Here I go again with another oldie but a goodie. Today it's supersets! I have no idea why, but you don't see many people doing this any more. Supersets are awesome for a number of reasons. Before we get to them, what are supersets. It's a grouping of 2 exercises done back to back typically with minimal or no rest between. It's often done with antagonistic muscles such as chest and back, biceps and triceps, or quadriceps and hamstrings. But it can be done for the same muscle as well. One benefit of this is that it saves time. Another…

Some of you may have noticed by now that I like old school training a lot. This is very true. I was taught by old school trainers, so naturally that's what I gravitate towards. I do have an open mind and am always on the lookout for new innovations in fitness. Sometimes I see something I like, but more often than not it's the old school training that brings results!    The method I want to discuss today is the One And A Half Method. This is a method where you do one full rep followed by a half rep. It's extremely…

Lower back pain is one of the most common problems that most people face at some point. It's been shown that about 80% of the adult population will at some point in their life deal with some type of significant lower back pain. There are however some things you can do to minimize the risk and to rehabilitate it once it is hurt.   First of all, it's important to understand the causes of lower back pain. There are many causes, but in short they can be summed up into three main things. 1. Weak core / lower back 2. Tight and/or weak hamstrings 3.…

One of my favourite methods of fitness training is by using Fitness Challenges. I mean everyone loves a challenge, right?! There are a number of ways to do it, but to me the best way is to use either reps or distance. If you're using reps, then pick a number like 300, 400, or 500. Then pick some exercises and an appropriate number of reps so they'll add up to the total number.    For distance, take something like a football field or perhaps a large parking lot. Cover the distance with various drills. They could be anything. My martial arts teacher…

Although Doug Hepburn may not be as common a household name like Arnold Schwarzenegger, he certainly deserves to be. Born in Vancouver, BC, Canada in 1926 with a club foot, he may not have seemed at first like a future strength legend. But he did just that. At a height of 5 foot 8 and a half, he weighed in at 300 lbs of power! And he had the numbers to back it up!    For one thing, he was the first man in the world to bench press 400, 450, and 500 lbs! Here are some of his other lifts and…

I'm sure we've all been there. We've seen cookbooks with some great recipes, but when we look at the huge ingredient list we decide not to do it. This isn't only for fitness enthusiasts, but for all working professionals, parents, etc. who don't want to spend hours preparing meals for their families, yet don't want to take the easy (and unhealthier) way out and get take out!   So here are some of my favourite recipes with only four ingredients. Perfect for meatheads like me!   BREAKFASTS BIRCHER MUESLI (serves 1) 1/2 cup natural muesli 1/4 cup orange juice 2 tablespoons plain yogurt 1 apple, grated Soak the muesli in…

One thing I've seen a lot in the fitness industry is trainers giving everyone the same workout regardless of their goals and needs. For the most part, this is a bodybuilding style split routine. You know the ones I'm talking about. The programs where you train different muscles on different days. You may have an upper body day and a lower body day, or you may do your chest and back one day, legs and abs, one day, arms and shoulders one day, etc. And depending on your goals, that may be the right program for you. Or it might not…

A question I get asked sometimes is whether or not I feel the time and effort invested in fitness is worth the sacrifice. It's true that I do spend a great deal of time working out, researching, pondering, etc. As a result, I'm not able to spend as much time doing other things such as watching tv shows, gaming, and other similar activities. I'm very selective about which shows I watch as I only have limited time. I do however make time for playing music, spending time with my family, art, and some other interests. But nonetheless, there are things…

Just about everyone who's been training for a while has heard of periodization. However like many other things, there is a ton of misinformation about it. There are of course many different methods and possible training cycles that can be used. Far too many to list here, but I want to provide a basic overview of what it's all about.   So to put things simply, periodization is all about the fact that you can't train at the same level all the time. Back when I was first learning about working out, the gym rats I was working out with had no…

Body conditioning is an exercise that is traditionally done in the martial arts. There are numerous benefits of this. One is obviously conditioning your body so you won't bruise or feel as much pain. Another is that you'll be able to strike harder. However one more benefit to it and one which is important regardless of your fitness goals is increased blood circulation! In fact the effects are similar to getting a massage. Also there is a ton of myofascial release. Watch the video to learn more!  

One of the things that everyone just "knows" these days seems to be that carbs are the enemy. Everywhere you turn, you hear about low carb, no carb, high protein, high fat, keto, paleo, etc. The thing about all this that many do no realize is that low carb diets have been around for an unbelievably long time. Since the 19th century in fact! And every so often, it comes back in vogue only for people to realize that it may not be the healthiest way. Then the cycle repeats. It's actually kind of funny when you look at it!   The…

The youth of today are our future of tomorrow. Therefore it's  super important for them to be healthy and fit. There are of course many distractions that exist today that didn't when I was a kid. Internet, video games, social media, etc. Unfortunately as a result of this, kids are now more sedentary than they've ever been before. So there's the problem.   HOW DO WE GET KIDS INTERESTED IN FITNESS?   Of course as I'm sure you already know, people won't do something unless it's fun. Hardly a revelation, but it still needs to be pointed out. Personally I think the best way is…

Tabatas are a great exercise method. The entire process is 4 minutes long. 20 seconds of work followed by 10 seconds of rest. This is done 8 times totaling 4 minutes. You can take either one or two exercises. In this video, we did 2 exercises which were the Wideouts and the Mountain Climbers. A short yet effective workout!  

There are many misconceptions about self defense. What it is and what it is not. But most of it boils down to what your goals are. Similar to fitness goals, if you don't have a clear idea of what you're trying to achieve, there's no way you can possibly know how to get there.   First, let's get something straight. Your goal is not to win a fight! Your goal is to survive and get home in one piece. If it's possible to do it peacefully, do it! Getting into a street altercation never ends well. Even if you win the fight,…

Rep challenges and other types of high reps workouts are very popular ways of training. In addition, competition style workouts where you have a leader board and try to complete your reps in the fastest time are also very popular.   Unfortunately the fact is that these types of high volume, high reps workouts also have a higher risk of injury. Injuries happen most often when you are either excessively fatigued or you're not focusing. Both of these things things are far more likely when you're doing the last reps of an extremely high rep set of an exercise. You're far better…

One of the older workouts from the golden age of bodybuilding was the "I Go, You Go" workout. It's as simple as it sounds, but it certainly isn't easy. It is a more advanced program so I'd recommend that you have at least 6 months or so before trying it out. A good trainer can of course evaluate your fitness level and determine if it's appropriate for you.   You'll need a trainer or a training partner for this one. One person does 10 reps of an exercise. Then the second person does 10 reps. Then the first person goes again and…

I just thought of this combination this morning. I figured I would try it out with my client Ed. Battleropes and Sandbags are two of the most versatile pieces of equipment out there. Excellent for strength training, endurance training, and of course functional fitness. They can be purchased at Fitness Depot which is where I buy all my equipment   https://youtu.be/Hm_RUjmopJo

Steve Reeves was so many things in life. He was a champion bodybuilder, a world renowned actor (known especially from the Hercules films), the inventor of Power Walking, a rancher, And an excellent cook with a solid understanding of nutrition. He was never a fanatic when it came to his food choices and he never followed any of the extreme practices such as cutting out entire macronutrients from your diet!   Instead he ate REAL food! Good, wholesome, tasty, and nutritious food. He was also a great guy to meet and talk to. One of my most valued possessions is the autographed…

Yes, not all trainers are created equal. While there are many outstanding trainers out there, there are also many trainers who have no business training themselves and certainly not clients So here are the Top 10 signs that your personal trainer sucks.   1. THEY DON'T SHOW YOU WORTHWHILE OR PRACTICAL EXERCISES There are many trainers who love to amp up the "WOW" factor and show you crazy, exotic, and often dangerous exercises. Standing on a stability ball while doing dumbbell curls and simultaneous knee lifts may seem very effective. You're training your balance, core, coordination, and so much more, right? Wrong! You're risking falling…

It's now time for the final part of this series on exercises for seniors. In Part 1, we covered mobility. In Part 2, we covered balance. Now for Part 3, we're going to cover breathing. This is perhaps the single most important element of all fitness exercises and unfortunately, very few people truly understand it. Watch the video to learn more.