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Review of MASS Research Review

by | Oct 29, 2019 | Reviews | 0 comments

I made a massive evidence-based fitness FAQ from Stongerbyscience’s (same team that runs MASS) meta-analysis collection. Check it out.

First off, what is a “Research Review”?

I’m coming up on my five year mark as a personal trainer (I officially started Three Storm Fitness, LLC in 2015). Like most hungry trainers and coaches, my first year or two was spent as a sponge, soaking up as much “research” as possible to make sure I was an expert in every field of fitness, nutrition, medicine, psychology and spirituality.

I now know that this is an insurmountable task for any wise man. Nevertheless, I wasn’t about to let reality get in the way of my ambition.

What I discovered in the process of becoming a health and wellness deity was an infinite rabbit hole of scientific evidence, both in support and in opposition of every training and nutrition protocol in existence. It was a frustrating–and more often than not–confusing effort.

With a whole year of personal training experience under my belt, and nothing but white noise coming from the rest of the fitness academics, I began to think I was the only intelligent being in the industry.

I was so lonely.

For every “study” I read supporting a particular strength or nutrition protocol, I’d run into another that crapped on it.

Please notice that “study” is in quotations. Like many genii, I enjoyed talking about “studies” that I just “read” in order to qualify myself to those I was educating.

I’m the dirt bag with the ponytail, and Will Hunting is my conscience.

The truth is, the time and expertise required to adequately interpret original research is unattainable by mere mortals. I was quickly realizing that I wasn’t the deity I thought I was…I was barely a demi-god.

It’s much more convenient (and free) to just read the abstract of a research paper…and when the abstract is too confusing, it’s even more convenient to just read a blog post. Of course, blog posts are usually pretty long (I eventually discovered that I had an uncanny knack for scanning subject lines on Reddit).

I don’t actually try to read many papers on original research any more (i.e., studies and experiments). My hungry brain much prefers reviews.

…which finally brings me to answer the question “what is a research review?“

A research review is simply a summary of existing original research. If done properly, reviews address information like:

  • What questions did the study (or studies) try to answer?
  • Did the experimenters conduct their study properly (without bias, etc)?
  • Did they represent the data accurately (this may be a surprise to you, but some people lie for money…others are just stupid)?
  • How does the study compare with other existing research?

Some of the friendlier reviews might even offer real-world applications (i.e., how you can convert the data to new gains in the gym).

Ok. Enough context.

What makes MASS research review “MASS…y”?

MASS stands for Monthly Applications in Strength Sport (it’s clever, see, because strength sport competitors often have lots of muscle “mass”).

MASS releases a new issue every month containing reviews pooling the best findings from 1000+ studies, spanning 50+ different journals.

Basically, they boil down hundreds of hours worth of research to simple takeaways that are most relevant to you, the sir or madam trying to get stronger and/or more jacked and/or more tan.

So what’s classified as a “strength sport”?

MASS addresses their audience pretty broadly. Powerlifters, weightlifters, strongman athletes, Crossfitters, bodybuilders, physique competitors, and coaches or trainers of any of the aforementioned pastimes all qualify as strength sport participants.

I don’t think I’m a strength sport athlete…

Should I just stop reading this review (of a review…) right now?

You’re more than welcome to stop reading any time (and I’ll probably go crazy when you leave me). But before you go, please know that MASS is also for nerdy fitness enthusiasts. They cover a huge spectrum of research that can be broadly applied to nearly anyone’s training program.

For instance, I’m not a competitor, and most of my clients haven’t played a sport since gym class. Despite this, I still find nuggets in every issue that I’m able to apply my own training, as well as my clients’.

MASS’ main appeal is this: It saves folks like us (trainers and trainees trying to keep up with bleeding edge evidence-based fitness information) huge chunks of time and money by outlining which studies are worth paying attention to, which ones are a waste of time, and how we can plug the relevant findings into our training programs.

I don’t know how much money it would cost to subscribe to every published monthly exercise and nutrition journal, but I do know it would take 40+ hours/week and at least Master’s degree to digest it all.

What I want is for someone to just do all that reading, data analysis and coaching for me. I really don’t ask for much.

Who are the minds behind MASS and why should I listen to a word they have to say?

If you’re going to spend money to listen to the words of an expert, it’s important to know what an expert is. It’s equally important to know what an expert imposter is.

There are three main classifications of expert imposters in the strength and physique communities. Steer clear of these demons:

  1. Those who are more jacked and/or stronger than you, but are simply leveraging their God-given genetics to display their “expertise” (and the spoils that accompany the title) on social media. Buying premium content from these clowns is tantamount to paying a porn star to do your taxes.
  2. Those who are highly educated and fully qualified to give expert opinions, but are not nearly as jacked or as strong as you, and therefore should be completely ignored and shipped off to a lab somewhere in hell where their weak eyes can stare into a broken microscope for all eternity.
  3. Those who are super strong, jacked, tan and educated, but have never had experience training anyone but themselves. These people are selfish human garbage, and if you give them as much as a cent, you love Hitler.

Now that we’ve covered who not to listen to, let’s talk about the good guys…those worthy of your money and attention.

MASS is currently run by a team of four highly educated, strong and jacked A.F. coaches and trainers who have dumped an unholy amount of time and money into their educations and training experiences to offer some pretty bangin’–if you will–research reviews.

I have no problem listening to what these guys have to say on the subject of getting stronger and more aesthetically appealing (and if drinking their bath water gave me their knowledge, I’d be sucking from a warm crazy straw right now…although simply subscribing to MASS would probably be easier on my stomach).

Here’s the team (bio info and pics taken directly from Strongerbyscience.com):

Eric Helms

  • Ph.D. in strength and conditioning from Auckland University of Technology in New Zealand, M.S. in exercise science, a second Master’s in sports nutrition, B.S. in fitness and wellness.
  • Regularly publishes peer-reviewed articles in exercise science and nutrition journals on physique and strength sport.
  • Coach for drug-free strength and physique competitors at all levels as a part of team 3D Muscle Journey.
  • Earned pro status as a natural bodybuilder with the PNBA in 2011 and competes in the IPF at international-level events as an unequipped powerlifter.

Greg Nuckols

  • M.A. in exercise physiology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, B.S. in exercise and sports science.
  • Held three all-time world records in powerlifting in the 220lb and 242lb classes.
  • Coached hundreds of athletes and written for many of the major magazines and websites in the industry.
  • Worked with and learned from record holders, champion athletes, and collegiate and professional strength and conditioning coaches through previous job as Chief Content Director for Juggernaut Training Systems and current full-time work on StrongerByScience.com.

Michael Zourdos

  • Ph.D. in exercise physiology,  M.S. in applied health physiology, and B.S. in exercise science.
  • Assistant professor in exercise science at Florida Atlantic University (FAU) with a specialization in strength and conditioning and skeletal muscle physiology.
  • Director of the FAU Muscle Physiology Research Laboratory.
  • Head powerlifting coach of FSU’s 2011 and 2012 state championship team.
  • Competes as a powerlifter in the USAPL and coaches athletes through his company Training Revolution, LLC.

Eric Trexler

  • Pro natural bodybuilder and a sports nutrition researcher.
  • PhD in Human Movement Science from UNC Chapel Hill, and has published dozens of peer-reviewed research papers on various exercise and nutrition strategies for getting bigger, stronger, and leaner.
  • Several years of University-level teaching experience, and has been involved in coaching since 2009.
  • Director of Education for Stronger By Science and host of the Stronger By Science Podcast.

How much does it cost, and what exactly do I get for my money?

The standard rate is $29/month (though at the time of this post, they’re running a sale for $25/month…they run sales pretty frequently). If you happen to catch a sale price, you’ll automatically lock into it for all eternity (I pay ~$20/month).

If you have the cash (and confidence in this review), you can front $299 for the yearly subscription and save ~$5/month.

Alternatively, if you’re of the one-and-done breed, you can buy a lifetime membership for $999.

And just in case you’re wondering what will happen to your precious investment if you buy the lifetime plan and they shut their doors, here’s an explanation from their site:

Yearly and lifetime subscriptions come with a guarantee that if we ever close up shop and stop making MASS (though there are certainly no plans to do so in the future), you’ll never pay more than what you otherwise would have paid for a monthly subscription.

massmember.com

What you get…

A monthly issue of MASS in PDF format

Each article looks something like this.

Each issue contains eight articles. Again, they only include the research most relevant to strength, hypertrophy and performance, and none of it is regurgitated fluff. Here’s a list of every piece of content they’ve written or recorded to date (each article is ~2000 words; each video presentation is ~45 minutes long):

Expand the list of MASS content topics

Programming

Periodization and Training Configuration

  1. Does the Configuration of Weekly Training Session Order Matter for Strength (Volume 1, Issue 1)
  2. Acute Power-Type Training Increases Explosiveness for Up to 48 Hours. (Volume 1, Issue 2)
  3. Strength and Size are Resistant to Decline Following 2 Weeks of Training (Volume 1, Issue 2)
  4. VIDEO: Intro to Periodization Part 1 (Volume 1, Issue 3)
  5. VIDEO: Intro to Periodization Part 2 (Volume, 1 Issue 4)
  6. Does Periodization Lead to Faster Strength Gains (Volume 1, Issue 4)
  7. VIDEO: Comprehensive Program Design, Part 1 (Volume 1, Issue 5)
  8. VIDEO: Comprehensive Program Design, Part 2 (Volume 1, Issue 6)
  9. VIDEO: Comprehensive Program Design, Part 3 (Volume 1, Issue 7)
  10. Is it Better to Split Your Workout Into Multiple Daily Session? (Volume 1, Issue 6)
  11. Does Periodization Style Affect Muscle Growth (Volume 1, Issue 7)
  12. VIDEO: Daily 1RM Training (Volume 1, Issue 8)
  13. Low-Load High-Rep Training: Similar Anabolic Signaling, Greater Cost (Volume 1, Issue 9)
  14. VIDEO: Mesoscycle Construction for Bodybuilding (Volume 1, Issue 9)
  15. VIDEO: Overreaching in a Peaking Phase (Volume 2, Issue 1)
  16. Is it Better to Vary Training Loads Within a Session or Week-to-Week (Volume 2, Issue 2)
  17. VIDEO: Assistance Work in Periodization and Loading Options (Volume 2, Issue 2)
  18. Periodization: A Foundational, but Ever-Evolving Concept (Volume 2, Issue 3)
  19. Details Matter When Setting up A Full-Body Training Program (Volume 2, Issue 5)
  20. VIDEO: Considerations for Dual Sport Athletes: Part 1 (Volume 2, Issue 5)
  21. Intra-Session Load Reduction: Same Gains, Less Effort (Volume 2, Issue 6) 
  22. Power Training or Speed Work for Some, But Not All? (Volume 2, Issue 7)
  23. VIDEO: Program Troubleshooting (Volume 2, Issue 7)
  24. A Glimmer of Hope for Weekend Warriors (Volume 2, Issue 8)
  25. More Bang for Your Buck from Avoiding Failure (Volume 2, Issue 8)
  26. Undulation for Strength: The Evidence Continues to Mount (Volume 2, Issue 8)
  27. New Data Makes Cases Both for and Against 1RM-type Training (Volume 2, Issue 10)
  28. VIDEO: Muscle Group Specialization Cycles (Volume 2, Issue 10)
  29. Do Multi-Joint Exercises Really Need to Come First? (Volume 2, Issue 12)
  30. VIDEO: Training During Meet Week (Volume 3, Issue 1)
  31. VIDEO: MCZ Q&A #1, Improving 1RM Strength for Hypertrophy (Volume 3, Issue 4)
  32. The Principle of Specificity Holds True, but Is it All that Matters? (Volume 3, Issue 8)
  33. Short-Term Variations in Training Stimulus Don’t Cause More Growth (Volume 3, Issue 9)

Volume, Intensity, and Frequency

  1. More Volume is Not Always Better (Volume 1, Issue 1)
  2. Recovery From Training: High Intensity vs. High Volume (Volume 1, Issue 5)
  3. High-Intensity Deadlifts Do Not Cause Greater Central Fatigue Than Squats (Volume 1, Issue 6)
  4. High-Volume Training Decreases Strength and Volume Capabilities Differently (Volume 1, Issue 6)
  5. How Much Does training volume Affect the Rate of Strength Gains? (Volume 1, Issue 6)
  6. Is Heavy Lifting Necessary for Muscle Growth? (Volume 1, Issue 7)
  7. Sure, More Volume is Not Always Better, but What’s the Right Amount (Volume 1, Issue 9)
  8. More Frequency is Not Always Better (Volume 2, Issue 1)
  9. VIDEO: Overreaching in a Peaking Phase (Volume 2, Issue 1)
  10. Training Frequency Should Primarily Be Used as A Tool to Increase Volume (Volume 2, Issue 4)
  11. How Low Can You Go?  Finding the Bottom End of Effective Low-Load Training (Volume 2, Issue 5)
  12. Intra-Session Load Reduction: Same Gains, Less Effort (Volume 2, Issue 6)
  13. VIDEO: Training and the Aging Process: Part 2 (Volume 2, Issue 6)
  14. Power Training or Speed Work for Some, But Not All? (Volume 2, Issue 7)
  15. VIDEO: Program Troubleshooting (Volume 2, Issue 7)
  16. Can You Simply Count the Number of Sets to Quantify Volume? (Volume 2, Issue 9)
  17. Leave the Gym with a Little Left in the Tank (Volume 2, Issue 9)
  18. VIDEO: Muscle Group Specialization Cycles (Volume 2, Issue 10)
  19. VIDEO: Strategies to Improve Neuromuscular Efficiency (Volume 2, Issue 10)
  20. Understanding Volume (Volume 2, Issue 10)
  21. VIDEO: Load Progression Part 1 (Volume 3, Issue 2)
  22. The Time Course of Recovery for Rep Performance (Volume 3, Issue 2)
  23. VIDEO: Load Progression Part 2 (Volume 3, Issue 3)
  24. The Pink Dumbbells May Not Be So Silly After All (Volume 3, Issue 3)
  25. Training Light Makes Sure Your Heavy Training Doesn’t Crush You (Volume 3, Issue 4)
  26. VIDEO: MCZ Q&A #2: Exercise-Specific Training Frequency for Hypertrophy (Volume 3, Issue 5)
  27. The Volume Threshold Revisited (Volume 3, Issue 8)

Autoregulation

  1. Pushing It to the Limit: Gauging How Far We Are From Failure (Volume 1, Issue 1)
  2. VIDEO: The Science of RPE-Based Autoregulation (Volume 1, Issue 8)
  3. The Power of Choice: Self-Determination and Exercise Selection (Volume 1, Issue 9)
  4. The Future is Now: Within-Lifter Velocity is Reliable (Volume 2, Issue 1)
  5. How Hard do People Train…Really? (Volume 2, Issue 1)
  6. Load and RPE are Not the Only Ways to Autoregulate (Volume 2, Issue 2)
  7. Repetitions in Reserve Accuracy Increases from Set to Set (Volume 2, Issue 3)
  8. VIDEO: Implementing Autoregulation, Part 1 (Volume 2, Issue 3)
  9. VIDEO: What Do We Know About Individualization? Part 1 (Volume 2, Issue 3)
  10. How to Maximize Results with Velocity-Based Training (Volume 2, Issue 4) 
  11. VIDEO: What Do We Know About Individualization? Part 2 (Volume 2, Issue 4)
  12. VIDEO: Implementing Autoregulation, Part 2 (Volume 2, Issue 4)
  13. The Effort Index – The Next Leap Forward in Monitoring Training? (Volume 2, Issue 7)
  14. Uncovering the Individual Velocity Profile: More Pieces to the Puzzle (Volume 2, Issue 8)
  15. VIDEO: A Step-by-Step Guide of Various Readiness Assessments (Volume 2, Issue 8)
  16. Track RPE With Velocity to Improve Your Estimate of Intensity (Volume 2, Issue 11)
  17. Heart Rate Variability-Guided Resistance Training (Volume 3, Issue 4)
  18. Autoregulation is Good, but Percentages Don’t Have to be Bad (Volume 3, Issue 6)
  19. Using Velocity to Autoregulate May Increase Strength Gains (Volume 3, Issue 6
  20. VIDEO: Long-Term Velocity and RPE Loading (Volume 3, Issue 6)
  21. Developments in Velocity Loss Prescription (Volume 3, Issue 7)
  22. RPE and RIR: The Complete Guide (Volume 3, Issue 9)
  23. Intraset RPE and Velocity Provide Similar Estimates of Reps Performed (Volume 3, Issue 10)

Concurrent Training

  1. Is It Better to Combine Lifting With High Intensity or Traditional Cardio? (Volume 1, Issue 1)
  2. Can Lifting Replace ‘Cardio’? (Volume 1, Issue 3)
  3. VIDEO: Concurrent Training Attenuates Anaerobic Adaptations, Part 1 (Volume 1, Issue 3)
  4. VIDEO: Concurrent Training Attenuates Anaerobic Adaptations, Part 2 (Volume 1, Issue 4)
  5. Does it Matter What Time of Day You Train? And When You Should Do Cardio? (Volume 1, Issue 5)
  6. Do Your Cardio and Lifting on Separate Days to Reap Full Benefits (Volume 1, Issue 8)
  7. Is High Intensity Interval Training Better Than Low Intensity Cardio for Strength Athletes Trying to Maximize Their Gains? (Volume 2, Issue 6) 
  8. How Many Calories Do You Burn Lifting Weights? (Volume 3, Issue 4)
  9. VIDEO: So, You Want to Concurrent Train?

Warm-Up

  1. VIDEO: The Real Effects of Pre-Exercise Stretching (Volume 1, Issue 1)
  2. Does Stretching Before a Workout Decrease Muscle Growth? (Volume 1, Issue 2)
  3. Myofascial Release Increases Acute ROM, but Does It Enhance Acute Strength (Volume 1, Issue 4)
  4. How Dynamic Should Dynamic Stretching Be? (Volume 2, Issue 12)
  5. What is Postactivation Potentiation and Does it Work for Lifting?  (Volume 3, Issue 1)

Training to Failure

  1. Does Training to Failure Lead to Larger Gains? (Volume 1, Issue 2)
  2. Training to Failure Has Its Place, but it is Not Necessary (Volume 1, Issue 5)
  3. The Cost of Failure (Volume 1, Issue 8)
  4. More Bang for Your Buck from Avoiding Failure (Volume 2, Issue 8)
  5. Leave the Gym with a Little Left in the Tank (Volume 2, Issue 9)
  6. Training to Failure: A Conceptual Viewpoint (Volume 3, Issue 3)
  7. Growing More by Avoiding Failure (Volume 3, Issue 9)

Rest-Pause, Cluster, and Super Sets

  1. Rest-Pause is A Viable Strategy to Maximize Hypertrophy (Volume 1, Issue 3)
  2. Muscle Activation and Damage in Grouped vs. Separated Supersets (Volume 1, Issue 5)
  3. Drop Set Only Training is Time Efficient, but How Can it Be Implemented? (Volume 1, Issue 5)
  4. For Rest-Pause Training, Should You Rest Between Every Single Rep? (Volume 1, Issue 7)
  5. Agonist-Antagonist Paired Sets: The Sensible Superset (Volume 1, Issue 8)
  6. Practical and Impractical Uses of Cluster Sets (Volume 3, Issue 2)
  7. Supersets, Forced Reps, and Pre Exhaust, Oh My! (Volume 3, Issue 3)
  8. Twice the Sets, Half the Reps? The Devil is in the Details (Volume 3, Issue 10)

Technology and Velocity

  1. Load and RPE are Not the Only Ways to Autoregulate (Volume 2, Issue 2)
  2. The Future is Now: Within-lifter Velocity is Reliable (Volume 2, Issue 1)
  3. The Accuracy of Modern-Day Fitness Trackers and Heart Rate Measurements (Volume 2, Issue 4)
  4. How to Maximize Results with Velocity-Based Training (Volume 2, Issue 4)
  5. Factors Accounting for Individual Load-Velocity Profiles: An Update (Volume 2, Issue 6)
  6. Uncovering the Individual Velocity Profile: More Pieces to the Puzzle (Volume 2, Issue 8)
  7. Track RPE With Velocity to Improve Your Estimate of Intensity (Volume 2, Issue 11)
  8. Can Load-Velocity Profiling Be Used to Monitor Recovery (Volume 3, Issue 2)
  9. Velocity Profiles are Now Available for the Deadlift and Overhead Press (Volume 3, Issue 3)
  10. Practical and Effective Ways to Predict Your 1RM (Volume 3, Issue 4)
  11. Heart Rate Variability-Guided Resistance Training (Volume 3, Issue 4)
  12. Using Velocity to Autoregulate May Increase Strength Gains (Volume 3, Issue 6)
  13. VIDEO: Long-Term Velocity and RPE Loading (Volume 3, Issue 6)
  14. Developments in Velocity Loss Prescription (Volume 3, Issue 7)
  15. Intraset RPE and Velocity Provide Similar Estimates of Reps Performed (Volume 3, Issue 10)

Miscellaneous

  1. VIDEO: Endocrine Responses to Resistance Exercise and Rest Intervals (Volume 1, Issue 2)
  2. Constant Tension Training: Were the Bros Right? (Volume 1, Issue 4)
  3. Body Fat Spot Reduction Isn’t a Myth (Volume 1, Issue 4)
  4. Stretching: An Undeserved Bad Rap (Volume 1, Issue 4)
  5. Does it Matter What Time of Day You Train? And When You Should Do Cardio? (Volume 1, Issue 5)
  6. Tapering: it’s a Science, but Not an Exact Science (Volume 1, Issue 7)
  7. VIDEO: Daily 1RM Training (Volume 1, Issue 8)
  8. What’s the Best Way to Compare Strength Performance Between Individuals (Volume 2, Issue 2)
  9. Once You Adapt, You Should be Fine Training in the Morning (Volume 2, Issue 2)
  10. Multi-Joint Training Still Beats Single-Joint When Volume is Equated (Volume 2, Issue 2)
  11. Are Trap Bar Deadlifts a Better Option for Powerlifters? (Volume 2, Issue 1)
  12. Accentuated-Eccentric Loading for Hypertrophy, Strength, and Power: A Concept Review (Volume 2, Issue 4)
  13. Touch-and-go or Dead Stop Deadlifts? That is the Question. (Volume 2, Issue 4)
  14. Should You Deliberately Increase Time Under Tension? (Volume 2, Issue 5)
  15. VIDEO: Considerations for Dual-Sport Athletes: Part 1 (Volume 2, Issue 5)
  16. VIDEO: Considerations for Dual-Sport Athletes: Part 2 (Volume 2, Issue 6)
  17. VIDEO: Considerations for Dual-Sport Athletes: Part 3 (Volume 2, Issue 7)
  18. Power Training or Speed Work for Some, But Not All? (Volume 2, Issue 7)
  19. Will Single-Joint Accessory Lifts Help You Get Jacked? (Volume 2, Issue 7)
  20. Do Short Rest Periods Really Cause More Metabolic Stress? (Volume 2, Issue 8)
  21. VIDEO: A Step-by-Step Guide of Various Readiness Assessments (Volume 2, Issue 8)
  22. Hormonal Contraceptives Don’t Mitigate Strength Gains (Volume 2, Issue 9)
  23. VIDEO: Resistance Training and Neuroprotection (Volume 2, Issue 9)
  24. Can You Build More Size and Strength with Overloaded Eccentrics? (Volume 2, Issue 10)
  25. Log Press is a Grind, Even for the Experts (Volume 2, Issue 10)
  26. Do Middle-Aged Lifters Fatigue Faster than the Young Guys? (Volume 2, Issue 11)
  27. Does Lifting Heavy Harm Your Range of Motion? (Volume 2, Issue 11)
  28. Tapering to Maximize Strength: How Should We Peak for Competition? (Volume 2, Issue 11)
  29. Energy Availability in Strength and Power Athletes (Volume 2, Issue 11)
  30. There’s Finally Research on Safety Bar Squats (Volume 3, Issue 1)
  31. VIDEO: Training During Meet Week (Volume 3, Issue 1)
  32. That’s My Jam. (Volume 3, Issue 2)
  33. VIDEO: “Sticking Points” – What Do We Know? (Volume 3, Issue 2)
  34. VIDEO: Implementing Deloads, Part 1 (Volume 3, Issue 3)
  35. Stretching Between Sets May Increase Hypertrophy (Volume 3, Issue 3)
  36. VIDEO: Implementing Deloads Part 2 (Volume 3, Issue 4)
  37. How Many Calories Do You Burn Lifting Weights? (Volume 3, Issue 4)
  38. Ditch the Stopwatch, Rest Intuitively Between Sets (Volume 3, Issue 5)
  39. Does Neuromuscular Performance Change Throughout the Menstrual Cycle? (Volume 3, Issue 5)
  40. How to Make the Most of Your Time Between Sets (Volume 3, Issue 6)
  41. Are Hyperextensions or Reverse Hyperextensions Better for Posterior Chain Training? (Volume 3, Issue 6)
  42. How Much Does Training One Limb Improve Strength in the Other? (Volume 3, Issue 7)
  43. More Evidence that Single-Joint Training Doesn’t Increase Gains? (Volume 3, Issue 7)
  44. Will Blue Light Blocking Glasses Improve Your Sleep? (Volume 3, Issue 8)
  45. When it Comes to Hypertrophy, Not All Multi-joint Exercises are Created Equal (Volume 3, Issue 9)
  46. Be Cool…Literally (Volume 3, Issue 10)
  47. Using Fat-Free Mass Index to Forecast Long-Term Gains for Males and Females (Volume 3, Issue 10)

Nutrition

Overall Nutrition

  1. VIDEO: Flexible Dieting, Part 1 (Volume 1, Issue 1)
  2. VIDEO: Flexible Dieting, Part 2 (Volume 1, Issue 2)
  3. Is It the Dose or the Timing? The Benefit of Added Protein While Cutting (Volume 1, Issue 3)
  4. Could Bulking on a High Protein Diet Limit Fat Gain and Improve Health? (Volume 1, Issue 5)
  5. VIDEO: The Nuts and Bolts of Diet Periodization (Volume 1, Issue 5)
  6. From Mass to Energy: The Basic Physiology of Calories. A Concept Review. (Volume 1, Issue 8)
  7. Calories and Weight: From the Lab to the Real World. A Concept Review. (Volume 2, Issue 1)
  8. Diet Breaks Make an Energy Deficit More Effective and Less Costly (Volume 1, Issue 9)
  9. VIDEO: Real-World Effects of Low Carbohydrate, High Fat Diets (Volume 1, Issue 9)
  10. ‘If it Fits Your Macros’ May Be Better for Your Micros Too (Volume 2, Issue 1)
  11. VIDEO: Perfecting a Plant-Based Diet for Bodybuilding, Part 1 (Volume 2, Issue 1)
  12. VIDEO: Perfecting a Plant-Based Diet for Bodybuilding, Part 2 (Volume 2, Issue 2)
  13. The Role of Physical Activity in Appetite and Weight Control (Volume 2, Issue 3)
  14. How Much Weight Can You Cut Effortlessly With Water Loading? (Volume 2, Issue 3)
  15. High Protein Diets Can Enhance Strength and Lean Mass, but Are They Safe? (Volume 2, Issue 4)
  16. Dealing with Metabolic Adaptations to Weight Loss: During and After the Diet (Volume 2, Issue 5)
  17. Comprehensive Nutritional Assessments: Probably More Than You Expected (Volume 2, Issue 6)
  18. Protein Distribution: Theory to Application (Volume 2, Issue 7)
  19. VIDEO: Nutrition Heuristics for Powerlifters (Volume 2, Issue 8)
  20. Keto-Gaining is Difficult to Accomplish (Volume 2, Issue 9)
  21. VIDEO: The Structure of Flexible Dieting, Part 3 (Volume 2, Issue 11)
  22. VIDEO: The Nuts and Bolts of Diet Periodization, Part 2 (Volume 2, Issue 12)
  23. Is the Nail Really in the Low-Carb Coffin? (Volume 2, Issue 12)
  24. VIDEO: Nutrition for Aging Lifters (Volume 3, Issue 1)
  25. Breakfast, the Most Important Meal of the Day…for Gains? (Volume 3, Issue 5)
  26. When Gaining Muscle, the Tortoise Beats the Hare (Volume 3, Issue 6)
  27. VIDEO: Energy Density: A Forgotten Component (Volume 3, Issue 8)
  28. The Poptart Problem: Processed Foods and Overeating (Volume 3, Issue 9)
  29. Does Intermittent Fasting Limit Strength and Muscle Gains? (Volume 3, Issue 9)
  30. VIDEO: Energy Density: A Forgotten Component Part 2 (Volume 3, Issue 9)
  31. Diet Sodas and Adherence: Helpful or Counterproductive? (Volume 3, Issue 10)
  32. VIDEO: Energy Intake to Optimize Lean Mass Part 1 (Volume 3, Issue 10)

Protein

  1. Is It the Dose or the Timing? The Benefit of Added Protein While Cutting (Volume 1, Issue 3)
  2. Micromanaging the Post-Workout Anabolic Window (Volume 1, Issue 4)
  3. Could Bulking on a High Protein Diet Limit Fat Gain and Improve Health? (Volume 1, Issue 5)
  4. Do Protein Supplements Still Help if You’re Eating Enough Protein? (Volume 1, Issue 9)
  5. VIDEO: Perfecting a Plant-Based Diet for Bodybuilding, Part 1 (Volume 2, Issue 1)
  6. VIDEO: Perfecting a Plant-Based Diet for Bodybuilding, Part 2 (Volume 2, Issue 2)
  7. My Old Flame: Benefits of High Protein Intakes During Energy Restriction (Volume 2, Issue 2)
  8. High Protein Diets Can Enhance Strength and Lean Mass, but Are They Safe? (Volume 2, Issue 4)
  9. Protein Distribution: Theory to Application (Volume 2, Issue 7)
  10. Grow While You Sleep: Is Casein the Answer? (Volume 2, Issue 7)
  11. Protein Needs are Similar for Men and Women (Volume 3, Issue 1)

Physique Contest Preparation

  1. VIDEO: Flexible Dieting, Part 1 (Volume 1, Issue 1)
  2. VIDEO: Flexible Dieting, Part 2 (Volume 1, Issue 2)
  3. How are Female Competitors Impacted by Contest Preparation (Volume 1, Issue 2)
  4. Is It the Dose or the Timing? The Benefit of Added Protein While Cutting (Volume 1, Issue 3)
  5. Contest Prep Recovery in Male and Female Physique Competitors (Volume 1, Issue 3)
  6. VIDEO: Nutritional Peaking for Strength and Physique Athletes, Part 1 (Volume 1, Issue 6)
  7. VIDEO: Nutritional Peaking for Strength and Physique Athletes, Part 2 (Volume 1, Issue 7)
  8. Diet Breaks Make an Energy Deficit More Effective and Less Costly (Volume 1, Issue 9)
  9. My Old Flame: Benefits of High Protein Intakes During Energy Restriction (Volume 2, Issue 2)
  10. Dealing with Metabolic Adaptations to Weight Loss: During and After the Diet (Volume 2, Issue 5)
  11. VIDEO: The Structure of Flexible Dieting, Part 3 (Volume 2, Issue 11)
  12. The Science of Peaking (Volume 3, Issue 1)
  13. Original Author Feedback: “The Science of Peaking” (Volume 3, Issue 2)
  14. VIDEO: Global Contest Prep Fatigue Management Part 1 (Volume 3, Issue 5)
  15. VIDEO: Global Contest Prep Fatigue Management Part 2 (Volume 3, Issue 6)
  16. VIDEO: Global Contest Prep Fatigue Management Part 3 (Volume 3, Issue 7)
  17. Science and Athlete Care in Men’s Physique: More Work to be Done (Volume 3, Issue 7)
  18. Ramifications of Weight Manipulation in Female Physique Athletes (Volume 3, Issue 8)
  19. Using Fat-Free Mass Index to Forecast Long-Term Gains for Males and Females (Volume 3, Issue 10)

Supplementation

  1. How Much Does Caffeine Boost Your Strength (Volume 1, Issue 3)  
  2. Micromanaging the Post-Workout Anabolic Window (Volume 1, Issue 4)
  3. Red Hot Chili Peppers: Not Just Training Music, Now a Training Supplement (Volume 1, Issue 6)
  4. Should I Stop Drinking Caffeinated Drinks So My Pre-Workout Works Better? (Volume 1, Issue 6)
  5. From Alpha to Omega-3: Is There Anything Fish Oil Can’t Do? (Volume 1, Issue 7)
  6. Your Caffeine Stash is Empty. Is it All Over for the Day? (Volume 1, Issue 9)
  7. Citrulline Malate: One Step Forward, One Step Back (Volume 2, Issue 2)
  8. Taurine: The Ingredient You Ignore in Your Pre-Workout Drink (Volume 2, Issue 3)
  9. HMB Free Acid: An Objective Assessment (Volume 2, Issue 4)
  10. A Glimmer of Hope for CHO Mouth Rinsing and Lifting? (Volume 2, Issue 4)
  11. Nicotine, an Ergogenic Aid? (Volume 2, Issue 5)
  12. Does Beta-Alanine Increase 1RM? (Volume 2, Issue 6)
  13. Long-Term Data with Sodium Bicarbonate Supplementation is Not Promising (Volume 2, Issue 7)
  14. Grow While You Sleep: Is Casein the Answer? (Volume 2, Issue 7)
  15. Vitamin D Status Impacts Strength and Anaerobic Performance (Volume 2, Issue 8)
  16. Quercetin May Increase Neurological Activation in the Short Term (Volume 2, Issue 9)
  17. Is Caffeine an Effective Appetite Suppressant? (Volume 2, Issue 10)
  18. VIDEO: Iron Supplementation in Strength Sport (Volume 2, Issue 11)
  19. What’s an Appropriate Daily Dose of Creatine? (Volume 2, Issue 12)
  20. Does a Popular “Adaptogen” Increase Anaerobic Performance as Much as Caffeine? (Volume 3, Issue 1)
  21. Vitamin D Supplementation for Injury Prevention (Volume 3, Issue 2)
  22. HMB Free Acid, Leucine Metabolites, and the Importance of Replication (Volume 3, Issue 3)
  23. Is Caffeine Still Ergogenic After Repeated Use? (Volume 3, Issue 4)
  24. Probiotics, is the Hype Real? (Volume 3, Issue 4)
  25. Citrulline Supplementation Reliably Increases Strength Endurance (Volume 3, Issue 5)
  26. The Placebo Effect in Supplement Research (Volume 3, Issue 5)
  27. Understanding Your Supplement’s Mechanism Reveals When It May Be Useful (Volume 3, Issue 6)
  28. A Supplement Lesson from D-Aspartic Acid: Be a Late Adopter (Volume 3, Issue 7)
  29. Caffeine Supplementation has Similar Effects in Both Men and Women (Volume 3, Issue 7)
  30. Does Caffeine Reduce Soreness in Males More than Females? (Volume 3, Issue 8)
  31. Sodium Bicarbonate Benefits Continue to be Equivocal (Volume 3, Issue 9)
  32. The Placebo Effect Impacts Performance More Than You Might Expect (Volume 3, Issue 10)
  33. Do the Performance Effects of Beetroot Juice and Dietary Nitrate Differ Between Males and Females? (Volume 3, Issue 10)

Biomechanics

  1. When the Whole is Less Than the Sum of its Parts (Volume 1, Issue 1)
  2. Can You Improve Your Lifting Technique by Intentionally Screwing Up? (Volume 1, Issue 1)
  3. How Does Bench Press Muscle Activation Change with Increasing Load? (Volume 1, Issue 3)
  4. How Do Bench Press Variations Effect Muscle Activity in Elite Lifters (Volume 1, Issue 5)
  5. Body Segment Lengths Don’t Affect Forward Lean in the Squat (Volume 2, Issue 1)
  6. Squat Depth and Knee Health:  Why Squatting Above Parallel May Not Be as Bad as You Think (Volume 2, Issue 5)
  7. Sex Differences in Bench Press Muscle Activation (Volume 2, Issue 7)
  8. How Does Stance Width Affect Squat Mechanics? (Volume 2, Issue 9)
  9. Hip Height in the Deadlift Doesn’t Affect Force off the Floor (Volume 2, Issue 11)
  10. Comparing Lower Body Joint Demands in the Squat and Deadlift (Volume 2, Issue 12)
  11. The Effect of Squat Stance Width: Moving Beyond the Sagittal Plane (Volume 2, Issue 12)
  12. There’s Finally Research on Safety Bar Squats (Volume 3, Issue 1)
  13. Flat-Soled Shoes are Probably Fine for Most Lifters (Volume 3, Issue 4)
  14. What Factors are Related to Relative Bench Press Performance? (Volume 3, Issue 5)
  15. Are Hyperextensions or Reverse Hyperextensions Better for Posterior Chain Training? (Volume 3, Issue 6)
  16. When you Lift Explosively, Intensity has a Smaller Impact on Muscle Activation (Volume 3, Issue 7)
  17. Benching with Your Feet Up Increases EMG of the Prime Movers (Volume 3, Issue 8)
  18. Can We Predict if You’re Better off Deadlifting Conventional vs. Sumo? (Volume 3, Issue 10)

Mechanisms and Muscle Physiology

  1. Is Muscle Damage Related to Hypertrophy? (Volume 1, Issue 1)
  2. Does the ‘Mind-Muscle Connection’ Affect Muscle Activation or Performance? (Volume 1, Issue 2)
  3. Muscle Activation and Damage in Grouped vs. Separated Supersets (Volume 1, Issue 5)
  4. High-Intensity Deadlifts Do Not Cause Greater Central Fatigue Than Squats (Volume 1, Issue 6)
  5. What Can We Learn About Muscular Adaptation From Ibuprofen (Volume 1, Issue 7)  
  6. Smelling Salts Psych You Up, but Lack Evidence for Strength Improvement (Volume 1, Issue 8)
  7. Low-Load, High-Rep Training: Similar Anabolic Signaling, Greater Cost (Volume 1, Issue 9)
  8. Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation: Is It a Fad, or the Next Big Thing in Strength? (Volume 2, Issue 3)
  9. The Science of Muscle Memory (Volume 2, Issue 4)
  10. Research Supports Focusing on the “Mind-Muscle Connection” for Muscle Growth (Volume 2, Issue 5)
  11. VIDEO: Training and the Aging Process: Part 1 (Volume 2, Issue 5) 
  12. Fiber Type-Specific Hypertrophy? Evidence is Still Lacking (Volume 2, Issue 6)
  13. VIDEO: Training and the Aging Process: Part 2 (Volume 2, Issue 6)
  14. Sex Differences in Bench Press Muscle Activation (Volume 2, Issue 7)
  15. VIDEO: Resistance Training and Neuroprotection (Volume 2, Issue 9)
  16. Neuromuscular Efficiency and How it Can Help Your Strength (Volume 2, Issue 10)
  17. Blood Flow Restriction Training Causes Type I Fiber Hypertrophy in Powerlifters (Volume 2, Issue 11)
  18. VIDEO: Explaining the Muscle Length-Tension Relationship (Volume 2, Issue 12)
  19. Different Factors Drive Strength at Different Times (Volume 3, Issue 1)
  20. The First Clear Evidence of Delayed Hypertrophic Supercompensation (Volume 3, Issue 2)
  21. Genetics-Based Expectations Affect Your Physiology (Volume 3, Issue 3)
  22. Hepcidin, Iron’s Master Regulator, May Be Indicative of Your Energy Availability (Volume 3, Issue 8)
  23. Sarcoplasmic Hypertrophy is Real, but is it Relevant? (Volume 3, Issue 8)

Recovery and Injury Prevention

  1. Training When Injured With Blood-Flow Restriction (Volume 1, Issue 2)
  2. Compression Garments Provide a Meaningful Effect on Recovery (Volume 1, Issue 3)  
  3. Cold-Water Immersion increases Acute Recovery More Than Cryotheraphy (Volume 1, Issue 4)
  4. Functional Movement Screen is Not Supported for Injury Prediction (Volume 1, Issue 4)
  5. Recovery From Training: High Intensity vs. High volume (Volume 1, Issue 5)
  6. What Can We Learn About Muscular Adaptation From Ibuprofen (Volume 1, Issue 7)
  7. Foam Rolling May Enhance Recovery, but Is it a Standalone Modality? (Volume 1, Issue 8)
  8. Recovery After Training: Have Middle-Aged Men Lost a Step? (Volume 1, Issue 8)
  9. Which Sleep Interventions Help the Most with Recovery and Performance? (Volume 2, Issue 3)
  10. What’s the Best Way to Recover From Training? (Volume 2, Issue 6)
  11. Are Powerlifters Always Injured? (Volume 2, Issue 8)
  12. Stretching Does Aid in Recovery? (Volume 2, Issue 9)
  13. Do Middle-Aged Lifters Fatigue Faster than the Young Guys? (Volume 2, Issue 11)
  14. Does Lifting Heavy Harm Your Range of Motion? (Volume 2, Issue 11)
  15. Do Women Recover Slower from Squats Than Men? Well … Maybe (Volume 2, Issue 12)
  16. Nutritional and Logistical Strategies for Reducing Illness (Volume 3, Issue 2)
  17. Vitamin D Supplementation for Injury Prevention (Volume 3, Issue 2)
  18. Can Load-Velocity Profiling Be Used to Monitor Recovery (Volume 3, Issue 2)
  19. The Time Course of Recovery for Rep Performance (Volume 3, Issue 2)
  20. Should You Train to Recover? (Volume 3, Issue 5)
  21. Understanding Your Supplement’s Mechanism Reveals When It May Be Useful (Volume 3, Issue 6)
  22. Does Alcohol Impair Recovery from Resistance Exercise? (Volume 3, Issue 9)

Sports Psychology

  1. Mind Over Matter: Mental Training Increases Strength Gains
  2. Internal Cues Don’t Effect Muscle Activation With Lifting (Volume 1, Issue 7)
  3. Smelling Salts Psych You Up, but Lack Evidence for Strength Improvement (Volume 1, Issue 8)
  4. Spotters Increase Performance and Decrease Perceived Effort (Volume 1, Issue 9)
  5. Visualize Your Way to Gains: The Dose Response of Mental Imagery for Strength (Volume 2, Issue 5)
  6. Research Supports Focusing on the “Mind-Muscle Connection” for Muscle Growth (Volume 2, Issue 5)
  7. VIDEO: Sustainable Motivation for Sport and Fitness (Volume 2, Issue 9)
  8. The Mindset of World Champions (Volume 3, Issue 1)
  9. VIDEO: Global Contest Prep Fatigue Management Part 1 (Volume 3, Issue 5)
  10. VIDEO: Global Contest Prep Fatigue Management Part 2 (Volume 3, Issue 6)
  11. Give Better Guidance than Just “Work Harder” (Volume 3, Issue 6)
  12. VIDEO: Global Contest Prep Fatigue Management Part 3 (Volume 3, Issue 7)
  13. The Placebo Effect Impacts Performance More Than You Might Expect (Volume 3, Issue 10)

Research Design and Interpretation

  1. The Basics of Interpreting Research: A How-to Guide for Each Section (Bonus)
  2. Glossary (Bonus)
  3. When to Trust the Results of a Study: A Concept Review (Volume 2, Issue 10)
  4. VIDEO: Understanding the Research Process Part 1 (Volume 3, Issue 7)
  5. VIDEO: Understanding the Research Process Part 2 (Volume 3, Issue 8)
  6. VIDEO: Understanding the Research Process Part 3 (Volume 3, Issue 9)

Eight articles might not sound like much, but each one contains everything on the topic of interest you’d ever need to know. Also, you can read as much or as little as you’d like, and still come away with a solid understanding of the topic:

As much…

Each article includes a full breakdown of all the essential elements of the study (i.e., the hypothesis, the methods used, data analysis and all the references used in the research itself, as well as the team’s interpretation), including MASS’ review/critique of each element.

In other words, if the findings are astounding enough to warrant restructuring your programs, they’ll make it very clear. Conversely, if they don’t think the study lives up to the hype (or more research is needed), you’ll know that too.

If you’re a visual person, you’ll dig the article layouts. Every article features all the relevant tables and diagrams needed to interpret the research yourself. Personally, I just think it’s nice to look at; I’ll take their word on the rest.

As little…

At the top of each article is a Key Points section that contains just that; all the key points of the article. Admittedly, I often just read this and the bottom sections, Next Steps and Applications and Takeaways.

I don’t normally fool myself into thinking I can grasp the math used to establish significance, confidence intervals, etc. of each study (or that I have the time to try), but it’s nice to know it’s there if I ever decide not to waste the $60,000 I spent on my psychology degree (on paper, I’m qualified to care about this crap). It’s all there to geek out on.

Two video presentations

An example of a video presentation.

Every month, they also release two college-course caliber lessons on a huge variety of topics. Here’s a quick list of the last 10 topics they covered as of October, 2019:

  • Concurrent training for a marathon
  • Energy Intake to Optimize Lean Mass
  • Understanding the Research Process
  • Energy Density: A Forgotten Component
  • Global Contest Prep Fatigue Management
  • Long Term Velocity and RPE Loading
  • Exercise Specific Training Frequency for Hypertrophy
  • Improving 1 RM Strength for Hypertrophy
  • Implementing Deloads
  • Load Progression

In my opinion, these presentations are worth the cost of the service by themselves. Each video covers critical training and coaching concepts in painstaking detail, and again, I don’t have to remind you that the presenters have the highest level of education and experience in the business.

The fact that I still haven’t finished watching all of these is a total travesty (fortunately, I’m almost caught up on all The Office and Stark Trek: The Next Generation episodes that I’ve already seen three times).

Audio Roundtable

Screenshot from a roundtable

For me, the audio roundtable feature is the bread-and-butter of my MASS subscription.

I don’t exactly stand by my e-mail box every month, waiting for MASS to drop. I tend to batch and binge 2-3 months worth at a time. Here’s what my MASS consumption normally looks like:

Every 2-3 months, I log into MASS, download the past two dozen roundtables that I missed, schedule 50 menial honey-do tasks around the house (mowing the lawn, folding laundry, bathing, etc), put on my headphones and hit play. If they discuss a topic that I find to be especially interesting, I’ll go back in and read the accompanying article to squeeze out the last drop of information.

Audio roundtables are basically an audio version of each written article. The guys literally sit around a table (I’d imagine it’s round), and discuss each article individually.

If you’re a fan of dry, sarcastic humor, you’ll dig their presentation. They stay on topic the entire time, but include just enough sass to keep it interesting. It’s no surprise that Greg, the Eric’s and Michael are known in the fitness industry as The Sassy Four.

Other perks

Mobile-friendly membership site

Everything on the membership site is fully device-responsive. All content is easy to find (categorized by topics, media type, and date-released). Everything can be downloaded for offline viewing as well.

Interpretation guides

If simply taking their reviews at face value (like I do) isn’t good enough for you, but doing your own research makes you wimper in the corner, they have an entire section of the membership site dedicated to interpretation (terminology, best practices, etc). I learned more from this content than I did in two semesters of college prob and stat (though I skipped almost every class I ever took…beers don’t drink themselves).

Continuing education credits (CECs and CEUs)

As a fitness “professional”, I can tell you that needing to keep up with continuing ed requirements sucks. It’s a huge marketing ploy that most certification organizations use to hock their own sub-par products (no, I’m not jaded at all).

If you hold an NSCA, NASM or ACSM certification, you can fulfill your CEU or CEC requirements with your MASS subscription. In essence, it pays for itself.

I, however, hold an ACE certification, which doesn’t currently honor MASS as a continuing ed provider. So good for you if you’re able to take advantage of it (you son of a…)…super happy for you (you piece of…) ACE is now included!!!

Access to back log issues and archived content

Personally, I would expect to get access to old issues, and not only new material. That said–in case you held any concern–when you sign up for a membership, you get immediate access to any article, video or audio production they’ve ever released.

Private Facebook group access

They have over 1300 members in their Facebook group, which is granted (by a manual request process) when you sign up for a subscription.

I don’t really frequent the group much (or use Facebook very often for that matter), but I will say it’s full of some pretty bright folks (remember, these are all people who love lifting enough to drop $29/month on a nerded-out content service).

The group is reasonably active with about 2-3 new posts/day last I checked. Definitely a nice bonus, if that’s your thing.

Cancel anytime

Pretty simple here. If you don’t want to pay for your membership anymore, cancel it. I won’t walk you through the details here, mainly because they walk you through the details on the site. You don’t have to interact with anyone. You just cancel.

Easy.

Cons

Ok, so it’s obvious this is a biased review, right? I mean, I get an affiliate commission for every signup I refer (full transparency).

Truthfully, I signed up for the affiliate program only after I had been a member for a year. If you’re really bored some time, go through this site and my Youtube channel, and try to find a bad product I’ve recommended. I’m not in the business of screwing people out of their money (I’m a jackass, not a whore).

Why am I telling you all this?

There really aren’t many downsides to a MASS subscription, but I’ll try to drum up something…

No free trial

Most content services offer free trials. MASS doesn’t (as far as I’m aware). I’m assuming they don’t give away a 7-day risk free membership so that they don’t have a bunch of goons signing up, downloading all the archived content, then cancelling (of course, if you’re willing to part with $29, you could do the same thing with a monthly subscription, then cancel).

The closest thing they have to a free trial is their Best of issue, and it’s a very fair compromise. Essentially, it’s a PDF that contains 9 of what they consider to be their best articles from 2018 and 2019. It’s completely free, and all you need to give them is your email address. This is how they got me to eventually sign up, and I can personally attest that they will not spam your email inbox.

Get the free Best Of issue here.

It’s expensive

Any of my friends who I’ve told about MASS have said, “Gee, Rob, $29 every month is a little rich for my blood” (all my friends are from the 1950’s).

In Beaver Cleaver’s defense, $29 every month for most people is a big enough bill to make the budget spreadsheet.

Again though, you get what you pay for…

The content is so freakin’ thorough. I can’t imagine the number of hours it takes to read all the studies from 50 different journals, review the good ones, write 2000 words on each one, then record 10 audio roundtables and two 45 minute lectures (not to mention all the free content they put out on Strongerbyscience.com and the podcast).

Honestly, I just don’t think the asking price is all that high, especially if you qualify for the continuing ed credits.

No time to read it…waste of money if you’re not using it

This one almost got me. When I first signed up, I was super busy (still am), and almost cancelled because I wasn’t reading the articles when they came out.

That changed, however, when they started releasing the audio roundtables. I blow through those things in the car every couple months or so (or when taking care of domestic responsibilities, as previously mentioned). Content-wise, they cover just about everything in the audio that they do in the written version. That said, if you have time to put on headphones, you have time to get your money’s worth.

Final Words

I’ll put it short and sweet: MASS has saved me a ridiculous amount of time staying caught up with the latest in exercise and nutrition research. I’d say it’s saved me a ridiculous amount of money as well–money that I would have to spend on exercise journal subscriptions–but you’re dreaming if you think I’m gonna sign up for one of those in the first place.

For $29/month, MASS offers all the meathead research information you could ever desire, whether you have 5 minutes to consume it (keypoints and audio roundtables), or a hundred hours to get into the nitty-gritty (video presentations and written articles).

If you’re a fitness professional, or a hardcore enthusiast, the investment is a no-brainer.

Sign up for a MASS subscription here: