Foreword

Exercise science is a relatively young field in the pantheon of science. When exercise science first entered the fray, it was somewhat dismissed as unimportant and even vain. Over the past quarter of a century, however, the world has come to recognize the importance of exercise in promoting health, well-being, and longevity. With this recognition has come a plethora of new information regarding training protocols. This is both a good thing and a bad thing. Valid research on proper training protocols has expanded by leaps and bounds over the past few decades; however, pseudoscience and outright untruthful claims have expanded at an equal pace. Unfortunately, where money can be made, scam artists will prop up gimmicks in order to make a quick buck. This has led to legions of books, DVDs, and websites promoting ineffective training protocols as the simple solution. After all, who doesn’t want to get a ripped six-pack by working out one minute per day, two days per year? Most of us would love the idea of working out very little and getting great results. Unfortunately, progress requires hard work. Many books bend the truth in order to sell a magic formula that doesn’t involve hard work. The MAX Muscle Plan is not one of those books.

In The MAX Muscle Plan, Brad Schoenfeld breaks down the science behind training and periodization and explains how to properly implement these components. He dissects complex research and provides recommendations that can be implemented by the average Joe who doesn’t have a PhD in exercise physiology. Brad helps you better understand how to organize your training and how to properly implement workout protocols in order to maximize their effectiveness and meet your goals. This book gives you the path to success in your weight-training goals; it is up to you to walk that path. There are no easy ways to the finish line, and there are no quick fixes. It will take nothing short of hard work and dedication to reach your weight-training and physique goals, but this book gives you the road map that will lead you toward them.

Best of luck on your journey.

Layne Norton, PhD