Well this just in....it's fall!  The combination of the my schedule becoming pretty jam packed, a few leaves already started to turn their autumn colors, and the colder weather (ok, mostly the colder weather) has reminded me that this month is my favorite time of year.

What's not a favorite of mine, however, is when people get stuck or bored of the gym, and feel like they're not making any progress.  That's why today's post is focusing on three of the biggest barriers I've seen to progressing at the gym.  Now, if you're among those, I may suggest you take a helping of humble pie before you read on..

Well, it's official - spring has sprung!  Of course, if you live in the New England area, the 6 inches of snow/sleet/rain/cold miserable mess that we received yesterday doesn't exactly lend itself to feel like a new season.

But, in the fitness industry, the beginning of spring also marks the time of year where everyone tries to get in "bathing suit" shape.  Now, besides working hard at the gym (which, of course, I'm all about), the more important aspect is a proper diet....and that's where it all gets interesting.  All day long, we're bombarded by health claims, new diet trends, and we're left alone to try and make sense of it all.  So, what actually is "eating well" and how does one define "good nutrition?"

I've made mistakes as a trainer.  This, I know.

One such example is training individuals the way I want to train them, rather than focusing on THEIR goals.  While heavy squats and deadlifts are part of what get me out of bed in the morning, I realize that's probably not the case to any sane, logical person.  And hey, that's OK with me.

The more I've learned (and dare I say, matured?) the more I realize that everyone is different.  No single exercise makes or breaks a workout or program as long as it's balanced.  So, what IS balance?

If I hadto describe the snow storm that the northeast received over past 24 hours inone word, it would be: epic.  Seriously, it was almost as if the Mayanspredicted this storm.

Anyway, as I'm cooped up for the rest of thenight (and probably weekend) I figured I'd upload a video of one exercise I'verecently really started to enjoy.

Enter: the barbell hip thrust.

1. I'm not quite sure when exactly the Northeast became South Beach, but it's been offensively hot here recently.  In fact, it's been so hot that my air conditioner contributed to a blown fuse in my new apartment this morning....true story.

2.  A few people have asked how my pursuit of the 400 deadlift has been progressing.  I'm happy to say that after learning a few techniques in my deadlift, I may only be about a month away and I couldn't be more excited.  The day I pull 400, I'm going to make it rain....sushi, that is.

3. I usually speak about losing weight, but today I wanted to talk about something a little different: gaining weight.  Now, if you'll indulge me, I want to talk about the progress of one of my clients, who we'll call Craig.

Going back to February, Craig came to us weighing 140 pounds.  Oh, and he's 6'1''.   To say he was "thin," would probably be as big of an understatement as saying Tom Brady is "good" at football.