Interview: How Taut Does Your Butt Need to Be to Bounce a Quarter Off It?

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Interview: How Taut Does Your Butt Need to Be to Bounce a Quarter Off It?

My pal Ian at MEL Magazine came to me with an interesting question. How taut does your butt need to be to bounce a quarter off it? While I had to defer to Alex Klotz, a professor in the department of physics and astronomy at California State University, Long Beach, with the technicals of the "Coefficient of Butt Restitution", as a booty-building specialist I lent my tips for "firming up dat ass" you may find helpful.

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5 Lifestyle Tweaks That Will Dramatically Improve Your Wellbeing

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5 Lifestyle Tweaks That Will Dramatically Improve Your Wellbeing

Thanks to Dr. Seeds and the folks at Authority Magazine for featuring my story about how I transitioned from a corporate consultant to a fitness professional and my advice for lifestyle tweaks that can positively change your wellness. Spoiler alert, this includes a shout out to my mentor Marcia Robles and a declaration of love to Madonna. Read the full interview.

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Ranking Exercises by How Useful — or Dangerous — They Are

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Ranking Exercises by How Useful — or Dangerous — They Are

Over the past 20 years, almost one million Americans were treated in emergency rooms for injuries related to weight training. I was asked by my friends at MEL Magazine "which exercises will get me ripped, and which will literally rip my body apart?" Nowadays just about anybody can toss on a microphone and lead a group fitness class. And Instagram is crawling with “trainers” telling folks what they should be doing in the gym. It can be hard to tell what’s based on facts and science and what’s bunk. So here's a ranking and explanation of an assortment of exercises by how beneficial they are — from muscle-building to (literally) back-breaking.

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Should I Shower and Apply Deodorant Before Going to the Gym?

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Should I Shower and Apply Deodorant Before Going to the Gym?

Etiquette aside, some evidence suggests that a hot shower before exercising can increase your body temperature, encouraging blood flow and loosening any tense muscles, which should theoretically result in an easier workout. Unfortunately, though, since your body temperature will be higher to begin with, the chances of you burning out earlier in your workout are also higher. On the flip side, studies indicate that taking a quick cold shower, particularly before some cardio, can help the body withstand prolonged exercise at higher intensity levels, since the cold temperature lowers your heart rate, leaving both your muscles and heart with more room to keep on pumping during a workout before they inevitably overheat. For more on this “heated” topic, checkout my interview on the DSC Blog.

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3 Next-Level Moves: Time Under Tension, Eccentrics and Planes of Motion

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3 Next-Level Moves: Time Under Tension, Eccentrics and Planes of Motion

Hitting the gym hard but not seeing the results you want? You might assume it’s time to add heavier weights to your bar or increase the amount of time you spend at each session — but that’s not necessarily the case. Check out my interview in Oxygen Magazine by Jill Schildhouse to learn how to implement three of my most effective training variables: time under tension, eccentrics and plane of motion training. And to see these moves demoed by my amazing client Sarah Henderson checkout this video library.

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Are Protein Shakes Good for Weight Loss?

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Are Protein Shakes Good for Weight Loss?

Protein shakes seem like a convenient way to cut calories and lose weight, but are they really worth all the hype, especially when it comes to weight loss? As with most questions like this though, the answer depends. The folks from Eat This, Not That asked me and other health experts to weigh in with our best thinking when it comes to protein shakes.

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Your Motion to Move (in Three Planes) Is Granted

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Your Motion to Move (in Three Planes) Is Granted

Busy professionals spend the bulk of their days sitting at their desks, in meetings, on planes or in cars. Even the most disciplined can struggle finding enough time to stretch, do cardio and lift weights—all of which we know improve mobility, reduce pain and improve brain performance, not to mention improve the way we look and feel. When they do find time to move, they often don’t realize their exercises are keeping them exclusively in one “plane of motion.” Most of us need more planes of motion training in our workouts. But what does that mean? Read on in my latest Fit Counselor column for Law.com.

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7 Scenarios When Not Working Out Is the Healthier Choice

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7 Scenarios When Not Working Out Is the Healthier Choice

My clients tend to be super successful, Type A, driven professionals who demand a lot from themselves (and the world around them). This can be a really positive trait and an attitude that helps people get the results they want from their workouts. But sometimes, especially with the stress of our 24/7, always online culture, this can be dialed up too high and they push too hard. I recommend listening to your body. If you ignore your body, it will only scream louder. So what does that look like? Start with this MyFitnessPal Blog post with comments from me and other trainers where we explore seven situations when the best thing for your health really is to stay away from the gym. (And it’s not just when you’re sick.)

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How to Eat (and Exercise) to Get Six-Pack Abs

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How to Eat (and Exercise) to Get Six-Pack Abs

I'm always honored when media outlets like US News & World Report come to me for advice. While I tend to care more about a client’s health, mobility and performance over "getting ripped abs" there is NOTHING wrong with having aesthetic goals. And getting lean and seeing your abs pop is a common one (for me too!). So check out this article for my #1 nutritional advice for getting abs and for tips from other top fitness pros.

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9 Useful Gym Machines

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9 Useful Gym Machines

US News & World Report asked me and several other top fitness pros which machines in the gym are best for women. Note, these machines are great for both genders. Women belong on the bench press just as much as men. And men could benefit from traditional "female" exercises like pilates, barre and glute kick backs. Many folks, male and female, aren’t comfortable lifting free weights and barbells, but they still need to tackle resistance and cardio training in their workouts. Here are nine user-friendly gym machines anyone can use to get in shape. And for a tutorial on how to row with great form check out this post with pal Lauren Barkan.

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JJFit and Garmin Coach Help You Get Race Ready

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JJFit and Garmin Coach Help You Get Race Ready

I was thrilled and honored to be asked by the folks at Garmin to contribute some of my best tips for getting race ready for a 5k, 10k and half marathon to the kick *ss Garmin Coach app. Garmin Coach has everything you need to safely train for a big event including helpful articles with advice from yours truly! If you’re considering a race in the coming weeks or months check out these resources: Helping Your Body Handle Long Distances and Your Race Nutrition Plan. And give Garmin Coach a try!

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5 Common Workout Excuses Keeping You Out of the Gym—and How to Beat Them

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5 Common Workout Excuses Keeping You Out of the Gym—and How to Beat Them

The toughest part about committing to—and sticking with—an exercise program is getting your mind to go along with it. Learn how to jump over five mental hurdles and confront common excuses that could derail your best intentions. Check out my interview in Real Simple for tips from me and other coaches.

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So You’re Not a Morning Workout Person—Here’s How to Become One

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So You’re Not a Morning Workout Person—Here’s How to Become One

When it comes to exercising, a morning workout has several advantages. Shift your workouts to the a.m. hours to reap the rewards with these simple strategies from me and other leading coaches in this RealSimple.com article by my pal Karen Asp. And check out these posts from the JJFit.com archive for more advice on improving your sleep.

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Podcast: Pivoting When Work Gets Out of Whack

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Podcast: Pivoting When Work Gets Out of Whack

As a corporate and private personal trainer, massage therapist with my own studio, group fitness instructor, nutrition coach, corporate wellness consultant, blogger, writer and occasional model (::hair flip::) I have a lot of demands for my time and attention. I love what I do and it’s easy to let my work life and business take over and eat up all my spare time leaving little to none for the other parts of me. Several times over the years while building my little JJFit Empire I’ve found myself overwhelmed and off balance and had to reset and reprioritize my projects. In this episode of PM for SB Podcast I share my experience, strategies and tools for pivoting when things get out of whack.

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How to Lift Your Way to a Bigger, Smarter Brain

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How to Lift Your Way to a Bigger, Smarter Brain

Conventional wisdom — and that weird librarian from middle school — say reading books is the best way to become smarter. But new research shows that pumping iron can also bring about significant cognitive gains, and the more you exercise, the smarter you become. Check out my interview in MEL to learn how to increase brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) for increased neuronal plasticity through a mix of HIIT and long duration training. Gotta get those brains, bro!

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Ouch! Too Much Sitting Leads to Muscle Pain. What to Do? (Law.com)

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Ouch! Too Much Sitting Leads to Muscle Pain. What to Do? (Law.com)

Many of my clients suffer from occasional muscle spasms in the back, hips, legs and shoulders due to what I call “desk life.”Mobility, strength and core training can help guard against these problems, but sometimes it’s necessary to go a step further to help treat and prevent flare-ups, whether they’re caused by too much sitting or by an injury. Common ways to deal with muscle spasms include visiting a chiropractor, physical therapist or massage therapist. But there are some less common ways. Check out my latest Law.com column for four treatments that many of my clients have used to reduce pain and get back on their feet again.

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