This week’s picks are all about the valuable lessons learned by athletes and coaches. And thank goodness they’re sharing with us.

Editor’s Picks

Delivering Happiness: The True Job of a Coach

Coach Eric Auciello shares his thoughts on what being a trainer is really all about. While people may show up seeking fitness, what everyone is truly seeking is happiness. And he’d like you to consider that it’s your job as a coach to help get them there.

The 4 Best Things About Losing a Fight

Winning isn’t everything, which is good, ’cause odds are we’re all going to come out on the losing end of things sometimes. Coach Jonathan Puu wrote this article about dealing with your first kickboxing loss, but his advice applies to all sports and endeavors.

An Uncomfortable Read for Coaches

You might not want to read this one. But you need to read this one. If you are a personal trainer or run a gym, then these are some money-based issues that are important for you to solve. You might not even realize you’re the one doing these things. Coach Chet Morjaria explains.

A Periodized Plan for Success as a Personal Trainer

Coach John Annillo has been crashing gyms all over the country in order to help you with this particular lesson. No joke. He’s been disguising himself to investigate the fitness industry and outline this business plan. Do you have a plan and metrics you follow? If not, read this.

My 5-Step Program to Rehab Your Competition Addiction

I’ve been doing this fitness thing a long time. Both as a coach and as client or athlete. I’ve learned a few things along the way. Lately, what I’ve learned is it’s okay to just chill the heck out. But that’s easier said than done, so here’s my advice on how to step back and just enjoy your exercise.

What Physical Therapy Taught Me About Being Strong

You might think an injured, older, or post-surgical person might not have anything in common with you as an athlete. Strength and rehab expert Robert Camacho explains how this isn’t true and what we can learn from those in recovery.

The post Fitness Lessons Learned: The Essentials From Expert Coaches appeared first on Breaking Muscle.

Any athlete interested in performance is also interested in numbers. The numbers of your personal record lifts, the numbers of your macronutrients, the numbers of your miles run for the week.

But here are some numbers that you might not be aware of – both in terms of your training and your gym business. If you want your body and your business to perform, then you better be tracking the things that count.

The Training Numbers

10 MORE Things I Know About Protein That You Don’t

Some of these are great news, some of them are eye opening, and some of them are just downright gross. In this article, Anthony Roberts shares ten things you really should know abou the protein powder you’re likely consuming.

6 Powerful Benefits of Eccentric Training

What if you could get stronger, faster, and more powerful while doing less damage to your body in the process? Coach Andrew Beatty explains the six ways this is possible through the use of eccentric training.

3 Forgotten Factors in Building Muscle

If you miss out on these three things, you might be missing out on performance and strength gains. Coach Mark McManus reminds us of three aspects of hypertrophy that we may be accidentally passing by.

2 Effective Methods of Getting Your Lifts Off the Ground

Do you dive at the barbell before doing an Olympic lift? Or are you one of those that hangs out with the bar for a while? Coach Dresdin Archibald examines the two approaches to the first step in weightlifting and outlines the pros and cons of each.

Minimalist Training 2.0: The How and Why

And one more “two” while we’re at it. Coach Andrew Read shares an updated looked at minimalist fitness. What’s the least you need to do for the most benefit? He outlines a whole program for you to follow.

The Business Numbers

The Concept of Free: What Are Your Customers Worth?

Now it’s time to take a look at your business numbers. Are you trying to compete with zero? Here’s how you can value yourself and get others to value you, as well. Business expert and gym owner Teddy Kim gives you a strategy.

5 Essential Questions to Ask Before You Sign a Gym Lease

If you can’t meet the bottom line every month, then your business will go under. And a big part of that bottom line is your rent. In this article, real estate expert Jeremy Striffler explains five vital things you need to ask and understand before committing yourself to a property.

Photo 1 “getting-huge.jpg” by Eric McGregor Attribution-NonCommercial License.

Photo 2 “crossfit chicago” by ramsey beyer Attribution-NonCommercial License.

The post The Secret to Success Is the Numbers appeared first on Breaking Muscle.