Many of the physiological changes we once thought were an inevitable part of aging are now known to be the result of de-conditioning rather than age. There are certainly some age related changes that occur to our bodies, such as hormonal changes in middle age that can affect muscle mass and body composition. But strength training programs […]
Many people gain 10 pounds or more over the weeks between Thanksgiving and the New Year, not only because they eat more but because they also tend to be more sedentary. Here are a few tips for avoiding Holiday Weight Gain. Keep in mind, these tips are for maintaining your current weight and fitness rather
Optimizing your squat technique! Whether you’re an elite athlete training for a sport or an elderly adult who wants to maintain an independent lifestyle, being able to squat with correct technique is imperative! With proper squat technique, you’ll maximize the benefits of the exercise while minimizing your chance of injury. Benefits of Squats Squatting is
A common question among those who are just starting a fitness program is, “What is the best cardio exercise?” The short answer: Any aerobic activity that you will do on a regular basis. At this stage of the game, I’m really more interested in getting people in the habit of incorporating more physical activity into
For runners who live in northern climates, learning how to run on snow and ice is a necessary skill unless you want to be confined to a treadmill for several months out of the year. Running outdoors in winter has many advantages: fewer people on the trails, getting fresh air and exposure to sunlight (even
Do you want to avoid injury while maximizing your strength, conditioning, and weight loss results from your fitness program? Here’s how: Skill, Endurance, Strength. In that order. No exceptions. In other words… don’t load a faulty movement pattern. Skill Before adding load to an exercise, make sure you can do the movement pattern correctly. For
One of the most common questions I get with a potential new client is, “How much does personal training cost?” The answer is: “It depends.” The hourly rate you pay when you work with a professional Personal Trainer does not really correlate with what your actual cost will be. That’s not a typo. Hourly rate
In an earlier post, I offered suggestions for building an inexpensive home gym and provided links to some of my online fitness programs to give you some ideas on how to get started. This post will focus on where you can find inexpensive home gym equipment as well as small portables that you can take
Osteoporosis is a disease of the bones that affects men and women of all races, but white and Asian post-menopausal women are at higher risk. Bone is living tissue that is constantly remodeling itself: breaking down the old and being replaced with new (which is how we are able to recover from fractures). Osteoporosis occurs
The squat is one of the most functional and useful exercises a person can do. It’s how you get in and out of a chair, in and out of a car, and on and off a toilet, just to name a few of life’s everyday activities. There are several squat variations, but which one is
