “it’s been an absolute godsend working with you and has really been exactly what I needed!
Anonymous friend and former client reports in: === “I still love my barbell to bits and smile inside when I
Is a pernicious belief that has been doing the rounds for donkey’s years. Nowadays it’s predominantly popular among social media-dwelling
Today (31/12/24) is the last day you can subscribe to “The Phil Tyremen Letter” and get the January 2025 issue
A few days ago, I made the following remark: === “A narrative pushed, in large parts, by gyms who profit
Came a question from an anonymous reader: === “I don’t know if you’re into boxing but can you do some
I have no time for New Years’ Resolutioners. (That is people who choose to wait until January to start getting
Many earnest and hardworking people worry greatly about taking a week off from training for fear of losing strength and
Did you know that there is a strange monster-virus going around? Darn thing struck me down a couple of weeks
I completed my first “proper” year and a bit of training without taking a single week off. Contrary to appearances,
Step back in time to Christmas Day 2009. Yours Baldly had been training at the Don Styler Physical Training Centre
“I wouldn’t call myself ‘active’ – not by your standards.” Came a comment from a chap who I hold in
I am somewhat regularly asked variations of the following: === “If you were to start training again from scratch, what
Lately, I have been reminded of how Reg Park would wake at unholy o’clock every morning to train. In the
Client of mine at the personal training gym I briefly owned back in 2017 came to me having been ensnared
Constantly switching things up with your training is one surefire way to torpedo your progress. It’s for this reason that
A habit I developed probably ten years ago now is reading the works of ancient writers (Homer, Herodotus, Socrates, Epictetus,
An anonymous subscriber of “The Phil Tyreman Letter” reports in: === “I’ve just completed my second lifting session of this
Behold the now legendary first meeting between Arnold Schwarzenegger and Vince Gironda, as told by John Balik, former editor of
“Battlestar Galactica” (2004) is arguably the best television series of all time. For the uninitiated, it follows the journey through
A concept I have written about before that applies especially to Christmas time is: “The On/Off Switch” This describes the
Arguably the best use of limited training time is to invest it in practising bodyweight exercises. Why? As I am
Behold the workout I completed on Tuesday the 3rd of December: === Warmup Walk to the gym followed by stretches
Behold two pieces of training advice given to me by the late, great Don Styler (former proprietor of “The Don
What follows is a tidbit of advice for those who need to lose a little weight. Those who are in
If you’re the least bit concerned about falling off the wagon with your training over the festive period, you may
I posted this on LinkedIn a handful of days ago, but decided there was enough teaching in it to share
Hark unto me as I share with you a story as old as time: Our Hero is an overweight fellow
Believe it or not, this is the first email I have written in probably four or five days. Ordinarily, I
Cometh a question from a secret-squirrel client: === “I had a question about what you recommend as the best builder
Here are three ways to get your spouse into training: 1) Take it seriously If they believe training is your
Remember when the government closed gyms while encouraging people to eat takeaways and called it a public health measure? It
Probably the hardest part about training over Christmas is navigating gym closures. The very first gym I trained in didn’t
Yours Baldly is in a spot of bother. Jess has been bending my ear because I neglected to give her
Another question from a loyal reader (who shall remain anonymous): === “I notice that I’m not working the lateral delts
Behold the two options you have for getting into shape: 1) The Twelve Week Transformation Programme Not all are twelve
Came an email from a reader: === Did my first workout this morning. Really enjoyed it – it’s been 10
Forgive the hyperactive subject line but on this occasion I believe it is warranted. Allow me to mansplain: “Training density”
Came a message from an anonymous client (need to keep his identity secret for a bunch of reasons): === “I’ve
Rewind the clock to sometime in the spring or maybe early summer of 2015. What started as a hamstring injury
Cometh a question from a reader: === “Smith Machine – if no squat rack available – is this preferable to
“Dogmatic” is a word that has been used to describe my beliefs about training. While some might take this as
Behold praise from a reader: === “Another leadership lesson from PJT You do realise what you write is GOLDDUST” ===
I don’t know if you heard, but The Orange Man is due to begin his third presidential term. What has
Here is my current workout regime for your edutainment: === * Lifting (2 x week) A. Seated Machine Overhead Press
Here is an addendum to yesterday’s email about why most amateur sportsmen just need to get strong(er) in the basic
Behold a question from a “Silver Era Secrets” client (who must remain anonymous): === I want to step up heavier
Today, I am going to talk about a topic I care about greatly: Male victims of domestic violence perpetrated by
A few months ago, I wrote a short book on strength training for the martial artist. It was for a
Here is something rarely talked about by people in the fitness industry: You’re still going to struggle with pain, fatigue,
It is no secret that I used to loathe cardio. Why? ‘Cuz I was a fattie. Not in body (I
“Mate you need to get into kids book covers” Said a good friend and customer of mine when I showed
“How would you feel if you found out you had terminal cancer?” Was a thought that popped into my head
“How would you feel if you found out you had terminal cancer?” Was a thought that popped into my head
A short while ago, Jess fired up her LinkedIn account to support me in spreading the Good News. Her following
Jess has asked me to write some shorter emails (she proofreads and schedules them, and has complained about the length
In the below-linked video, I mansplain how to get strong and in shape in a shade under ten minutes: https://philtyreman.co.uk/way/
The day has arrived. My back is healed. It first went pop on, I think, the 31st of August (the
I am looking for men and women who want to get strong and in shape. Specifically, those who want to
Yesterday, I mansplained the importance of having a “baseline routine”. Today, I shall mansplain some more: This way of doing
Probably the best way to get your training unstuck is to make subtle yet impactful changes to your routine. Example:
Many, many, many moons ago, I downloaded a PDF bench press programme I saw advertised via a banner ad on
Something rarely mentioned when talking about the benefits of training is: Confidence. Not “walk down the street with your shirt
Lately, I got to talking with a lady internet-friend of mine (who I cannot name) about why I don’t follow
Here’s a grim thought for you: Getting results from your efforts in the gym that you are truly satisfied with
Recently, I discovered I am part of a “lynch mob of sociopathic malcontents”. My crime? Having the temerity to suggest
Behold a sentence from an email sent to me by an interested party (who shall remain anonymous): === “I’m past
Here are my three favourite shoulder exercises, in order of my preference: 1) Barbell Overhead Press Probably the most criminally
One of the most important fitness lessons I ever learned came from observing the women at a cheap and cheerful
“I can’t do overhead presses because they hurt my shoulders” Is a common complaint I hear from (mostly) men of
Would you believe that I used to think training arms was only for the weak and effeminate? I took my
Everybody respects a man (or, indeed, woman) with full, round shoulders. Why? From paintings on the walls of ancient Egyptian
Behold an email from a reader (anon as I’m not sure he wants me naming him): === I did a
Without a shadow of a doubt, the best way to improve the way you look is to build up your
You know how some actors seem to get into shape lighting-quick for certain roles? Many say that this is due
Probably my all time favourite weightlifting personality is: Vince Gironda The man was a visionary. For example, he banned his
Yours Baldly’s back is still giving him a bit of trouble. To recap, I pinged it about a month and
Believe it or not, I am working today even though it is my birthday. I actually work every day in
Is something I have not experienced since a family trip to Florida around 1999. (I cannot remember the exact year
A man whose life and methods I have spent much time studying is: Eric Pederson. Wrestler and bodybuilder (he tied
“I don’t do Zercher squats because I’m not in prison” Is a quote from strength training master and author of
“You still haven’t answered my question: I’m pushing 100kg on military press, if I read your book or enrol in
Some of my younger fans have been telling me about how their peers are using AI tools like ShatGPT to
Part and parcel of growing up is building a life that cannot revolve around the gym. I am sure there
Continuing from yesterday’s missive, below are 17 more training mistakes so you can identify where you are going wrong and,
What follows is a list of 17 training mistakes. Bountiful experience tells me you’re probably making at least one of
A common complaint is being unable to “feel” your back working on exercises like rows and pullups, and even lat
Half score and one year ago, I was afflicted with: The worst injury I had ever suffered I actually hurt
Something I have noticed is that many in the fitness industry sell what I have called: “The athlete experience”. In
Below is an extract from a book I am writing (a strength and conditioning manual for martial artists): === “The
Behold a comment from a fan: === “You would be my kind of trainer if I lived your neck of
If you are a thinking person, you have doubtless raised an eyebrow at various claims proffered by personal trainers. For
The late, great Vince Gironda was well known for kicking people out of his gym for crimes such as doing
“Have you been on a digital design course? These pictures in your posts are looking a bit flamboyant” Came a
So-called “programme hopping” is the source of much frustration and failure. If you are not aware, it occurs when you
Lately, I’ve been swapping emails with a handful of earnest, hardworking folk who are yet to start their quest for
Behold an email from a fan who shall remain anonymous === Although I can not use your services, I LOVE
“I’m not teaching them anything, I’m telling them what is and isn’t acceptable” So sayeth Jess about the book she
Behold a testimonial: === “Phil is the only PT I’ve ever worked with who has provided education to feed my
Behold my insanity. Since last April, I have written 9 fitness books: 1) Lift (exclusively for subscribers of “The Phil
Guy DM’d me asking for help because he’s gotten lazy since his kid was born and is now on the
Behold a headline from the Grauniad: “Teachers in England offered lie-ins to make the job more appealing” Forgive me for
“Let’s not forget that some peole can’t afford to eat as well as others, and.poor diet contributes to the issue.
Few weeks back, I took a call with a guy who said he was interested in becoming a client. Alas,
Time for a change of pace. We begin: You can follow the best programme in the world, but if things
When I first started training way back in 2009, the “fitness internet” was very different. It mostly consisted of long-form
Events have lit a fire up my backside to get moving on a project I’ve been thinking about for a
I am looking for men and women who want to get strong and in shape. Specifically, those who want to
Cometh an email from a new reader (who shall remain anonymous): === I’ve finally signed up, just reading the report
You may remember that I tweaked my back a short while ago. As I write this (on September 11th), it’s
Here are four ways to progress in your training without slapping more weight on the bar: 1) Increase volume. This
Some years ago, I would pride myself on how I wasn’t a morality cop. Since then, I have grown up
Here is an example of a workout I would do if I was forced train at home: 1. Warm up
Consider the following hypothetical scenario: Scientists have created a “safe and effective” pill anyone can take that will make anyone
Cometh a reply from a reader (who shall remain anonymous) concerning an email I sent about how my thin, attractive
“Oh I thought you fat shamed women in your spare time” Came a DM out of nowhere from a lady
A pattern I have noticed among men who train is that often their beliefs about the state of their physiques
A question from a fan: === Do you ever do much content touching on any links between prayer and working
The other day I got it into my head that I wanted to jack the price of “Silver Era Secrets”
Cometh a question from a newish reader: === Do you do much around bodyweight/calisthenics? === My response: I am greatly
Connie is perhaps the biggest fan of Sonic the Hedgehog to have ever lived. She even loves Sonic Underground, a
Recently, my back went “pop”. It was completely unexpected and I have no idea why it happened, but it did.
Today, I cannot be bothered to write an email so I shall let one of my fans do it for
Came an email from a reader who shall remain anonymous: === Enjoying your writing & your zero f#%ks given attitude
Client of mine who shall remain nameless was shocked when I told him a famous bodybuilder from the 1970s was
“Daddy, can we do some conditioning today, please?” asked Connie. She’s taken a liking to the short, structured training sessions
You have doubtless heard the cliché, “Abs are made in the kitchen, not in the gym”. Like all clichés, it
Came a comment from a man who got upset because I said being strong and in shape makes you a
Behold some gold medal worthy mental gymnastics: === “I am wondering why you felt the need to write “I took
Full body workouts are, without a shadow of a doubt, the surest path to maximum results in minimum time. No
“Deeper and more restful sleep” is one oft-touted benefit of training. Perhaps to the point of cliché. (Even Yours Baldly
It seems I have touched a nerve by noticing the correlation between our play parks being empty and parents outsourcing
Came a DM from a fan (who probably doesn’t want me naming him): === Thanks mate, and thanks for your
Getting burnt out and injured terminates many earnest attempts to get into shape. Moreover, the older you get, the harder
A lot of chaps (and the occasional chappette) worry about “weak points” in their physiques. More often than not, these
Many terminally online lifters claim Reg Park (mentor to Arnold Schwarzenegger, film star, and the man who basically established the
Rarely a week goes by where I am not trolled by an unemployed athletics coach or personal trainer. Their beef
Behold some S-Tier BroScience: The body only tolerates a certain amount of asymmetry and, once this threshold is met, further
One never-ending source of controversy is my zero-tolerance “no drugs” policy that prohibits steroid and TRT abusers from purchasing any
Let’s indulge in a little “reality check”: Most lifters don’t train the squat. And the majority of the minority who
Client of mine (not sure he wants me to name him) decided to pull the trigger on getting into shape
Recently, I got to talking with a client who shall remain nameless about why I am not a fan of
Something I cannot help but notice is the schizophrenic attitude towards leg training you see among men (and only men,
0230. Was the time Jess and I woke Saturday just gone. The reason? No idea. Just one of those things,
My spies tell me that the fact my prestigious podcast has just 6 subscribers (at the time of writing) is
Avast! What I am about to share with you could spare you much misery and pain. Hyperbole? Nope, not in
Something I know a lot of men struggle with is the terrible impact having a baby or young kiddos has
Behold one answer to a series of questions posed to me by an anonymous “Silver Era Secrets” client. === “So
Something I have learned over the years is that discretion is the greater part of valour when it comes to
One of the very first things I made clear to Jess were two rules she had to agree to follow
Behold a challenge posed to me by Jess on one of our early morning walks: === “We need to break
I quite often get mocked by everyone from street urchins to chavs driving “modded” bangers when I’m out for a
Was the slogan created for Nike by advertising agency Weiden+Kennedy during a meeting before being deployed in 1988. Apparently, it
A subscriber who shall remain anonymous recently shared a LinkedIn post he had written with me on the subject of
I write this having just finished the last of 200 handwritten invitations to my new bootcamp in Old Goole. (It’s
Couple of weeks ago, I had a call with a guy who either owns or manages a nearby gym. The
I am not someone who is afraid to change his mind. People who want me to be as bad as
One of the services I used to offer at my very small personal training gym was a bootcamp. Inspired by
First things first, I have no problem with powerlifting or (most) powerlifters. Unlike bodybuilding, it is a sport. Also unlike
Once upon a time, I did a Very Stupid Thing and utterly mullered my knee. I’ve told this story several
Some years ago, I had the privilege of training a submariner who wanted to get a lot stronger for reasons
As I get older and more experienced, I am becoming increasingly convinced that most strength training approaches are, in a
“Strength is the basis of athletic ability” According to legendary coach, Mark Rippetoe, a man who has done more for
A chap whom I respect greatly challenged me on LinkedIn a couple of weeks back by saying, in a roundabout
There was a guy at my uni gym, enormous bloke in his early 50s, plasterer by trade, who had been
Many moons ago, I owned and operated a small personal training gym in Gosport, Hampshire. Why do I not have
What is “strong”? A question it pays to have a firm answer to, if you are more interested in making
In my fifteen-ish years of training, there have been times where I have made little or no progress, despite hitting
Lately, I have been using a “High Intensity” method to slap some more muscle on my frame, having spent the
Are the squat and overhead press, in my opinion. Specifically when done with a barbell. I’m less picky about the
The other day, I had occasion to wear a suit. What occasion? Private, I am afraid. However, it was Very
I spend a fair amount of time invading peoples’ inboxes on LinkedIn to hawk them my wares. Something I have
“We’re fighting a war” Opined Bryan Curely, talented chef and owner of two successful catering businesses in San Diego, on
Did you know that the back and legs are, by far, the two most neglected muscle groups? Of course you
Jess and I are getting married again. Why? Not important. But what is important is that I am still able
A lot of men think they have a “diet problem” when, in actual fact, theirs is a “training problem”. Yours
Unfortunate Reality: You will never, ever, ever stick to a training programme unless you treat lifting weights and doing cardio
“I’ve never known discipline like bodybuilding.” Was how a bright young man summed up his counterargument to my belief that
Is a question to which there is no hard-and-fast answer. However. I do have an answer for the man who
“Just been reading very often that with fullbody you shouldn’t do arms as they get trained automatically with heavy pushing
Earlier today, I took a walk to town with my youngest, Marcus while Connie was at nursery and Jess was
Came a question from a “Silver Era Secrets” client who shall remain anonymous: “Bit random Phil, but what do meat
Only joking. Today I’m going to talk about death. To begin, let’s steelman my critics by pretending that the menopause
It seems my view on TRT continues to greatly upset some people. For example, one chap said that the “andropause”
I was speaking with a very good friend of mine who takes TRT for a legitimate, medical purpose under the
The latest episode of my podcast explains, in some considerable detail, the three phase process I used to break free
A “Silver Era Secrets” client who shall remain nameless remarked: === “The chapter on eating / diet that you sent
Below is a re-work of my seminal article “The Great Calorie Con”. Substance-wise, nothing has changed. However, I believe the
One thing that is often said about my method for writing training programmes is how easy it is to follow.
Continuing yesterday’s theme of how bodybuilding is not a sport: It’s a beauty pageant, in my opinion. Only worse. Because,
Bodybuilding is not a sport. A deeply unpopular opinion among its Very Straight aficionados who love nothing more than to
Someone who I do not give enough credit to is my thin, attractive wife, Jess. Not only has she raised
Behold some praise: === Guess what? I’m a cheapskate, so I got your free report and tested the “tribute” workout.
Once upon a time, I was thrust into the back of beyond for what was, I think, a four week
Paraphrasing a question from a reader: === “Do I have to go to the gym to follow your methods?” ===
Compare 1000 guys who exclusively lift weights with 1000 guys who exclusively train bodyweight, and I’d stake my firstborn son
Below is what I wanted to include as a P.S. to July’s issue of “The Phil Tyreman Letter” but couldn’t
When the ‘rona hit and that scruffy excuse for a leader mandated we all hide under our beds for fear
Recently, I wrote about how people who track everything to the nth degree generally look and perform like garbage. Worse
Came a question in response to something I wrote about our family’s morning routine. === “You get your kids up
One thing I am obstinate about is making exercise an immutable task – on a level with your job, seeing
Forgive me for being a braggart, but I can’t help but feel proud of just how easy I find running
Behold an observation that will doubtless trigger a number of people who read it. Here it is: The more someone
An apocryphal story about the late, great Steve Reeves who is widely considered to have the best natural physique of
If you happen to find yourself alongside the Dutch River that separates Old Goole from regular Goole just after 7am,
Legendary natural bodybuilder Reg Park is reported to have never trained to muscular failure as he thought it led to
A while back, I was having a conversation with an acquaintance who does football coaching for kiddos in his spare
I have a confession to make. No, I haven’t cheated on Jess or started an OnlyFanz. Sorry to disappoint. However.
For my sins, I spend a fair amount of time on LinkedIn shilling my stuff. One thing I’ve come to
A “Silver Era Secrets” client who shall remain nameless pinged me an email to tell me he’d successfully constructed his
Behold some science. From a 2022 piece titled, “Anabolic androgenic steroid use population size estimation: a first stage study utilising
Kids say the darndest things. Like the time Connie said: “Daddy fat”. She was, I think, two-and-a-bit years old at
If you spend any time looking into how the greats trained before steroids came on the scene, you’ll quickly notice
“I don’t have the time to exercise” is perhaps the most common excuse I hear from people who are out
Let me preface this by saying, I am not a diet guy. Truly, nothing bores me more than talking about
Couple of weeks back, Jess and I went for dinner at a pub. It was not a fancy pub. A
Please forgive what may come across as somewhat of an unhinged rant. This article does, in fact, contain a fitness-related
After yesterday’s dalliance into the sociopolitical, let us return to the topic you are likely most interested in hearing from
“Probably the stupidest post I’ve ever read” Came a comment on something I wrote on LinkedIn a few days back.
Recently I had something of an epiphany during a conversation with Jess about training. We were talking about how much
Once upon a time, Yours Baldly was a Very Fat Child. Life was not fun. Feeling utterly ashamed of how
If there’s one thing even a misogynist like me can give women credit for, it’s their commitment to training glutes
If you’re stuck spinning your wheels in the gym, this email might explain why. Go to any gym, and you’ll
The humble dumbbell has a storied history. A dumbbell-like device known as “halteres” first popped up in ancient Greece –
Paraphrasing from a recent conversation with a man who has decided he will become a client in the near future:
One of my more contentious views is my firm belief that everyone ought to train for muscle, even if they’re
“What’s the one piece of advice you’d give to someone who is struggling to get results because they’re busy and
Behold three things you must be able to do if you are to get (and stay) in shape when yours
Guy I used to work with was fat. Really, really fat. Quite how he passed the fitness test to join
Ever the high achiever, back in 2009 I beat 9000 applicants to land one of 20 places to train as
Here is why I pay no heed to what modern bodybuilders have to say on the subjects of training, diet,
“Should I take supplements?” A question I’m asked in some way, shape, or form on a regular basis. It’s a
Fragile is not a word you would want as an accurate descriptor of your physique. However. The number of men
“What do you think about Ozempic, Phil?” Came a question from a smart fellow on LinkedIn. My response: === “I
Is something a lot of fitness professionals will say to people who are struggling with their fitness. Whether that problem
Recently, a good friend told me about his experience of working with a very expensive personal trainer. It was, in
A week ago, I had a phone call with a reader (I’m not sure if he wants me naming him).
I’ll never shy away from how lucky I was to get a first-rate fitness education at the first gym I
The following is somewhat of a rant that, if applicable to you, could make you very cross. You can stop
Behold the first few paragraphs from the first (of three) handbooks you’ll get when you join me for the three-month
None of what I’m about to say will be relevant to you if you’re perfectly happy with your physique and
Running and I have never been happy bedfellows. For example, when I was 11, our year group did a running
Half-score and two years ago Yours Baldly was charging about on emergency ambulances aiding the sick, injured, and, sometimes, perfectly
Message from an astute fan: === “That geeza on your post is talking as if 99% of people over 50
Few weeks ago, Jess ran her first 10k race at some fancy-shmancy country house about ten miles to the south
Saw some twonk fat loss coach whinging about a client who filed a chargeback against him. Apparently, his is a
From a conversation with a subscriber on our mutual interests in business and marketing: === “Here’s why I’m doing what
I’ve been asked to create an option for working with me that doesn’t involve committing to an ongoing subscription. So
Lately, Jess started in a commission-only sales job selling… Actually, I’m not sure. “Husband of the Year Material” I am
Real values always cost you something. As mine often do in the case of my zero-tolerance “no drugs” policy that
Hark unto me as I state the obvious: To get and, more importantly, maintain a great physique for more than
“The greatest wealth is health”. What we have here is a prime example of something everyone knows to be true,
I get a lot of complaints about how I sometimes use these emails to air my sociopolitical laundry. But here’s
Behold the problem a significant minority of men I talk to about training suffer with: Aching joints. By this I
Are the following: 1) The Dumbbell Pullover Once upon a time a popular movement beloved by bodybuilders for its supposed
“What is your message?” Jess ambushed me with this question right at the start of a recent podcast episode. My
What you are about to read may surprise you. I think you’re almost certainly capable of “doing the work” you
Here is something that confuses me greatly: When people recognise they have a problem that is causing them material difficulty
Three to six months. Is roughly how long men who are at least somewhat serious about training stay the course
What follows may make you extremely uncomfortable. Here are some facts: * Physical inactivity is one of the leading risk
Behold my hypocrisy: One thing I beat into my clients’ skulls with a rusty golf-club is the importance of logging
Snippet from a conversation with a fan: === “Well after reading your emails daily, I will never ever use a
Thought experiment: Let’s pretend you have a leaky tap. It’s not so bad that water is gushing everywhere, but the
You know what grinds my gears? Parents who use their kids as an excuse to get fat. Truly, to blame
Here’s a rough outline: * Decide how many days per week you’re going to train; * Pick one exercise for
Something I’ve observed is how earnest, hardworking men who train consistently find themselves spinning their wheels for months, sometimes years
Behold an adapted version of a post I wrote on LinkedIn recently. (The original contained an image, and I don’t
“Isn’t walking every day enough for cardio, Phil?” Asked a smart young man in response to a LinkedIn post I
Was the phrase used by the great and the good to justify coercing people into taking the pokey poke for
Behold what Jess wrote to me in response to my recent email titled: “The truth about obesity, as I see
My most enduring memory of my late grandfather is doing pushups and situps with him in the grand reception room
Confession: I have no interest whatsoever in nutrition. Moreover, I think a lot of men pay too much attention to
Four months. Or thereabouts. That’s how much of my time I spent playing World of Warcraft as a teenager. (I
Steve Reeves possessed what is widely considered to be the most aesthetically pleasing physique of his era. (He was also
“Comparison is the thief of joy” Was just about the only worthwhile thing Jess learned from her multi-year dalliance with
A recurring theme in the conversations I have with men about training is the problem of training hard, getting results,
One of the problems you have when you want to build muscle and strength naturally is finding a voice you
I’m looking for a handful of men who want to build muscle and strength without inserting needles into their bottoms.
Are you familiar with the phrase “stolen valour”? It’s used to describe the wearing of medals and other military decorations
Following on from yesterday’s email about how not to do cardio, my thoughts on “challenge” workouts and programmes: (For the
In Stoke East Park (near Blackberry Hill, Bristol) there’s a monument called “Lady Elizabeth Somerset’s Obelisk” atop a large hill.
Here’s a thought: Looking “ripped” is a thing a lot of men want. Problem is, you can only get it
Over the last six months or so, I’ve started using the “hook grip” for my deadlifts. For the uninitiated, a
“Why pay you when I could learn what you teach for free online?” Nobody has asked me this question directly,
“Imagine being dyslexic or having a learning disability and you get [censored] on by Brexit Pitbull for not reading a
Walking is the sole reason I stay relatively lean year-round without really thinking about it. It’s also responsible for my
From Jess regarding my latest rant about PED abuse: === “I’ve been thinking about this a bit more. People may
If you would like to get into the best possible shape for the summer (and who wouldn’t?), now is the
Another example of me being mightily stupid in the pursuit of my fitness goals: In October 2011 or thereabouts, I
“Weight-loss: Are injections the answer to tackling obesity?” Was the headline of a fairly long article on the BBC News
About twelve years ago, I decided I wanted to get very lean. I’d put on a lot of weight at
You’re probably aware of the 7 Deadly Sins. What you may not be aware of are their counterparts, the 4
“You’re obviously triggered by people who don’t want you in their DM’s. Seems like you’re the one with a fragile
Jess and I often discuss our family values, and how we live them out in our day to day. One
The other day, I was swapping voice notes about training with an acquaintance. He astutely observed guys get stuck “down
Below is an email I got from Jess. She wrote it in response to my take on Princess Kate going
Do you ever get the feeling you are being watched? For example, this morning, I couldn’t shake the sense that
From a conversation with another man who is interested in working with me: === “Doing my own thing for now
“How to build a powerful physqiue” Was the headline of the sales page for my flagship offer and beating heart
“This is how to look like a [censored]….” Sayeth a man in response to a LinkedIn comment I made about
“NHS ombudsman warns hospitals are cynically burying evidence of poor care” A headline from The Guardian, before anyone calls me
About a week ago, I wrote an email concerning how my unbridled pigheadedness caused me a bunch of grief. Specifically,
Question from a potential client: === “Only one more question from me, can I do the workouts you suggest without
Some free value for you. The most important lesson I teach is the following: “The only way to get and,
Message I got a while ago (paraphrasing): === “I’d buy your book, but my wife won’t let me put my
Yesterday, I recommended a book to my good friend (and easily one of the best salesmen in the UK), Jamie
What I am about to write might make you feel very uncomfortable. Particularly if you find yourself trapped in the
Maybe it’s because I’m getting older, but I can’t help but notice what seems to be a real uptick in
I have a confession to make. Alas, it’s not too exciting. I’ve not cheated on Jess or committed some heinous
My daughter was born in June of 2020. I’m sure you remember how peculiar life was back then. Everybody hiding
From a BBC news article I read yesterday: “About 35,000 [coroner’s] inquests take place in England and Wales each year.
Today’s is a brief message. Jess and I have recorded another podcast. It’s the same format as always. She asks
The following is a true story, albeit with some details changed to protect the guilty. Many moons ago, I was
Obvious statement: If you want to get good at something, you need to do it a lot. Take, for example,
Nowadays, objective standards are met with derision. Why? They prove that some people are simply better than others, and this
Message from a friend: === “How many people are you [censored] off on LinkedIn with your posts? Any fatties direct
Are you frustrated because your wife/girlfriend is fat? If so, then I’m sorry to tell you, it’s entirely your fault.
News just in: Over a billion people are now considered obese, according to new research. More – * Obesity is
“The way you talk reminds me of Putin”. Said Jess after we recorded our most recent podcast episode. She was
Did you know that many gym owners prefer it when members *don’t* use their facilities? In some cases, it’s an
A couple of nights ago, Jess and I visited an “all you can eat” brazilian steakhouse called Caramba. Truly, it’s
It’s been said that my harsh and uncompromising message is an ineffective way to get people to take action to
Do you ever get the feeling we no longer live in a serious country? For example, on Monday I took
Cardio and lifting go together like clubs and baby seals. Theirs is a symbiotic relationship. Do one without the other,
“Here’s one great reason not to: it’s [censored] awful”. Was one response I got to my “17 great reasons to
There comes a point in every man’s life when he truly understands his own mortality. When he does, the scales
Lately, I’ve noticed a large uptick in the number of ladies who are reading my material. I’m flattered. (No, really,
In 2016, I was fresh out of the ambulance service (job drove me crazy – severe and enduring mental illness
Here are 17 great reasons to do regular hard cardio. If it’s not already part of your routine (as is
Believe it or not, I can remember the exact workout where I hit my peak. The year was 2017. I
Yesterday, I mentioned that I’ve done the same six lifts (and their close variations) for a decade and a half.
My pretty wife occasionally says something intelligent. About six months ago, she opined that there are two things worthy of
Jess and I took our early morning walk together yesterday. (The kids were with their grandparents before you go calling
“What would you prioritise – run or gym?” Asked Jess as she was about to leave for her early morning
If you’ve been reading my material for a while, you’ll know that I spent most of last year de-fattening myself.
Back when I owned a personal training gym, one of my clients asked me the following: “Don’t you find doing
Jess and I took our early morning walk together yesterday. (The kids were with their grandparents before you go calling
Lately, I’ve been getting up at 0415 every day without fail. Why? Six days per week, I go straight out
Here are five fitness experts from the “pre-PED” world of bodybuilding and strength training. You should definitely look into these
My pretty wife occasionally says something intelligent. About six months ago, she opined that there are two things worthy of
It has been suggested I don’t know what I’m talking about because there are no partially clothed pictures of me
Yesterday’s email about pensions – specifically the part where I said I don’t have one – caused some upset. And
Guy down the gym asked me if I’d heard of some bodybuilder who is apparently blowing up on social media.
A wise man once said: “If you can’t do pullups you’re either fat or weak”. I’m unsure where I heard
If the media are to be believed, the cost of a “comfortable” retirement just jumped by £8000 per year to
Question from a friend at a networking group I attend: “Why did you leave the ambulance service to become a
From my LinkedIn page: === “Saw a post on Reddit yesterday morning about a nurse who got in the doo-doo
About a month ago, I asked an acquaintance of mine (who is a highly accomplished marketer) to have a poke
The biggest downside of getting into shape is the profoundly positive impact it will have on your wife/girlfriend. Yes, I
Spoke with a podcast host recently who didn’t want me as a guest for various reasons. He did, however, kindly
If you’re serious about learning something, there’s no better source of information than Real Books printed on Real Paper. Others
When you spend less time arguing about irrelevant minutiae on the internet and more time training hard and eating well,
In yesterday’s email about the undisputable power of weighted vests, I said: “3. There is no better tool for building
There’s one item of fitness equipment that no man who is serious about his training can do without. And that
“Perfect is the enemy of good”. Or so the saying goes. It’s actually true in a lot of cases. Like,
Yesterday, I wrote the last of a series of 30 letters to my daughter. They’re all about how to train
I see this “conscription” thing is still doing the rounds, so here are my thoughts: According to the Health Survey
A sensible question from a subscriber: ==== “Phil, why don’t you wear a belt for heavy sets of squats and
Yesterday, a subscriber, Liam Bagnell, sent me this email: ==== “If, like me, you are the sort of man who
Jess mentioned an interview she saw with a senior NHS bod about a new non-surgical weight loss treatment known as
We’ve just returned from three nights away at the glorious Butlin’s in Skegness. I know, I know, I do spoil
“What happened?” “You fell over and banged your head.” “Where am I?” “In the back of an ambulance.” “Who are
Fair warning: What I’m about to write will make you very uncomfortable if it applies to you. So if you’re
Here are 7 huge benefits of having a thick, strong back: 1. Respect. Men with big arms and muscle-moobs are
If you’re not considering working with me right now, you can ignore this email. Normal service will resume tomorrow, although
Loaded carries are high up the list of “Things most guys don’t do that they probably should”. Why? Many reasons.
Yesterday, I had the distinct pleasure of catching up with a good friend of mine, Ben Browning, to record an
The main reason some men choose lifting weights as their primary form of exercise is they believe it’ll allow them
Writing the sales page for my new book, Shift, brought up some funny memories of all the stupid things I
Yesterday, I appeared on the “Small Business, Big Network” podcast (which has been rated in the top 5 marketing podcasts
A lot of online coaches offer meal plans as part of their package. This practice is so widespread it’s viewed
Today I’m going to tell you about a nifty way to look significantly better while dressed (and, probably, undressed as
A few days ago, there was a picture doing the rounds on X/Twitter of a police officer with a scraggly
Today’s email is blunt. What I’m about to say is very polarising. By that I mean some people will nod
“People who are leaner, bigger, or stronger than you aren’t always on steroids. They just train harder and pay better
‘You’ll have to do this before I even consider working with you’ The arrogance, unsubscribe. So sayeth some random bloke
Today, I’m going to share with you four common misconceptions about training. Misconceptions that, if acted upon, will, at best,
Here’s something which confuses me: You know when someone has a serious problem and they know they have that problem?
The last couple of days, I’ve talked about how the socialist nightmare that is “The Almighty Arr NHS” is finished,
I’ve got a little ginger cat called Caspian. He’s about five years old and the most gentle, kind feline you’ll
The last few days, X/Twitter has been awash with conservatives and libertarians wishing pain and, in some cases, death upon
Many moons ago, I owned a personal training gym. It was small – just 500 square feet or so –
The proverb “honesty is the best policy” means it’s always better to tell a truth than a lie, no matter
If you live in or near Goole, and you are considering working with a personal trainer, this will be the
After yesterday’s tirade about New Year’s Resolutioners and their weak-willed ways, I figured I’d switch gears today and offer some
Tomorrow is New Year’s Day, which means… I know, I know, as a “fitness professional” I’m supposed to make like
Lately, I’ve been getting a lot of ads for so-called “fitness wearables”. For the uninitiated, a fitness wearable is a
On this day 14 years ago, I decided I’d had enough of being a fat mess. I’d been training on
I’m running a free 60-minute video Q&A session on Friday the 29th of December at 1830 hrs. It’s for men
Recently, I started using a highly efficient and stunningly effective method for getting (and staying) in shape, even when very
Well, would you believe it’s Christmas day? I debated sending you something warm and fluffy about how you should “take
Triggered a PT at the gym the other day. In my defence, I didn’t know he was a PT when
You’re probably aware the mother of all colds is doing the rounds. Maybe it’s a “new variant” of The Virus
Socratic questioning is a technique used by teachers and other experts to force their students to examine and validate their
I recently created a new Facebook group. The group is called East Yorkshire Men’s Fitness Mastermind. As you can see
It was Jess’ birthday yesterday. We celebrated by taking our usual mile-and-a-half-ish walk to town for an energy drink at
There’s an epidemic. An epidemic of men who like the idea of getting into shape, but cannot summon the motivation
Have you ever heard the phrase “regression towards the mean”? Simply put, it describes the tendency for excellent results to
When was the last time you sat down and mapped out your training for the entire year? My guess is
You know, sometimes I feel like I’m living in a zombie film. Like a couple of days ago during the
Recently, I’ve had a few calls with people who are interested in The OX Protocol (my private coaching programme) where
Let’s talk about “gym fashion”. No, not how most women feel the need to dress like succubi for their workouts
My wife, Jess, is a traditional gal. Her favourite pastimes are crochet and knitting. (She also enjoys baking me bread,
A little while ago, I was chatting with an acquaintance at the gym. Guy’s been training a little while, doing
I learned a new word yesterday – “Sadfishing”. According to Wikipedia, it’s a term used to describe the behavioural trend
Go to any gym, and I guaran-effing-tee you the dumbbell section will be one of, if not the, most crowded
Picture the scene… You make the bold decision to lose fat. Perhaps you took action because you’re fed up of
A lot of guys get caught up in believing more = better, especially when they’re trying to get into shape. And whilst
“Training doesn’t feel like an effort anymore. It’s just something I do, like having a shower or hoovering the house”.
Nine years ago, I nearly drowned. It was a frigid February morning at Lee Valley White Water Centre in Waltham
Click to watch this short video. Thank you. https://philtyreman.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/20231029_083622-1.mp4
For over a decade, I believed running was for losers. Despite being overweight, I refused point blank to do the
When was the last time you saw a Personal Trainer carrying a clipboard, notepad, or some other device they can
Spend any time following an online fitness personality, and you’ll eventually find their gRoUp CoAcHiNg PrOgRaMmE. The basic premise is
What you are about to read about is a “common sense” idea that will save you a lot of frustration.
This article will upset some people. What is it that I have to say that’s so very offensive? Simply this.
Did you know only 1 in 210 overweight men succeed in regaining and maintaining a healthy weight? I didn’t either
Uncomfortable truth: Most men who go to the gym are in terrible shape. I don’t say this to judge. Hell,
Recently, I wrote an email series detailing just some of the things I’ve discovered in my near decade and a
Recently, my wife instituted a new “rule” for our daughter. The rule is, “We always walk on Moorland Road”. She’s
Marriage. That most ancient and noble of institutions. Insofar as we know, the first ceremonies uniting one man with one
My friend, you’re training too hard. I shall explain: I reckon you go to the gym at least three days
I can’t help but notice that the fatter a population gets, the more blokes you see slobbing it in ill-fitting
Cope of the week: “Healthy eating is too expensive”. It’s not. You’re just too feckless and lazy to cook your
Rewind to 2009. I’d just set out on my quest to build a powerful physique. I was fat, and I
Important Note: What follows is the second chapter of my book “Train Like a Warrior” which is collection of essays
Important Note: What follows is the first chapter of my book “Train Like a Warrior” which is collection of essays
Saying the BMI is invalid because it doesn’t account for muscle mass is the same as a smoker saying they
My wife, Jess, is a legend. She, like me, used to be very fat indeed but managed to lose it
Did you know that about one in three people who fracture their hip die within 12 months? It’s an alarming
Fact: Most people grossly underestimate the amount of food they eat and vastly overestimate the amount of exercise they do.
I’ve done a Very Silly Thing™. Every morning without fail I have two eggs and a homemade bread roll for
Supplements. Those wonderful pills, powders, and potions that promise to burn fat, build muscle, and boost performance. Yeah, whatever. Look,
If you’ve been training for a couple of years but you’re struggling to get (and stay) lean, continue reading… Let’s
You know, over the years I’ve come to realise most men aren’t remotely interested in getting in shape. Sure, they
Imagine you’re at a restaurant. You look at the menu and see a small mixed grill is £15, a medium
You’re probably training too hard. No, really. You are. Here’s the truth: If you’re struggling to lose fat the last
Every now and again someone asks me why I don’t use “before and after” photographs in my marketing. It’s a
“They” say it’s inevitable you’ll lose strength on a fat loss programme. And on this occasion… … “they” are correct.
Put 1000 guys who lift weights and 1000 guys who do bodyweight training in a room together, and I’ll bet
Yesterday, Mrs T and I went out for a walk with the kiddos as we are wont to do on
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: Most guys train too hard, too often. My proof? Plenty. But
You know, if you want to lose fat and keep it off, what you do in the gym doesn’t really
How do you train hard when you’re extremely busy? It’s a conundrum that vexes many a hardworking man. Controversially, I
Yesterday, Mrs T and I went on a delightful little jaunt to Hull. We’ve both been up to our eyeballs
So, Mrs T. just gave me an update on her training. In the last 9 weeks her… Oh, and she’s
Many moons ago, I was in a spot of bother. I was working my backside off in the gym training
They’re on the high side, that’s for sure. However, I think my prices are fair, but only you can decide
Spend enough time around fitness content on the internet, and you’ll notice a pattern. You’ll see question after question after
Most people start going to the gym because of what it does for them. I.e. they want to get leaner/fitter/stronger/whatever
Going to the gym is a pain in the backside sometimes, isn’t it? Take this week for example. I’m up
According to the health app on my phone, I’ve walked 51km since Monday. Insofar as I can remember, this is
***UPDATE: I now have a LinkedIn profile. No, this doesn’t invalidate any of the below. If you want to learn
Pain is part of life. It is an immutable law of the universe from which you cannot escape. However, the
You know one thing that confuses me greatly? Why some spend ages in the gym doing exercise after exercise after
You’ve probably heard it’s possible to get lean without doing any cardio whatsoever. And, well, you can… but that doesn’t
I despair. Friend of mine showed me a screenshot of some fitness model on Instagram. Huge muscles, shredded to the
None of what I’m about to write will surprise you. Hopefully. So why bother if in all likelihood you know
You know why most attempts at lifestyle change fail? It’s not that people get it “wrong” per se. Lifting weights,
Friend of mine is pissed off with his boss and wants to go back to working for himself as a
Uncomfortable fact: Most men who go to the gym are fat. Yes, they train hard. Yes, they’re often pretty strong.