What We Can Learn from Metabolic Testing

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What We Can Learn from Metabolic Testing

I'm a big fan of knowing what's going on with my body. And if there are simple, affordable tests I can take that can give me useful, actionable data to improve my health and inform my fitness program I'm all for it. So I recently engaged a local office of DexaFit to obtain a Dexa Scan Body Composition Analysis, RMR (Resting Metabolic Rate) Test, V02 Max Test and  Fit3D Posture Scan. In this post I outline what I learned from these tests and how I am applying that knowledge to optimize my fitness program. I've also included links to my full reports and photos from my experience to help you decide if similar testing makes sense for you.

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Are Slower Workouts the New Fitness Trend of 2017?

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Are Slower Workouts the New Fitness Trend of 2017?

I'm not one to jump on every cockamamie fitness trend that crosses my Instagram. Quite the opposite; I base my training recommendations on science and experience. Everyone knows I'm a fan of high intensity workouts. They are excellent for time-strapped professionals with hefty goals and not a lot of time. But it's important to ensure you're not abandoning lower intensity, steady-state work. If your goals include losing body fat, managing stress hormones and injury/overtraining prevention then check out my interview with LiveStrong.com. 

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Don't Call It a Comeback: Moderate-Intensity Exercise Is Still Effective

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Don't Call It a Comeback: Moderate-Intensity Exercise Is Still Effective

With all the hype and media attention given to high-intensity interval training (HIIT) over the past few years, you’d think everyone was doing it—and maybe they are. If they’re not, they may not be doing anything, believing if they’re not killing themselves during a workout, they’re not really gaining any benefits. But here’s the thing: Recent studies show that moderate-intensity activity still has many benefits. Check out my interview in the August 2017 issue of American Council on Exercise (ACE) Certified News for details on the latest research and tips for now to incorporate steady-state cardio back into your program. 

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5 Signs That Fitness Tracking Has Become Bad For Your Health

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5 Signs That Fitness Tracking Has Become Bad For Your Health

Wearables and fitness trackers can provide the motivation and accountability many people need to become less sedentary and lose excess weight. But for those prone to obsessive thoughts and behaviors, the same tools can turn dangerous. How do you know if you've crossed the line? Checkout my interview in Prevention Magazine for signs that you may be taking your pedometer checking, calorie counting, and other health tracking too far.

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Research Review: Heart Rate Monitoring and How We Interact With Wearables

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Research Review: Heart Rate Monitoring and How We Interact With Wearables

Last month Lisa Cadmus-Bertram, PhD and her research team at the University of Wisconsin published a study of wearable fitness trackers in the Annals of Internal Medicine. The study looked at how four popular trackers compared with an electrocardiogram and against each other for heart rate monitoring accuracy. Interpretation of the results by news media so far has been cautiously optimistic. Here's CNN's and ABC's coverage. My pals at LA Radio Studio and the Phil Hulett and Friends Show invited me on the air last week to discuss the study and how it may change the way we interact with our wearables. 

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