Get Strong. Build Muscle. Get Lean.

Episode 22: Celebrity Dentist Dr. Bill Dorfman Talks Business, Fitness and Philanthropy

Dr. Bill Dorfman is one of the most well-known dentists in the world, and he’s responsible for creating smiles for many of Hollywood’s most famous stars, including Hugh Jackman, Michael Strahan, Ozzy Osbourne, Eva Longoria, Katy Perry, Usher, Mark Wahlberg and many others. He’s also been the featured dentist in ABC’s Extreme Makeover and is

Episode 21: Celebrity Personal Trainer Mark Jenkins on Success and Dealing with Racism

Over the course of his career, celebrity personal trainer Mark Jenkins has worked with many well-known superstars, including Beyonce, LL Cool J, P. Diddy, Missy Elliott, Mary J. Blige, Busta Rhymes, D’Angelo, DJ Khaled, Johnnie Cochran, Tyler Perry and the list could go on. He’s also the author of “The Jump Off: 60 Days to

Episode 20: Building a Fitness Franchise to 6,000 Locations Worldwide with Peter Taunton

Peter Taunton had a vision to create an affordable, 24/7, results-driven gym to differentiate from the traditional big-box gym, so he created Snap Fitness, which now has 2,500 locations in 26 countries. In recent years, he acquired and founded several brands, including 9Round, Farrell’s, YogaFit, STEELE Fitness and Fitness On Demand that, together with Snap

How to Seize Opportunities In Your Career with Nick Clayton – Episode 18

Nick Clayton is the chief operating officer for the Pain-Free Performance Specialist Certification, which has certified over 3,000 fitness professionals in the past 16 months. Prior to joining the PPSC team in August 2019, Nick spent the previous eight years with the National Strength and Conditioning Association, serving as the program manager for personal training

How Going “All In” Led Jason Phillips from Broke to 7-Figure Business Owner – Episode 17

Jason Phillips is a coach of coaches and owner of multiple 7-figure businesses. He’s the owner of the Impact Collective, All In Performance and the Nutritional Coaching Institute. Where to listen Apple Google Spotify Stitcher iHeart Today, Jason Phillips is a multiple 7-figure business owner and has helped thousands of people transform their lives through

How to Build Your Dream Life with Jason Ferruggia – Episode 16

Jason is a highly successful business owner and strength coach, host of the “Renegade Radio” podcast, sought-after speaker and runs events targeted toward brotherhood and personal development. Over the years, he’s also written books and been featured in many media outlets like Men’s Health, Muscle and Fitness, Huffington Post, Entrepreneur Magazine, ESPN and CBS, to name

Overcoming Tragedy and Failure to Become a Top 50 Fitness Expert with John Rusin – Episode 14

John Rusin is a world-renowned physical therapist and strength and conditioning coach who specializes in helping both fitness enthusiasts and elite athletes perform at a high level without getting hurt. He owns John Rusin Fitness Systems, which is an online platform that teaches people how to perform at their highest potential using his “pain-free” training model. He’s

What’s the point of eating well and exercising?

Why would you eat well and exercise? Seriously, what’s even the point? After all, it’s a whole lot easier to sit around and do nothing. While it’s easier to not exercise and eat “convenience” foods, there’s a definite reason why many people desire to eat well and move their bodies. Ultimately, the reason so many

The 3 “Ps” of Success: Prioritizing, Priming and Planning

I’ve come to the realization success in fitness and nutrition for most people has little to do with the specific strategy they’re using. For example, you can be given the “perfect” workout or “perfect” nutrition plan and still fail. You can have the best intentions, but still come up short in your goals to lose

Back to the Basics

I used to make things so complicated for myself. When I first became serious about training in my early 20s, I would follow a workout program for a couple of weeks. When it “didn’t” work, I would switch things up and find a new program. When I attempted to make a transformation in my body

You don’t need more discipline and willpower. You need a better environment.

Discipline. Motivation. Willpower. Everyone knows these things are required for making a change. Specifically, we’re going to discuss making a change in your health and fitness. But as much as many of us try to be more self-disciplined, we often fail. And most of us have good intentions. But we don’t fail because of a

4 Big-Time Nutrition Mistakes for Normal People

In today’s day and age, you can find millions (yes, millions) of books, podcasts and social media accounts that tell you all sorts of different things about nutrition. Book No. 1 might tell you to eat carbs because carbs provide fuel. Book No. 2 might tell you to avoid carbs like the plague because they

Luke Briggs Interviewed on Two Podcasts

I was interviewed on two podcasts recently, and they’ve both been released. I joined my friend Tommy Clark on the “T. Clark Nutrition Podcast” to talk about Breaking Bad Habits, Approaching Flexible Dieting the Right Way, Reverse Dieting and Understanding Your Priorities. I also hopped on the “Inside the Big Ring” podcast with Steve Brandes to talk

The scale won’t move – what’s going on?!

Sometimes, the scale just simply doesn’t move, and you feel like it should be changing based on your effort. This can be frustrating. Many people have a goal to lose weight, and that’s a good goal. However, using the scale as the primary means of measuring progress can be a slippery slope. Before diving into

How many days per week should us normal people train?

“Normal” people are considered those who aren’t bodybuilders or competitive strength athletes. Their needs are much different. Normal people are average everyday Joes and Janes who want to build some muscle, burn some fat and get strong without having their lives revolve around training. So how many days per week should you train for optimal

Program Design 101

So how do you find the right strength training program for YOU? You can find so many programs out there, and it’s hard to know which ones will work. Certain programs “work” for certain people, and there’s a lot that goes into whether a program will work for an individual. Now, diving into every single detail

3 Nutrition Myths That Need to Die

The world of nutrition can be downright confusing, right? One person tells us the ketogenic diet is the greatest thing in the world and another tells us to avoid it at all costs. One person says you can have red meat while another tells you to avoid it like the plague. Ultimately, nutrition comes down

3 Keys to Building Self-Discipline

When we think of someone who’s self-disciplined, we think of athletes like Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps, who trained seven days a week, 365 days a year from age 14 through the Beijing Olympics in 2008. He did it every day no matter what. We think of NBA legend Kobe Bryant, who would show up to

What are the Best Foods to Get Lean? Wrong Question.

When I was younger, I always wanted to see what the guys with muscles and six-pack abs were eating. Sweet potatoes or regular potatoes? Chicken or fish? Carbs or no carbs post-workout? I figured if I ate the same foods as some of the most ripped people out there, I would have a good chance of

3 Principles to Get Strong Without Getting Hurt

Are you afraid you’re going to get injured lifting weights? Do you think it’s impossible to get strong lifting heavy weights while staying injury-free? For a while, I thought the same thing. Every time I pushed harder on deadlifts, my back would hurt. Every time I pushed harder on the bench press, my shoulder would hurt.

How to Avoid Failing at Your New Year’s Resolution

It’s the New Year, and you’re super excited about all the resolutions and goals you just set. This is the year you’re finally going to lose those 20 extra pounds. You’re sure of it! But then a few weeks go by and you let momentum slip. Your diet was going so well, but then life

The Ownership Mentality: The Missing Link to Your Success

I was a victim. I had everything going against me. Or at least so I thought. In high and school college, I wanted nothing more than to get bigger and stronger. I wanted to put on slabs of muscle and get “jacked.” But it seemed like no matter what program I tried, I couldn’t put

3 Traits of My Most Successful Clients

In more than six years as a strength and nutrition coach, I’ve worked with thousands (not exaggerating) of kids, competitive athletes and everyday folks The other day, I did some thinking about what the most successful people with whom I’ve worked have in common. If you’re reading this, you’re probably interested in finding out what others are doing

Diets Suck – Here’s What to Do Instead

Do you feel like diets keep failing you over and over again? Do you hate even the thought of the word “diet?” Have you tried following macro plans, following meal plans, cutting out certain food groups and everything in between? You’re not alone. I’ve been there. I used to jump from diet plan to diet

3 Tips to Dominate Your New Year’s Resolutions

The end of the year is closing in, and it’s time to evaluate whether you accomplished your goals this past year. It’s also time to figure out your goals for next year. Now, you don’t need to see the statistics. You already know people who set “New Year’s Resolutions” are the butt of jokes in

My Story: How Fitness Changed My Life

When I was thinking what to write about the other day, I realized I’ve never shared my transformation story on my website. If you think everything has always been easy for me, you haven’t heard my truth. I struggled more and for longer than just about anyone I know. I did dozens of workout programs

3 Tips to Avoid Weight Gain During the Holidays

Ah, the holidays are upon us. You know what that means. Spending quality time with family and friends. Giving gifts to our loved ones. Indulging in some treats and holiday food. The last one usually gets most people. While it’s fun to have turkey, mashed potatoes and other treats for Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas and other

Do You Eat Healthy, But You’re Not Losing Weight?

For years, I struggled to transform my body. I ate “healthy,” but I never really saw any drastic changes to how I looked. I ate quality protein, carbohydrate and fat sources, and I ate my fruits and veggies. I didn’t really eat out, and I rarely had any junk food. Still, I didn’t see the

Is There a Perfect Time to Start On Your Fitness Goals?

Does this sound like you? You’re about to start a diet or workout program, but then – CRAP! Something comes up. You’ve got a big project due at work, and it’s going to take a lot of your time. Well, it looks like you’re going to need to start next week. Oh, wait. You’ve got

3 Reasons You’re Not Losing Weight

Every year, 45 million Americans go on a diet. Yet, nearly two-thirds of the population is considered overweight or obese (Nutrition and Weight Management). So despite all the efforts, why are more people not losing weight? Are you struggling as well? Here are three reasons you may not be losing weight. 1. You haven’t tried long

3 Tips to Train Around Shoulder Injuries

Are your shoulders jacked up? Do you struggle to bench press or overhead press? As someone who struggled with shoulder pain for years, I want to give you three strategies you can use to push hard even though you’re feeling beat up. You’ve just got to be a little smarter. 1. Prioritize pulling exercises If your shoulder

Do You Need Cardio to Lose Fat?

Walk into just about any commercial gym, and you’ll find a host of gym-goers sweating their tails off on treadmills, ellipticals and stair climbers in an attempt to re-shape their bodies. Is what they’re doing effective? Who knows? But here’s a better question – do you NEED to do cardio to lose body fat? As is

4 Ways to Add More Protein to Your Diet

If your goal is to lose weight, you need to eat in a calorie deficit. If your goal is to ensure most of the weight you lose is body fat, you’ve got to keep your protein high. Of the three macronutrients (protein, carbohydrate and fat), protein is the most important for building muscle definition and

Why Do You Never Reach Your Fitness Goals?

Well, part of the issue could be you’re setting your goals completely wrong. You may be setting unspecific goals. When we say things like I want to “tone up” or eat “healthier,” we’re not defining what success means to us. You could eat a handful of green beans. You just ate “healthier.” But does that

3 Steps to Make Exercise Fun

Oh, the gym. So many people dread the thought of stepping inside it. They know if they want to lose weight or “get in shape” they need to suffer through some grueling workouts. We have a real problem in our society today. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 70 percent of the

Complete Guide to Staying Lean While Eating Out

  You’ve made it your mission to get leaner. You fill your home with lots of vegetables, fruits, lean proteins, and all your junk food has found its way into the trash can. You’re committed to eating healthy, but then disaster strikes – a friend or family member asks you out to dinner at a

5 Things to Know for Your First Show

  Have you ever thought about competing in a physique show, but the thought of dropping carbohydrates extremely low and doing cardio multiple times per day scares you to death? Competing in a show can seem overwhelming, and you may have no idea what to expect. If you’ve ever considered it, I’m going to share

5 Tips to Go from Average Joe to Swole (Plus Workout)

  You’re an average Joe or Jane. You have no desire to ever train for a bodybuilding show or play sports at a highly competitive level. You have lots of competing demands in your life such as work, family, and social obligations. You’ve tried following the advice from all the popular health and fitness magazines,

Synergizing Training and Nutritional Sciences for Maximal Muscle Growth

Tags : Maximal Muscle Growthmuscle growthSynergizing Training and Nutritional Sciences

  Why do some people possess the innate ability to pack on muscle and cut body fat on a whim, while others struggle their entire lives to create the body of their dreams? When it comes down to it, it’s all about nutrition and training. We all know we must prioritize strength training, get our daily protein

Building Muscle: What Actually Matters

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  Type in “how to build muscle” on Google and you’ll get nearly five million results. It’s no wonder skinny guys everywhere are so confused as to what actually matters for putting on size, and what doesn’t. You’ll read an article one day telling you to eat 300 grams of protein per day to add

5 Muscle-Killing Mistakes that are Keeping You Scrawny

Tags : 5-Muscle5-Muscle-Killing-MistakeKillingMistake

  Are you struggling to pack on size? Does it seem like you’ve tried everything, yet nothing you do seems to work? If so, you’re not alone. Every day, millions of dudes across the world venture to the gym with the goal of getting huge, yet many fail. Type “how to build muscle” into a

7 Action Steps to Start Building Muscle Now

Tags : 7 Action Steps to StartBuilding MuscleStart Building Muscle

  Does this sound familiar? You’ve been trying to pack on size for quite a while now, but nothing seems to work. You’ve tried bodybuilding splits, whole-body splits, supersets, drop sets and everything in between. Despite your best efforts, you still can’t put on a lick of muscle. Why doesn’t anything work? Read more HERE.

Why I’m Training for a Physique Show

Tags : Physique ShowWhy I'm TrainingWhy I'm Training for a Physique Show

  After spending years focusing on adding size and even dabbling in powerlifting for a while, I’ve decided to do something I never imagined I would ever do. Later this year, I’m going to compete in my first physique show. A couple of years ago, I wrote off the idea of ever training for a bodybuilding

Can You Guarantee More Muscle and Strength?

Tags : Can You GuaranteeCan You Guarantee More Muscle and Strength?Muscle and Strength?

  If you can never seem to get anywhere with your training, don’t worry. I’m about to reveal to you the most effective methods to see progress. We’re talking about bigger gains in both muscle and strength! And you know what’s funny – these keys have absolutely nothing to do with training or nutrition! I

The 7-Step Muscle-Building Checklist

Tags : Muscle-BuildingMuscle-Building ChecklistThe 7-Step Muscle-Building Checklist

  Back in my college days, the gym was my sanctuary. I loved exercising so much I would sometimes spend four or five hours at a time working out. I would lift for two hours before heading to the basketball courts for some pick-up games. I dreamed of getting bigger and stronger like some of

The Simple Solution for Skinny Hard Gainers

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  The skinny struggle is real. In every weight room across America, you’ll see guys who have been coming to the gym day-in and day-out and still look like the same wiry-framed individuals they were a year earlier. They read all the muscle magazines and take every mass gain supplement known to man yet can’t

6 Biggest “Skinny Guy” Training Mistakes

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Here’s the workout of a typical gym bro. Walk into the gym and maybe do a couple arm circles with a five-pound plate. Next, head to the bench press and perform sets of eight to 10 reps. In between sets, check yourself out in the mirror and play on your phone for three or four

Your Secret Weapon for Pain-Free Muscle Growth

You might look like a beast grinding through heavy weight, but you’re not doing yourself many favors in the hypertrophy department. Pushing top-end weight with sub-optimal form may help you increase strength, but it won’t maximize muscle growth. Performing a one-rep max has little benefit for hypertrophy because form and focus go out the window.

Smarter Science for Swol-Tastic Muscle Growth

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  Enough with this “hardgainer” mentality people. There is a reason why the vast majority of people, both male and female, have a damn hard time putting on lean muscle mass and taking their bodies to the next level, and sometimes end up flabby and soft in the process. Hypertrophy isn’t achieved through random acts

Think You Can’t Afford Healthy Food? Think Again.

Tags : Afford Healthy Food?Healthy Food? Think Again.Think You Can't Afford Healthy Food? Think Again.

I’ll keep it short and to the point this week. Some people often argue they can’t get food that’s “all-natural,” “organic” or “grass-fed” because they don’t have enough money. I recently ran across an article from USA Today titled “20 ways Americans are blowing their money,” and it discusses a number of ways you don’t even realize

3 Simple Tips to Gain Muscle Mass

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  Every year, high school athletes try all sorts of crazy things to get bigger, faster and stronger for their sports. They take all kinds of supplements and different strength-training programs, yet many still fail to gain weight. So what does it really take to put on muscle mass? Here are three quick tips. Read more

How to Become a Personal Trainer

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I’ve been waiting to write this blog post for a while because I know there are so many of you out there who have been thinking about becoming a personal trainer. I feel I’m qualified to create this post because I don’t have an exercise science background, and I’m only a couple years removed from

4 Diet-Derailing Fat-Loss Mistakes You Don’t Even Know You’re Making

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Fat-loss is at the top of nearly everyone’s health and fitness goals. Depending on how much fat you have to lose, this process can be highly confusing, as many once thought gold standard fat-loss methods actually contradict each other. This week we have guest author Luke Briggs back on JRx to shed some light on

5 Fitness Tips for Busy People

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If you’re reading this blog, chances are you care about your health and fitness. You probably have a goal of building muscle, burning fat or getting stronger. You also probably have a lot of other commitments in your life from family, work, friends and other things. As such, finding time for fitness and nutrition can

Top 3 Book Recommendations for Success

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As a personal trainer and fitness enthusiast, I thoroughly enjoy reading anything related to strength and conditioning. But I’ve quickly learned being knowledgeable about your craft is only half the battle. Success is driven by other things like communicating effectively with others. Here are three books, in no particular order, I recommend reading to help with

5 Life-Changing Lessons From Martin Rooney

Tags : 5 Life-Changing5 Life-Changing Lessons5 Life-Changing Lessons From Martin RooneyMartin Rooney

  When I strolled into a large room just before 8 a.m. on a Saturday morning at the Perform Better Summit in Chicago, I saw a number of droopy-eyed trainers and strength coaches spaced out along the perimeter struggling to finish their morning coffee. Just more than an hour later, that same group exited the room

Five Female Fitness Myths Debunked By Science

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  Step aside, guys! It’s time to share the squat rack. We are currently living in the new age of fitness. As men, you are no longer the only gender passionately pumping iron with goals of chiseling a strong physique that will turn a few heads while tossing around a few plates. While men have

5 Reasons You Can’t Build Muscle

Tags : 5 Reasons5 Reasons You Can't Build MuscleBuild MuscleYou Can't Build Muscle

  Building muscle is probably the biggest goal of anyone who steps into a gym. Numerous types of workout programs can help you accomplish this goal, but your success is largely up to you, not the program itself. So, before you blame your workout for lack of results, make sure to correct the following muscle-blocking

5 Questions High School Athletes Should Ask Before Using Supplements

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  Nutritional supplements hold a lot of appeal for high school athletes looking for a quick and easy boost. Whey protein, creatine, branch-chain amino acids and nitric oxide all promise to improve strength and muscle mass. But is spending money on these items actually worth it? Here are a few things to consider before you

5 Quick Workout Fixes for Faster Muscle Growth

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  Have you tried every workout program on the planet yet still can’t seem to build muscle? It’s possible you could be using a program ill-suited to your goals, but chances are it’s your execution that’s making muscle growth challenging. Here are five changes you can make to your program right now to starting packing