Issue No. 34: How Strong Is Strong Enough?

April 03, 2025

In partnership with

Good Morning! Welcome to this week’s edition of Morning Cowbell. Let’s take a look at the top stories and coolest trends shaping fitness and health.

💪  How Strong is Strong Enough: As a gym owner, you're not just running a fitness business. You’re helping people live better, longer, more independent lives. Strength is your secret weapon. But the question your members might not be asking — but should — is: How strong is strong enough?

IN THIS ISSUE:
1. Master the Big Three for Massive Gains
2. The Retro Workout Making a Comeback
3. HigherDOSE Infrared Sauna Blanket
4. Is Extra Protein Helping or Harming?
5. Extreme heat may speed up aging.

🐄 🐄 🐄 — John, Nolan and Josh

Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up now

Master the Big Three for Massive Gains

Ready to transform into a powerhouse? Mastering the bench press, squat, and deadlift isn't just about lifting heavy—it's about lifting smart for massive gains.

  • The big picture: Unlock your strength potential by perfecting the Big Three lifts.​ Bench Press: Focus on proper setup with planted feet, a slight back arch, and retracted shoulders. Use a grip that keeps forearms vertical at the bottom, control the bar to your mid-chest, and press upward explosively.​ Squat: Find a stance that suits you by experimenting with foot width and toe angle. Brace your core before descending to protect your spine, and aim for parallel or below to maximize muscle activation.​ Deadlift: Emphasize a hip hinge movement to engage the posterior chain. Keep the bar close to your body throughout the lift, and finish with hips and shoulders aligned without overextending.

  • The verdict: By honing your technique in these foundational lifts, you'll build strength, muscle mass, and enhance overall athletic performance.

The Retro Workout Hack Making a Comeback

While some fitness trends from the era have been rightfully left behind, one forgotten gym staple is muscling its way back into relevance.

  • The big picture: High-rep, high-volume training — once the go-to method for ‘80s bodybuilders — is all about doing lots of reps with lighter weights to build endurance and maximize the pump. Think Arnold-level sets of 12, 15, even 20 reps, focused more on muscle fatigue than brute strength. Modern research and trainers are revisiting this method as a powerful tool for hypertrophy (a.k.a. making your muscles bigger and better). Unlike low-rep powerlifting routines, this approach increases time under tension, promotes blood flow, and boosts muscle protein synthesis. It's not about replacing your entire routine, but strategically adding high-rep sets could break plateaus, improve muscle definition, and reduce injury risk — all while keeping your workouts fresh and fun.

  • The verdict: Dust off those retro workout routines — embracing high-rep, high-volume training might just be the key to unlocking faster muscle growth.

HigherDOSE

HigherDOES Infrared Sauna Blanket

The HigherDOSE Infrared Sauna Blanket offers a practical and effective way to bring the benefits of infrared therapy into your home.

  • The big picture: Detoxification & Circulation Boost: The infrared technology penetrates deep into your tissues, enhancing circulation and promoting a purifying sweat session. ​ Convenient At-Home Spa Experience: This foldable sauna blanket offers a spa-like indulgence without leaving your living room, making relaxation more accessible than ever. ​ Potential Health Benefits: Users have reported improved skin glow, better sleep, and reduced muscle soreness, though individual results may vary. ​

  • The verdict: If you're looking to elevate your self-care routine with a touch of futuristic wellness, the HigherDOSE Infrared Sauna Blanket might just be your next favorite thing

Looking for unbiased, fact-based news? Join 1440 today.

Join over 4 million Americans who start their day with 1440 – your daily digest for unbiased, fact-centric news. From politics to sports, we cover it all by analyzing over 100 sources. Our concise, 5-minute read lands in your inbox each morning at no cost. Experience news without the noise; let 1440 help you make up your own mind. Sign up now and invite your friends and family to be part of the informed.

Is Extra Protein Helping or Harming?

In a world where protein is sneaking into everything from your morning coffee to your midnight snack, one can't help but wonder: are we beefing up our health or just our grocery bills.

  • The big picture: Protein has become a ubiquitous addition to various food products, including yogurts, breads, and even coffees, aiming to cater to health-conscious consumers seeking muscle maintenance and overall well-being. Adequate protein intake is essential for muscle repair, enzyme production, and immune function. Supplementing with protein powders can complement a diet, especially for those looking to increase or maintain consistent protein consumption. While protein is vital, excessive intake, particularly from processed sources, may lead to unintended health issues such as weight gain, kidney strain, and nutrient imbalances. It's crucial to balance protein consumption with other nutrients and be mindful of the sources.

  • The verdict: While incorporating protein into various foods can offer health benefits, it's essential to consume it judiciously, ensuring a balanced diet and being cautious of over-reliance on processed protein-enriched products.

Extreme Heat May Speed Up Aging

A new study shows that living in consistently hot environments can actually fast-forward your biological age, meaning your cells are clocking out earlier than they should.

  • The big picture: Molecular Speed-Up: The study looked at the biological age of over 3,600 adults over 56 years old and found that people living in hot areas had bodies that aged up to 2.5 years faster at the molecular level than those in cooler spots. Comparable to Smoking: The researchers found the aging impact of long-term heat exposure to be on par with smoking, meaning it’s not just discomfort — it’s a serious health stressor that doesn’t show up on the surface right away. Not Just Geography: The effects varied depending on personal exposure — people in the same neighborhood could be differently affected based on factors like air conditioning access or cooling strategies, making it a deeply individual issue.

Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up now