Fasting and Exercise

There are a number of dedicated gym-goers who prefer to work out on an empty stomach, perhaps because they like working out early but don’t like breakfast, or they believe working out fasted will burn more fat instead of food energy. While I am not a proponent, my husband is a steadfast pre-breakfast daily exerciser. […]

Brown Fat Cells and Thermogenesis

“Fat” can be a “4-letter word” in terms of the negative connotation that leaps into our minds at the mere mention of adipose tissue. However, as with most generalities in life, fat cells are not always the enemy. It is time to meet brown fat, a substance in the human body associated with keeping us […]

The NEAT Way to Burn Calories

Are your clients getting bored with endless treadmill sessions, stationary cycles, or counting Stairmaster steps? Or maybe they are so fixated on how many calories they burn during their 30 minute cardio sessions they neglect the remaining 23.5 hours of their waking day? If so, you can pair their resistance training workouts with the NEAT way […]

Is Your EPOC Epic? Understanding the Body’s Oxygen Debt

The concept of excess post-exercise oxygen consumption (EPOC) has been described as a benefit of high-intensity exercise and a major player in weight management and weight loss. But what exactly is going on and how important is it to weight management? Why is respiration more labored some times more than others? Can a 60-minute workout […]

What Are The Ideal Rest Intervals For Specific Training Goals?

Ideal rest is a vital component of exercise, not only between training sessions but also between sets during a workout. Following the completion of a set of exercises, the body must “clear out” the metabolic by-products incurred from the trauma of the lift; we refer to this as muscular recovery. As a general rule, rest […]

Isometrics: Immovable Forces Toward Strength and Growth

Personal training is not always about how much weight a client can lift. Sometimes lifting no weight at all can challenge a client in new and different ways. This is the beauty of isometrics. Isometrics refer to exercises wherein the muscles are producing force in the absence of movement. Think about pushing or pulling against […]

Success in Cerebral Palsy Strength Training: CP Means “Continual Progress”

For many able-bodied clients, the goal of strength training is simply to improve appearance and increase strength. Such has not always been the case for children, adolescents, and adults living with cerebral palsy (CP). Today, we have the ability to change not only the belief associated with CP and exercise, but the reality of improvements […]

Re-Injury Prevention: A Fresh Perspective on a Prevalent Problem

Incomplete rehabilitation in athletes, as well as the general fitness population, has led to an unfortunate re-injury epidemic. Should our goal as trainers be to get clients back to training/exercising as quickly as possible, or to help them prevent re-injury? “Injury Prevention” can be viewed as the dual role of the rehab practitioner and personal […]

Fitness Fanatic Or Exercise-Addicted? Understanding Client Motivations

Every trainer has at least one client that they might describe as a fitness fanatic. And it’s no surprise. Today’s outlook on health and fitness can often be summed up in a single word: “more”. Many committed gym-goers believe if a little exercise is good, then pushing themselves will undoubtedly help them achieve their goals […]

Liver Health Awareness: The Risks of Supplement Toxicity

For many years, research has suggested that many commonly used bodybuilding supplements pose a significant threat to the liver, including non-steroid products sold online or over the counter in sports-related and health food stores. What should we advise our clients to reduce or avoid altogether with regards to supplementation and liver health? Limits of the […]