By Julia Malacoff and Jennifer Nickle From ruining your progress to making you feel like a failure, food cravings aren’t your friend (no matter what they say). In this article, we break down the real reasons you can’t stop over-snacking, and explain how to combine...
By John Berardi, Ph.D. Work stressing you out? Life in general? Having trouble staying consistent with your exercise and nutrition plan? If so, this article is for you. Why do most guys tend to get weaker, fatter, and less healthy when they get into their 30s, 40s,...
By Geoff Lecovin KETOGENIC DIET: SHOULD YOU JOIN THE KETO KRAZE? In this article you will learn: What constitutes a ketogenic diet? Ketogenic diet foods/sample meal plan Potential health benefits of the ketogenic diet Potential adverse health effects of the ketogenic...
By Alex Picot-Annand Effective ways to deal with negative peer pressure and sabotage. Changing your eating and exercise habits is hard enough. Getting loved ones to support your healthy lifestyle changes? Prepare to grit your teeth. The company you keep does affect...
By Krista Scott-Dixon, Ph.D. How to solve the two biggest health and fitness problems most women face. Feeling overworked and under-appreciated? Having trouble staying consistent with nutrition and fitness because of life’s demands? Wondering if you’ll ever be able to...
By Krista Scott-Dixon, Ph.D. It’s not about busting your butt to get a gym body. It’s about being capable, confident, and free. To most people, healthy movement = exercise. As in cardio, crunches, and fitness models. But moving your body is about so much...
By Krista Scott-Dixon, Ph.D. Diet challenges are usually all about what you can’t eat. But what if you could see huge results from a self-experiment that doesn’t make any foods off-limits? Instead of focusing on what you eat, our 30-day eating challenge emphasizes how...
By NASM Discomfort from too much sitting? Inactive glutes? Buttock and leg pain? Though small in size, the piriformis could have a big impact on keeping the human movement system moving smoothly. Addressing an overactive piriformis may be part of the solution. WHAT IS...
By BRIAN SUTTON, MA, MS, CSCS, NASM-CPT, CNC, CES, PES THE MOST SIMPLE AND EFFECTIVE ARM EXERCISES Are you looking for stronger, more defined arms — the type of arms you can show off? If toned and sculpted arms are what you’re looking for, try these strength training...
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 NASM May is National Military Appreciation Month. We asked our NASM-CPTs who served in the armed forces to tell us their stories. Here’s one of them. Arlo Doyle The Kilted Comeback Kid In April of 2001, Arlo Doyle joined the army. He needed a way to support his...
By Danny Lennon In this article: What is the Mediterranean Diet? Mediterranean Diet Foods Mediterranean Diet Nutrient Profile Daily Food Servings Mediterranean Lifestyle Health Benefits of the Mediterranean Diet Mediterranean Diet and Weight Loss Take-Home Points...
BY OLIVIA ELLIS, MS Follow these steps to enhance the class experience using the power of emotion. We’ve all been there: You’re teaching a well-designed class with a killer playlist, and your expectation is that everyone is going to be as excited to take your class as...
BY CANDICE DYER The SoheeFit studio in San Diego is a gleaming, modern and welcoming fitness center with upbeat music. One thing is noticeably missing, though. There is no cardio equipment. That’s because owner Sohee Lee, MS, typically ends up prying her driven,...
9 reasons eating well isn’t as straightforward as we’d like it to be. By John Berardi, Ph.D. From a certain perspective, nutrition science can seem like a mess. From another, it illustrates the very nature (and beauty) of the scientific process. Here we’ll...
By James Heathers, Ph.D. Forget heart attacks and skinny jeans. This is why weight loss is important. Avoiding heart disease and looking ‘fab’ aren’t always great reasons to lose weight. However, here are 5 immediate and significant ways your life can change when you...
By Geoff Lecovin Vitamin D, also known as the “sunshine vitamin,” was identified in the 17th century by Dr. Daniel Whistler and Professor Francis Glisson when they discovered the causative factors of rickets. Circa 1920, Sir Edward Mellanby worked with dogs raised...
By Amanda Boyer MS, RDN, CD, NASM-CPT First and foremost, the pursuit of health is an individual choice and will look very different from person to person. Second, nutrition and movement are just two tiny pieces to the big pie. Genetics, sleep hygiene, stress, stigma...
By CHRIS ECKLUND, MA, NASM-PES, CSCS, USAW, TPI “Train slow, move slow; train fast, move fast.” I still say this to my athletes, staff and students with great frequency. Sometimes we get so caught up in the current trends, metrics, gauges, terminology, etc., that we...
By NASM With fad diets flooding the marketplace, obesity and heart disease numbers rapidly increasing, and more confusing food choices than ever before, Nutrition Coaches are in particularly high demand. This is an exciting, rewarding career for people who love...
BY NASM Designed to help fitness professionals discover solutions for their clients’ health and dietary needs. Obesity, heart disease, and cancer are on the rise. Fad diets are muddying today’s culture with misconceptions and fallacies. And the marketplace is filled...
By NASM Desk-bound employees can develop a hunched posture that saps energy and strength. Here’s a safe-for-the-office routine that can help. For many people, nine-hour workdays are the minimum—and lunch breaks are short or taken at the desk. Even if the person goes...
Why wishful thinking won’t get you results, but science might. By Dan Garner Nutrition is often seen as a belief system. In other words, the answer to “What should I eat?” is often based on faith, magical thinking, emotional attachments, and/or what feels...
By John Berardi, Ph.D. When it comes to body change, there’s no topic more polarizing than “calories in vs. calories out.” Some argue it’s the be-all and end-all of weight loss. Others say it’s oversimplified and misguided. In this article, we explore every angle of...
By Kyle Stull What is thoracic outlet syndrome? Are there assessments that personal trainers can consider to identify it, and can corrective exercise programming help? Thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) is a condition involving the vessels of the neck, shoulder, and arm....
By KEN MILLER, MS, NASM MASTER INSTRUCTOR, NASM-CPT, CES, PES, GFS “You need good form,” or “technique is everything” are just a couple of the staple statements you hear fitness professionals and strength coaches say. This is what personal trainers are known and hired...
How to solve the two biggest health and fitness problems most women face. By Krista Scott-Dixon Feeling overworked and under-appreciated? Having trouble staying consistent with nutrition and fitness because of life’s demands? Wondering if you’ll ever be able to find...
Let’s get to the bottom of this never-ending debate. By Brian St. Pierre, MS, RD, CSCS Sweet potatoes vs. potatoes: A nutritional debate fueled by misinformation, baseless ‘superfood’ obsessions, and carbohydrate phobias. Here’s how these tubers compare — and...
By Fabio Comana We all speak of it and experience it, but what is stress? It is defined as a non-specific response by the body to any demand (stressor) that overcomes, or threatens to overcome, the body’s ability to maintain homeostasis (that state of equilibrium of...
By Geoff Lecovin Whether you’ve just finished a HIIT workout, completed a CrossFit WOD, hit your PR or finished a triathlon, your focus should move from performance to recovery. This involves: Refueling Repairing Rehydrating Revitalizing Evidence-based strategies to...
B Kyle Stull Personal trainers will likely encounter a client with hip impingement as a training concern. Improve your client’s hip mobility with these stretching and strengthening techniques, plus cueing advice for pelvic positioning. Hip discomfort or pain is common...
By DEWAYNE SMITH, MS, NASM-CES, PES, FNS Let’s face it, at one point or another, we’ve all had to sit for extended periods of time, looking at, or working on something in front of us. Whether it was in high school math class, Intro to Athletic Training in our...
By AMANDA BOYER, MS, RDN, CD, NASM-CPT Health is so much more than how much a person weighs or their BMI. To further understand this approach to health, Health At Every Size® (HAES®), written by Linda Bacon, explores this growing paradigm shift among health...
by Dr. David Tiberio Kerrigan DC, Todd MK, Della Croce U, Lipsitz LA, Collins JJ. Biomechanical gait alterations independent of speed in healthy elderly: evidence for specific limiting impairments. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 199879:317-322. The purpose of this study was to...
BY LANCE C. DALLECK A myth can be defined as an untrue explanation for a natural phenomenon. Unfortunately, numerous myths remain pervasive and well-engrained throughout the fitness industry, in particular as it pertains to various performance and nutritional...
Here are better ways to transform your diet. By Brian St. Pierre, RD, CSCS, CISSN Lots of people looking to improve their eating think meal plans are the answer. The only problem? Meal plans usually suck… and they rarely last. So, instead of prescribing yet another...
By Emily Bailey Meet three of today’s superfood darlings: açai berries, beetroot juice, and curcumin. What does the research say regarding their impact on athletic performance, recovery, and overall health? Here’s the delicious news. “Superfood” has been a buzzword...
By Dr. Krista Scott-Dixon, Dr. Helen Kollias, Jennifer Broxterman, MSc, RD, and Pamela Ruhland Hot flashes, mood swings, weight gain, brain fog: Menopause can make you wonder if your body is totally cuckoo. But what many women don’t realize is that they do have some...
By STACEY PENNEY, MS, NASM-CPT, CES, PES, FNS Are you motivated by someone telling you what to do or are you more motivated to do something when it is your own idea and choice to do it? You probably agreed with being more motivated by your own ideas and decisions. Do...
By Kyle Stull Hamstrings are arguably one of the most talked about muscle groups, as well as the most researched, stretched, and injured. While there is a wealth of information about hamstring injury prevention and treatment, hamstring injuries are still widespread...
By KEN MILLER, MS, NASM MASTER INSTRUCTOR, NASM-CPT, CES, PES, GFS You have to be able to start, stop and control the motion – that’s why deceleration training is a vital component of fitness programming. Creating a performance-based conditioning program can be akin...
By NASM The terrain has changed; leaves have fallen, the weather is colder and for many, snow is covering the ground indicating that winter is really here. For those who enjoy exercising outdoors, your activities may have become somewhat limited with what you can do;...
By STACEY PENNEY, MS, NASM-CPT, CES, PES, FNS Exercising in the cold can bring about many unique challenges. Besides overcoming the discomfort of being cold, what are the best strategies to stay safe and prevent some of the potentially life-threatening, or at least...
By Alex Picot-Annand and Jennifer Nickle Organic produce, artisanal sourdough, strictly grass-fed meat: Yes, they’re ‘good’ for you… but they’re also too expensive for most people. The great news? There are foods that are both nutrient-rich and budget-friendly. In...
By BRIERLEY HORTON, MS, RD Despite the overall trend toward cleaner eating (little to no processed foods, limiting or eliminating “bad” foods like sodium and sugar, etc.), as well as our general desire for quality ingredients (such as organic, humanely-raised, etc.),...
By KANDI STULL Advertisers market their products to fight that 2:30 crash. Coffee chains promote their afternoon caffeinated happy hours to help get you through the day. Some cultures even have an after-lunch siesta to combat fatigue. What if there was a different way...
By Jennifer Broxterman, MSc, RD Forgetting things, feeling incapable, grappling with loneliness, and maybe not enjoying daily life? Aging is inevitable, but these symptoms don’t have to be. Whether you’re noticing them in yourself, or coaching someone who is, here’s...
By KEN MILLER, MS, NASM MASTER INSTRUCTOR, NASM-CPT, CES, PES, GFS For as many ways as there are to challenge the body in a workout, how many ways do we think about approaching our warm-up routine? How well prepared are our bodies for the stresses of the approaching...
By Mike Bracko The media and some research scientists seem to take perverse pride in talking about the so-called “obesity epidemic” and the percentage of the population who are over-weight, obese, and physically inactive. However, there are researchers who indicate...
By Mike Bracko Circadian rhythms are physical, mental, and behavioral changes that follow a 24-hour cycle, responding primarily to light and darkness (National Institute of General Medical Sciences, 2018). They regulate periods of sleepiness and wakefulness through...
By Brierley Horton, MS, RD People choose to “go vegan” for a variety of reasons—perhaps they aspire to be Tom Brady (or at his level of fitness), or land on veganism for ethical concerns around eating animal products, or the environmental impact that animals raised...
By Geoff Lecovin Are you looking for that competitive edge? You might consider ways of stimulating your nervous system. The central governor model is based on the premise that the nervous system strives to maintain homeostasis to minimize mental and physical fatigue...
By AMANDA BOYER, MS, RDN, CD, NASM-CPT You may have heard the phrase “intuitive eating” thrown around in the health and fitness realm as it’s gaining attention and a bit of popularity. As a non-diet dietitian, I couldn’t be happier that it is becoming more well-known...
By Wayne David Clark As fitness professionals we sometimes tend to neglect our own bodies in favour of helping others achieve their goals. We become so focussed on the needs of others, that our own needs tend to be placed on the back burner. Having said that a lot...
By MARTY MILLER, ATC, DHSC, NASM-CPT, CES, PES, MASTER INSTRUCTOR Human movement is an amazing orchestra of muscle contractions controlled by the central nervous system to create joint actions to accomplish specific tasks. The motor tasks can be as simple as raising a...
RICK RICHEY, MS. When I was young and thought about flexibility, it would conjure up images in my mind of Jean-Claude Van Damme doing center splits between two chairs. I was obsessed with that, so I practiced that version of flexibility until I was able to actually do...
By GEOFF LECOVIN Moderately elevating a client’s heart rate during physical activity is a goal of most exercise programs, but what about when a client has AFib? Here’s some information on what you should know. WHAT IS ATRIAL FIBRILLATION OR AFIB? Atrial fibrillation...
By Ellen Vora, M.D.Holistic Psychiatrist As a holistic psychiatrist practicing in busy New York City, there are two traits nearly all of my patients have in common: anxiety and caffeine consumption. And for the record, in general, I think that caffeine is safe,...
By: Brian Sutton, MS, MA, PES, CES, NASM CPT Introduction Over the last 10-plus years, there probably has not been a supplement more popular or one researched more often than creatine monohydrate. Creatine has found its place among bodybuilders, fitness enthusiasts,...
Is it really worth the trade-off? By Ryan Andrews & Brian St. Pierre Six-pack abs. Tight butts. Lean, vibrant, flawless health. That’s the image the fitness industry is selling. But have you ever wondered what it costs to achieve that “look”? What you have to do...
By STACEY PENNEY, MS, NASM-CPT, CES, PES, FNS Foam rolling is a self-myofascial release (SMR) stretching technique that has been embraced throughout the fitness industry. This effective and simple to do technique delivers positive, feel-good results. Foam rollers...
By Ken Miller MS, NASM MASTER INSTRUCTOR, NASM-CPT, CES, PES, GFS It’s time to take a turn for the better with rotational training plans. These 3 steps will show you how to apply this directional change with all of your clients. Our ability to change direction is one...
BY KYLE STULL Odds are high that you’ll have a training client with an artificial hip at some point in your career. Having a client with hip replacements may seem like a daunting prospect, but in most cases the new hips function just as well as biological hips....
By Brian St. Pierre How brain signaling drives what you eat. (And what to do about it). It’s no secret that obesity rates have been rising in the U.S. (and other industrialized nations) for the past 30 years. It’s also no secret that Americans eat more than they used...
By James Heathers and Jennifer Nickle SHARE What can you do when you have serious health and fitness goals…but you just don’t like vegetables? First, know that you’re not crazy (and you’re not alone). Next, try our 3-step formula to go from spitting out to seeking out...
By Frank Lipman, M.D.Pioneer in Functional Medicine Are you interested in optimizing your health? Are you overwhelmed by the amount of information and guidance out there? In his new book, How to Be Well, Dr. Frank Lipman organizes your health into six essential...
By Lindsay Kellnermbg Sr. Wellness & Beauty Editor It’s officially August and high time for soaking up the best of what summer has to offer, including vacation, beach trips, and lazy summer days. The last thing many of us want to do when it’s hot is...
By JEROD LANGNESS, NASM-CPT, CES, PES, WLS, MASTER TRAINER As fitness professionals, it is easy to keep our focus on the great things that occur from having a healthy and active lifestyle. We know so much about the benefits of exercise and get excited about helping...
By Kyle Stull Everyone is quick to talk about “tightness.” The calves are tight; the hip flexors are tight; the low-back is tight; the shoulders and the neck are tight. It’s true that many people are tight and restricted, but what about those that have too much...
by Dr. David Tiberio, Doug Gray Category: Applied Functional Science Share The popular song entitled “Dem Bones” is ageless. Furthermore, it is brilliant. James Weldon Johnson first composed it back in the early 1900s. Instead of quoting all the lyrics (as the song...
By STACEY PENNEY, MS, NASM-CPT, CES, PES, FNS Keeping our brains healthy is a trending topic that is surely grabbing our attention and the attention of our family, friends and clients. We’re all looking for ways to maintain our brain function and avoid such...
BY Andrew Mills For many of us, working with individuals with tight/overactive hip flexors is a common occurrence. Learning to properly assess and address overactive hip flexors is a powerful skill in helping today’s client move more efficiently. Spending long hours...
By Liz Moody Summer is officially here! And here at mbg we’re all about traveling light and creating space for real transformation. Whether you’re jetting off to faraway lands this year or just exploring new pockets of your neighborhood, these next few months are...
By Jennifer Broxterman, MSc, RD You know the feeling: One salty crunch turns into 100, and suddenly you’re licking the cheese dust and wondering: What’s wrong with me? Actually, it’s normal to feel like you can’t stop overeating certain things. Today’s hyperpalatable...
By NASM Turmeric continues to make some impressive health headlines. Best known as the spice behind curry, research is showing how it can potentially play a role in weight loss, along with preventing Alzheimer’s disease, cancer and other conditions. Introduction Most...
By GEOFF LECOVIN Ever wonder if soy is healthy? Read on to find out more plus a peek into the foods and products it’s in. WHAT IS SOY? Soybeans are a type of legume native to East Asia. They are an excellent source of high-quality protein, along with being low in...
By Ryan Andrews & Brian St. Pierre Exploring the pros and cons of this controversial food group. We’re often asked whether dairy is good or bad. Short answer: It depends. In this article, we’ll help you make sense of the research — and the wildly different...
By STACEY PENNEY, MS, NASM-CPT, CES, PES, FNS Age is more than a number- it’s an opportunity to serve a growing population. Every day we are bombarded with statistics on seniors and baby boomers, and the customer potential they can bring. But what do trainers (or club...
By Lisa For our bodies to function to their full capacity and to maintain a healthy weight, it is important to eat a nutritious and balanced diet that includes all the food groups in the right proportion. So, questions such as “What are the healthiest sources of fat...
By KATHY ZETTERBERG Static stretching is a highly debated and controversial topic within the fitness and sports performance communities and is focused around the concept that sustained static stretching could impair subsequent performance (Rossi et al. 2010; Shrier...
By TATUM REBELLE Maintaining a strong pelvic floor is vital during pregnancy, yet it remains a commonly overlooked and misunderstood component of most pre- and postnatal training programs. (It’s also something many of us shy away from talking about.) A strong pelvic...
BY NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SPORTS SCIENCE Use these tools to give firefighters a training edge. “Strength and endurance must go hand-in-hand on the fire ground,” says Kenneth Shuttleworth, a 24-year firefighter, and seven-year NASM-CPT, CES, PES, FNS. Here, his advice...
By PRENTISS RHODES If you or any of your clients have chosen martial arts training as your hobby- congratulations! This is a very rewarding path, both physically and mentally. It gives you all the components of fitness wrapped up into an activity that can be practiced...
BY BRIAN SUTTON, MA, MS, CSCS, NASM-CPT, CES, PES Muscles don’t work alone to create movement. They work together in synergies to create coordinated movements. Here we’ll identify the four muscle subsystems, discover how these synergies work together, and how to...
Vincent M. Pedre, M.D.Gut Health Specialist & Best-Selling Author The mbg Collective is a curated group of our most trusted wellness advisers. Since 2009, we’ve had the brightest, most passionate, and mission-driven leaders in wellness share their intimate stories...
By Brian St. Pierre You’re tracking your eating and exercise meticulously but not seeing results. Has your metabolism slowed to a crawl? Are your hormones off? Is it really possible to GAIN weight from eating too LITTLE? Here’s what’s really going on — and how to...
By Kyle Stull Most clients, and fitness professionals alike, use the term “tight” to indicate that a muscle or other form of contractile tissue is shorter than it should be. After being in the fitness industry for more than 15 years, I’ve heard the phrase “my...
By KEN MILLER, MS, NASM MASTER INSTRUCTOR, NASM-CPT, CES, PES, GFS Major League Baseball history was made in 1974. It wasn’t made by a World Series-deciding play at the plate or even a record-breaking event. History was made off the field when Tommy John, the then...
By Geoff Lecovin Whether you’ve just finished a HIIT workout, completed a CrossFit WOD, hit your PR or finished a triathlon, your focus should move from performance to recovery. This involves: Refuelling Repairing Rehydrating Revitalizing Evidence-based strategies to...
By Josh Gonzalez On the ropes about battle ropes? See how to incorporate battle ropes into your personal training programs using the NASM OPT model. Fitness has definitely changed over recent years, becoming smarter with the application of human movement principles...
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