There are so many ways to go about lifting weights.

You can find programs for bodybuilders, crossfitters, powerlifters… even plans for “powerful women who want to increase their leverage at work with an augmented bubble-butt” (he says sarcastically while jotting the idea in his notebook).

But what if you’re none of those things?

What if you’re a regular person who only lifts because you know it’s good for you and can help you get your body in the sh...

More isn’t always better.

I’ve seen plenty of long workouts that are just plain bad.

I’ve also seen people abandon exercise because they think they don’t have time to make it “worth it.”

That’s unfortunate, because there’s a way to do less and still get great results.

Gather ‘Round, Children

Back in my day, kids, we didn’t have GPS on our phones. If I wanted to know how long it would take to get from point A to point B, I had to ask an actual person.

H...

You’re bound to make mistakes in your pursuit of fitness, but you don’t always have to learn things the hard way.

I’d like to help you avoid as many mistakes as possible by sharing part of my journey.

Each of these mistakes comes with a personal story, so you can learn more about me, as well as what NOT to do.

1. VHS Tapes

One of the first things to catch my eye in the fitness world was an infomercial for a popular exercise program… on VHS.

There were...

The idea of jumping into an intense workout program to quickly lose a bunch of weight is appealing.

But is it a good idea?

Let’s find out.

What Is It?

Boot camp style workouts have become so popular, it’s hard to define what they are.

For the sake of this article, I’m not referring only to workouts that specifically use the term “boot camp.”

I’m talking about any form of particularly intense exercise, used with the idea of launching yourself toward you...

You can’t just lift the same weight for the rest of your life.

I’ve already discussed where to get started in Part 1, and how to work through weaknesses in Part 2.

Once you’re ready for more (and it won’t take long), knowing what your workouts should look like, and how much you should be lifting, can get confusing.

I’m going to help you with that.

Reps, More or Less

The original question was, “How much should you lift?” But since everyone starts at a...

Your efforts toward getting in shape can get derailed when you come across exercises that give you trouble.

That’s why it’s important to know how to make adjustments when needed.

Lifting less weight isn’t always an option.

A good personal trainer can tell you when and how to make those adjustments. But if you’re on your own, there are a few strategies you can try.

For Example

In Part 1 (read that here if you missed it), I gave tips on how much weight...

Everyone should lift.

At least anyone who cares about their overall health, body composition, being more physically active, or living longer.

But how much?

No matter how strong you are, try to lift too much and you risk getting injured. Don’t lift enough and you may not accomplish your goals.

In part 1 of this 3 part series, let’s take a look at where to start.

How much ya bench?

The bench press has always been a weak spot for me. And that sucks becaus...

It doesn’t matter what type of exercise you do — whether it’s lifting, running, yoga, or competitively shoving 74 hot dogs down your gullet…

You’re likely missing out on something.

And it could be preventing you from getting in shape like you want.

Is It The Warm Up?

I hate warming up.

I prefer to go straight for the barbell when I workout. I wish I didn’t even have to waste time getting the stupid weights out and putting them on the bar myself.

If I c...

When your performance at the gym is less than the kick-assery* you hoped for…

When the weight doesn’t go up on certain lifts, or (gasp) even goes down…

When the same run is just as vomit-inducing today as it was 6 months ago…

When you’re in a rut, or hit a plateau, it’s time to figure out how to step up your game.

*Kick-assery is an industry term. A related, but opposite, industry term is “douchebaggery.” Both can be seen in the gym, but you should s...

If you don’t make lifting weights a priority, you might want to reconsider how you’re going about getting in shape.

I won’t go so far as to say it’s the best form of exercise, but I can give you a few reasons why I think you need to do it, regardless of what else you do to stay active.

7 reasons, to be exact…

1. Look Good Naked (or at least in a swimsuit)

Your instinct might be to do some cardio.

Or your instinct might be to do as much cardio as human...