We all spend a lot of time obsessing over the right workout program, the right exercises, and the right frequency to our training. But in truth, there's a lot more to our workouts than that. There are the ... Continue Reading
Fight for the Right to Recess: 3 Reasons Kids Need Break Time
According to the United Nations, the opportunity for play and recreation is a fundamental human right of every child: The child is entitled to receive education, which shall be free and compulsory, at ... Continue Reading
Pregnancy Diet Affects Fat Levels in Babies
There is a surprising lack of data regarding the effects of maternal diet on newborn baby fat levels. This is understandable, since there are so many factors involved in the size and adiposity (level of ... Continue Reading
Personal Trainers: To Hire One or Not to Hire One?
Last week I wrote about a study showing the benefits of live coaching versus DVD instruction. Unfortunately, although live instruction seems to be a better option, it can also be costly, inconvenient, or ... Continue Reading
For Hypertrophy, Longer Rest Periods Are Key
The muscle growth paradigm for decades has been the hormone hypothesis. This theory holds that chemical messengers like testosterone are what stimulate muscle protein synthesis and thus lead to greater ... Continue Reading
Why You Should Include Burpees and Battle Ropes in Your Metcons
With the rise of CrossFit, methodologies that fit under the banner of metabolic conditioning such as super sets, complexes, and circuits are becoming more popular all the time. A recent study in the ... Continue Reading
8 Keys to Back-to-School Fitness Success
Summer draws to a close and school is right around the corner for many children and parents. In one sense, it’s a relief. The kids will be in school and there will be quiet around the house again (unless ... Continue Reading
PanAmerican Championships (Athlete Journal 36)
Saturday: Speed Snatch Day One week until competition. My wrist was feeling not so bad today, and the lump was diminishing. Speed snatch: 50kg for 2 sets of 6 Drop snatch: 50kg for 2 sets of ... Continue Reading
Science Compares Exercise DVDs to Live Coaching
Following along to workouts via a video medium like DVD or on the Internet is an increasingly popular trend. It’s cheaper, more convenient than most in-person coaching opportunities, and allows more people ... Continue Reading
Keep Grunting Because It Works for Everyone
Nowhere is grunting more controversial than the sport of tennis, where it is sometimes considered cheating. In a recent Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research study, researchers discovered it’s more ... Continue Reading
Diet Is a Slippery Slope (Athlete Journal 31)
This week was my first full training week in preparation for Masters Worlds in November. I didn’t get in as many BJJ training days in as would have liked, but it still went well. Getting back to my ... Continue Reading
Capturing the Zone – David Paterson (Featured Photographer)
David Paterson got his start with the camera at a young age, since his step-father was in the action photography field. David remembers how this early influence formed his interest in photography, and ... Continue Reading
Pushing My Limits (Athlete Journal 35)
Saturday: Snatch Day Today was speed snatch again, and my wrist was worse than last week. I tried to work my warm-up magic. Speed snatch: 45kg for 2 sets of 6 Drop snatch: 45kg for 2 sets ... Continue Reading
Train the Brain to Improve Performance on the Bike
We spend a lot of time thinking about strength, power, and the mechanics of cycling. This week we cover another important aspect of cycling performance - the brain. The Brain Determines How ... Continue Reading
Be Nice to Your Body (Athlete Journal 34)
Saturday: Snatch Day My left wrist was a little tender so I decided to take it very cautiously. Speed snatch: 40kg for 2 sets of 6 – I switched to overhead squats to see if that would help the ... Continue Reading
The Reality of Stretch Marks: My Body Will Never Be the Same
When I was in high school I was obsessed with my abs. Like most girls growing up in the era of Britney Spears, I worked hard to get a rock-solid stomach. I even got my bellybutton pierced so I could show ... Continue Reading
How Are We Still Getting It Wrong: Abdominal Hollowing vs. Bracing
If you’ve ever suffered a back injury, gone to a Pilates class, or worked with a fitness coach who tried to help you activate your core, then you’ve heard it already. The infamous “draw your belly button ... Continue Reading
Fitness Lessons Learned: The Essentials From Expert Coaches
Some of us have been doing this for longer than others. And in that time of training and coaching, succeeding and failing, you learn a few things. or at least, we hope we do. This week's picks are ... Continue Reading
Seeing Through the Scam Marketing of Fitness Magazines
Generally speaking, I am skeptical of most of the training information John and Jane Q. Public have access to. This would include the Internet, infomercials, and the plethora of "fitness" magazine you can ... Continue Reading
Put Up or Shut Up (Athlete Journal 28)
It’s time to put up or shut up, sort of. Time for training is over and this Saturday it will be time to compete in the New York Summer Open. My performance this weekend will play a big role in my decision ... Continue Reading
CrossFit Is a Great Thing, But Not the Only Thing
“The guitar’s alright John, but you’ll never earn your living by it.” - Mimi Smith, John Lennon’s aunt New ideas have a way of polarizing people. From the dawn of time, human nature has dictated ... Continue Reading
The 4 Best Things About Losing a Fight
Dealing with your first loss, it's thought of as the inevitable (unless you're Floyd Mayweather Jr., but that is a different story). Whether you believe losing is a possibility for yourself or not, it's ... Continue Reading
The Unexpected Key to Better Performance and Recovery
What if we have exercise all wrong? What if everything you thought about exercise and recovery was all media hype? It’s not as far-fetched as it may seem. After all, we live in an age where we are ... Continue Reading
Is Steady State or Interval Training Better for Cardio?
One of the most common questions I receive as a coach is, “Is steady state or interval training better for cardio?" In a recent Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research article, investigators sought ... Continue Reading
