This is a new content format I want to do regularly moving forward. I get a ton of questions via social media, private messages, and email. Between everything, the questions I get are often on topics that would benefit everyone. So without further ado… Let’s dive into this week’s questions. I’ve been sick lately and […]
Since Jan. 1, the most popular phrase I’ve heard from people is this: “I’m motivated to change, but my biggest problem is being consistent.” My response is always the same: “It’s common. Don’t beat yourself up. But let’s figure out how to be consistent in the future.” New Years Resolutions, while often mocked, are a […]
After releasing the 21-Day Jump Start Program, I received the following question: “What should I do about warming up and stretching?” I interpreted this question to include: How should you warm up before a workout? When should you stretch? How should you stretch? What other forms of warming up are available? These are all great […]
A one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t always work. In a lot of cases, it results in a moderate amount of progress that leads to a plateau. What do I mean by “one size fits all?” I’m talking about group classes, generic plans, or trends (such as a diet craze or style of fitness). Please don’t get me […]
Most people want to accomplish one thing: burn fat and build muscle. It’s the perfect combination, right? Slim down, but look muscular. Have a great physique that everyone wants. Most people want to do both of these things at the same exact time. And most of the time, you’ll hear one of these two claims: […]
Something that’s extremely important, but perhaps we don’t think about very much, is what we put on our feet when we lift weights. If your workout involves lifting weights, you’re more likely thinking about the muscle groups involved; the exercises you’ll perform; the goals you set for yourself for this workout; or perhaps you’re even […]
HEADS UP: Before diving into this post, I want to let you know it’s a pretty long read. I’ve broken the article up into four parts: 1. Background Information 2. Caffeine’s Effect on Your Diet3. Caffeine’s Effect on Strength4. Caffeine’s Effect on Endurance5. Application and TakeawaysScroll down to one of those headings to jump to […]
By: Chris Gates Something we all consider when going about our fitness routines is how many calories we’re burning. Your Apple Watch or Fitbit may give you a “calories burned” prediction. Most modern pieces of cardio equipment will also give an estimate on calorie expenditure. As I’ve written before, these totals are inaccurate. They are […]
I have some good news, and I have some bad news. Good news: tracking “calories burned” via wearable technology (Fitbit, Apple Watch, etc.) or on a piece of cardio equipment can be valuable. Bad news: The “calories burned” this equipment gives you is, at best, inaccurate, and at worst wildly off base. If you run […]
The old-school training mindset is when you go into the gym, you need to be prepared to absolutely crush yourself during every workout to see progress. I’m here to tell you to stop. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not against hard work. If you have your sights set on getting stronger and building muscle, you […]