You've decided to start lifting weights! First of all, I'll welcome you to the dark side!  Now that you're ready to start lifting some weights, you may want to know, should you start with free weights or on the machines? Whether you're at the gym or looking for equipment for at home, is one better than the other? What is the difference between free weights and machines? And does one really provide more benefits over the other? To  help make this decision a little easier, I will give clarity on both in this article. I will give you all the details so you can make the best decision for yourself and I will also give my recommendations based on my experience not only for myself in my own fitness, but as a trainer and what I do with my clients.  First, let's go over the basics, what exactly is a free weight and what is a machine? A free weight is classified as any workout equipment or weight that is not on a fixed track, machine, seat or cable. Examples of free weights  ...

Over the years of being a personal trainer, I've worked with dozens of people, each of them needing their own custom programs, and coaching.  Each with a goal in their heart that was theirs alone and needing my help. Although each of these people are so different in their own ways, over time you start to have common themes, conversations and issues come up. When I talk to other trainers, they also find that they have similar conversations, issues and themes brought up between their different clients.  There are things when I will discuss with other trainers that we share the same thoughts that we just wish that our clients knew.  Things we want to tell each of them to help them understand where we are coming from and how we want to help them succeed. So I've compiled that list.  A list of things we as personal trainers want you, our clients to know.  A list that I want to send to each of my current, past and future clients.   Here it is, the 10 things ...

Feelings of anxiety or intimidation in the gym are not uncommon.   If you took a poll of everyone in the gym, I can guarantee you that a significant amount of people  felt the same when they first started.  As a fitness professional, I feel it is my job to help my clients with their gym anxiety and make them feel more comfortable.  A gym is a place for everyone, no matter where in their journey they are.  That being said,  a person who has never been in the gym before, they might not initially share those thoughts.  L ooking at all the equipment that you're not sure how to use, then seeing someone lift a scary amount of weight with ease as you go for the 5lb weights can make you feel self-conscious.  You may feel that you're being stared at or judged for where you are at in your journey, even if you're just starting! Gym anxiety or feelings of intimidation can be because of many different reasons, and each one of them is valid and...