The Journal

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Training notes, fit science and the stories behind the drops. Useful enough to bookmark, honest enough to trust.

Don't Follow Your Dreams. Chase Them Like They Owe You Money.
Featured

Don't Follow Your Dreams. Chase Them Like They Owe You Money.

You have heard it your whole life. Follow your dreams. It sounds beautiful. It sounds inspiring. It sounds like something you stitch onto a pillow or put on a motivational poster with a picture...

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Workout Wednesday: How Long Should Your Workouts Actually Be?

Workout Wednesday: How Long Should Your Workouts Actually Be?

How long should I work out? The reason nobody gives you a straight answer is that there genuinely isn’t one. Arnold Schwarzenegger...

Sep 09, 2026
Motivation Monday: Run Toward Failure

Motivation Monday: Run Toward Failure

My sophomore year of college I applied to the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University. I had been working toward it...

Sep 07, 2026
A Letter to Anyone Who Is About to Give Up

A Letter to Anyone Who Is About to Give Up

Giving up now will cost you more than trying again ever would. Read this first. Bait Dogs - Bite Back.

Sep 03, 2026
Workout Wednesday: The Best Workout Split for Beginners

Workout Wednesday: The Best Workout Split for Beginners

A workout split is simply how you organize which muscle groups you train on which days of the week. Instead of trying...

Sep 02, 2026
Motivation Monday: Shut Up and Do It Anyway
advice

Motivation Monday: Shut Up and Do It Anyway

Some days you wake up fired up and ready to take on the world. The energy is there, the clarity is there,...

Aug 31, 2026 · advice
Stop Judging Yourself So Hard: A Guide to Getting Out of Your Own Way

Stop Judging Yourself So Hard: A Guide to Getting Out of Your Own Way

You judge yourself a hell of a lot more than other people judge you. Read that again. Really let it land. The...

Aug 27, 2026
Workout Wednesday: How to Know If You Are Working Out Hard Enough

Workout Wednesday: How to Know If You Are Working Out Hard Enough

Let's talk about something most fitness content dances around. Some people go to the gym and do not work very hard. Not...

Aug 26, 2026
Motivation Monday: Small Wins Are Still Wins
advice

Motivation Monday: Small Wins Are Still Wins

Most of us are long term thinkers. We want to lose 50 pounds. We want to get the promotion. We want to...

Aug 24, 2026 · advice
Nobody "Has" Confidence. Here Is How to Build It Anyway

Nobody "Has" Confidence. Here Is How to Build It Anyway

Show me your confidence. Go ahead. Show me the mason jar you keep it in. The milk jug. The treasure chest. The...

Aug 20, 2026
Workout Wednesday: The Beginner's Guide to Progressive Overload

Workout Wednesday: The Beginner's Guide to Progressive Overload

There are a lot of rules in fitness. Eat enough protein. Sleep enough. Do not skip leg day. Wash your gym clothes....

Aug 19, 2026
Motivation Monday: What It Means to Be an Underdog

Motivation Monday: What It Means to Be an Underdog

The underdog is the one who knows the chances are slim, the road is long, and the load is heavy. And does...

Aug 17, 2026
The Underdog Mentality: Why We Build Gear for Fighters Not Followers

The Underdog Mentality: Why We Build Gear for Fighters Not Followers

A fighter is someone willing to try something different. Someone who is not afraid of the unknown. Someone who hears the word...

Aug 13, 2026
Workout Wednesday: How to Build Your First Workout Routine From Scratch
lifting

Workout Wednesday: How to Build Your First Workout Routine From Scratch

Building your first workout routine can feel overwhelming. There are a million programs, opinions, and people at the gym who all seem...

Aug 12, 2026 · lifting
Motivation Monday: The Art of Getting Back Up
motivation

Motivation Monday: The Art of Getting Back Up

There is an episode of South Park where Randy, one of the dads, gets into a fight and gets knocked down hard....

Aug 10, 2026 · motivation
How to Stay Consistent When You Don't Feel Like It
advice

How to Stay Consistent When You Don't Feel Like It

Motivation is unreliable. It shows up when it feels like it and disappears right when you need it most. If you are...

Aug 06, 2026 · advice
Motivation Monday: Give Yourself Some Credit
advice

Motivation Monday: Give Yourself Some Credit

When I came out of open heart surgery at 25 and people told me I was brave, I did not feel brave....

Aug 03, 2026 · advice
Motivation Monday: Nobody Is Coming to Save You
motivation

Motivation Monday: Nobody Is Coming to Save You

There was a time when someone did come to save you. When you were a kid and everything fell apart, someone bigger...

Jul 30, 2026 · motivation
The Connection Between Physical Strength and Mental Resilience

The Connection Between Physical Strength and Mental Resilience

Every morning I am up before 5am to be at the gym when it opens. I love it now. It was not...

Jul 22, 2026
Motivation Monday: The Voice in Your Head Is Lying to You

Motivation Monday: The Voice in Your Head Is Lying to You

You know the one I am talking about. The voice that shows up uninvited and starts telling you that you are not...

Jul 20, 2026
Why We Made the "Bite Back" Hoodie: The Story Behind Our Flagship Piece

Why We Made the "Bite Back" Hoodie: The Story Behind Our Flagship Piece

Every brand has a piece that says everything about who they are without saying a word. For us, that piece is the...

Jul 16, 2026
Motivation Monday: Dream Bigger Than Your Doubts
motivation

Motivation Monday: Dream Bigger Than Your Doubts

So few people are truly blessed with a dream they feel compelled to chase. And to have the talent, the time, and...

Jul 13, 2026 · motivation
One Year In: A Look Back at Year One of Bait Dogs Apparel
business

One Year In: A Look Back at Year One of Bait Dogs Apparel

One year ago today, July 5th, 2025, we launched Bait Dogs Apparel. It started as an idea in my head. A name...

Jul 11, 2026 · business
Five Lifts That Build the Fighter's Body
advice

Five Lifts That Build the Fighter's Body

I stay in shape so one day I can play with my kids and be there for my family in a crisis....

Jul 09, 2026 · advice
Motivation Monday: You Are Not Your Worst Day

Motivation Monday: You Are Not Your Worst Day

Nobody gets through this life without getting knocked down. Not the most successful person you know. Not the strongest person at your...

Jul 06, 2026
How to Build a Gym Wardrobe That Actually Works

How to Build a Gym Wardrobe That Actually Works

Let's get one thing out of the way first. You do not need to spend a fortune to have great gym clothes....

Jul 02, 2026
Why the Gym Saved Me: Training as a Mental Health Tool

Why the Gym Saved Me: Training as a Mental Health Tool

I'll be honest with you right off the bat. Lifting heavy shit makes sad head voice quiet is not just a meme....

Jun 29, 2026
What "Bite Back" Means to Us

What "Bite Back" Means to Us

Two words. That is it. No long explanation. No fine print. Just two words that hit somewhere deep, somewhere primal, somewhere past...

Jun 25, 2026
The Ultimate Gym Starter Guide for People Who Feel Out of Place

The Ultimate Gym Starter Guide for People Who Feel Out of Place

Walking into a gym for the first time can feel terrifying. The equipment looks complicated. The people look like they know exactly...

Jun 22, 2026
Why We Started Bait Dogs Apparel

Why We Started Bait Dogs Apparel

I've wanted to start a business for a long time. In high school and college, I read a lot of books about...

Jun 22, 2026
The Story Behind Bait Dogs

The Story Behind Bait Dogs

After emergency open heart surgery at 25 and a painful breakup that followed, founder of Bait Dogs needed something to build. The...

Jun 15, 2026
A Beginners Guide to Stretching for Lifting

A Beginners Guide to Stretching for Lifting

Dynamic Stretching Before beginning your lift, it is best to warm up your muscles and joints with a brief dynamic stretching routine....

May 30, 2026