Blog
The Biggest Assessment Mistakes Personal Trainers Make
After 30 years in the fitness industry, I’ve seen the same assessment mistakes repeated again and again. Many personal trainers overcomplicate the process with endless screens and diagnostics. In this article, I explain the most common assessment mistakes and how trainers can simplify their approach while still gathering the information they need.
Periodization for Athletes: How to Plan Strength Training for Maximum Performance
The famous adage “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail!” applies to strength training as it does to just about any other endeavor.
Sticks, Stones, and Pink Dumbbells May Break Your Bones
Falls are the leading cause of injury-related death among the elderly (1). In fact, elderly patients are three times more likely to die following a
How to Achieve 20 Chin-Ups
The ability to perform a proper chin-up—grabbing an overhead bar and pulling yourself up until your chin clears it—is a struggle for many. Some see
Cardio Can Make You Fat
Q: I’m confused about the best way to do cardio for fat loss. One book says to keep the intensity low (no more than 60%
The Leftover-Dinner Breakfast
With food more abundant than ever, we should be thriving—but instead, many people feel lethargic, gain body fat instead of muscle, and suffer from chronic
How to Breathe During Strength Training
“Chin up… Chest out… Look straight ahead… Brace the abdominals… Grip the bar tight… Push the ground away through all four corners of your feet…
Training Log
When I first started as a fitness director at a commercial gym, this was the training log they used: I created a more detailed version
The One-Lift-A-Day Cure
I remember when I first started lifting seriously in a commercial gym. My routine consisted of one body part a day. I would go to
Introducing the Naive Vegetarian
Everything works for a while, and vegetarianism is no exception. Many people adopt a vegetarian lifestyle believing it will improve their health and longevity. While
Dehydration Is Against the Law
If you’re a law enforcement officer, proper hydration is imperative. Even a slight state of dehydration can “impair” your ability to think and perform. Dehydration
Questioning the Russian Approach to Size and Strength
Q: In your article The Russian Approach to Size and Strength T-Nation Archive, you mention “decrease the load by 5% each set” in one section,
Bodybuilding: Anti-Aging or Not? (Part 2)
With the right approach, bodybuilding can be one of the best things you do for your body, mind, and spirit. In an inspiring TED Talk,
Bodybuilding: Anti-Aging or Not? (Part 1)
Muscle mass naturally declines as you age, starting in your late twenties. However, bodybuilding is one of the most effective ways to counteract this process.
Calf Machine Shoulder Shrugs
Here’s an exercise you don’t see often in the gym. In fact, just hearing the name might make people shrug. But if you’re looking to
The Sicilian Crunch
Here’s a unique and highly effective way to perform an abdominal crunch. I’ve used this exercise successfully with my clients for years. It’s called the
How to Get Your Article Published in a Major Publication
When people ask me how to get their articles featured in a major publication, I tell them they need luck, referrals, and persistence. Here’s how
Writing Articles for Pay in the 21st Century
I must admit—writing articles for pay isn’t what it used to be. There was a time when writers in the fitness industry were well-compensated for
Eliminate the Push-Off During Step-Ups
A common mistake during step-ups is pushing off with the non-working leg, either by extending the knee or ankle. To correct this, keep the knee
A Potent Post-Workout Cocktail
In a research article titled Ethnopharmacology and Male Bodybuilders’ Lived Experience with Consuming Sports Nutrition Supplements in Canada, Brian Bailey found that bodybuilders often rely
The New Injury Rehabilitation Paradigm: RICE Is Not NICE, Do METH Instead!
As I mention in my article Radical Methods of Injury Rehabilitation, the standard procedure for most injuries involves anti-inflammatories and painkillers along with RICE: rest,