Mental Muscle Wellness

Dimensions of Wellness•Planning and Programming

Using Dimensions of Wellness to Set Goals

May 16, 2018
I have previously posted about Dimensions of Wellness and that I believe it is an important concept regarding whole person and whole life health. I want to talk a bit about using these Dimensions in goal setting. I pay a lot of lip service around here to training goals (Physical Health Dimension) and those are,
keep reading
Dimensions of Wellness

Dimensions of Wellness

May 9, 2018
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Many of my posts focus on physical health, training goals, and the like. However, our physical bodies are only one part of our overall wellness. It is awesome that in the past several years, more focus and attention has been brought to mental health and the impact it can
keep reading
Cardio•Planning and Programming

Heart Rate Zone Training: A Moving Target

May 2, 2018
Heart rate, quite simply put, is the number of times your heart beats in one minute. This number is both a key indicator of cardiovascular health, and also an excellent tool for helping design your own exercise programs. Whether you choose to take your heart rate old school style or whether you embrace the technology
keep reading
General Fitness•Planning and Programming

How to Palpate Heart Rate

April 25, 2018
In the world of fitness trackers, you might be wondering why I am devoting a post to manually taking a heart rate. Two reasons:  first, what happens when the battery inevitably dies during a workout? Second, fitness trackers are notoriously inaccurate. And, a bonus reason, I think it is important that if you are going
keep reading
Safety•Strength Training

The Lifter, The Spotter, and The Successful Work Out

April 18, 2018
Strength training is a hugely important form of exercise. In fact, far too few people realize that and engage in this type exercise, but that’s a post for another day. One of the most important aspects of strength training is spotting. Spotting, if you are a complete newbie (and welcome by the way), is a
keep reading
Safety•Strength Training

Five Steps for Effective Strength Training

April 11, 2018
A story: several years ago (ok like, a decade at this point) I was strength training at my gym. You know, typical afternoon workout, headphones on, working my way through the free weights, minding my own business. I feel a tap on my shoulder, so I turn and remove said headphones and peer quizzically at
keep reading
General Fitness•Safety

Straight Up

April 4, 2018
Confession… I like to people watch. It doesn’t come from any weird voyeuristic place; I am just genuinely interested in people. Given that part of my job entails me watching my clients to ensure proper form, I’m guessing that sometimes I just can’t shut it off. Over the years, I have come to notice one
keep reading
General Fitness

Body Composition Part II

March 28, 2018
In Part I, I covered some background on body composition “measurements” and talked a bit about two common techniques used in gyms and by fitness pros. In this segment, I want to address two other measurements that are typically assessed with and lumped into the body composition category but have absolutely NOTHING to do with
keep reading
General Fitness

Body Composition, Part I

March 23, 2018
I have found that there is one constant in the exercise world. Regardless of gender, age, goal, or training status, e’erbody wants to know their body composition. Like, seriously, everyone. I have worked in several gyms and it is common for personal trainers to offer periodic events that are open to anyone and are free.
keep reading
General Fitness•Planning and Programming

Goal Setting

March 14, 2018
Goal setting is one of the least talked about, least thought about, least managed parts of most fitness or wellness endeavors. And, I know you’ll be shocked to read this, it is one of the most important.
keep reading