Monthly Archives: March 2022

The Future of Fitness: Principle Based Coaching vs Plan Based Coaching

The fitness/health community isn’t much different than every other community out there. It’s just as “tribal” as the next. There are factions who feel that heavy back squats cure everything (except herpes) and that not including them in a program is sacrilegious and that it’s impossible to add muscle or get stronger without them. And… Read more

Stuff to Read While You’re Pretending to Work: 3/18/22

STUFF TO CHECK OUT FIRST 1. Strategic Strength Workshop – BOSTON & LONDON NOTE: In case you don’t have any plans this weekend and you happen to be in Boston (and get really excited about the particulars of femoral acetabular impingement) there are spots still available last minute. This Spring Luke Worthington and I will be… Read more

Everything Is the Same

Today’s post marks the return of Paul Levitin who some may recall wrote an excellent piece here a few weeks ago on self-sabotage. Being a successful fitness professional, much like every profession, takes practice, patience, a bit of luck, and an unyielding desire to not be average. If you’re a new trainer I urge you… Read more

How to Spot a Dumbbell Press: I Can’t Believe I Have to Say This

Anyone who has been reading my blog for any length of time knows that I don’t take myself too seriously, and that much of what makes my blog so popular is that I’m able to combine great fitness and health information with a pinch (or two) of an entertainment value. I mean, where else can… Read more

Stuff to Read While You’re Pretending to Work: 3/11/22

STUFF TO CHECK OUT FIRST 1. Strategic Strength Workshop – BOSTON & LONDON (NOTE: Only one more week before the Boston event!) This Spring Luke Worthington and I will be putting on our popular Strategic Strength Workshop in both Boston, MA and London, UK. A hometown switcharoo extravaganza if you will. The purpose of this workshop is to… Read more

How to Motivate Your Clients

My wife walked out of her office the other day and stopped in her tracks. It looked like the opening shot of an episode of Forensic Files. There I was lying sprawled out on the living room floor motionless. “Are you okay? Are you sick or something?” “No, I’m not sick” I said. “My workout was… Read more

Building Your Sessions Around Effort

One of the more challenging concepts for new(er) clients to grasp is the idea of training effort. Sure, there are a select few who are psychopaths and think a training session only counts if you come close to shitting your spleen. The vast majority, however, tend to UNDER-estimate what it takes to put forth appreciable… Read more

Why the Soft Skills of Coaching Matter

Which is the more valuable skill to have as a coach or personal trainer: The Nuts & Bolts (I.e., turning people into deadlifting Terminators)? The Soft Skills (I.e., fostering “connection” with clients/athletes, as well as planting deeper seeds for improved motivation)? Biceps (I.e., biceps)? Okay, taking biceps out of the conversation (because that’s the right… Read more