Hey y’all!
OK, so I’m not Ben Bruno or anything, but I thought I would take a minute to put together a list of a few of my favorite articles that are floating out there in space. Now I’ll be honest, I haven’t done a good job of bookmarking or saving them over time, so I am sure there will be at least a few that a miss… but here are definitely some of my faves through the years!
I will also say that I picked articles that I believe can be read and understood (and APPLIED) by the non-fitness professional. There are tons of great articles out there that are more advanced and use lots of big, fancy, science-y words. These are not those kinds of articles. So give ’em a gander and tell me what you think! =)
1. Feel Better for 10 Bucks – So… foam rollers aren’t exactly 10 bucks anymore, but they’re still pretty reasonable! I love this article because foam rolling is a really quick, easy, and cheap way to start feeling and moving better. I personally foam roll stiff and/or overactive muscles before every strength training session, and I even try to do it at home or in between clients while I am at the gym. Check out this article and start feeling better STAT!
Cue embarrassing foam roller pic…. NOW.
2. G-Flux: Building The Ultimate Body – I remember having a HUGE a-ha moment after reading this article. It made so much sense to me and I was so excited to put it into action. This was around the end of 2007 or beginning of 2008 and applying this theory got me the leanest I had ever been (while not prepping for a competition) and while still eating crap-tons of food. Granted, I wasn’t as strong then as I am now, and the workouts I did were more muscularly taxing than CNS-taxing… plus I was getting a ton of sleep, so it worked well for me at the time. I wouldn’t say it’s for everyone, but I really enjoyed staying lean and eating 2400-3200 calories a day (6,000-7,000) on my “cheat days.” (here is a follow-up to that article)
3. Joint-by-Joint Approach to Training – This article is one of those articles that you read, and it changes the way you see everything. Before this, I knew that different parts of the body were connected to one another and affected one another, I just didn’t understand how. We still use this approach with ourselves, our clients, and our athletes and it has helped us help a LOT of people. If you like this article, here is some more information about it from Gray Cook.
Also check out the super-smart Kevin Neeld expanding on this a bit and clearing up misconceptions.
It may not be QUITE this simple… but it’s a great place to start!
4. 21st Century Core Training: This is another article that changed the way I see things, except this time, with core training. If you still think crunches, side bends, and russian twists are the key to HAWT ABZ and a healthy core, you need to read this, like, yesterday.
5. 9 Steps to Perfect Health: OK so this is actually 9 articles, but I couldn’t leave this series out. This series touches on 9 different topics that I believe are key to longevity and health. The great thing about Chris Kresser is he takes complicated topics and makes them easy to understand. Live long and prosper!
Don’t Eat Toxins:
BONUS:
6. 4 Basic Exercises Most People Perform Incorrectly: OK so you didn’t actually think I could make a list of awesome articles and not included one of my own, right? =) This was one of the first articles I EVER put on the interwebz, and it’s still one of my most successful to date. It’s quick and easy to read, and there are videos!
Keep in mind, the PURPOSE of some of the “wrong” demonstrations, is that they don’t look that wrong. In fact, they probably look OK to most people. That’s the point. Everyone knows what a horrible chin-up or step-up looks like…. but what about one that just needs a little tweaking for improved effectiveness?
Most of us have something small we could do to improve our movement quality. I know I do! Why do you think I go to IFAST for help every chance I get? So keep your eyes peeled and hopefully you’ll learn something!
I hope you guys enjoyed this list! Don’t forget to tell me what YOUR favorite articles are below! Maybe I’ve missed them! =)
Molly Galbraith is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist and Coach who has dabbled in both Figure and Powerlifting competitions. She is Co-Founder of Girls Gone Strong and J-M Strength.Her life's mission is to help women give themselves grace and compassion when it comes to their bodies so that they can discover and accept what their best body looks like.
Pingback: Top Good Reads of the Week: Edition 13 | LaVack Fitness