jstankow

While I do still work with the occasional ‘one-off’ client, it’s been several years since I’ve promoted my own personal training services by the traditional “hourly” model. Initially, one of the reasons I switched to more of a ‘monthly membership’ – or ‘program design’ model was because it was just different enough from what every other trainer was offering – and in a market flooded with “experts,” any point of differentiation can’t hurt. Besides, how much longer can we – as an industry... Read Full Story

Ok, so this post should probably be titled “Calvin College TV Show” – but since one of their media production classes (CAS250) asked me to help ‘em with a li’l project this semester, and I was the host of the fitness-themed show – I s’pose it’s just as fair to call it the Grand Rapids Personal Trainer show, too. ;-) Read Full Story

Yesterday, I met with a new client with a few challenges – and I’m opening my follow-up email to you.  Personally identifying specifics  have been omitted or changed to protect the innocent, but since I know many of my readers are trainers and/or fitness enthusiasts who also have challenges to work with/through/around – and this was such an interesting guy to work with – I invite you to add additional comments, critiques, questions or the usual random insults I’d expect from someone who’s... Read Full Story

In your work with weight loss and/or sports performance clients, I assume you’re already giving ‘em some variation of the standard recommendation to “eat right.”  I also assume you’re even helping them understand what that seemingly simple advice actually means.  You may even be recommending a few supplements to help make “eating right” a little easier (perhaps through an affiliate program?) Read Full Story

How many more reps should I do? How far should I squat/press/lunge/move? How much weight should I use? How fast should I go? All (and more) can be answered by an ever-so-easy-to-remember acronym, but first, the back story… For nearly 10 years, I relied on the much more challenging PFROMASTYCC ( p ain f ree r ange o f m otion a nd s peed t hat y ou c an c ontrol) to answer the most common questions my fitness coaching clients would ask me.  Yes, I knew the original acronym was ugly... Read Full Story

You know that old saying about “if I got a dime every time somebody ___________”? Well, I used to think if I got a small commission every time a woman expressed her fear of lifting weights simply because she thought it would make her look more man-like, I’d have enough to pay off the U.S. debt and still have enough left over to buy a couple small continents. But apparently lifting weights really does have the potential to make some women take on male characteristics. Just in case... Read Full Story

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I finally renewed my expired CPR/AED certification. Even though this is roughly my 15th-ish time or so sitting through the cheesy videos and repetitive demonstrations of my ability (to pretend) to remove a foreign object from Rescue Anne’s mouth, I actually learned some new things… sort of. Read Full Story

Getting back on track with my previous Vision Quest themed posts… It ain’t about “going to work out.” It’s what  HAPPENS when you work out. Why all the Vision Quest references lately? You’ll have to follow me on my FB “ fan page ” to find out… Share this: Digg Print Email Read Full Story

Here’s the deal: I think politicians should keep their noses out of professional sports. Isn’t there anything more important they can do to waste their time (and OUR money?) I also believe the way a responsible adult chooses to “enhance” performance is a personal choice, and if an individual feels the potential for benefit outweighs the potential for risk, well, who the hell am I – or you – to tell him otherwise? Not that I condone, endorse, recommend, prescribe or otherwise assist in the... Read Full Story