Take the best exercises FOR YOU and execute them
It was cool and rainy and felt more like November than early June. But I suppose that's fitting, as it was the anniversary of Anthony Bourdain’s death. I miss Bourdain. I feel like I knew him, or at least identified with him. A gifted writer with sharp wit and curious mind, who didn’t hit his stride until his forties, when he finally accepted his past demons and went all-in on his talent. That...
The grind is BS!
NEVER refer to choices you had the luxury of making as a “grind”—especially choices that lead to a better, healthier, and happier life. For many people, the opportunity to pursue self-betterment is, at best, a pipe dream. Do you know what IS a grind? - being a single mom working two jobs to barely make ends meet. - trying to cope with the daily challenges of a crippling disability. - living in a...
Fat loss tip: forget about it!
With clients approaching the bitter end of a diet—or those on a short-term "mini-cut"— I often advise them to try to forget about it. Not forget about their diet and go crush the local IHOP. But rather forget that they're DIETING at all. In other words, I encourage them to accept that this is "how you eat now." Even pretend they don't have other options—or at least don't care. And I specifically...
There’s only one rule
There's only one RULE: There are no MUST-DO lifts. You CAN build a strong, lean and muscular body without barbell squats, barbell bench presses, and barbell deadlifts. Or any specific lift for that matter. If you’re performing all the basic movement patterns below then you’re off to a good start—as that means you’re generally hitting all the major muscle groups. * horizontal push * horizontal...
Get Lean or Die Trying?
There's merit to a "get in and get out" approach to fat loss, especially if your ultimate goal is a muscular physique. However, a slow and steady approach will yield less dramatic swings in energy and water weight, not to mention more lasting changes in habits and lifestyle. It helps to see dieting and fat loss as a pendulum. The more you “pull” on one end (calorie restriction, cardio), the more...
The Ultimate Shoulder Impingement Recovery Plan: What You Need to Know!
If you’re one of the many people who suffer from shoulder impingement, you know firsthand how frustrating and debilitating it can be. This common condition occurs when the tendons and bursae in your shoulder become compressed or pinched, causing pain, weakness, and a limited range of motion. Fortunately, you can take steps to alleviate your symptoms and speed up your recovery. Explore the...
Can you lift AND do cardio?
"Is it ok to have a goal for lifting AND for cardio? I want to get bigger AND I want to be able to run a 10k without much notice. I hear so much conflicting information.” First, it depends on your MAIN goal, how much time you have, and where you are on the development spectrum. For the last point, it’s like strength training vs. bodybuilding. When starting out, if you lift weights to get...