By Justin Kompf Imagine that you had to think about which hand to pick a phone up with every time it rang, if you had to consciously deliberate on whether or not to brush your teeth in the morning, or put…
By NASM Some personal trainers have an impressive list of credentials but a small client base, while others aren’t as educated but are always booked. What’s the difference between them? In this episode, Rick Richey discusses how to find the…
By Brad Dieter The holiday season can be a stressful time to adhere to a regular diet schedule. There are holiday parties, travel, an abundance of holiday goodies lying around the house, and there is more time spent indoors and…
By Dana Bender I love to travel to new destinations and experience new cities, cultures, and cuisines. If you are similar to me and exercise is an ingrained daily habit, the question becomes, “how do I stay active and exercise…
By Brad Dieter For many people, clients and coaches alike, the start of a new year means a fresh outlook and often, resolutions to change or improve certain areas of your life. Sadly, many New Year’s resolutions don’t end up…
By Justin Kompf Most personal trainers, at some point, will have a consultation with a client who has a weight loss goal. For a few weeks, I had one of my clients message me everything they ate along with their…
BY DR. ALLISON BRAGER As a result of advancing technologies in science and engineering, we can study the brain in real-time from many different angles. We can study the strength and intensity of connections between different brain areas as well…
Finally, a data-driven guide to pricing your services, making more money, and leveling up as a coach. By Camille DePutter and M.J. Perrier, PhD “What should I charge?” At some point, every nutrition coach asks that question. You could be…
By Dana Bender Feelings of stress can manifest in different ways for different people. In some cases, internal tension emerges because situations in our lives do not match our internal expectations, or because things do not go as per our…
By Alexandra Williams Avocados may be one solution to manage hunger and aid in metabolic control, according to findings from the Center for Nutrition at Illinois Institute of Technology. In a crossover clinical trial with 31 adults classified as overweight/obese,…
By Joy Keller It’s an hour before your session starts, and you get a text from your client Kelly, a 33-year-old mom of two who is 50 pounds overweight, has just been diagnosed as being prediabetic, and is trying to…
By Cathie Ericson There are some things that most of your clients of any age can probably agree on. For example, burpees are unpleasant yet satisfying, and a playlist that includes Beyoncé can make just about any workout fly by…
By Alexandra Williams As a fitness professional, you’re likely familiar with exercise-induced asthma (EIA) or exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB), which can cause symptoms like wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath or a tightness in the chest—particularly in cold, dry air. This type…
By Angie Miller MS In the gym, we expect to use our body’s full range of motion. In life, we’re entitled to a full range of emotions, too. Provided we’re able to express and manage our emotions appropriately, this is…
By Ryan Halvorson It’s a scene many personal trainers know well. You’re working with a client who feels defeated and wants to quit, and you have to show a little tough love. Chris Powell specializes in this. “Every time you…
By Brad Dieter One of the most important things regarding “healthy eating” is to understand that what we eat is tied into our habits. A habit is defined as: “a settled or regular tendency or practice, especially one that is…
By Angie Miller I became an NASM Certified Personal Trainer in 2005, after more than a decade of experience teaching group fitness. My inspiration came from my participants, my trusted community of followers, who convinced me that it was time…
By Brad Dieter In an era of catchy blogs, celebrity diets, and access to all of the world’s information at your fingertips, managing a client’s expectations for safe and healthy weight loss can be a challenge. Despite these challenges, the…
By Sean Greeley If you’re like most newly certified personal trainers, you’re uncomfortable thinking about how to market yourself to generate leads and build up a client base. That’s because fitness is your passion … and suddenly fitness has become…
By Pete McCall Thanks to social media, the explosive popularity of studio-based group workout programs, and the fact that many top actors work with a personal trainer to develop the sculpted physiques you see in the movies, many people are…
By Pete Mc Call Here’s a little confession: before becoming a fitness professional, I was a history geek. Seriously, at one point, I thought about becoming a (cool) high school history teacher, which is why it’s fun for me to…
By Dana Bender With the growing utilization of technology in both personal and professional life, there seems to be less time to “just be” without a plethora of stimuli around us. Between computer use at work, smartphone use in our…
By Sean Greeley The strength of your business is equal to the strength of your network. Here’s what I mean… Many fitness professionals and personal trainers invest huge amounts of time learning their craft. They work hard to get certified,…
By Kat Barefield Lifespan, Healthspan and Playspan Humans are living longer than ever before with the help of modern medicine, science, technology, and access to adequate nutrition. Although the human lifespan can now extend past the century mark, healthspan, which…
By Fabio Comana Mention the term ‘metabolism’ and it captures attention given how obsessed many of us have become over calories. As a certified personal trainer, this is a topic you may get asked about from time to time. To the…
By JOSEPH WEISS , DANIELLE WEISS Each of us has held beliefs—obtained through observation, experience or even formal education—that were later found to be wrong. In fact, medical schooling begins with a warning: “Half of all that you will be taught…
By SARAH SCHRENK As a group fitness instructor or personal trainer, you excel at leading and educating. Have you ever fantasized about taking your expertise beyond the confines of the studio? Take a moment to recall an engaging presenter at the…
By Brad Dieter IS SUGAR REALLY BAD FOR YOU? Sugar has been in the headlines of popular media sites, the tagline of diet books, and the sole focus of many blogs over the last decade. Despite recent interest from mainstream…
By Julia Malacoff and Jennifer Nickle From ruining your progress to making you feel like a failure, food cravings aren’t your friend (no matter what they say). In this article, we break down the real reasons you can’t stop over-snacking,…
By John Berardi, Ph.D. Work stressing you out? Life in general? Having trouble staying consistent with your exercise and nutrition plan? If so, this article is for you. Why do most guys tend to get weaker, fatter, and less healthy…
By Geoff Lecovin KETOGENIC DIET: SHOULD YOU JOIN THE KETO KRAZE? In this article you will learn: What constitutes a ketogenic diet? Ketogenic diet foods/sample meal plan Potential health benefits of the ketogenic diet Potential adverse health effects of the…
By Krista Scott-Dixon, Ph.D. How to solve the two biggest health and fitness problems most women face. Feeling overworked and under-appreciated? Having trouble staying consistent with nutrition and fitness because of life’s demands? Wondering if you’ll ever be able to…
By Krista Scott-Dixon, Ph.D. Diet challenges are usually all about what you can’t eat. But what if you could see huge results from a self-experiment that doesn’t make any foods off-limits? Instead of focusing on what you eat, our 30-day…
By NASM Discomfort from too much sitting? Inactive glutes? Buttock and leg pain? Though small in size, the piriformis could have a big impact on keeping the human movement system moving smoothly. Addressing an overactive piriformis may be part of…
By Amanda Vogel MA Ever wonder how some fitness professional get the opportunity to be featured and quoted as experts in magazine articles, on TV and on popular blogs? Developing relationships with journalists and producers to gain publicity is easier…
By Danny Lennon In this article: What is the Mediterranean Diet? Mediterranean Diet Foods Mediterranean Diet Nutrient Profile Daily Food Servings Mediterranean Lifestyle Health Benefits of the Mediterranean Diet Mediterranean Diet and Weight Loss Take-Home Points Should You Adopt the…
BY CANDICE DYER The SoheeFit studio in San Diego is a gleaming, modern and welcoming fitness center with upbeat music. One thing is noticeably missing, though. There is no cardio equipment. That’s because owner Sohee Lee, MS, typically ends up…
9 reasons eating well isn’t as straightforward as we’d like it to be. By John Berardi, Ph.D. From a certain perspective, nutrition science can seem like a mess. From another, it illustrates the very nature (and beauty) of the scientific…
By NASM Early to bed and early to rise? This sleep pattern may not make you wealthy or wise (as the saying goes), but it does seem to be linked to better health. Early risers not only have healthier eating…
By Amanda Vogel MA There’s nothing wrong with delegating your social media posting to someone else. Just be sure that person or agency is qualified. When hiring someone to help you with your fitness brand’s content and direction on social…
From lack of know-how to fear of failure, there are plenty of reasons coaches struggle to develop an engaged social media following. But it may not be as complicated as it seems. Try this simple but effective advice from Precision…
By Amanda Vogel You’ve likely heard of social media influencers: people who post frequently and have audiences in the hundreds of thousands or millions. These folks often garner a lot of attention and can command large paychecks to promote brands and…
By NASM Desk-bound employees can develop a hunched posture that saps energy and strength. Here’s a safe-for-the-office routine that can help. For many people, nine-hour workdays are the minimum—and lunch breaks are short or taken at the desk. Even if…
By Kathy Popplewell As a fitness professional you are in a great position to become a community leader, with the ability to rally people in your area to a common cause while helping them improve their quality of life. in…
Why wishful thinking won’t get you results, but science might. By Dan Garner Nutrition is often seen as a belief system. In other words, the answer to “What should I eat?” is often based on faith, magical thinking, emotional attachments,…
![Sweet potatoes vs. potatoes: Which are really healthier? [Infographic] :](https://opstudiohk.inetasiapreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/image.png)
Let’s get to the bottom of this never-ending debate. By Brian St. Pierre, MS, RD, CSCS Sweet potatoes vs. potatoes: A nutritional debate fueled by misinformation, baseless ‘superfood’ obsessions, and carbohydrate phobias. Here’s how these tubers compare — and why…
By Amanda Boyer MS, RDN, CD, NASM-CPT Twenty nineteen is upon us and New Year’s resolutions are on many people’s mind. It is common that goals are oriented around body shape or weight loss, which we have found can sometimes cause…
by Dr. David Tiberio Kerrigan DC, Todd MK, Della Croce U, Lipsitz LA, Collins JJ. Biomechanical gait alterations independent of speed in healthy elderly: evidence for specific limiting impairments. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 199879:317-322. The purpose of this study was…
BY LANCE C. DALLECK A myth can be defined as an untrue explanation for a natural phenomenon. Unfortunately, numerous myths remain pervasive and well-engrained throughout the fitness industry, in particular as it pertains to various performance and nutritional supplements. In…
By Dr. Krista Scott-Dixon, Dr. Helen Kollias, Jennifer Broxterman, MSc, RD, and Pamela Ruhland Hot flashes, mood swings, weight gain, brain fog: Menopause can make you wonder if your body is totally cuckoo. But what many women don’t realize is…
By Scott Keppel Just like a fitness training program, planning and a committed focus are key to achieving your personal success. In today’s fitness world (or the world of social media), you can’t go anywhere without hearing something along the lines…
By STACEY PENNEY, MS, NASM-CPT, CES, PES, FNS With Some Simple Planning You Can Be Ready for Success! It’s hard to believe that 2018 is quickly coming to a close as we focus on the hustle and bustle of the…
By Scott Keppel With the holidays here, time is of the essence. Both figuratively and literally. As a husband, father of 3 and business owner I get that finding time to get workouts in can be a challenge. The following…
By KANDI STULL Advertisers market their products to fight that 2:30 crash. Coffee chains promote their afternoon caffeinated happy hours to help get you through the day. Some cultures even have an after-lunch siesta to combat fatigue. What if there…
By Jennifer Broxterman, MSc, RD Forgetting things, feeling incapable, grappling with loneliness, and maybe not enjoying daily life? Aging is inevitable, but these symptoms don’t have to be. Whether you’re noticing them in yourself, or coaching someone who is, here’s…
By Sean GAGNON If you’re reading this article, congratulations. You either have a team or are looking to grow one. As many will tell you, one of the key things you can do to move from operator to owner is…
BY STACEY PENNEY, MS, NASM-CPT, CES, PES, FNS Bringing your pet dog to work, or anywhere for that matter, seems to have become the norm. But what about the fitness realm? Have you thought about bringing your dog to the…
By AMANDA BOYER, MS, RDN, CD, NASM-CPT You may have heard the phrase “intuitive eating” thrown around in the health and fitness realm as it’s gaining attention and a bit of popularity. As a non-diet dietitian, I couldn’t be happier that…
By Ellen Vora, M.D.Holistic Psychiatrist As a holistic psychiatrist practicing in busy New York City, there are two traits nearly all of my patients have in common: anxiety and caffeine consumption. And for the record, in general, I think that…
By John Berardi, Ph.D. Everyone in health and fitness eventually hits the same wall: Time. Specifically, they run out of it. They start feeling like there aren’t enough hours to coach clients, manage their businesses, and keep an eye on…
By Krista Scott-Dixon and Ryan Andrews When first starting out with a client or patient, things can feel a little uncertain. Especially if you’ve had this experience before: The client shows up, you work hard on them, they disappear (no closer…
Is it really worth the trade-off? By Ryan Andrews & Brian St. Pierre Six-pack abs. Tight butts. Lean, vibrant, flawless health. That’s the image the fitness industry is selling. But have you ever wondered what it costs to achieve that…
By JOSH ELSESSER Why do you do what you do? Who are you trying to help? What specifically are you going to do to help them? These are some of the questions that you’ll need to answer to have a clear…
By Brian St. Pierre How brain signaling drives what you eat. (And what to do about it). It’s no secret that obesity rates have been rising in the U.S. (and other industrialized nations) for the past 30 years. It’s also no…
By Frank Lipman, M.D.Pioneer in Functional Medicine Are you interested in optimizing your health? Are you overwhelmed by the amount of information and guidance out there? In his new book, How to Be Well, Dr. Frank Lipman organizes your health into six…
By JOSH ELSESSER As a personal trainer or fitness business owner, the need to continually bring in new clients or members is a constant. Ask any business coach, and you will hear a number of tried-and-true methods: “Focus on branding.”…
By Liz Moody Summer is officially here! And here at mbg we’re all about traveling light and creating space for real transformation. Whether you’re jetting off to faraway lands this year or just exploring new pockets of your neighborhood, these next few…
By Amanda Vogel Going to a fitness conference not only elevates your education and keeps you up to date on exciting trends, it’s a lot of fun! And being able to collect multiple CEUs all in one place is convenient,…
By NASM Turmeric continues to make some impressive health headlines. Best known as the spice behind curry, research is showing how it can potentially play a role in weight loss, along with preventing Alzheimer’s disease, cancer and other conditions. Introduction…
By GEOFF LECOVIN Ever wonder if soy is healthy? Read on to find out more plus a peek into the foods and products it’s in. WHAT IS SOY? Soybeans are a type of legume native to East Asia. They are…
By Ryan Andrews & Brian St. Pierre Exploring the pros and cons of this controversial food group. We’re often asked whether dairy is good or bad. Short answer: It depends. In this article, we’ll help you make sense of the…
Vincent M. Pedre, M.D.Gut Health Specialist & Best-Selling Author The mbg Collective is a curated group of our most trusted wellness advisers. Since 2009, we’ve had the brightest, most passionate, and mission-driven leaders in wellness share their intimate stories and world-class advice. Now, we’re…
By By Rick Richey, MS, LMT, NASM-CPT, CES, PES My years of corporate education in the fitness industry have proven over and over again, to me, that people are afraid of the word “SALES.” Many people wanting to become trainers have…
By FABIO COMANA Baking soda? Check out this kitchen cupboard staple’s role in exercise performance. Interestingly, December 30th is Bicarbonate of Soda Day – odd to think that we dedicate a day to commemorate a compound when so many exist. Historically,…
By Kimberly SnyderNutritionist & Best-Selling Author We all want great skin because it’s one of the first things people see! And while we rely on skin care products and makeup to some degree, I’m a firm believer in building beauty from…
By Amanda Vogel MA If you’re still ignoring social media as a marketing/communication tool for your fitness business in 2018, you need to catch up. With few exceptions, strategically using social media is now part of most people’s business life…
AMANDA VOGEL, MA These shortcuts make everything from using apps to creating graphics or videos more time efficient and less finicky. Preparing a constant stream of social-media posts that are interesting to your followers can be annoyingly time-consuming. Luckily, there…
by BRIAN KENT, NASM-CPT, CES, PES Before you grab a Halloween fun size candy out of the cauldron, here’s the creepy calorie count that will have you haunting the gym. October is known for homecoming, pumpkins and pumpkin-flavored everything, postseason…