Stronger Arms & Upper Body

Joe Wuebben serves as senior features editor at Muscle & Fitness, the world's largest bodybuilding publication. Previously working at Muscle & Fitness as a freelance writer and then as features editor, he was promoted to his present position in 2007. He has written more than 100 articles dealing with body-part-specific workouts, periodized programs, and advanced training techniques, and he has published in Muscle & Fitness Hers, Men's Fitness, and other top publications. Wuebben has twice been cited in the Best American Sports Writing anthology (2006 and 2007) for articles in Muscle & Fitness.

Wuebben authored Book of Champions: 40 Years of Mr. Olympia Training Secrets, which featured workouts and training advice from the all-time great bodybuilders. He earned a bachelor's degree in kinesiology with an emphasis in exercise physiology from Western State College in Gunnison, Colorado. Wuebben lives in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Coauthor Jim Stoppani, PhD, is senior science editor at Muscle & Fitness, Muscle & Fitness Hers, and Flex magazines. One of the foremost researchers in the field of exercise science, Stoppani received his doctorate in exercise physiology from the University of Connecticut. After graduation, he served as a postdoctoral research fellow in the prestigious John B. Pierce Laboratory and department of cellular and molecular physiology at Yale University School of Medicine, where he investigated the effects of exercise and diet on gene regulation in skeletal muscle.

Stoppani was awarded the Gatorade Beginning Investigator in Exercise Science Award in 2002. In 2006, he authored Encyclopedia of Muscle & Strength published by Human Kinetics. He is also coauthor of the chapter “Nutritional Needs of Strength/Power Athletes” in the textbook Essentials of Sports Nutrition and Supplements (Humana Press, 2008) and is contributor to the book Mario Lopez's Knockout Fitness (Rodale, 2008). He is the personal health and nutrition consultant for numerous celebrity clients, such as Dr. Dre and Mario Lopez. Stoppani resides in Los Angeles.

Comments from the Authors:
As the author of this book (co-author, actually, along with Jim Stoppani, PhD, one of the foremost authorities in the field of exercise science), I thought I'd share with potential readers why we wrote Stronger Arms & Upper Body the way we did...

Our goal for this book was to present both basic and cutting edge training advice in the most efficient, reader-friendly format possible. We didn't want to beat around the bush with unnecessary information that won't really help you in the gym. From Chapter 1, we dove right into the information you can use in the gym today.

In the first part of the book, we explain how to design your own training program, but in Chapters 11 and 12 we went ahead designed full training programs, and even individual workouts, for those who would rather not design their own programs. That makes this book good for anyone - beginning lifters to advanced gym rats - looking to build muscle, lose bodyfat and improve overall health.

The reason for having a chapter devoted solely to individual workouts (Chapter 12) was to cater to those who don't want to do an entirely new program - these individuals (who often tend to be advanced lifters) are happy with their existing programs, but still like to try a new workout every now and then to keep things fresh.

Chapter 10 is truly for the advanced lifter, as it's all about high-intensity, cutting edge techniques you can employ to take your workouts (and your physique) to the next level. Hardcore gym rats will love the novel techniques included in this section.

I hope everyone who reads this book will at least find a few useful tips and techniques to add to their workouts for better results in upper body training, whether the goal is to add muscular size, strength, definition or all of the above.

Joe Wuebben
Senior Features Editor
Muscle & Fitness magazine