Update 11/3/19. Interval training (also called “HIIT”) exercise programs are very popular these days. You can’t pick up a magazine or surf to a website without seeing something on the health and weight loss benefits of interval training. As an exercise physiologist, I feel the public is not learning all they should do HIIT programs […]
How Many Steps Per Day Is Best?
I was at the gym recently and noticed a woman walking on the treadmill. She was probably in her mid 40s and pretty overweight. She wasn’t walking fast, but after a few minutes she was so tired that she literally had to get off the treadmill and take a breather. A while later, I watched […]
Strength or Cardio First: Effect On Testosterone Levels
Is it best to do strength first or cardio first in a workout? Few questions cause such debate among people. When I teach classes and ask this question, usually half of the people say strength first is best, while the other half say cardio first is best. So who’s right? Let’s ask a more specific […]
Is 220-Age The Best Heart Rate Equation?
Update 5/29/20. One of the “personal training 101” topics that all fitness professionals need to know is how to determine a maximum heart rate. For most people, this means learning the 220 – Age equation. While this equation is used by millions of people for decades, other equations—that are said to be better —also exist. […]
Exercise and Longevity How Much Do You Need?
Can exercise help you live longer? Well, in the past, it was assumed that exercise would improve life expectancy, but there wasn’t a lot of good evidence for it. When it came to health and exercise, mostly, I’d hear people say “even if exercise doesn’t help you live longer, you’d still have a better quality […]
Jack LaLanne The Biggest Name in Fitness History
Personal trainers need to know who Jack LaLanne was. But, if your under 30, Jack LaLanne was probably the guy you saw selling juicers on TV. While he did do that, I will make the bold statement that Jack LaLanne was more important than Arnold! Jack was more important than Joe Weider and Ronnie […]
Fitness True or False
If you’re like most people, you have a lot of exercise and health questions. In spite of the widespread abundance of books, videos and the internet, many of the same questions remain unanswered in the minds of people. Here is a run down of some of the most frequently asked questions I get on a […]
Exercise Training Tips
It seems that these days, everybody is trying live a healthier lifestyle. For many, this means working out. Unfortunately, many people either have misguided ideas about how to exercise or are working out in ways that may be totally counterproductive to their goals. So, to help you better understand how your bodies respond to exercise, […]
Pilates Research Review
Check out your gym or fitness center’s monthly group exercise class schedule and you’ll see an array of aerobics classes, a few early morning spinning classes, yoga, kickboxing, boot camp, and something called Pilates. Pilates and its benefits often befuddle the hulking 250 pound bodybuilders and cardio bunnies alike. Some gym goers assume it’s a […]