With ninety degree heat and frequent beach trips becoming a summer reality, one trend we inevitably encounter each season is an uptick in calls for summer weight loss programs. Usually, this sort of program conjures images...

Two simple steps to flatten the stomach, tone the hips and eliminate nagging pain…. Why does it always seem as if the right decisions are also the hardest? By this I am referring to the hundreds of small choices we...

Learn how to improve your 5K time while cutting down on garbage volume. With Mayfaire finally behind us, runners across Polk County can look forward to a summer of races and runs in the blazing heat (cough). I write this...

Tired of boring sixty minute workouts? Learn how to countdown the clock by cranking up the efficiency and intensity. Around the middle of every year, a very predictable trend in most gyms across America is groaning and...

Despite our differing goals, ages and needs, one common denominator we all share are aches and pains. It seems no matter what we do or how much we stretch, everyone is dealing with a sore shoulder, an achy spot on the back...

For both personal trainers and athletes alike, the million dollar question when it comes to performance is how not to get injured. The truth is that if I possessed the definitive answer to this question, I would likely be...

One though which often crosses my mind when training younger athletes is that I wish I understood at their age what I now know about training. I must say have absolutely no regrets about falling in love with fitness learning...

Whether shaping up for summer or preparing for an event, one of the benefits of joining any gym are fitness classes which put a different spin on exercise. From zumba and spin to body pump and jam, I firmly believe each...

As the weather finally grows warmer outside, one thing we can look forward to this spring are the numerous races and triathlons our fine city has to offer. Whether this means running your first 5k or shattering previous...

As someone who has experienced corporate America and life in a big city, I consider myself lucky to do what I love in Lakeland (and by extension, Polk County). From running around Lake Hollingsworth (which rarely occurs...

Watching Charlie Sheen this week in various interviews about his drug habit and party lifestyle, I couldn’t help but think some are guilty of jumping to conclusions. It may well be that in Sheen’s case references to...

In the pursuit of a strong core, one of the eternal debates in the fitness industry is how much direct work should actually be done for the stomach. While “core stability” exercises such as planks, paloff presses...

Once upon a time, we (personal trainers, therapists and other fitness professionals) were taught that strengthening the abs was the cure all for every problem involving the core. Want to cure back pain? Strength the abs....

Despite assertions to the contrary by the women I have dated, I feel I can make the case that I know a fair bit about the opposite sex. Case in point: • I train over 50 women from ages 16-78 two to three times per...

In the quest for improved fitness, the equation is fairly straight forward: combine strength and conditioning with plenty of hard work and results will always fall in to place. While the first two components are fairly...

First, I must preface this article by stating I am not a dietician and it is not my intention to push my philosophy of nutrition upon anyone. In fact, I have been known to out perform individuals twice my size at the local...

Side Crunches, V-ups, Windshield Wipers and Tornado twists… Though I originally thought the last item on this list to be straight from the menu at Baskin Robins, this random assortment of exercises is one I found...

If I had to give only one piece of advice to someone seeking to achieve and maintain better shape, it would be to choose an physical activity that can be done on a regular basis — just make sure it doesn’t suck. What...

Current hype claims “being in great shape means reliance on gyms and personal trainers.” With every client my foremost goal is to dispel that statement as myth. In this day and age, I feel that dedication,...

As a personal trainer, one skill I have come to possess in abundance is the ability to distinguish whether or not someone is actually paying attention. And while most people seem to catch on quickly enough to instructions...

One of the eternal debates rages in fitness is the role of crunches in training the core. While many trainers (such as myself) advocate for exercises which require the abs to prevent motion (such as a plank) versus creating...

As I approach the big 29 (which might as well be 30), I recall some of the fondest memories of my childhood were spent enjoying a McDonald’s fish sandwich (my favorite) with my friends before Sunday School or hitting...