JJFit in the News: Money Magazine's Best Online Personal Trainers
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Honored to be included in the discussion of The Best Online Personal Trainers and Fitness Coaches for Your Money in Money Magazine this month.
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5 Steps For Setting Successful Weight-Loss Goals
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There’s nothing like waking up to find you’ve been quoted as an expert on setting successful weight-loss goals on the MyFitnessPal Blog. I’m a huge fan of this app and the content on its blog is top notch. If you’re looking for smart, realistic tips for reaching your goals give this a read.
Read More5 Realistic Fitness Goals for the Next 12 Months
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I'm honored to be interviewed in this US News & World Report article about setting realistic health goals during these unprecedented times. My clients, students and I are all struggling with how to keep moving toward our mobility, strength and aesthetic goals with increased hours at the computer; decreased access to equipment, in person classes and in person training; and increased stress, anxiety and comfort eating. I share my thoughts on how to set and achieve goals for the next year using the tools you have and meeting yourself where you are.
Read More7 Awesome Kettlebell Alternatives You Already Have at Home
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Thanks to their incredible combo of simplicity and versatility, kettlebells are a hugely popular home fitness item these days. But if you’ve gone shopping for them online recently, you may have noticed that the wonderfully handled weights are a little, umm, scarce. Perhaps even worse, some are being sold for the gouge-iest of prices — as much as $3,000 on Amazon for a product that won’t arrive until the end of next month, at the earliest. Check out this post from my pal Steve Mazzucchi at GearPatrol.com who interviewed me and other fitness pros across the country for the best DIY solutions and homemade hacks that can mimic kettlebells in a pinch.
Read MoreBest Fitness Apps and Home Workouts (US News & World Report)
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Nothing like waking up and finding you’ve been quoted as an expert in virtual fitness coaching in a US News & World Report story!
Read MoreTotal Body At Home "Milk Jug Workout" (from the Bay Club Blog)
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The Bay Club, were I proudly train clients, is delivering killer at home workout ideas, virtual classes, nutrition tips and loads of other wellness tips on the One Lombard Blog. I am honored to share this milk jug series with you! Be sure to follow @bayclubs on IG for more inspiration. Now’s the time to get creative and stay positive!
Read MoreIs Sestrin Really the Key to the Fabled 'Exercise Pill'?
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In early January, as hordes of people were reminding themselves that working out sucks, a team of researchers from the University of Michigan released a study proposing what could someday become a miraculous pill that mimics the effects of exercise. Naturally, much of the media heard “exercise pill” and ran freaking wild, suggesting that this product could erase the need to workout altogether, gyms be damned. Is that really the takeaway here, though? In short: Eh. My pal Ian interviewed me and other fitness experts in this MEL Magazine story where we dig into this latest hype.
Read More4 Differences in How Cardio and Strength Affect Your Health
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The fitness world loves the debate: cardio or strength training? Which workout is best, and which can you cut from your exercise routine? The reality is cardio and strength don't need to be mutually exclusive – nor should they be. Both forms of exercise offer unique benefits and work well together. I was honored to be quoted in this discussion in this U.S. News & World Report article.
Read MoreInterview: How Taut Does Your Butt Need to Be to Bounce a Quarter Off It?
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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.
Read More5 Lifestyle Tweaks That Will Dramatically Improve Your Wellbeing
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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.
Read MoreRanking Exercises by How Useful — or Dangerous — They Are
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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.
Read MoreShould I Shower and Apply Deodorant Before Going to the Gym?
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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.
Read More3 Next-Level Moves: Time Under Tension, Eccentrics and Planes of Motion
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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.
Read MoreAre Protein Shakes Good for Weight Loss?
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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.
Read MoreYour Motion to Move (in Three Planes) Is Granted
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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.
Read More7 Scenarios When Not Working Out Is the Healthier Choice
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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.)
Read MoreHow to Eat (and Exercise) to Get Six-Pack Abs
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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.
Read MoreWhat Muscle Groups Should I Work Out Together?
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US News & World Report asked me and several other top fitness pros their thoughts on which muscle groups and super sets are best for various goals, particularly safety and efficiency in the gym. Check out this link for an array of exercises let you work out multiple muscle groups at the same time.
Read More9 Useful Gym Machines
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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.
Read MoreJJFit and Garmin Coach Help You Get Race Ready
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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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