If I had a dollar for every time someone older than me told me, “Talk to me when you are 30. It is ALL downhill from there.” Well here I am about to turn 31 and I can safely say I am stronger, faster, leaner, and in better shape than I have ever been in my entire life. So where does this “it’s all downhill from 30” stigma come from? Is there any truth to it? I am sure there is BUT, here’s the thing…some research says on average our RMR (Resting Metabolic Rate) decreases 2-4% every 10 years after age 25. Basically this shows that our ability to burn calories “at rest” can slow down as we age. Ironically another trend seems to mirror this metabolism decrease and that is muscle loss—some research shows 5 lbs every 10 years between the ages of 25 and 65. This is starting...Read more

  Summer is coming to an end, which means a few things in an order of importance… It’s almost football season. Jeans will soon be worn without massive amounts of sweat accumulation. Last travels of the season are upon us. With this being said, make your travel a way to change things up in your workout routine. No gym access, no problem! Here are a few workouts to dive into on your next trip:   100 Burpees For Time: This is an oldie, but goodie and can be done anywhere at anytime. Make this one as hard or as easy as you wish – going all out or taking an easy pace – just get it done. Find a 5k: There is ALWAYS a local 5k going on where ever you are. Do a little recon and find out if there is a 5k you can jump in, get a good...Read more

It is human nature to “dislike” or “disapprove” of things that aren’t familiar to us or that we don’t understand. This was TOTALLY me when I first became a Personal Trainer, and to be honest, CrossFit was not deemed “safe” in my bubble so I vocally “hated on it”. CrossFit is not perfect and it is not for everyone BUT I will tell you this: You really don’t know until you try. WHY I WAS A HATER: I believed that some of the movements were dangerous and not for everyone. If one CrossFit gym is BAD then they ALL must be. The ridiculous CrossFit Bros that couldn’t stop talking about everything they do at the gym made me want to VOM. Some CrossFits are extremely cliquey and unwelcoming. Speed and Weight are King, leaving Form as an afterthought. WHY I WAS WRONG: EVERYTHING exercise is scalable (up or down) and...Read more

As you may have heard, I made a change in my nutrition towards the end of last year. The physical results were immediately apparent: lower body fat, improved overall strength/fitness, and increased muscle. However, I think the most important part of this process was the knowledge I gained. Here are some tips I learned along the way. Long-Term Goal: Find what works for you. We say it a lot: you have to find out what works for you. We are all individuals, and unfortunately there is no one size fits all solution. The problem I found, most people don’t know where to start to find out what works for them. So let’s start on Step 1… Step 1: Establish your goals, and understand what it takes to get there. Before you start anything, ask yourself “what does success look like?” This doesn’t have to be a concrete goal, but you...Read more

My progress is slowing. I can’t seem to lose enough body fat to reach my goals. I haven’t hit a PR in over 3-months. IF you know everything there is about how to stay motivated during times full of distractions, you can stop reading. IF you’ve ever encountered any or all of the mentioned statements above, keep reading. It’s summertime and distractions are at their peak when it comes to our fitness. We’ve all been there – myself included! Whether it’s travel, street festivals, or just the ability to lay on the beach with a nice cold one – extra effort has to be taken to stay on track with our health & fitness goals. I’m not saying don’t travel or don’t have fun. What I am saying is have fun within reason and build a healthy lifestyle into your extracurricular activities. Over my time in the fitness industry, I’ve...Read more