Blog
Periodization vs. Programming: Are Researchers Testing the Right Thing?
Discover why many resistance training studies may not actually be testing periodization. Learn the difference between programming and periodization.
6 Spotting Rules for Personal Trainers
Spotting is more than catching a bar when things go wrong. These six rules show trainers how to cue, position, and protect clients with skill.
Are You a Carnivore or Vegetarian?
Diet labels are easy; figuring out what actually works for your body is harder. Try a more personal approach to comparing meat-based and plant-based nutrition.
Would You Do a Root Canal on Yourself?
People hire experts for taxes, law, cars, and dental work, yet often wing it in the gym. Here’s the case for treating fitness with the same respect.
Modern-Day Candy
Cereal, yogurt, fruit, and alcohol may not be as harmless as their health halos suggest. Consider how modern “everyday” foods can quietly behave like candy.
Kneeling Lateral Raises on a Reverse Hyper Machine
A reverse hyper machine can double as an unexpected tool for lateral raises when the setup is right. This variation gives trainers another way to challenge the delts with a unique line of resistance.
The Death of a Client
Watching type 2 diabetes destroy a client’s health changed the way this condition was viewed forever. The piece is personal, blunt, and deeply focused on metabolic consequences.
Is the Current Treatment of Diabetes All Wrong?
Diabetes treatment is often framed around blood sugar, but the bigger picture may involve metabolism, insulin resistance, diet, and movement. Explore a controversial perspective on managing the condition.
Periodize Your Workout Supplements
Training phases change, so supplement strategy should not stay frozen year-round. Periodizing creatine, amino acids, and workout support can better match intensity, volume, and goals.
Lean Away for Six-Pack Abs
Lean-away chin-ups do more than hit the lats and biceps. Done properly, they can light up the abs and turn a pulling exercise into serious core work.
Attention All Personal Trainers: Guess, Do Not Assess!
Assessment is valuable, but not every client needs a full testing battery before training begins. John Paul challenges trainers to know when to assess, when to observe, and when experience beats overtesting.
A Great Triceps Exercise
The 60-degree incline EZ-bar triceps extension keeps tension where lifters want it: on the muscle. Add this variation when your arm training needs a smarter stimulus.
Tips for Bent-Over Rows
Bent-over rows demand a stable torso if you want the back to do the work. John Paul shows how a forehead-supported setup and a barbell pad can improve form, comfort, and consistency.
A Better Way to Do Glute Pull-Throughs
Starting glute pull-throughs with a resistance band can clean up technique before moving to heavier cable work. The band variation helps clients feel the hips, reduce arm involvement, and build better mechanics.
Cable Pull-Through
The cable pull-through can be useful for training the hip extensors, but many clients turn it into a back-extension and arm-pulling exercise. This clip shows why coaching the setup matters.
Bent-Over Row Tip #2
A barbell pad can make forehead-supported bent-over rows more comfortable and consistent. This simple adjustment helps maintain torso position while keeping the stress where it belongs: on the back.
Bent-Over Row Tip #1
If your bent-over rows turn into upright rows by the end of the set, this setup can help. Resting the forehead against an incline bench keeps the torso angle honest and reduces lower-back stress.
Band Pull-Through + Semi-Stiff-Leg Deadlift
Combining a band pull-through with a semi-stiff-leg deadlift creates a strong posterior-chain sequence. The setup reinforces hip drive first, then adds vertical loading for greater glute and hamstring demand.
Band Pull-Through
The band pull-through helps teach the hip hinge while keeping the focus on the glutes and hamstrings. It is a smart starting point for clients who struggle to perform cable pull-throughs without compensating.
Hanging-Band Back Squat
The hanging-band back squat creates an unstable, oscillating load that challenges control, bracing, and stabilizer activation. It is an advanced variation for experienced lifters who want a different squat stimulus.
Let Iron Food Be Thy Medicine
When hemoglobin drops, food strategy can matter. This story looks at iron-rich nutrition, liver, and a practical attempt to support better blood markers through diet.