As we age there are just parts of training that become more important.  Let’s face it.  We just don’t recover like we did in our youth.  So we really need to do all the little things that we may have overlooked in our earlier years.  Proper nutrition, hydration and dietary supplementation are all important pieces of the puzzle.  Chiropractic care, massage therapy, cryogenics, Graston technique, cupping and body tempering are all tools to aid in recovery.  The more tools you have in your tool chest the better you will recover, the better you will lift and the less injuries you will accumulate.  Recently, we have acquired an Anderson Ammo Massage Gun.  The difference it has made has been astonishing.

When the massage gun came in the mail and I opened it I was immediately impressed.  It comes packaged in its own professional looking carrying case.  When you unzip the case, each of the massage heads, charger and gun have their own individual place inside a well-organized foam insert.  This is important in keeping everything clean, intact and all in one place.  When you receive your gun it is recommended that it be charged eight hours before its first use.  It doesn’t take that long but I always follow the instructions.  You can tell how charged the gun is by a light at the bottom end of the battery. It turns green for charged, yellow for about half and red for low.

To turn the gun on you flick the switch on the base of the battery.  Once on, the display panel on the back of the gun becomes visible.  There is a power button and once you push it then the full display lights up.  There is a timer that can be set 5 minute increments at a time.  The other displays are percentage of battery life left, Kcal burned, temperature, speed up and down and level.  There is also a heart rate display.  Yes, you can take your heart rate by pressing your finger to the space on the side of the gun.

So why can’t you just go and buy a jigsaw and get some of the massage heads?  Variable speed.  What sets this gun apart is the variable speed settings.  Well, why does it matter?  Believe me when you crank that massager up to level nine you don’t want it anywhere near your head.  It literally feels like its rattling your brain.  It simply is too high of a setting for certain parts of your anatomy.  If you have fillings in your teeth and would like to keep them in your mouth then get the gun with the variable speed option.

Earlier I mentioned that the Anderson Ammo Massage Gun comes with eight different massage heads.  Each of them is designed to work on different parts of the body.  The first head, which is made of  hollow rubber, is recommended for soft tissues like the inner thighs.  It works great on the temples and jaw muscles too. Another head is made for working specifically on the spine.  The next has six spiny parts with a hard raised center.  It feels great on the glutes and upper back.  There is another spiny head with nothing in the center for bulging muscles like the calves and biceps.  The most commonly seen head that is in all the advertisement for inferior guns is the large solid rubber ball.  It is recommended for the shoulders and neck.  Personally I don’t like it or use it.  I find it too difficult to slide it across the body.  Then there is a “Y” shaped head to be used on the spinal erectors.  There is a wide flat headed attachment used for bigger areas like the hips and legs.  The last head is my favorite by far and it’s shaped like a bullet.  It is used to massage out painful trigger points.  To me, it is the most versatile of all the heads and feels the best.  This head also slides across the body the best.  A little pro tip for everyone:  Wear a tight shirt and pants when using The Anderson Ammo Massage gun.  The massager slides across the fabric much better than the skin.

The battery lasts a long time.  Hours and hours.  It’s recommended to use the full battery and let it die before fully charging it again.  This maintains the life of the battery.  Some of the other inferior brands also are as loud as a power tool.  You can definitely watch TV and use the massager at the same time with no worries.

Now that I have told you all about the gun, let me tell you what it can do.  My shoulder has been hurt for years.  I have the mobility of a nursing home patient.  I have tried everything you could think of to fix it.  After a few sessions with this wonderful piece of equipment, my shoulder is now pain free.  My mobility has also moved out of the old folk’s home as well.  My wife has seen great results on her nagging injuries as well.  We just take turns using the gun on each other’s ailments.  It works great on tight hips as well.  Having trouble getting to depth on your squat?  Give the gun a try.  Those of us constantly handling big weights on the bench press know the foils of forearm pain?  Kiss the forearm pain goodbye with the massager.  Another huge benefit to using the massage gun is that massage promotes muscle growth.  Work on those lagging areas and get ready to hop on the Gainz Train.

The Anderson Ammo Massage Gun is a versatile and useful tool for any athlete who wants to recover from their athletic endeavors as quickly as possible.  There are other guns on the market but they are nowhere near the quality as this one.  They also don’t come with Anderson Powerlifting’s best in the industry customer service.  When you order from Anderson you are more than a customer.  You are a priority.

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Equipment Review: The Boss Squat Suit by Jeff Miller

In the world of geared lifting, canvas squat suits reign supreme as the popular choice of many lifters.  However, there are a growing few lifters who know a secret.  A secret I’m going to let everyone else in on. The secret is that The Boss Squat Suit by Titan is out performing many of its canvas counterparts in the multiply scene.  Lifters are making the switch to The Boss because of its ease of use and performance.

Anderson Powerlifting describes The Boss as “constructed from our laminate Boss fabric.  This is the heaviest, strongest unlimited poly suit in the lifting world.”  It boasts a patented built in harness system constructed of 3 cm seams and grid stitching of the glute panel.  There in providing extra support and bigger squats.”  My wife was looking to do her first full meet and had out grown the second hand canvas suit she was using in training.  After a call to Ken Anderson he sent her a pair of Boss briefs and a Boss suit.  Her squat immediately went up 100 lbs. just with the suit. We had decided to break the suit in first without briefs for her to learn and get stronger.   That first meet she squatted 475 lbs in just the suit.  Wearing Boss briefs with a Boss suit was going to take a lot to reach depth per Ken.  So she plugged away until she was strong enough to use both.   Two years later she hit 633 lbs in briefs and the suit.

So what is the difference between The Boss and other suits?  First off, if your hip flexors are strong enough, this suit doesn’t suck your knees in like many suits.  This is no matter what your foot stance is.  The Boss also doesn’t throw you forward once you put the straps on.  How many times have you squatted great in a suit with the straps down only to have the suit make you almost face plant once you put them up?  Also canvas suits have a ton of stopping power but almost no rebound out of the hole.  The Boss allows you to get to depth and propels you out the hole like no other squat suit.  Adjusting the straps will adjust the amount of stopping power the suit has.  The suit is also tapered around the diaphragm and belly so that it doesn’t constrict your breathing like a canvas can.  Bigger breath, means staying tighter, means bigger squat.

There is one familiar scenario played out at many multiply meets I have been to. How many times has some lifter had to be pried or even cut out of their canvas suit?  This happens due to the legs swelling up over the course of warm ups and attempts.  No, there aren’t a bunch of adjustable laces on a Boss.  There’s no need for them.  Boss Squats are poly so they give. If you swell they stretch some.  Even the tightest Bosses come off in a matter of minutes.

The Boss Squat suit sells at four hundred and nineteen dollars.  The Super Boss sells for five hundred twenty five dollars.  The difference is a third layer of material in the seat of the suit on the Super.  That is a good chunk of change.  However those who buy the Boss Suit tend to make a lifetime commitment to it. It’s the only suit they will ever need.  The straps are made of Aplix, which is 30 percent stronger than regular Velcro and lasts longer.  Also, due to the high thread count used in the seams, the suit is virtually blow out proof.   So despite the cost, it is very rare to find them on Ebay or other sites selling used gear.  When you find a good thing, you tend to keep it.

To conclude, if you are looking for a high end squat suit to give you a high end squat The Boss is your suit.  If you are looking for performance, comfort and ease of use then the Boss is your suit.  Save the fancy time consuming, ineffective laces for your Chuck Taylors and be a Boss.

https://www.andersonpowerlifting.com/product-p/super-boss-squat-suit-wide.htm

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