CHIN UPS VERSUS PULL UPS, THE BENEFITS, THE MUSCLES WORKED by Kinsey Mahaffey If you enjoy the convenience of bodyweight exercises and the challenge that they bring, then you may already know that chin ups and pull-ups are among the most effective bodyweight exercises...
DR. ALLISON J. BRAGER Sleep and rest are crucial to our overall well-being. In fact, getting too little or even too much sleep can adversely affect our day-to-day physical health, energy levels, nutrition and mental well-being. In the recently published “The...
By Dana Bender Are you prioritizing mobility enhancement in your current fitness and performance goals? With summertime in full swing, it’s the ideal opportunity to conduct a mid-year evaluation of your physical tightness and mobility – especially in your hips....
KINSEY MAHAFFEY STAY UPDATED WITH NASM! CPR, or Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, is a life-saving skill you hope you never have to use, but it could save someone’s life if you do. Each year, the first week of June is National CPR and AED Awareness Week – a week...
Brad Dieter Stay Updated with NASM! Heart disease and diabetes are among the leading causes of death and decreased quality of life, and they account for most healthcare-related costs around the world. As such, it is reasonable to say that such diseases are arguably...
Nicole Golden Stay Updated with NASM! We live in a culture that glorifies overworking and under-recovering. This is true in all disciplines; whether you work in an office or hospital, or are an athlete. We are often taught from a young age with very full schedules,...
Kinsey Mahaffey Stay Updated with NASM! Rest is an aspect of recovery that focuses on improving daily sleep amount and quality, limiting stress, and increasing physical and psychological relaxation. Of course, your body needs to rest after a tough workout, but how can...
Darlene Marshall Stay Updated with NASM! Saturday, April 22nd is Earth Day and along with considering each of our impacts on the planet, you might think about how your relationship to our world impacts wellness and wellbeing. There’s growing evidence that time spent...
Andre Adams Stay Updated with NASM! With all of the information and supplements in the fitness and wellness industry, it can be very overwhelming trying to decide what the best pre-, intra-, and post-workout supplementation is based on your specific goals.In this blog...
Andre Adams Are you interested in personalizing a bodybuilding workout to meet your goals, but not sure where to start? One recommendation for people working to achieve a specific aesthetic physique goal is to get more strategic with training and nutrition to force...
Jacqueline Kaminski Stay Updated with NASM! Should you eat before your workout? That is a rhetorical question… the answer is always of course.An entire area of research dedicated to pre-workout fueling wouldn’t exist if there weren’t documented benefits to its...
By Stephanie Warwick Your upper back is one of the most important parts of your body. The muscle groups in this area are primarily responsible for keeping you upright because they work against the core. Without a strong upper back, not only will your posture be...
Andre Adams Stay Updated with NASM! Have you ever wondered what the difference between powerlifting and bodybuilding is? The two are often confused or used interchangeably in conversation, but they are very different sports with specific outcomes.In this blog, we will...
Darlene Marshall Stay Updated with NASM! Spring is about to be sprung. It’s a time to fling open our windows, clean out our closets, and for many people a time to revisit your wellness plan for 2023. Part of designing a wellness plan is scheduling periodic pulse...
Jacqueline Kaminski Stay Updated with NASM! New year, new you, right? It’s been over a month of 2023 and it’s a good stopping point to see if you’ve stayed true to the health and fitness goals you set for yourself.Unfortunately, many, people tend to revert to old...
By Andre Adams Stay Updated with NASM! In the sport of bodybuilding, accountability is a staple of your success. The trait can help you in many other areas. The same principles that make you a successful competitive bodybuilding athlete mirror qualities that will help...
By Kinsey Mahaffey Stay Updated with NASM! Whether you’re a competitive runner, or you simply run for enjoyment and exercise, your training plan is likely centred around one activity: running. But what if I told you that adding strength training to your routine...
By DARLENE MARSHALL According to data published by Mintel in 2022, 78% of American exercisers responding to their survey said that mental and emotional well-being was their top reason for exercising. This marks the first time since Mintel began recording data on the...
By Ryan Fairall One of the most important things a certified personal trainer can do is build out their new clients’ unique workout and training programs before diving in. These assessments help the trainer seek out opportunities for growth while also understanding...
By Krystal Say Along with being a TRX Master Instructor, TRX Training Club Yoga Instructor, and owner of SWEAT Power Yoga, Krystal Say is one of the passionate creators of TRX for Yoga. She is here to explain how the Suspension Trainer can be the ultimate support tool...
By KINSEY MAHAFFEY You’ve worked hard, made changes in your diet and exercise routine, and you’ve reached your goal weight – congratulations! Losing weight is no easy feat, but the work doesn’t stop there. The next challenge in your health and fitness journey is...
By JACQUELINE KAMINSKI Rest days: the bane of every fitness enthusiast’s existence, or perhaps the favourite day of the week! Either way, the biggest question everyone has is what the best foods are to consume to build muscle and stay on track. When it comes to...
Posted by Casey Stenehjem The YBell’s award-winning multiple-handle design allows you to perform novel exercises and complexes that aren’t possible with traditional fitness equipment. 3 Unique Exercises You Can Only Perform With YBells Maybe you’ve had a...
Training for the Masses More Results, Less Hassle As a former ballet dancer turned personal trainer, and member of TRX Training’s Master Instructor cadre for almost 15 years now, I’ve been participating in bodyweight training for most of my life. It’s my favourite...
By Nicole Golden We are approaching the end of another year and many of us are thinking about adopting a healthier lifestyle as we approach the new year. Are you in this group looking to improve your health as we approach 2023?Perhaps you feel somewhat intimidated and...
By Kinsey Mahaffey Stay Updated with NASM! Most people experience some type of muscle pain at some point in their lives. 60-85% of the population has had some type of nonspecific muscle pain in their back at some point in their lives (Krismer and van Tulder 2007).Even...
By Andre Adams Stay updated with NASM Whenever we think about bodybuilding competitions, we tend to immediately think about the physique, training, and dieting regimen. One thing many competitors and coaches often overlook is how posing and stage presence can impact...
By JACQUELINE KAMINSKI The beginning of every new year always starts with a resolution to eat healthier, right? And the origin of said resolution derives from the back-to-back holidays that occur between October through December. If you aren’t tempted to snack on your...
By Kinsey Mahaffey Stay Updated with NASM! For people who say they want to “get toned,” it might be more apt to say that they are generally referring to wanting to decrease body fat and increase muscle mass to improve the visibility of their muscles for a more fit and...
By NASM With the hot weather upon us in the northern hemisphere, this marks a time for many to get outdoors and enjoy the warm weather, but caution should always be exercised given the potential risks for dehydration. Fluid is perhaps the most important, but least...
By Kinsey Mahaffey Anyone who has ever tried to get more muscle definition in their calves knows that it can sometimes be a tough task. Training your calves for muscle growth takes intentional effort, time, and a solid plan. To grow your calves, you want to choose the...
By Jacqueline Kaminski Sodium intake seems to be somewhat of an issue here in America. Even national dietary guidelines for Americans urge dietary habits that would inevitably decrease total intakes such as minimizing intake of processed meats and dairy products (1)....
BY Nicole Golden There is little doubt that human bodies come in different shapes and sizes. Although all humans can stimulate muscle hypertrophy, genetic predisposition most certainly plays a role in how fast an individual gains muscle, how strong they can become,...
By ANDREW PAYNE We live in a three-dimensional world. Our bodies need the ability to move in all three dimensions. Poor range of motion and instability in just a single joint can cause over compensation. These alternate movement patterns can lead to chronic pain and...
By JACQUELINE KAMINSKI SUGAR IS THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL…right? Or is this school of thought somewhat outdated? Sugar… Let’s talk about it! Since it is a very sensitive subject.First, let’s discuss what sugar is. Sugar is a collection of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen units...
By JACQUELINE KAMINSKI What is the greatest superfood on earth? Does one even exist? Well, that question remains to be seen… Of all the foods we have available, there are always certain boxes we want to check off before we consider something a “superfood”. Does it...
By DANA BENDER The postpartum time period is most often associated with physical recovery from fatigue and the strain of labour and delivery. It is typically defined as the first six weeks after a vaginal delivery or eight weeks after a cesarean one. In addition to...
By Nicole Golden The 30s are the decade of life that has its pros. Likely, you are beginning to feel established in a career, are looking at purchasing a home, and enjoy a more comfortable life. However, you have likely noticed that you may feel a little stiffer in...
By KINSEY MAHAFFEY In a world of limitless fitness tech options and gadgets, is it still valid to judge the intensity of your workout based on how it feels? Short answer: Yes! The RPE scale is a simple, yet surprisingly accurate way to monitor the intensity of...
By JACQUELINE KAMINSKI Muscles aren’t just for men! Women need muscle too… and ladies, while you may not want muscles as big as men (or maybe you do), I think most women can agree it seems like everything on the market is geared to helping men build muscle, not women!...
By KINSEY MAHAFFEY Powerlifting isn’t just “for the boys” anymore, and we couldn’t be more excited. Today, it’s more common to see women throwing around some serious weight in sports like CrossFit or in social media posts on the internet. As a result, many women are...
By KINSEY MAHAFFEY Back in 5th grade, I remember watching a classmate knock out 13 pull-ups during the President’s Fitness Test. She made it look so effortless that I thought, “This should be easy!” Right? Wrong. I was shocked when I couldn’t even do ONE pull-up. What...
By ANDREW MILLS Improving physical performance is as much about maximizing performance quality as balancing and mitigating injury risks and maximizing recovery to prevent maladaptation in response to accumulated and progressive training loads. There is a lot of...
By JACQUELINE KAMINSKI Are you ever in the middle of a workout and then BOOM… it hits you? Your muscle is locked up, the pain sets in, and you need to take a bit of a breather to handle the discomfort. I think all of us at one point in time have experienced this...
By MARIA DIGIUSEPPE As we get older, our shapes and sizes can change and no matter how long you’re working out or how fit you are, it may be difficult to accept the change or maintain a positive body image. A positive body image can impact your life in many ways,...
By CHRIS FREDERICK In a previous blog that compared static vs dynamic stretching, the NASM OPT model delineates what type of stretching is used at specific levels of training clients. This is especially important to know if you’re a Stretching and Flexibility...
By RICK RICHEY, MS As seen in our weight loss specialization course, you can effectively utilize the OPT™ model for weight loss clients. Within this article from the Spring 2020 Issue of American Fitness Magazine, you will learn how! Consider a client named Jordan....
By NICOLE GOLDEN Muscle damage and delayed onset muscle soreness can hamper performance in sports and training. Speeding up the rate of recovery can mean better performance and bigger gains in the long term. Good nutrition, rest, and optimal hydration are the staples...
By ANDRE ADAMS If you’re looking for an exercise program to help you effectively build mass, you may be looking for something to do with hypertrophy training. Similar to classic strength training, the goals of hypertrophy are different. One focuses on building...
BY JACQUELINE KAMINSKI If you’ve ever done any type of strenuous exercise, I’m sure you have felt the effects of it the next day. Can’t move. Stiff. Aching… what most of us allude to as muscle soreness. Anyone who’s never experienced muscle soreness is most definitely...
By When I was a student-athlete, wall sits were frequently used as a “character-building” exercise for the whole team. Character-building exercises were typically exercises that required perseverance and grit to push through to the end, thus building our character. As...
By NICOLE GOLDEN Flexibility refers to the range of motion of the muscles and connective tissues at a joint (Page, 2012). Flexibility can differ from joint to joint and often decreases with advancing age. Many of us (and our clients) think the purpose of training is...
By BRAD DIETER Low carbohydrate diets have become a very popular tool for weight loss over the last several decades. While much of the scientific rationale behind why they are utilized for weight loss, such as the carbohydrate-insulin hypothesis, has largely been...
By LEE MURPHY Diet and exercise are the primary pillars of a healthy lifestyle plan. But can coordinating eating and workout schedules improve our fitness results? And if so, how should our eating patterns differ before, during, and after activities? Melding a...
By NICOLE GOLDEN Many of us (and our clients) have a fixation on the weight scale. We judge our fitness, progress, and unfortunately, at times, self-worth, based on that number that appears on the scale when we step on it first thing in the morning. While the bathroom...
By DANA BENDER “Why do I have no self-control with unhealthy foods?” is a common question a person might ask themselves after he or she makes the impulsive choice to eat junk food. This is especially true if there is an established goal related to eating healthier,...
By NICOLE GOLDEN Chronic pain is defined as any pain from an injury or condition lasting more than 12 weeks. Many potential clients seeking a certified personal trainer, yoga class, or corrective exercise specialist do so in hopes of using exercise to mitigate chronic...
By KINSEY MAHAFFEY Most lifters are familiar with calculating percentages of their 1 Rep Max (aka, 1RM, the maximum amount of weight that you can lift for 1 repetition of an exercise) to choose the appropriate weight for an exercise based on their desired intensity...
By KINSEY MAHAFFEY You’ve looked up different fitness routines for stronger legs, but every single one includes squats. Maybe you’re feeling a little burned out on squats, or you just want to add some variety to your workout routine. What leg exercises can you do to...
By JACQUELINE KAMINSKI If you go to the gym regularly, you want every workout to count right? You don’t spend all that time exercising to just waste your time and energy! So, to get the most out of your workouts and maximize your muscle growth, we’ve compiled a list...
By Christine Woods So you are a group fitness instructor who wants to create your own group fitness programming? Great! It sounds like you are already headed in the right direction. You have a vision for the type of class you want to teach. You understand the outcome...
By JACQUELINE KAMINSKI If you’re an avid gym user, friends with a bodybuilder, or sat in on a novice nutrition course I’m sure you’ve heard of the term “macros” or “counting macros.” But what is the significance? Do you need to count macros to be healthy? Have no...
By DR. ALLISON BRAGER According to the Center for Disease Control, the National Sleep Foundation, and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, our nation’s sleep debt is an increasingly pervasive problem. The industry of sleep medications, supplements, mattresses, and...
Written by Nick English Labelled as “The Birthplace of Intermittent Fasting,” we know that such titles are often exaggerated on the internet, but Lean gains have a claim to the throne. This is where the popular 16/8 fasting method started for strength athletes....
By JACQUELINE KAMINSKI When you’re on the way to the gym, what’s the best snack to grab? A granola bar? An apple? What about a sandwich? So many possibilities to choose from, but what’s the best option? Well, much of that will largely depend on the...
By Nicole Golden Shoulder pain, prior injury, or overall dysfunction is a very common problem in both the athletic and general populations in a personal training practice. A complaint of shoulder pain occurs in 16 to 26 per cent of adults and is the third most common...
By Nicole Golden Many adults, especially those between the ages of 20 and 50, report high levels of psychological stress. Many of us are constantly over-scheduled, over-committed, overworked, and fail to spend adequate time on self-care. Stone et al. (2017) found...
By Chris Ecklund Power is the ability to produce large amounts of force quickly. Are there any athletes that would not want to improve their ability to generate power? Or who want to increase their explosive strength? What about clients seeking to improve general...
By Nicole Golden There is nothing quite like the disappointment of excitedly starting an exercise program, preparing for a new season of your favourite sport, or attempting a personal record (PR) only to find yourself injured and on the sidelines. It can also be very...
By KINSEY MAHAFFEY Whether you’re competing against others, or just competing against yourself, increasing your bench press max (the maximum weight that you can bench press in a single repetition) takes intentional effort. This article provides practical advice to...
By JACQUELINE KAMINSKI So, you want to make gains? Well, when we are strolling the aisles of any supplement shop, the whole point is to find a magic powder or pill that will give us an extra leg up on our performance right? Let me introduce you to L-arginine! What is...
By Dr Alison Brager Remember those days of staying up well past midnight in college? Weekend or weekdays, hanging with friends or no friends, we all may think in our thirties and forties, how did we do that? The answer lies in tiny molecular clocks present in every...
By Brad Dieter There is a phenomenon most of us experience in life. We maintain very similar body weight and body shape for years on end and then suddenly it feels like our body’s changed overnight and then we have a new body that we were not expecting. Then we find...
By KINSEY MAHAFFEY You’ve looked up different fitness routines for stronger legs, but every single one includes squats. Maybe you’re feeling a little burned out on squats, or you just want to add some variety to your workout routine. What leg exercises can you do to...
By Nicole Golden Metabolic syndrome, hair loss, insomnia, frequent colds and flu, missed menstrual periods, ulcers, and orthopaedic pain are just some of the health problems blamed on excessive stress. Yet, stress is an elusive term. Is it a mental sequela related to...
By JACQUELINE KAMINSKI Ever wonder about the various fields you could work in if you were to pursue a nutrition degree or certification? The extent of your options is much larger than you imagined. You could apply to work in hospitals or home care settings, work...
By JACQUELINE KAMINSKI Ever wonder about the various fields you could work in if you were to pursue a nutrition degree or certification? The extent of your options is much larger than you imagined. You could apply to work in hospitals or home care settings, work...
By JACQUELINE KAMINSKI As you prepare yourself a nice dinner, you may think to pair the meal with a nice wine. Or perhaps the weekend rolls around and you plan social outings with friends or relatives, in which you think to indulge in a few drinks. However, if...
By KAT BAREFIELD MS, RDN, NASM-CPT, CES, PES, ACSM-HFS In this post, we’re going to explore the health effects of getting insufficient micronutrients (vitamins and minerals). This article will also cover: The critical functions of various micronutrients The most...
By Brad Dieter Over the last several decades, we have seen a rise in the popularity of low-carbohydrate diets. These diets have ranged from just low-carb diets to ketogenic diets to even zero carb diets (e.g., The Carnivore Diet). These dietary approaches have become...
By KINSEY MAHAFFEY Strength training research points to the importance of training to muscle failure to maximize exercise-induced muscle hypertrophy (Willardson 2007). Many gym-goers use a standard horizontal load system, also known as a straight-set, to reach this...
By JACQUELINE KAMINSKI Protein, Protein, Protein. By this point, most of us are aware of protein’s muscle-enhancing benefits — especially regarding exercise. But does attaining the highest levels of fitness require the addition of protein powders to your diet?...
By KINSEY MAHAFFEY There are endless tech options available when it comes to tracking intensity levels during a workout, but technology sometimes requires a learning curve, and it can be expensive. While these products do provide tons of helpful information for...
by Stacey Penney Before we can begin to answer the question of how much activity is enough, we need to consider what fitness means. Fitness is synonymous with health, our physical condition and even our ability to complete the tasks required for our ongoing survival...
By ANDREW PAYNE Do you have trouble losing body fat, yet seem to gain it after even the smallest slip up with your diet? Or does it feel like you can eat for days without gaining an ounce? It could have something to do with your current body type. But is it really...
By CHRIS ECKLUND, MA, NASM-PES, CSCS, USAW, TPI WHAT IS PLYOMETRICS? We define plyometric training as a quick, powerful movement involving a system of reactive exercises and an eccentric contraction, followed immediately by an explosive concentric contraction. (1, 2)...
By Nicole Golden Spare tire, breadbasket, muffin top, Jello pudding pack, and love handles are all terms synonymous with abdominal (belly) fat. “What should I eat to get rid of this muffin top?” “I heard that XYZ workout program will melt away all of my gut, is that...
By JACQUELINE KAMINSKI As times change, so do new ways of thinking. With that, many new philosophies surrounding food and diet culture emerge. One of those beliefs use to be that a high-fat diet was the cause of many diet-related diseases such as heart disease....
By Nicole Golden Blood flow restriction (BFR) training was initially developed in Japan in the 1960s and is also referred to as Kaatsu training. At first glance, BFR may appear to be an experimental and perhaps fringe training practice, yet it has received a lot of...
By JACQUELINE KAMINSKI It’s easy to become a victim to misinformation on the internet when thousands of hits populate every time you type a question into google. Unfortunately, when it comes to nutrition everyone thinks they are an expert — especially if they...