Our September issue has a definite over-40 lean—as in how John Hansen, Mr. Natural Olympia, got in his best shape at 48. He has plenty of tips for anyone looking to get big and ripped simultaneously. He used an interesting high-intensity training tactic to get there—good stuff to get you buff! We also have a special report on HMB, new info that will have you adding it to your supplement stack. Plus, read the courageous tale of one man’s first bodybuilding contest—at age 60. Amazing info, incredible physique. Find the September IRON MAN on newsstands the first week of August.

Features

50 TRAIN, EAT, GROW 143
The train-to-gain credo gets an extreme makeover so your anabolic drive can accelerate and thrive.

80 HMB
Researchers Gabriel Wilson and Jacob Wilson, Ph.D., explain how the amino acid leucine converts into HMB, a key to muscle growth.

84 A BODYBUILDER IS BORN: GENERATIONS
Ron Harris explores the mind/muscle connection and how you can tap in to muscle up and lean out.

92 THE ULTIMATE MASS WORKOUT
Excerpt 6 takes you through the ultimate exercises for back—and tricks for getting you wide and thick.

100 DEADLIFT WITHOUT WRECKING YOUR BACK
From the Bodybuilding.com archive, top powerlifter Mark Bell gives you dead-on details for serious size and strength. Do it right for muscle and might!

106 LOOKIN’ GREAT AT 48!
John Hansen reveals how he got back to his Mr. Natural Olympia form after years of missed attempts—including his new technique, forced negatives.

122 GARGANTUAN GUNSHOT WITH REST/PAUSE DROP SETS
Roger Lockridge introduces a quick, intense method for grabbing new arm size. It hurts but it works!

142 HARDBODY
Leather and Lace—Maire Brandon wants to whip you into shape.

156 FIRST CONTEST AT 60
Tony DiCosta gives you the 10 secrets he learned as he prepared for his first bodybuilding contest—at age 60! You won’t believe this guy’s physique!

164 X-FILES
Steve Holman and Jonathan Lawson explore size-building science and how to look like a bodybuilder even if you have average genetics.

182 FEMME PHYSIQUE
Steve Wennerstrom, IFBB women’s historian, looks back through Ms. Olympia history at the most persistent competitors.

186 ONLY THE STRONG SHALL SURVIVE
Got an injury? Coach Bill Starr gives you his rules for rehabbing.

Departments

26 TRAIN TO GAIN
The real secret of muscle growth and Joe Horrigan on gains and elbow pain.

38 EAT TO GROW
Best postworkout mix, powerhouse salad recipe and D-ribose for new size and strength.

60 NATURALLY HUGE
Mr. Natural Olympia John Hansen outlines a complete fat-off, muscle-on workout.

66 SHREDDED MUSCLE
Drug-free IFBB pro Dave Goodin has pics and results from his NPC Texas Shredder Classic.

68 CRITICAL MASS
Workout architect Steve Holman explains how to build more size with triple-threat exercise.

72 SMART TRAINING
Coach Charles Poliquin on shocking your muscles into new growth.

130 BODYBUILDING PHARMACOLOGY
Jerry Brainum’s anatomy of a T-boosting supplement.

168 NEWS & VIEWS
Lonnie Teper has all the inside scoops in the world of bodybuilding—plus Rising Stars.

178 PUMP & CIRCUMSTANCE
Gorgeous female physiques on every page— Ruth Silverman’s got the goods going on.

196 MIND/BODY CONNECTION
Best hangover cure, top-10 immune-system boosters and how to tea off on depression.

208 READERS WRITE
Fun-in-the-sun workouts, almost naked, hottest hardbody and Eric the great.