Articles

There are so many factors to consider when planning a successful strength training session. What too many people fail to recognize is that the sequence of moves is one of these factors, and it’s an important one.

For the first time here at the ISSA, we’ve decided to do a follow-up article addressing the best questions we received in our comments section and on our social media platforms. We received many great responses to the “Protein Myths” article that we published not too long ago, and along with that response, more great questions surfaced that we wanted to answer in more depth.

Should you really be cutting back on carbs to achieve weight loss and muscle mass?  Ever since low-carb diets exploded onto the weight-loss scene, carbohydrates have been demonized, avoided, and targeted as a dietary evil.   But here’s the truth: we all need carbohydrates in our diets, every single day. Period.

It may come as a surprise to even the most well-educated and experienced modern trainers, but the truth is that research tells us that old-school lifting is better and prevents more injuries than any weight machine.

The benefits of strength training aren’t just for adults. Kids can safely lift to get stronger, to build self-esteem, and just to have fun while being active.

How do you work out clients for strength and avoid injury?  The secret is body balance!

Weights aren’t just for meatheads.   As an exercise and health nut, you know the drill. A complete workout means cardio AND strength training. But how do you convince these people? Check out and share the 5 reasons and infographics with your clients to get them into the weight room!

Football coaching legend Vince Lombardi is credited with the famous quote 'Winning isn't everything, it's the only thing.'  Well, not only is the source of the quote misplaced, so, too, is the message.   So then what is the real message and bottom line?

You want to get the answer right, for yourself and everyone who turns to you for your expert advice. But, the research has been complicated and confusing. You probably have read a lot of blogs and articles that said working out in the morning is best.  Those articles are mostly wrong!

Have you seen people foam rolling in the gym before and wondered if this is just another fitness fad, or whether it's actually doing something?

Research shows that a meager 10 percent of all fitness clients actually adopt a fitness lifestyle after they stop getting a personal trainer to assist them.   This bothers Dr. Frederick Hatfield (aka Dr. Squat), the co-founder of ISSA.   What he wants is for each of you to commit to being a better personal trainer and changing those numbers.  To that effect, he shares the ISSA 'Drawing In' process in this article.   

With a diversity in warm-up strategies, your client may ask if one warm up strategy superior to others at preparing the body to receive maximal benefits from the training session.