I watch people train. It’s what I do. For the last few months, I’ve noticed a guy at the club I’ll call "Bob". Solid athletic build, probably 35-40 years old, maybe 5’8” or 5’9”. He’s strong and consistent with his lifting, but he’s carrying some extra body fat—around 20-25%. Between his strength sets, he drags... Continue Reading →
We’ve all seen it in the gym: someone walking on the treadmill at a steady 2.5–3.5 mph, earbuds in, maybe scrolling on their phone. It looks like “cardio time.” But is it really moving the needle on their fitness, heart health, or VO2 max? As a fitness professional who’s had countless conversations with members, this... Continue Reading →
VO2 max is simply the maximum amount of oxygen your body can use during intense exercise. It’s measured in milliliters of oxygen per kilogram of body weight per minute (ml/kg/min). Higher numbers equal better cardiorespiratory fitness—and it’s one of the strongest predictors of longevity and maintaining independence in your later years. The topic of VO2... Continue Reading →
How do you want to live? That’s a question most people, I think, never really give any serious consideration to. I’ve heard it said that most people spend more time planning their vacations than planning their lives. And one of the most profound and simple statements I ever heard from the late, great Zig Ziglar... Continue Reading →
This past Friday morning, as I was wrapping up my cardio, one of our members, Tim, was finishing his treadmill session right in front of me.As he stepped off, he pulled off his headphones and turned my way. I paused the video on my tablet, said good morning, and asked how his workout went. He... Continue Reading →
From roughly 1992 to about 2000, I was involved with the old Amway business. I never made much money, but it introduced me to the world of personal development, and for that, I will be forever grateful. One of the leaders of my organization, Kenny Stuart, gave a talk once titled “3 is not 20,”... Continue Reading →
The inspiration for this post comes from one of my longtime mentors, Andy Andrews. He’s a New York Times bestselling author multiple times over and a keynote speaker. He’s consulted with the federal government, the military, corporate America, and the world of sports. When Nick Saban was still coaching, he would bring Andy in annually... Continue Reading →
I’ve always written my blog posts inspired by events in my life. For the last eight years, working as a fitness professional at Lifetime, I've had so many of my posts driven by my work with clients. But as a creator, I find it interesting that inspiration can come from the most unexpected places. Case... Continue Reading →
This past week was one of the strangest, most emotionally whiplash-inducing weeks I’ve had in a long time. It held everything—Thanksgiving, blessings, struggle, fear, gratitude, perspective—and a few moments that stopped me in my tracks. It began with one of the most significant highs I’ve had in a while. Air Force Cooper Cooper Langston and... Continue Reading →
There are moments in the gym that stop me cold. Someone twists under load, grinding through a rep that makes my spine ache just watching it. I can feel every old injury echoing through my body, and one phrase rises up almost instinctively: Not on my watch. Those four words hit me one quiet morning... Continue Reading →
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