Heart rate based training has been around for a long time, but in recent years it has exploded with boutique studios creating an addicting workout experience for competitive fitness enthusiasts. But is it all it’s cracked up to be?

In this episode I break down the science behind heart rate based training, how it’s been used in the past vs. how it’s being used now, and the pros and cons of this hot new fitness trend.

You may have been in a group training session where the instructor led the class in a deck of cards workout or maybe they made up some other game to make the workout a little more fun. 

Eric Mathura has taken this concept to the next level though, as he’s actually made a board game out of a game he’s developed over his years as a personal trainer and group instructor. Board Gains, the fitness board game, has gone from a concept on a whiteboard at Eric’s gym, to a complete board game set with everything you need to have a great workout AND a good time, even if you don’t have any training experience. 

Eric joins me this week to tell us how the idea for Board Gains came about, how the game works, and how you and your friends and family can enjoy the game at home!

www.boardgains.com

From knee pain and immobile hips to tight neck muscles causing headaches, the repercussions of all of the sitting during quarantine are still being felt by people around the world. In this episode, physical therapist Dr. Garrett Foland is back with me to talk about the 5 most common issues people are coming to see us with after quarantine, and how you can use movement to resolve those issues.

Recently I visited Straight Shot’s sister company, Kinetix Physiotherapy and Performance, as we have been working together to reach more people who want to move well and feel great. The physical therapy side of Kinetix is headed up by Dr. Garrett Foland. Dr. Foland started out as a personal trainer, but realized that he wanted to further his education to provide care through movement to people injured or experiencing pain. This movement based approach to physical therapy is right up my alley so I wanted to have Dr. Foland on to talk about how he got into physical therapy, how they do things differently at Kinetix, and what you all should look for when trying to find a physical therapist who can help you feel and perform your absolute best.

If you're looking to clean up your diet AND make some room in your budget for a personal trainer, you've gotta listen to this quick episode! 

I present some very conservative dietary swaps and cut backs that'll help you eat better, cut calories, and save money all to help you lose weight and get connected with a trainer who will provide you with custom workouts and one-on-one accountability. 

I've said before that the "no days off/you won't outwork me" mentality is hurting a lot of athletes, but I've noticed a concerning trend in the opposite direction recently. "Self care" posts are everywhere encouraging people to relax on their diets, training programs, sleep schedule, and overall effort level in their fitness regime.

Here's the problem...self care includes being uncomfortable sometimes. Growth is self care, and you have to do some "not fun" things in order to progress. 

In this episode, I explain how to find balance depending on your goals, and why you need to learn to be comfortable with being uncomfortable.

"Toning Up" is a very common fitness goal, but my clients are always surprised when I tell them what they need to do to achieve their expressed result. In this episode I quickly break down the two possible methods you'll need to choose from in order to "tone up."

Many gyms around the country are opening back up, but is it worth it for you personally to go back? In this episode, I go over the pros and cons of your return to the gym and give my honest opinion on the responsibility of the both the fitness professional and gym goer amid the current pandemic.

I know you didn't ask for a 3 month sabbatical from the gym, but consider this...you probably needed it. 

Rest and recovery is the most undervalued portion of your training and hopefully you've seen over the past few months how restorative rest can be for you. 

With gyms opening back up all over the country, I wanted to use this episode to highlight the benefits of rest and recovery and teach you how to come back to the gym with more of a balance of training and recovering. 

How has it been working towards your gym goals while at home? If you feel like you've been spinning your wheels just trying to hold on to your fitness level while doing what you can at your house, you need to listen to this episode!

I explain how you can not only maintain what you've worked for in the gym, but how to actually INCREASE your fitness level and work towards your goals while continuing to train at home!