The world of bodybuilding and fitness had for a brief while where it shifted its focus to isolation moves and exercises performed on machines. This was in the early 2000s or late 90s, I guess. So much so, that it would be impossible to see people doing the compound Olympic lifts in the gym. Cut to today, the focus has thankfully shifted back to compound lifts. Most people are happy sticking to the big 7…
I have always been obsessed with melting that final layer of fat that covers my belly. More so, since I am not one of those genetically gifted freaks with unbelievably good fat distribution. You know the guys who have their abdominals popping at even 15-16% body fat? For me, anything more than 11% is not going to cut it. The abs just magically disappear. So, I have spent a lot of time dropping weight, trying out diets…
A few weeks ago, I was visiting my buddy to check out his swanky new basement gym. I was mighty impressed with the way he’d used the small space to accommodate almost every piece of equipment that one finds in large commercial gyms. But something caught my eye. Just next to a ceiling-mounted speed bag, there was another teardrop-shaped bag, hanging from a similar platform. It was much bigger than the speed bag though and…
Do you? Trust evidence? Are you outcome or results driven? Do you know what being “evidence-based” means as a fitness professional? Do you know how to think scientifically? Can you balance information and action? I ask myself those questions, and they are tough ones. Because it’s work. It’s work to stay on top of “evidence”. Jamie Hale sent me his new book to read, In Evidence We Trust, and I’ll admit it took me a…
After writing several thousand words, and compiling an impressive list of resources from other coaches, I decided to make this a series. Rather than plow through everything to get to a section more relevant to you, this will break it down a bit easier. I geared this a tad more towards parents looking for help, rather than coaches, because someone who is not familiar with training principles or the science of strength and conditioning, is…
I have been running for close to 11-years. Mostly on, sometimes off. But I have enjoyed my runs so much that no other form of cardio even comes close. That’s until my runner’s knee went from an occasional discomfort to a consistent niggle. The pain started to radiate upwards from the sides of the knee cap and would last for up to 6-hours after my run. After a quick eval, the doc and the physical therapist asked…
Ahh, the majestic squat. Just where would we all be without it? Undoubtedly, the best way to rack up some solid thighs and a nice butt – the squat also clocks in as the number one way to destroy your back and knees in the long term. And with that, many fitness fans start to ponder, isn’t there an easier way? You know, a way to…hack the squat? Well, dear reader, unless you’ve been living under a rock…
Whether you’re absolutely enamored with the idea of getting into Pilates or are looking to make the switch from expensive classes – a proper Pilates chair and reformer are two of the key pieces of equipment you’ll need to get your at-home Pilates studio started. But while the pros of taking up Pilates are pretty evident – picking out the perfect chair or reformer for you and your needs can be a totally different experience. The…
There’s a very simple formula that’s supposed to help determine how heavy a punching bag you need for an optimum workout. You take your body weight, divide it by two and that number is about as heavy a bag that you probably need. For me, that magical number is approximately 100 lb. But I have pounded the pulp out of the 100 lb. bag at home and frankly, it doesn’t give me as vigorous a workout as I…
Let’s talk about the Military Press, the granddaddy of all upper body workouts. It’s an absolute brute of a compound exercise that will engage every muscle group in your upper body and a few in your lower body as well, albeit to a lesser degree. If you’ve read Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Encyclopedia of Bodybuilding, you’ll find that this was a staple in his workout regimen, and the key to them 3D deltoids that he sported during his competitive…