🏋️‍♂️ Why Posture Matters More Than You Think

PLUS: Your Back Muscles Are the Real MVP of Your Upper Body

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Ryan Engel & Michael Pender
May 15, 2025

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TODAY’S LEVEL UP:

  • Coach’s Corner: Why Posture Matters More Than You Think

  • Did You Know?: Your back muscles are the real MVP of your upper body

  • Question from Our Readers: Should I use lifting straps or skip them?

  • Fit Trivia: Which legendary boxer chopped wood and ran mountains as part of his old-school training routine?

Why Posture Matters More Than You Think

Posture isn’t just about standing tall—it’s about how well your body performs under stress.

Here’s why improving posture pays off big:

  • You Breathe Better: Good posture opens up the chest and diaphragm, improving oxygen flow and even helping with endurance.

  • You Lift Safer: Proper alignment protects your spine and shoulders during heavy lifts, especially presses and deadlifts.

  • You Look and Feel Stronger: Stand tall, chest up, shoulders back—you instantly look more confident and powerful.

Fix it with daily posture resets—wall slides, band pull-aparts, and upper back work. It only takes a few minutes a day to undo years of slouching.

FROM RYAN’S DESK

Winners don’t rise to the occasion—they fall back on their standards. Set yours high, then live by them. No matter the day. No matter the mood. When average won’t cut it, excellence becomes the only option.

Did You Know?:

Your Back Muscles Are the Real MVP of Your Upper Body

You might train chest and arms to look good—but your back does the heavy lifting.

  • It stabilizes nearly every compound lift (squats, presses, deadlifts).

  • It supports posture and prevents neck and shoulder pain.

  • A strong back gives you that “V” shape that makes your waist look smaller.

Train it with intention: rows, pull-ups, deadlifts, and carries. Big back = strong body.

Question from Our Readers:

“Should I use lifting straps or skip them?”

– Mike, 46, from San Diego

Great question, Mike—and it depends on your goal:

  • Yes, use them when grip becomes the limiting factor before the target muscle (like on heavy rows or Romanian deadlifts).

  • No, skip them if you're intentionally training grip (like on farmer’s carries or pull-ups).

Balance is key: train your grip on some lifts, and use straps to fully tax bigger muscles on others.

Fit Trivia: Which legendary boxer famously trained by chopping wood and running through mountains to build strength and stamina?

Answer: Rocky Marciano! The undefeated heavyweight champion kept his edge with hard, manual labor-style training—building insane endurance, toughness, and knockout power the old-school way.

Ryan Engel, Intl. Fat Loss Coach

Ryan is a leading fitness coach and one of the most known professionals in the space.

He specializes in Body Recomposition and visual body aesthetics and has reached millions worldwide with his powerful messaging. He brings a unique, non-nonsense, yet sophisticated approach to body change.

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Publisher: Ryan Engel

Editor: Michael Pender

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