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Ice Up To Lift More

A quick trick for knocking out a new max

You can't touch your lady with cold hands, but icy mitts just might help you handle more weight. It's the same technique used by Eastern Bloc lifters to lift heavier. To try it:

• Fill a small plastic bag with ice and take it to the gym (you can also use an ice pack). Perform your warm-up, then, before your first heavy lift, hold the ice bag in both hands for one to two minutes.


• Rest a couple of minutes, then do your next set. According to Mike Robertson, C.S.C.S., the ice wakes up your body like a cold shower, stimulating your central nervous system to recruit more muscle fibers. "Old time weightlifters did the same thing by standing in buckets of ice," he says.

Don't forget to check out MF's Get Stronger Now article for more tips on how to gain long-lasting muscle and strength.