Whenever I stop and look around thesupermarket, I’m always presented with a dilemma.  One package says it haswhole grains that will help me live longer. Another package says it has a fullserving of fiber and omega-3’s that are “heart healthy,” or whatever thatmeans.  Well, as a former marketer, I’m here to say that I’ve had enoughwith all this scumbag marketing, and it’s time to get back to the actualcontent of real food.

Awhile back, I posted this video showcasinghow, through diet alone, one woman was able to fight and regain her life afterbeing diagnosed and suffering from multiple sclerosis.  Perhaps unsurprisingly,it made me very introspective and I started taking careful inventory of what Iate.  What was “natural,” but still man made?  What wassynthetic?  And most importantly, what was actually healthy?  I never realized that figuring outthe latter can be a rather tricky task when it comes to processed foods (ahem,if you have to think about whether or not something is healthy, it’s probablynot).

It's been ​well documented on this blog that I'm not big fan of static stretching (in fact, you can read that here).  But, if you were to watch one of my sessions with a client, sure enough, you'd see a few movements that *look* like stretching.  

Now, before you write me off and chant "liar, liar, barbells on fire," ​allow me to provide my reasoning.  For many people, the reason they're tight has nothing to do with that muscle or body part.  Rather, it's weakness in their surrounding parts.

It’s confession time. 

I would like to admit that behind my tough,squatting and deadlifting exterior, I’m really just a big nerd.

What? 

Well, as some of you may know I’ve taken upreading as my biggest hobby (besides throwing around some weights), and I takea lot of pride in trying to become extremely well read.  In fact, Ibelieve I owe it to my clients to spend at least one hour a day readingresearch, tackling various books, and also writing in order to stay up to dateon the industry’s best practices.

Given that I'm a personal trainer, it's no secret that I love to pick up heavy things and put them down.  In fact, I'd be lying if I said my dream the other night didn't involve some sort of push-up competition.​

But, don't get me wrong.  There's more to this meathead than meets the eye.  For example, if you prick me, do I not bleed all the way back to the squat rack?

Ok, maybe that was a wee bit melodramatic.  However, in all my ramblings on this site, I have yet to really explain why I love to train and lift as much as I do.  Below are four key reasons that I keep praying at the church of iron, and I hope you enjoy them. (Hint: getting strong in the gym will translate into getting strong in life.​)

For those that know me well, you know that I love some good squats.  In fact, I proclaimed my love for “the king of lower body exercises” in my first blog post.  Thus, I’m always saddened when I see someone squatting incorrectly, or when they claim that “squatting is bad for the knees.”

So today, you’re in for a treat!  Below is my first video on the exercise I love so much, as well as how to fix many of the problems that are often encountered.