Train larger muscle groups first, then smaller ones. If you want to get the most out of your workouts you need to structure them accordingly. This means beginning with larger bodyparts and working your way down to smaller ones. The … Continue reading
You must train yourself to turn thought into action. This is the only way you will ever see results in your life. I can’t tell you how many people I’ve heard say they’re planning on starting a fitness regimen, that … Continue reading
How are you doing with your New Year’s resolution? If you’re like most people, it was related to your health – lose weight, become more active, tone your body, get healthier. Yet most people also forgo their resolutions by the … Continue reading
Don’t make excuses for not exercising. Make exercising a priority! I hear the laments all the time: “Oh Joe, I would work out but I just don’t have the time!” “How can I possibly squeeze exercise into my busy schedule?” … Continue reading
Stretching isn’t supposed to hurt. Over the years I’ve seen any number of bodybuilders grimacing in pain as they stretch out before, during and after workouts. While stretching isn’t always easy, especially if you’re doing it right, it should never … Continue reading
If you’re looking to reach ago, take a page from the book of Arnold. I’ve known Arnold Schwarzenegger for over 40 years and in that time I have never known a person more driven to succeed than him. Through a … Continue reading
It’s better to feel good than to look good. Yes, I said it. Now, don’t get me wrong – I have made a career of encouraging people to look their best. In fact, achieving a physical ideal has been a … Continue reading
Whatever it is you’re looking for as you aim to reach your fitness goals the odds are you won’t find it in a pill. While I’m not implying that there aren’t a number of good supplements on the market I … Continue reading
Be a mentor and help get a young person set on the path to fitness. When I was a young man I immersed myself in Montreal’s weightlifting community, most of whose members were older than me. As a matter of … Continue reading
Want to burn fat and get your heart in shape? Lift weights! Most people think of bodybuilding as an activity that will give you big muscles, maybe some strength, but not much else. Well, I’ve got news for them! Not … Continue reading
Read the label before buying that food or beverage! So many of us are accustomed to walking into the grocery store and simply pulling packages off the shelves and throwing them in our baskets without checking anything more than the … Continue reading
Protein is essential for building, and rebuilding, the body. But while too little can be a bad thing, so can too much. The trick is finding the right amount for you. Protein is one of the three macronutrients (the others … Continue reading
You are greater than the sum of your parts, but you shouldn’t forget to pay attention to each of those parts to create a great sum. There are lots of options for the person looking to get into shape these … Continue reading
There’s no time like the present to begin your fitness routine. Not tomorrow, nor even next week. NOW! As humans we tend to procrastinate. I know – I’ve been there myself. However, if I may belabor an old axiom, none … Continue reading
Whether it’s a training partner a regular spotter or a personal trainer, having someone to support your body reshaping efforts is often a good idea, especially when you’re just starting out. The main problem I’ve seen with most new trainees … Continue reading
Some say that when it comes to altering your body composition (as in losing fat and adding muscle), diet is 75% of the battle. Some put it at 60% and others still put it at over 80%. Whatever the number, … Continue reading
Sure, I’ll be the first to tell you that consistency is essential to achieving change in your body. For as long as I can remember I’ve preached the importance of staying focused, with your eye on the prize, and making … Continue reading
While I’m sure you’re familiar with the undeniable benefits exercise can have on your body, did you know that it can also be highly beneficial to your mental function, helping keep your mind sharper, alert and relaxed? It’s true. In … Continue reading
Devote a day a week to training your “weak parts.” It’s easy to devote time to training your strengths. If you have powerful legs you’ll probably find yourself devoting time to them before another bodypart. Likewise, if you are in … Continue reading
Pay attention to all aspects of your exercise form. A break in good form can lead to a loss in productivity or worse, injury. Take, for example, as basic an exercise as the squat. On the surface it seems like … Continue reading
If you don’t love what you’re doing, then figure a way to do what you love. There’s absolutely no need for you to stick with an exercise program that isn’t thrilling you because there are so many options available to … Continue reading
To maximize muscle building pay attention to the cadence of your reps. A lot of us take rep speed for granted, but what you should know is that it matters how fast you perform each rep, and even how fast … Continue reading
Don’t waste your time doing sit-ups. There are far more productive ways to train your abs. I’ve never been a fan of sit-ups and recent studies have shown that not only are they not very effective for working your abs, … Continue reading
Remember to take your eyes off the monitor and leave your desk several times a day. I’ve been as guilty as anyone for having not heeded this bit of advice. While I don’t use a computer (I am 88, after … Continue reading
Beware overtraining! For some the thought of training too much may be near impossible to fathom, but for those of us who can’t imagine a day in which they didn’t perform some form of physical activity, overtraining is a real … Continue reading
You are unique and cannot be measured according to the standards of others. Every single one of us has their own specific set of physical strengths and weaknesses, tolerances and intolerances. Our culture would have us believe that every woman … Continue reading
Unless you’re training to be a bodybuilder, limit the number of isolation exercises you perform in favor of compound movements. An isolation exercise is one in which you primarily use a single muscle group to lift a weight. For example, … Continue reading
Make a point of walking whenever you can. We’ve gotten to a point in our lives where we almost instinctively look for the path of least resistance. When we go the the mall we would rather wait in our cars … Continue reading
Do not mistake muscularity with health. While the work required to attain strong muscles may well lead to good health, a fit-looking body does not necessarily equate an optimally functioning body. Unfortunately I have known plenty of bodybuilders who, while … Continue reading
To belt, or not to belt? That is the question. Whereas once upon a time it was de riguer to wear a lifting belt from the moment you stepped into a gym until you hit the lockerroom after training, these … Continue reading
You can never have the physique you want without first building a solid foundation. Like a contractor building a house, you must construct your creation from the ground up. I’m sure you couldn’t imagine beginning construction on a house without … Continue reading
Whatever it is you’re looking for as you aim to reach your fitness goals the odds are you won’t find it in a pill. While I’m not implying that there aren’t a number of good supplements on the market I … Continue reading
Train larger muscle groups first, then smaller ones. If you want to get the most out of your workouts you need to structure them accordingly. This means beginning with larger bodyparts and working your way down to smaller ones. The … Continue reading
You must train yourself to turn thought into action. This is the only way you will ever see results in your life. I can’t tell you how many people I’ve heard say they’re planning on starting a fitness regimen, that … Continue reading
How are you doing with your New Year’s resolution? If you’re like most people, it was related to your health – lose weight, become more active, tone your body, get healthier. Yet most people also forgo their resolutions by the … Continue reading
TIP OF THE WEEK Can’t get to a gym? No problem. So long as you have a body, you can exercise. I often hear how some people don’t have the time to get to the gym, or can’t afford a … Continue reading