What does it mean to be athletic?. Is there a difference between being fit and being athletic?. My answer is yes. Fitness refers to being in good shape, the ability to be more active and energetic. Fitness is a quality we all seek, even athletes. Athleticism in the other hand is desired by all but [...]

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Just a few days back I was nominated and admitted to the become part of the USA Sports Medicine Network in the field of Strength and Conditioning. As the only Strength and Conditioning Coach in the city of Chicago who is part of the network I would like to invite all coaches and swimmers to [...]

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The bodybuilding craze raised the popularity of weight lifting and helped paved the way to strength and conditioning methodologies. Research coming from all over the world and published in scientific journals such as the NSCA or ACSM are just an example of how much information is available to sport and fitness professionals. Having said all [...]

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The answer depends on the quantity of endurance training that is being perform. It is well established that endurance training is counterproductive to the development of power. Athletes that perform a lot of slow training are basically developing the ability to perform actions with low power output for longer periods of time.
If you are in [...]

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Super slow training is defined as slowing down each phase of the exercise movement. Bodybuilders made this form of training popular a few decades ago and even now there are new books that promote this form of training for the general fitness population.
Unlike a few decades ago, we now have the luxury of constant new [...]

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The Snatch is a weightlifting event that involves the lifter raising to an overhead position in a continuous motion. The lifter must pick up the bar and quickly move it body underneath it. The lifter will then stand up from a full squat position while keeping the weight above the head.
The problem for many athletes is [...]

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The American Council on Exercise (ACE) release a study on muscle activation of the gluteus muscles. To find out what exercises created the greater response and see and overview of suggested workout routines click on the link below:
http://www.acefitness.org/getfit/studies/GlutesStudy2006.pdf
Luis 

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One of the most common benefits that we constantly hear about exercise is that speeds our metabolism. This is a desirable effect because it means that the body can convert food to energy more effectively and at a faster rate.
 
Aerobic training improves the mitochondrial oxidative capacity and glycogen storage because larger amounts of pyruvate move through [...]

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Aerobic endurance is traditionally defined a form of exercise that uses the Citric Acid Cycle (Krebs) and the Electron Transport Chain as its main pathways in energy production. Aerobic exercise produces far more ATP (energy) than anaerobic exercise and uses more fats as energy fuel.
A complete and sound exercise program should include a combination of [...]

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While kettlebells have been boosted to have a greater metabolic enhancing capacity a study published at the NSCA website shows that this is simply not true. The use of kettlebells and dumbbells should be included to provide variety to the program but barbells are the most effective tool to develop maximum strength and explosive strength. [...]

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