Over the last 20 years of training clients from all walks of life, I've realized that even though there is great diversity in the needs and goals of each of them, that systematically it is essentially the same approach I take to all of their programs. Since the bulk of the athletes I work with are either football players or baseball/softball players, it always came … [Read more...] about It’s Just Movement
The Power of the Placebo Effect
This story goes back many years when I was working with an older client who was sedentary for most of his life, kept a poor diet at best, and constantly struggled with health issues and his weight. So when someone with his profile in his mid-60s comes in one day and tells you he found a new diet pill he's taking, the alarms immediately go off. After investigation, he tells … [Read more...] about The Power of the Placebo Effect
Deadlift Grip
Deadlift grip on the bar: My personal preference for all my clients is to go with a double overhand grip until their grip becomes the limiting factor, which usually isn't the case until we get into the 1-3 rep range and then we can go to a mixed grip. I think too many people go to a mixed grip too early (even in their warmups) which I find limits their grip development and … [Read more...] about Deadlift Grip
Corrective Exercise and Tuning Your Body
Corrective Exercise is much like tuning a guitar. Movement equates to the skill of playing music and the body is the instrument. Even if you're a talented musician, you will be limited in expressing your skill if you have an instrument that is out of tune. On the flip side, even if you're guitar is tuned, it doesn't make you Jimi Hendrix, just like having good fundamental … [Read more...] about Corrective Exercise and Tuning Your Body
Today’s Meathead Translations so you are better prepared for the weight room
If the bar is loaded with... 1 plate each side (135lbs): "Dry Toast" 2 plates each side (225lbs): "Grilled Cheese" 3 plates each side (315lbs): "The Baloney Sandwich" 4 plates each side (405lbs): "The Big Hoagie" #ONEHumanPerformance #TalkTheTalk #WhoOrderedTheBaloney … [Read more...] about Today’s Meathead Translations so you are better prepared for the weight room
The Totem Pole for Training Athletes: Training Hierarchy, Specialization and Managing it All
The Modern Day Amateur AthleteThe dynamics of training today’s athlete have become increasingly complex with the rising popularity of personal skill coaches, year-round specialization and athletes playing on multiple teams simultaneously.As a performance coach, it often leaves us wondering with all this time dedicated to sport practice an d game competition, when do … [Read more...] about The Totem Pole for Training Athletes: Training Hierarchy, Specialization and Managing it All
The Backstory to a Bad Squat
At first glance you look at this picture and the take away is an obviously ugly squat. But before we get all high and mighty, know that this is happening in just about every weight room in every high school everywhere, everyday. There is more to it though. This poor kid is going to go home and this is what's going to happen: Kid: "Mom, where is the Advil, my back … [Read more...] about The Backstory to a Bad Squat
One Plus One Sometimes Equals Less Than Two
I love pizza. I also love ice cream.However, if I dipped my pizza in ice cream, it would probably be pretty gross and ruin both.What does this have to do with health and fitness???One of my good clients came in last week and was telling me about a new Spin class he just tried out that he really liked. Done well, I think indoor cycling classes are an awesome option for … [Read more...] about One Plus One Sometimes Equals Less Than Two
Sometimes More is Just More
So this morning I'm scrolling through my news feed and I come across this:http://www.emirates247.com/offbeat/crazy-world/cop-swats-world-planking-record-2014-09-29-1.564574Apparently a Chinese police officer, who is a member of the Beijing Police department SWAT team, has broken the world record for planking. According to the Metro, Mao Weidong stayed in a plank … [Read more...] about Sometimes More is Just More
Venus, Mars & the Weight Room: Training Effects on Females vs. Males
As I sit here this morning with legs slightly quivering from this morning's lower body workout, I am reminded again just how differently men are versus women when it comes to our thinking about strength training. Hopefully the following does not come off as sexist in any way and that my female friends who are trainers and/or have spent some time in the weight room will … [Read more...] about Venus, Mars & the Weight Room: Training Effects on Females vs. Males
Clearing Up the Clean: Why You Should or Should Not Do Power Cleans
Being in and around weight rooms and serving as a consultant to countless athletic teams, there are some themes that I find are unfortunately recurring and common:1. The football team is usually the only team that has an organized (somewhat) lifting program2. That program is usually Bench Press, Squat and Power Clean with a bunch of other random exercises piled on3. This … [Read more...] about Clearing Up the Clean: Why You Should or Should Not Do Power Cleans
Good vs Bad Exercise, Nice to Do vs NEED to Do
If you work in the fitness business, you don't get too far into your day without someone asking you what I call a "Good/Bad" question…"Is Pilates good for you???"" I heard that Upright Rows are bad for you. Is that true???"You know why these questions are tricky? Because the answer is usually both or neither.It is analogous to nutrition, in that there are only a few foods … [Read more...] about Good vs Bad Exercise, Nice to Do vs NEED to Do
Not bad meaning bad, but bad meaning good?!?!
The moment in any conversation when the person you're talking to finds out that you are a trainer, they immediately pepper you with questions about training and diet theories they have learned from sound bytes on the news or at the hair salon or glossy magazines."Oh, I heard _______ are bad for you. Is that true???", or "I do _______ because I saw so and so say that … [Read more...] about Not bad meaning bad, but bad meaning good?!?!
Top 5 Mistakes Coaches Make in Their Practice Plans
After being involved as a coach and trainer for many years at the Pee Wee to Professional level, I am always intrigued by the habits of successful coaches and programs and try to study the habits and elements that make them great. One of the biggest common components of winning teams that I have found is their approach to practice and training. In Daniel Coyle’s book the … [Read more...] about Top 5 Mistakes Coaches Make in Their Practice Plans
Cross-Fit: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
Anytime there is a new fitness craze, I get asked during training sessions, social events, trips to the food store and ball games if the workout, diet or program has merit. Many of these often come and go so quickly that I don’t bother to take the time to even learn about them.The questions that I currently am getting often involve Cross Fit, a workout brand and chain of … [Read more...] about Cross-Fit: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
Achieving Vitality Through the Triad of Health
What makes One Human Performance’s programs unique is our attention to detail and the recognizing the individuality of each of our clients. We do this through an integrated method of addressing their distinct fitness, lifestyle and nutrition needs based on what is called a “Triad of Health”. The concept of the Triad is borrowed from the work of Dr. Goodheart, the … [Read more...] about Achieving Vitality Through the Triad of Health
Women and Weights: Why ALL Women Need Strength Training
The fitness industry has evolved tremendously over the past thirty years, and unfortunately for women, many of the programs offered today aren’t addressing females’ key needs. One of the pervasive myths is that training with weights immediately renders women as Herculean beasts with Schwarzenegger-like biceps. Nothing could be further from the truth and here are some … [Read more...] about Women and Weights: Why ALL Women Need Strength Training
Defending the FMS….Again
"Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former." -Albert EinsteinI tried, believe me I did, to not take the bait.But when a I see a post on Facebook for an article titled "I HATE the Functional Movement Screen", I couldn't help myself from responding. As someone who has used the FMS for years with great success and … [Read more...] about Defending the FMS….Again
The 21 Myth: The Quest for FMS Perfection
For many that have come across the Functional Movement Screen (FMS), they are familiar with the scoring system of 7 tests graded from 0 to 3, with a perfect score then being 21.The attention then immediately turns for most into "How do I get a 21???"Many of our clients are often shocked when I say that I don't care if they are a 21. Sure it would be nice to be perfect, but … [Read more...] about The 21 Myth: The Quest for FMS Perfection
Cold exposure to heat up your metabolism
Your body is an adaptive organism that is always fighting to maintain what is called homeostasis, or middle ground. For example, if it is hot outside, you will begin to sweat to cool down. The inverse is also true that when it is cold, we begin to shiver to get warm. What research has also found is that brief and controlled exposure to extreme cold can help boost … [Read more...] about Cold exposure to heat up your metabolism