MR. SQUAT Tom Platz became a legend by perfecting the squat and developing the greatest pair of legs in bodybuilding history. Here’s a brief history of the Golden Eagle and his signature exercise. Golden Era great and OSL Contributor,  Tom Platz  is so identified with the squat, that some may mistake him for inventing it. He didn’t, of course, but he did take the foundational exercise to its ultimate potential. While the squat has been called “the king of exercises” by elite weightlifters, there was a period in the  Golden Era  when it fell out of favor. As a teenager in the 1970s, Platz remembers being warned off squats. “Some friends told me that squats weren’t good for you, that they hurt your back and made your butt big,” says Platz. “So I didn’t squat much at first.” That changed, to put it mildly. Raised in the Detroit area, Platz, barely out of middle school, joined a hardcore gym where he came under the influence of traditionalists who s...

BODY FAT CALCULATOR A  body fat calculator  is the easiest way to estimate the amount of it that you have and whether you should use a fat burning product or a muscle building supplement if you are trying to get in shape. Natural  weight loss supplements  like Old School Labs Vintage Burn™ will help you shed unwanted pounds, while our Vintage Build™ bodybuilding supplement would be for someone who wants to gain lean muscle mass. For your convenience, we have included an  ideal body fat calculator  here that will give you the results you need for the purposes of making an informed decision. After you have put in your measurements, you will get a fat percentage result. Based on this percentage, you will fall into one of three categories: If you fall into the above average category on a body fat chart, you will want to get a  fat burner  such as Old School Labs Vintage Burn™ to preserve muscle while you lose weight. If you are in the le...

BMI CALCULATOR A BMI calculator  is a useful tool to determine a healthy weight. And while many people will use one of these body mass measuring methods only to find out that they are in a normal range, many others are surprised to find out that they are  overweight , obese or underweight. For your convenience, we have included a body mass index calculator here that will give your body mass assessment. For those who use a BMI calculator and find they are overweight, a  weight loss  product like  Vintage Burn™ from Old School Labs™ of California  would be ideal. This is a natural weight-loss supplement which also preserves muscle during dieting to maximize weight loss. For those who use a  BMI chart for men  and find they are underweight, Vintage Build™ (also from Old School Labs™), has natural ingredients that will add  lean muscle  mass and preserve existing muscle. Vintage Build has 3 important main ingredients – BCAAs (B...

BODYBUILDING ON A BUDGET Bodybuilding is more than just a sport, it is a lifestyle that requires a lot of dedication. Unlike other sports or physical activities, bodybuilding is a 24 hour pursuit in which attention to both nutrition and exercise is critical to being successful. Unfortunately, bodybuilding can also be quite expensive. The high quality food and supplements needed to  build muscle  and recover from workouts can be costly. In addition to the costs involved with the diet, there is also the expense of the training. Gym memberships and other equipment can add to the monthly budget. Building a great physique doesn’t always have to be an expensive endeavor if you’re creative. In this article we will be covering the importance of fueling your body with proper nutrition, how to choose cost-effective protein sources, when to buy in bulk, and how to offset gym membership costs while on a budget. Nutrition In order to build and maintain muscle, bodybuilde...

HOLIDAY HARDBODY The holiday season is here, and that means major disruptions to your training and  nutrition program . Here are some tips on how to maintain your holiday hardbody during Christmas and New Year’s Eve. The holidays are joyful, but they come with a price. Travel, stress, and family gatherings featuring high-fat food and beverages can impact your bodybuilding gains. You don’t want to negatively impact a year of effort with seasonal indulgences. Don’t worry—you can have your fruitcake and eat it too (we don’t actually suggest you eat fruitcake). Here are a few tips on surviving the holidays with your physique intact and Christmas spirit soaring. Plan your workout options. If you’re traveling out of town, investigate the local gyms where you’re staying. See if your regular health club has affiliates nearby, or maybe a friend or family member can invite you as a temporary guest to their facility. If you know where to go beforehand, you’ll be able to sne...