High intensity interval training (HIIT) is the fastest and most effective way to improve your body composition. HIIT can be done in a variety of ways, but the traditional way(which I discuss here) is to use intervals for sprinting, whether on a track, on a bicycle or in a pool.

We all know that endurance/aerobic activity improves cognitive function by increasing bloodflow to the brain. But what about resistance training? Most of the research on exercise and brain function to date has focused on low-intensity aerobics, such as long distance running and cycling. But a recent article in the New York Times, sheds light on two exciting new studies involving the effects of weightlifting on the creation of new brain cells–neurogenesis.

Thinking about getting in shape? If you’re interested in working one on one with a personal trainer the small niche fitness boutiques located in and around Santa Barbara provide an abundance of choices both in the environment and training approaches featured in the different facilities. Recently I visited a number of these studios, looking for a new place to train …

Let’s face it everything these days is about balance from diets to exercise right down to balancing opposing muscle groups. But the type of balance we’ll discuss in this article is more fundamental. It’s the human function we depend on every day of our lives to get out of bed, to walk, or to play just about any sport – …

If you’re one of the many people struggling to keep up in the fast-paced world of cell phones, pagers, and laptops, with little time left for fitness, then intervals may be just what you’re looking for… For years, we’ve all heard if you want to lose fat you need to spend endless hours on a treadmill or riding a bike. …

I am posting a comment my client Alan made in response to my last post because he illustrated the point I was making… that exercise plus nutrition works outstandingly well for weight loss. Here’s what Alan had to say: This is a pretty loaded topic for me. I’ve lost 90 lbs since I decided to lose weight. The first 40 …

Time Magazine’s cover story this week is titled “Why Exercise Won’t Make You Thin.” I think Gary Taubes first wrote about this in a book I read called Good Calories, Bad Calories . Here’s an excerpt on this topic from an article Taubes wrote in New York Magazine: The one thing that might be said about exercise with certainty is …

May is National Physical Fitness and Sports Month. This year, Fitness Transform joins the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports to challenge Americans to get moving for health and to get active and fit during May Month. According to Melissa Johnson, executive director of the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, which started National Physical Activity and Sports …

If your goal is to build strength then you should train differently than someone who wants to put on muscle mass. Many people believe that training for muscle mass (bodybuilding) is the same as training for strength. But they could not be further from the truth. Strength is developed by lifting heavier weights for fewer reps with a longer rest …

Here’s a true full body exercise that burns fat, builds muscle, and increases cardiovascular endurance with nothing more than a small area of floor space and something that you can set up as a barrier. It’s a combination of the classic burpee with a lateral jump. From a standing position squat down and drop your hands to the floor (as …

Here’s an interesting new study which examined the effects of exercise intensity on abdominal visceral fat and body composition in obese women with the metabolic syndrome. As many of you know, metabolic syndrome is the name for a group of risk factors linked to obesity that increase your chance for heart disease and other health problems such as diabetes and …

The Chicago marathon took place today. Whenever I see news of a marathon race, I check the finishing times of the male and female winners. I want to know if both genders are getting faster and if the women are continuing to get faster relative to the men. Historically, women could not officially participate in marathon races until 1963. And …

I went to Los Angeles recently to attend a really great seminar on kettlebell training. If you’re not familiar with the kettlebell, it looks like a cannon ball with a handle (see photo). It’s this shape that makes it so different from using a dumbbell. The unique design causes the weight of the bell to hang off your body, with …

I mentioned in a previous post that stretching before exercise doesn’t prevent injury. And that stretching following training reduces muscle soreness. So I recommended stretching following training. Now here’s one more reason to avoid stretching prior to exercising, especially if you plan to sprint or perform intervals. In this recent study, researchers at Middle Tennessee State University examined the effect …

If I were to ask you, what one part of the body would you most like to change? Chances are it might be your lower abdominal area. It’s been my experience that almost everyone would like to get a sexy, flat-as-a-plank abdomen. But it can often be one of the most difficult parts of the body to develop. One reason …

This time of year I get a lot of requests for travel programs. And although some hotels have gyms that are equipped with most of the basics, I find that most clients prefer a quick workout which they can do without leaving their hotel room. This workout was designed with that in mind. Prone Bridge There are three different levels …