Three at Home Moves for a Strong Booty

Three at Home Moves for a Strong Booty

If you are stuck at home with no squat rack or barbells and your legs and booty are missing deadlifts, leg press and squats all is not lost! These are three of my favorite moves that hit the glutes and quads and all you need is something to brace against and a smooth floor/hand towel.⠀⠀⠀

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5 Strategic Strength Progressions Beyond “Just Add More Weight, Brah”

5 Strategic Strength Progressions Beyond “Just Add More Weight, Brah”

The most common way to make an exercise harder is simply to add more weight. But adding more weight isn’t always an option, particularly if you are working out at home. And sometimes just adding more weight even if you have access to it isn’t always the best choice if you have injuries or joint issues. There are several strategic ways you can progress exercises to challenge your body and avoid plateaus in strength-building.

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7 Awesome Kettlebell Alternatives You Already Have at Home

7 Awesome Kettlebell Alternatives You Already Have at Home

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.

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At Home Monster Band Strength Workout

At Home Monster Band Strength Workout

I’ve been doing a lot of virtual training sessions with new and existing clients over the past few weeks. We’ve been experimenting with different free and affordable equipment options from recycled water jugs to adjustable dumbbells and kettlebells and all sorts of resistance bands. For clients who want to work on building strength and muscle and mimic heavy barbell and dumbbell moves they’re used to in the gym but don’t want to spend a fortune I recommend getting a set of monster bands. In this post I’ll show you 15 videos for how you can still lift heavy at home including squats, deadlifts, lunges, lat pull downs, reverse flies, rows, presses and core work.

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Total Body At Home "Milk Jug Workout" (from the Bay Club Blog)

Total Body At Home "Milk Jug Workout" (from the Bay Club Blog)

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!

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JJ Launches Virtual Training for Existing and New Clients

JJ Launches Virtual Training for Existing and New Clients

With the new reality of sheltering in place for the foreseeable future many of my clients have inquired about virtual training. I’ve long offered FaceTime training to my clients to help keep them fit and sane while they travel or when they move outside the Bay Area. My clients Tom, Erica and Raquel (and their pups!) can attest that whether they are working out with me from their homes or from a hotel room we can still get a good workout in using whatever equipment and tools we have on hand. So I’m officially offering this service to all my existing and new clients. Keep reading to learn how it works.

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The Best JJFit Workouts You Can Do Anywhere

The Best JJFit Workouts You Can Do Anywhere

Since my students and clients are staying home and not able to come see me for training and group fitness at Equinox and Bay Club for the foreseeable future they are hungry to get safe and effective workouts. So I've compiled some of my own personal "do anywhere" workouts that require minimal equipment. It's time to get creative, folks! These "water jug workouts" are my favorite and are actually really challenging!

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Workout with Me Anytime for Free with ClassPass Go

Workout with Me Anytime for Free with ClassPass Go

A lot of my students and clients have asked me how they can keep up their fitness while staying home. Here is one of my all time favorites. You can workout with me and some of my favorite trainer friends for FREE via the ClassPass Go app. These are audio workouts with visual references and music built in. There are yoga, running, strength, stretching, cardio and meditation classes for every level. Here are my picks from my library. Stay safe, stay fit! Just download the app in the App Store here.

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The 10-Minute Total Body Workout You Can Do Anywhere

The 10-Minute Total Body Workout You Can Do Anywhere

A lot of folks are staying home and practicing social distancing during this scary time. I've been getting a lot of questions from JJFit.com readers who want to workout at home but have limited equipment. In this blog post I show you 10 total body exercises you can do at home using this hip band and a basic resistance band. If you can't make it to the gym hopefully these will keep you fit and sane for the time being.

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5 Lifestyle Tweaks That Will Dramatically Improve Your Wellbeing

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

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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New 6-Week RunFit Boot Camp Starting in February

New 6-Week RunFit Boot Camp Starting in February

Want to amp up your cardio and endurance fitness in 2020? Join me in my new 6-week RunFit Boot Camp! Classes will consist of a mix of speed work, hills, tempo and endurance running both indoor and outdoor, as well as strength circuits designed to improve your mobility and strengthen your core, back and glutes. Perfect for all levels and experience, this scalable 18-class program is open to Bay Club members as well as non-members.

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Five Simple Stretches Every Desk Worker Should Do

Five Simple Stretches Every Desk Worker Should Do

For this post I’ve enlisted the help of one of San Francisco’s most talented and credentialed chiropractors, soft tissue specialists and athletes—Dr. Nick Cruze. Chronic sitting, typing on devices and stress leads to shoulder, back and hip pain (not to mention unwanted body fat and other health issues). While I recognize it’s not always possible to abandon the office or laptop to hit a yoga class or to go for a walk, it IS possible to spend a minute or two several times a day to stretch and give those tight, shortened muscles some relief before they turn into serious issues. In this video Dr. Cruze shares five stretches he most often recommends to desk-bound patients to safely provide relief. 

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Follow JJ on Spotify for 100+ Workout Playlists

Follow JJ on Spotify for 100+ Workout Playlists

Part of my job as a group fitness instructor is to curate motivating playlists for my students. A good song can make all the difference between “f-ck it” and “f-ck yeah”. Over the years I’ve created and archived over 100 playlists from my Equinox Body Challenge, Pure Strength, Metcon and Ropes and Rowers classes. So if you’re looking for some inspiration for your next cardio or lifting session I’ve got over 80 hours of killer music for you. Check me out on Spotify.

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Consider Offset Training for Core, Stability and Athleticism

Consider Offset Training for Core, Stability and Athleticism

“Offset training” when you perform a complex exercise carrying weight on just one side of your body can be a great way to challenge your core, build stability and improve athleticism. Bracing your core, locking in your shoulders and maintain tension are key for successfully performing any offset exercise. In this post I share three videos of my favorite offset exercises which, depending on your goals and baseline fitness, are perfect as a primary exercise, warm up or finisher.

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SF’s Dynamic Duo: Chiropractors and So Much More!

SF’s Dynamic Duo: Chiropractors and So Much More!

I get asked all the time by clients, gym members and colleagues who I trust for care when I’m in pain or injured. Dr. Brad Bailey and Dr. Nick Cruze at SF Premier Chiropractic are hands-down my go-to guys for keeping my body in great working order. They have successfully helped dozens of my clients recover from injuries, reduce pain and improve posture. Literally every person I have sent them has improved and raves about the quality of care. They are the real deal and I’m so proud to have them as JJFit partners. And I’m grateful that Dr. Cruze took a few minutes to be interviewed here for those curious about their practice. 

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

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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