This past week has been about contrast in the best possible way. I’ve been spending time in Bali, Indonesia — a place that naturally slows you down and clears your head. Between the culture, the calm, and the rhythm of daily life here, it’s been a chance to let both my body and mind reset.
Here’s a complete recap of my past week, and the stories I shared on my blog.
It wasn’t all about rest, though, as preparations for the Arnold Classic are beginning to ramp up. Even when prep starts, you still need moments of stillness to stay sharp.
My next stop will be Bangkok, Thailand, but this stretch in Bali has been exactly what I needed before shifting gears again.
On the training side, the week opened with a Sculpting Sunday that challenged a common misconception — the idea that machines are the “easy” option. I explained why I rely on machines for shoulder pressing when I want precision, joint safety, and clean delt activation. Used correctly, machines remove chaos and let you load the muscle with intent, especially when fatigue is high.
I also shared a longer, more reflective post asking a question I hear more and more lately: Are human fitness coaches becoming obsolete in the age of AI? While AI is incredible at organizing information and building plans, I explained why real coaching still matters — from reading movement and recovery to asking the right questions and adjusting in real time. Technology can assist, but it can’t replace human awareness, accountability, and judgment. Ok, maybe I’m biased (😅), but you’ll just have to read the post and see if you agree with the points I made.
Monday carried that theme forward with a Motivation Monday focused on the power of simply showing up. Not every day feels strong. Some days you’re running at 20%. But giving that 20% is still giving your full effort for the day, and that consistency is what builds momentum over time.
I also unveiled something new and fun: Alessandro’s Scavenger Hunt — Launch Edition. It’s a 10-question challenge designed for readers who enjoy digging through past posts and connecting the dots. There are no prizes — just pride, curiosity, and a deeper way to engage with the blog and hopefully learn something new. Props go out to John T., who was the first to submit his answers in the challenge. If you’d like to participate, you’ll have until the end of January to submit your responses.
Tuesday marked the release of a YouTube Short that kicks off the countdown to the Arnold Classic. It’s a fast-paced montage of gym work, focus, and prep mode — a snapshot of what this phase really looks like behind the scenes as training intensity starts to rise.
Midweek, I went deep into arm training with a long-form post breaking down how I train biceps and triceps for maximum pump, control, and growth. It’s not about chasing weight or ego lifting — it’s about tempo, slow negatives, clean execution, and squeezing every rep for quality. Those details make all the difference.
The week closed with two photo moments that offered balance and perspective. On Throwback Thursday, I shared a relaxation shot from 2021 in my native Italy. And for Friday Flex, I shared a moment from 2023, relaxing in a hammock, letting recovery catch up. Progress isn’t only built in the gym; it’s also built when you allow your body to breathe.
Oh, I almost forgot! I also unveiled a brand new Photo Gallery page. It automatically populates with the latest shots from my weekly photo series, so you can catch all my recent photos in one spot, distraction free. You can find a link to the Photo Gallery in the main menu of my site.
It was a full week, but there’s plenty more ahead. Coming up next week, I’ll be breaking down how to build the triceps “teardrop,” and I’ll go in depth on how I train my back for real thickness — with precise angles, technique, and intent.
Alongside that, there will be more photographic moments captured in Motivation Monday, Throwback Thursday, and Friday Flex. I’ll even be revealing a new photo series: Tuesday Travelogue, where I share photos from my travels and describe the culture and vibe of places I visit. For the first Tuesday Travelogue, I will of course be describing Bali.
In addition to this blog, don’t forget that you can follow me on my other social media accounts. I post frequent photos on my Instagram account, and I also post regular videos to my YouTube account. I’m sharing a vlog series on YouTube documenting my journey to the Arnold Classic stage. You can follow those videos on this YouTube Playlist.
I hope you are enjoying my new blog, and I’d love to hear your feedback. What do you like best about the blog? Do you find the content here helpful? Feel free to send your feedback to myself and my team at feedback@theacblog.com.
And don’t forget you can subscribe to my blog, receiving an e-mail in your inbox each time I share a new post. You can subscribe here.
Thanks always for your support!