About John Paul

John Paul Catanzaro, BSc Kin, CSEP-CEP, CSEP-HPS, is a CSEP Clinical Exercise Physiologist and a CSEP High Performance Specialist with a Specialized Honours Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology and Health Science. He owns and operates a private training facility in Richmond Hill, Ontario. In 1996, John Paul opened a personal training studio at his home in Toronto, Ontario. With vision and passion, the business quickly grew and the word got out: “If you want to get in shape, go see this guy!” Now located in Richmond Hill, Ontario, the business boasts a state-of-the-art training facility and a waiting list of clients. John Paul founded The Catanzaro Group in 2004 with divisions in fitness, nutrition, supplements, lifestyle, seminars, and publishing. In 2010, Catanzaro Supplements was introduced, a new line of nutritional supplements with the objective of providing high quality supplements in a convenient form at an affordable rate. Over the years, John Paul has appeared on television and has written articles for several publications, including American Academy of Health and Fitness (AAHF) Gamut eJournal, Bodybuilding.com, Bodybuilding Italia, canfitpro Magazine, Coaching One-On-One, Dolfzine, FitCommerce, Fitness Business Canada, Fitness Professional Online, Fitness Trainer, Flare, grrlAthlete.com, Intense Fitness, Men’s Health, Mercola.com, MuscleMag International, Olympian’s News, Personal Trainer Development Center, Personal Training on the Net, Planet Muscle, Quest For Advanced Condition, SelfGrowth.com, SpotMeBro.com, Testosterone (aka T-Mag.com and T-Nation.com), TheGymLifestyle.com and Wannabebig.com. His newsletters are informative and entertaining, and he has provided reviews for numerous publications, including the inaugural edition of Sport First Aid in Canada. John Paul has authored six books, The Elite Trainer (2011), Mass Explosion (2013), The Business of Personal Training (2014), The Warm-Up (2016), Lean and Mean (2017), and Invincible (2022), and has released two DVDs, Stretching for Strengthening (2003) and Warm-Up to Strength Training (2005), which have sold copies worldwide, featured in several magazines, and been endorsed by industry-leading experts. John Paul has also released four webinars, Strength Training Parameters and Program Design (2013), Body Composition Strategies (2013), The Business of Personal Training (2014), and Injury Prevention Strategies for Aging Athletes (2016), providing the latest cutting-edge information to fitness professionals. Throughout his career, John Paul has consulted for various corporations. He’s worked with law enforcement personnel and has contributed to the Toronto Police Service health and wellness program. John Paul has worked with bodybuilders, fitness models, athletes, and coaches ranging from amateur ranks to national-level caliber. John Paul is one of the premier trainers in Canada. Building a reputation for getting his clients in top shape quickly, his expertise has not gone unnoticed by other health practitioners who attend his private studio regularly for instruction. John Paul has attracted the attention of various fitness-related organizations seeking lectures and workshops. The list includes canfitpro, Certified Professional Trainers Network, Granite Club, Masters Swimming Canada, Ontario Kinesiology Association, Ontario Society for Health and Fitness, Toronto Cricket Skating and Curling Club, and more. Those who experience his presentations have dubbed him “the man with an encyclopedic mind.”

A typical breakfast for my 5-year-old son consists of three eggs. Take a look at the photo below—notice the deep orange color of the yolks. They’re cooked under low heat with organic butter on a ceramic pan, providing him with a solid supply of protein and healthy fats first thing in the morning. He usually…

As I mentioned in Getting in Shape After the Age of 50, certain nutraceuticals—such as coenzyme Q10, carnitine, resveratrol, and turmeric—appear to have anti-aging effects. I’ve been working on a special formulation that combines specific ratios of these ingredients into a single pill. Let’s take a closer look at my new Vitality Formula. The Ingredients…

In his How to Eat, Move, and Be Healthy! presentation, Paul Chek mentions that the average medical doctor dies 10 years younger than their average patient. He goes on to suggest that every healthcare practitioner, including personal trainers and nutritionists, should be able to consult professionally in their underwear! In other words, they should practice…

The Truth About Fruit: Fructose, Fat Loss, and Seasonal Eating JP: You once sent me a flowchart detailing the metabolic pathway of fructose. While fruits are praised for their antioxidants and fiber, why do they often hinder fat loss? And why is it important to eat fruits in season? Dr. S: Don’t get me wrong—fruit…

Common Weight Training Injuries JP: What are the most common weight training injuries you see in your practice? Dr. S: The biggest issues I see stem from muscular imbalances—particularly between the superficial front and back lines (for more on this, check out Anatomy Trains). Tight hamstrings are a major culprit, but just as often, injuries…

Milk vs. Other Dairy: What’s the Difference? JP: You’re not a fan of milk, but you’re okay with other dairy products like cottage cheese and heavy whipping cream. Why is that? Also, what type of cottage cheese do you recommend—organic, low-fat, high-fat, or does it matter? Dr. S: It’s not that I dislike milk—I take…

Many people don’t know that Dr. Eric Serrano and I correspond almost daily. He’s a wealth of knowledge—always sharing insights, answering my questions, and sending over a dozen research papers each week. I’ve had the pleasure of visiting him in Ohio, spending time at his home, and meeting up when he’s in town for meals…

For those who have read my article The Variable Recovery Training System, an advanced version exists. The routine is exactly the same as outlined in the article, except the major A exercises are rotated over three variations. The movement pattern remains similar, but recovery is extended even further between specific movement patterns. Day 1 (Vertical…

Many moons ago, when my wife and I only had one toddler running around, we took a trip to Cuba for a week. We had a great time, but after we left, Cuba didn’t leave me! For almost an entire month, anything I ate or drank went in one end and came out the other—fast….

You may recall from a recent post that my benchmark for complete recovery from distal biceps surgery was the ability to do chin-ups. For my first workout, I did one set of five reps. I performed chin-ups twice a week, adding one set per session. I stuck with body weight throughout and kept plenty in…