Look Good Move Well

Have you poked someone you love lately…into getting to the gym? Being passionate about health and fitness is terrific - until you turn into “that guy” (or girl) who oversteps when trying to encourage family members on their own fitness path. Today we talk about taking on this touchy topic in a way that shows the love we have for our friends and family, and also allows them to stay true to their own experience. This is also a skill with a ton of carryover into coaching clients, so listen in for some ti

Simple equals strong! So what’s the role of bodyweight movements in a strength and conditioning program? Controlling your own body is an important benchmark before adding load with weights, and it can also stand on its own as an effective and challenging workout. Today’s episode gives some ideas on how to approach bodyweight movements in training, and we also answer a listener question about incorporating a weight vest into your program.

When you’re looking for a guide for your health and fitness, be sure to choose someone who can not only write a great program for you but also be there to support your growth as a person. What should you look for in a coach, how much should you pay, and what can you do as a client to get the most out of your experience? Get some guidance for coach and client success in this episode.

Today we’re digging into program design with the differences between bodybuilding, CrossFit, and the Functional Bodybuilding approach. We’ll cover some key differences between focusing on movement patterns vs. body parts, and also why assessing clients’ needs should be a constant part of designing workouts. If you’re bored by bodybuilding or find yourself squatting in almost every single class, get the framework for keeping your workouts or group classes functional and fresh.

Despite our best intentions, evening workouts can get eaten up by work time or family obligations. Moving training time to the morning can help make your health a priority. But not all of us are cut out to roll out of bed in the wee hours and get after some heavy squats. In this episode, we’ll cover some tips to make your mornings easier and set a consistent tone for training that will help you when you need to make a schedule switch.

Lots of our listeners work long shifts with down time in between, or have full-on workdays that make tough training feel like too much. How do you develop awareness of what your body needs and find a sustainable rhythm, even if you work for 12 hours in a row? And what should your program on such a day even look like? On days when your brain takes a beating, learn how to prevent injury and go with the flow.

Before you go keto, start intermittent fasting, or take on any popular diet, check these basics off your list to make sure you have sustainable habits down first. Diets come and go, but healthy practices will keep you looking lean long after the beef and cheese kick gets old. Med School Marcus will give you the lowdown on ketones in your body, and you’ll also learn when a diet like keto or intermittent fasting is appropriate to take on.

A carport gym and a track are all Marcus used to get jacked in his twenties, and if you’re a student or on a budget, you won’t need much more. If you’re thinking of setting up a home gym or are limited in your access to equipment, get some ideas for the essential investments. We’ll also talk about what Marcus would do differently if he were transported back in time - get these takeaways for your own training now.

Looking back at Awaken Training Series, we’re covering the key themes of Functional Bodybuilding as they’ve evolved over time. If you or your clients are still looking for ways to improve movement quality and progress with purpose, dive into the details of what makes FBB-style workouts so effective at getting stronger, faster, and better without burnout.

Protein is one of the factors that makes the biggest impact on your energy and body composition, but a lot of people struggle with inadequate levels in their diet. Today we’re talking about why protein is so important, and how to overcome barriers of preference, taste, and boredom to make sure you get enough.

Afternoon sugar and cravings for crappy food can mean your body is depleted - especially if you’re training hard and getting behind on quality food. If you want to perform better, stay lean, and fuel your body well, listen in for what to change about your daily approach.

Grab a notebook and pull up a seat - in this episode, Marcus shares exactly how he approaches meal prep for himself and his entire family, from the pantry to fridge to stove to grill. Fueling yourself with delicious food all weeklong doesn’t have to be a chore or take a ton of time. Get the full breakdown, including Marcus’s tasty marinade with only three ingredients.

Do you sit down to eat breakfast, or grab a shake to gulp and go? In this episode, we discuss the ins and outs of liquid nutrition for meal replacement, nutrient supplementation, and weight loss or gain. Learn when to choose to chew, and be mindful of how you nourish yourself throughout the day.

Big changes to the competitive landscape of fitness mean an opportunity to re-examine your priorities in training. While those who dream of competing on a big stage may face disappointment, there are still many unknowns in what opportunities you'll have - and ways for both competitive and non-competitive athletes to get fired up about the training that happens day-to-day.

If your heavy squat is incomplete without one big breath and a weight belt, tune in for some tips on breathing and bracing under different types of contractions. (Those of you in Awaken Training Series getting to that 15-second overhead squat are going to love this one.) And for conditioning work, Marcus shares some surprising advice for breathing and building energy during high effort sets that we’d love for you to try out.