I'd like to clear the record: I'm not a "hater."

Now, that may seem hypocritical given what I've said in the past about running, yoga, and Tracy Anderson.  And, except for Tracy, I'd like to clear up my point of view.

I don't hate running or yoga, as each have their place. Heck, I've even taken Zumba with my Mom where we shook it like a Polaroid picture (that's still an applicable and common reference, right?)

So, when I say that I "get" how strength training isn't everyone's bag of chips, I do understand.  While I may favor particular forms of exercise, anything that gets people moving and feeling better is a-OK with me.

Having said that, know my heart is in the right place when I say the following: when someone does choose to strength train, my biggest pet peeve is hopping from exercise to exercise without taking the appropriate (or any) rest.  In fact, going immediately from a set of squats into planks, then trying to bang out as many push ups as you can is what I like to call, "Fantastic Fitness Fun," where you simply move around for an hour.  To me, it's a lot like this:

As a strength coach, I like to think that 80% of my job is helping people get stronger and reach their goals.

The other 20% of my time is usually devoted to dispelling myths that currently persist in our culture:  

• No, carbs aren't the devil.
• Yes, intermittent fasting is probably a terrible idea for you.
• No, squats aren't bad for your knees....what YOU'RE doing is bad for your knees (hat tip to Dan John).
• Yes, "Do They Know It's Christmas" by Band Aid is ladened with naïveté and ironic racism.  And, do I hate myself for still thinking it's catchy as hell?  Oh yeah!

I hope everyone had a great New Year, and of course, happy 2014!

Contrary to what many of you might be thinking, I did stay awake until midnight (I was shocked too).  But, that was probably because I half expected Miley Cyrus to be riding the Times Square ball on the way down, and consequently being the "wrecking ball" to all of society's New Years celebrations...

Heyo!

Happy Monday everyone!  I'm not exactly loaded with time these days, as I've been busy with clients, training myself, oh and planning a wedding. (Correction: watching Lindsay plan our wedding..)

Yet, despite being busy, I was able to catch the Grammys last night and I came away with several revelations:

1. Lorde looks a lot like Marla Hooch from "A League Of Their Own"
2. Not only does Taylor Swift look like a Praying Mantis, she dances like one too.

I know, your mind was just blown too.  Anyway, I've had my nose dug into the nutritional realm over the past several weeks, and I've come across a few posts I wanted to share with all of you.  Why?  Because they're frikken awesome reads....that's why.

Every now and then, I get the opportunity to go to a regular gym and get a training session in.  I live a pretty pampered life when I lift, since I work out in a private studio when there's pretty much no one around.  As such, I don't have to worry about particular equipment being taken, the creepy/greasy/smelly guys in sweatsuits, and dudes doing bicep curls in the squat rack.

During one of these trips to another gym last month, I overheard the following fragment of conversation:

"Sup brohammerstein?  That was a killer workout, I was so sore the next day."**

But, what if soreness wasn't really indicative of progress?  Is soreness just....soreness?  In a word, maybe.