David, a former high school wrestler, had to give it all up after an injury ended his athletic career and resulted in him gaining a lot of weight. At his largest, he tipped the scales at 272 pounds while building his career as a rabbi and educator. Feeling like a powerful athlete trapped in …
In 2018, Blake Gauthier was reminded that life can change in a heartbeat. The 6-foot-7-inch Gauthier—who weighed 530 pounds at the time—literally dropped dead of a heart attack while walking down the street. Fortunately, he was brought back to life in time to realize that life is too short and too precious to take …
Small waist, round booty, and toned legs—do I have your attention? Over the past decade, more and more women have been embracing the weight room, which I, for one, think is awesome. Even so, there are still many misconceptions surrounding weight training for women. I am about to shine some light on the top …
When I was young, most of my role models were professional athletes. I marveled over Shaquille O’Neal’s dominance on the basketball court and was constantly in awe watching Ken Griffey Jr. effortlessly swing a baseball bat. Both of those superstars made their challenging craft look so easy. Although I have yet to haul down …
My grandfather, Albert Fagan, passed away in April of 2020, at 93 years old, amidst the coronavirus pandemic. Up until his condition worsened for various reasons, he had been pain-free, mobile, and an extremely strong and independent individual for years. And when I say “strong,” I don’t just mean strong for a man his …
Q: How do I go from lean to ripped—and should I even try? When most people think of being “shredded” or “ripped,” they envision a physique resembling a superhero’s in a comic book. They also think, “How does someone look like that and be healthy? And is that really healthy?” Ex …
Tanya Etessam thought she had her anorexia under control, but “control” is a loaded word for those battling eating disorders. The 32-year-old personal trainer and lifestyle coach from Miami has fought that battle for more than half her life, including a lengthy siege during her teenage years, starting when she was 12. “There was …
Drive comes from within. Energy comes from a solid diet, adequate sleep, and an active lifestyle. You’ve heard it all before. So let’s be real: All of those things matter a lot, but plenty of people who have those boxes checked also choose to take an occasional energy supplement. Why? Because the right energy …
Recently, I didn’t eat any food for 60 hours. Like, in a row. I know what you’re thinking. So much gains lost. Many catabolisms. Years ago, I would have been right there with you. In fact, I used to call intermittent fasting “intermittent starving.” I thought it was the dumbest thing …
“A couple years ago, I was sitting in a hotel restaurant on a business trip, and I couldn’t convince a young guy, about 25, and his friends that I wasn’t Chris Hemsworth,” Kaleb Redden, DO, says. “They’d been drinking, so I eventually signed an autograph for them.” He scrawled “Thor” on a piece of …
I had four knee surgeries by the time I was 22 due to football injuries and—I’ll own it—from training like an idiot when I was younger. All I used to care about was going heavy or going home, no matter the cost to my body. But when my surgeon told me I had the …
Subscribe To Podcast | More Episodes Listen To Podcast Episode #63 Podcast Episode 63: Alyssa Ritchey – From the Farm to Weightlifting on the World Stage. Alyssa Ritchey started out as a hyperactive farm girl, then traveled through the gamut of sports including gymnastics, track and field, skateboarding, bikini, and CrossFit. Now she’s a …
The sumo deadlift is the black sheep of all deadlift movements. It’s the misunderstood cousin of the conventional deadlift, and it gets a lot of hate, primarily by noncompetitive lifters. In my opinion, there is no controversy surrounding the sumo deadlift—just a joke taken completely out of context. The anti-sumo proponents believe that the …
If you’re going to be a personal trainer, there’s no better place to work that Golds Gym in Venice, California. It gets called “The Mecca of Bodybuilding,” and having spent 24 years there as a trainer, I can say that the title is well earned. I was 27 years old when I entered the …
Type “motivating workout quotes” into Google and you’ll find list after list of inspirational quotes by famous bodybuilders such as Arnold Schwarzenegger and strength coaches like Dave Tate. What you won’t find much of, though, are lists of motivational quotes from strong women. So, we made our own! Over the last …
Let's take a trip back in time. How far? Back before the gym was cluttered with dudes with camera crews, and stick figure lifters who strain harder for a selfie than they do during a set of squats.Back then, before the … [Read More...]