Most people overestimate what they can do in a day, and underestimate what they can do in a month. We overestimate what we can do in a year, and underestimate what we can accomplish in a decade.Matthew Kelly, "The Long Run" I often think about this quote - as it pertains to health and fitness, … Continue reading Big leaps are the result of small steps
How nice would it be if the time we had to spend in the gym equaled the number of exercise variations? Trick question. It really wouldn’t be super great. Who wants to spend hours and hours in the gym? Personally, I’d rather be spending time outside, enjoying a craft beer with friends, cooking a new … Continue reading Aim for an Effective AND Efficient Workout
In the almost six years I’ve worked in the fitness industry, I feel as if I’ve seen it all. Exercises done incorrectly, ridiculous diet strategies followed, unnecessary (and expensive!) supplements purchased, and that’s just to name a few in a list I’m sure will continue to grow. But through the craziness, there’s still one negative … Continue reading Cheat Your Workout, Cheat Yourself.
Last week, we talked about the relationship between static and dynamic stretching. Each is important and each has a different purpose within the context of a well-rounded program. This week, we bring in the third piece to the puzzle: stability. Not only do our bodies need to be able to move well through full ranges … Continue reading Staying Put.
In the gym, we lift perfectly shaped dumbbells, walk on treadmills, sit on machines designed to target a single muscle group, and pedal bikes that we don’t balance as we ride. But how often do we encounter these in our everyday life? If your day looks anything like mine, chances are grocery bags are never … Continue reading Working Out for Life
Time for some Tuesday, trainer tough love. Every once in a while, I have a few topics that come up – either common misconceptions, ideas and exercises people get wrong, whatever they may be. We’re going to tackle these on Tuesdays with bonus articles. They might be what you want to hear. They might be … Continue reading You Can’t Tone Your Muscles
In the research, this mind-muscle connection is referred to as “attentional focus”. This is the practice of directing our attention to the muscle or group of muscles we wish to activate during a particular exercise. For example, during a cable-pull through, we want to target the posterior chain. This primarily includes the glutes and hamstrings, … Continue reading Mind-Muscle Connection: Fact or Fiction?
In an effort to encourage moving more throughout the day, many companies and individuals are moving to standing desks or adjustable sit-stand desks However, be aware that moving from seated to standing while maintaining improper posture is simply allowing the problem to continue in a different position. Standing is often seen as the fix. However, if … Continue reading Straighten Up Your Posture
This week on the podcast, I talked about building self-confidence and being unapologetically yourself. In 2018 my goal is to be more positive and optimistic, regardless of the situation. One way that I’ve been doing this is to recognize negative thoughts and, especially, negative self-talk. Negative self-talk is defined as the act or practice of … Continue reading Refocus
On Monday, I talked about we’ve strayed too far from the basics of exercise. Clients are looking for the quick fix. The fitness industry is fully saturated and coaches are trying to stand out among the thousands of people. But it's not only exercise, we see this in nutrition as well. Coaches are advising clients … Continue reading Back to Basics: Nutition
coachemilymeyer.com 