FEATURES 62 TRAIN, EAT, GROW 107 Exercise variation and order for serious new size gains. 84 GLADIATOR Lonnie Teper interviews Mike O’Hearn, drug-free bodybuilder, powerlifter and strongman and American Gladiator. Titan wants to rough you up. 108 TO SLEEP, PERCHANCE TO GROW Jerry Brainum checks out the research Zs. Snooze or you lose muscle. 120 A BODYBUILDER IS BORN 38 Ron Harris explains the Lee Haney adage: stimulate, don’t annihilate. Too much of a good thing is a bad thing—even if it’s intensity in the gym. 130 NO-CHEAT CHEST CHISELING Cory Crow talks with pro bodybuilder Derik Farnsworth about sculpting perfect pecs—no throwing, heaving or jerking allowed. 142 HOW I GAINED 100 POUNDS OF MUSCLE David Young quizzes legendary bodybuilder Rich Gaspari on how he packed his frame with mounds of raw muscle (and how you can do it too). 168 ANABOLIC pH, PART 2 Our European research correspondent Michael Gündill provides basic solutions for how to be less acidic to spur more growth. 188 7 STEPS TO STEADY PROGRESS From the Bodybuilding.com archives, Matt Danielsson lays out a plan to keep your muscle mass moving forward. 206 2008 FITTEST COUPLE Dena Anne Weiner and Rado Pagac grabbed the title at the L.A. FitExpo. Here’s how they did it (with plenty of great pics too). 218 HEAVY DUTY John Little unearths an intriguing interview with Mike Mentzer from 1995. 264 HARDBODY Ava Cowen unveils her muscle and hotness for our cameras. This BodySpace favorite is smokin’! 282 ONLY THE STRONG SHALL SURVIVE Coach Bill Starr outlines how to go from being a beginning weight trainer to an intermediate with a burst of new size and strength gains. DEPARTMENTS 26 TRAIN TO GAIN Victorious delts, fear of change and Joe Horrigan on lower-back pain. 42 SMART TRAINING Charles Poliquin outlines the patient-lifter/stepladder combo strength system. 50 EAT TO GROW CoQ10, cheap protein and a new thermogenic king on the fat-burning scene. 70 NATURALLY HUGE John Hansen has answers for a trainee who’s lost fat but needs muscle. 76 SHREDDED MUSCLE Dave Goodin on contests, drug tests and bodybuilding success. 80 CRITICAL MASS Steve Holman discusses efficient 3D back attacks. Plus, barbells vs. dumbbells. 228 NEWS & VIEWS Lonnie Teper’s world-of-bodybuilding coverage—plus his four big Rising Stars. 242 MUSCLE “IN” SITES Eric Broser’s cool Web site finds, a review of Phil Heath’s new DVD and Broser’s Power/Rep Range/Shock hamstring-hammering routines. 248 BODYBUILDING PHARMACOLOGY Jerry Brainum looks into the Internet pro-hormone-and-steroid trade. 252 PUMP & CIRCUMSTANCE Ruth Silverman covers the ladies’ side of the sport—with photo fortitude. 292 MIND/BODY CONNECTION Bomber Blast, The Secret, BodySpace Physique of the Month and health and aging research. 304 READERS WRITE Iron-bug venom, gorgeous Georges and exploding muscle size.