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All About Fitness — Fitness & Nutrition
All About Fitness

All About Fitness is a free podcast that explores how exercise can successfully manage the aging process. From popular fitness programs to recently-developed exercise equipment, discover new trends and evidence-based solutions that can help you slow down the effects of time and stress on your body. No matter your age, learn how to burn calories, build stronger muscles and get YOUR best body straight from the people who conduct the research, invent the products and create the workouts that make you sweat. Host Pete McCall is a master personal trainer, education content creator and blogger for leading fitness organizations including the American Council on Exercise, Nautilus, StairMaster and the National Academy of Sports Medicine. In addition, he is the author of Ageless Intensity: Effective Workouts to Slow the Aging Process and Smarter Workouts: The Science of Exercise Made Simple as well as multiple textbook chapters on exercise science. With extensive experience traveling around the world teaching workshops to personal trainers and group fitness instructors, Pete is an engaging host with the unique ability to translate the science of exercise for all to understand. The Quick Fit Tips deliver practical, actionable advice in under 15 minutes; while the interviews are in-depth, informative and engaging conversations with top health and fitness experts. New episodes are posted weekly; listen and subscribe to the All About Fitness podcast in order to learn how exercise can enhance your quality of life while extending your lifespan.

Latest Episodes:

Episode 53: John Wolf Aug 23, 2017

Show notes

John Wolf is the CFO - Chief Fitness Officer for Onnit, a supplement and fitness equipment company based in Austin, Texas. Onnit promotes a unique line of fitness products and education programs that is changing how we exercise. On this episode of All About Fitness John and I discuss what you can be doing to enhance your workout program and getting the results you want.

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Episode 52: Quick Fit Tip Aug 23, 2017

Show notes

Discussing the disruptive forces in the fitness industry and what that means for YOU - the exercise enthusiast and fitness consumer.

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Episode 51: Natalia Petrzela Jul 17, 2017

Show notes

The past six Presidents of the United States, Barak Obama, George W. Bush, Bill Cinton, George HW Bush, Ronald Reagan and Jimmy Carter, have had one thing in common: each enjoyed exercise. The past number of White House residents were each shown participating in favorite fitness-based pastimes from jogging to basketball to weightlifting to mountain biking and from selecting Arnold Schwarzenegger for the President's Fitness Council (HW Bush) to hosting yoga on the White House lawn (Obama) each played an active role in setting a positive example for health and fitness.

Both in and out of office President George W. Bush has set a positive example for an active lifestyle.

On this episode of All About Fitness, Assistant Professor of American History and Co-host of the Past-Present podcast, Natalia Petrzela, and I discuss the role that Presidents have played in establishing promoting a healthy and fit lifestyle. This is based on the excellent article that Dr. Petrzela wrote for the Washington Post on President Trump and his well-known diet which is does more to expand the waist line than shrink it and is far from a positive example of healthy.

President Reagan with Arnold Something-or-other

The discussion specifically focuses on the role that the occupant of the Oval Office has played in helping set a positive focus on health and fitness. From Teddy Roosevelt boxing with his Secret Service protection to John F. Kennedy calling Americans 'soft,' over the years most Presidents have understood that they have an important role in promoting good health in our nation. If you are both a history and fitness buff you will really enjoy this discussion of Presidential fitness habits on All About Fitness.

President Carter and his wife walked the 1 mile (or so) from Capitol Hill to the White House during their inauguration in 1977

Follow Dr. Petrzela on social media:

Twitter: @NataliaPetrzela

Listen to her Past-Present podcast.

Questions/Comments/Book a guest: Pete@petemccallfitness.com

Twitter: @PeteMc_Fitness

Instagram: @PeteMcCall_fitness

Please visit the sponsors of All About Fitness:

ActivMotion Bar

Terra Core by Vicore Fitness

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Episode 50: Matt Berenc Jul 12, 2017

Show notes

Why would you hire a personal trainer? Would it be based on looks or knowledge? Just because a trainer looks great does not mean that he or she has the skills to help you optimize your level of health and fitness. It's important to remember that exercise is stress applied to the body; when done correctly you can achieve awesome results. If applied incorrectly exercise can cause injury or be fatal. When it comes to working with a personal trainer you want to make sure you select one who knows what the heck he or she is doing. On this episode of All About Fitness I interview Matt Berenc, the Director of the Equinox Fitness Training Institute (EFTI) about the education process required for ALL of their trainers.

Matt Berenc giving a talk on how to optimize human performance.

Equinox is widely for having one of the best, most comprehensive education programs in the fitness industry. The company knows that education is the best way to enhance the member experience while strengthening employee engagement and retention. If you've ever wondered why you should hire a personal trainer and how they could help you maximize the results from your workout program you will enjoy this insightful episode of All About Fitness.

Matt using his favorite piece of exercise equipment.

To find an Equinox in your area visit: www.equinox.com

Follow Equinox: @equinox on both Twitter and Instagram

To find a nationally certified personal trainer in your area visit one of the following fitness certification organizations:

American Council on Exercise

National Academy of Sports Medicine

National Strength and Conditioning Association

Contact me: pete@petemccallfitness.com

Instagram: @PeteMcCall_fitness

Twitter: @PeteMc_fitness

Visit the sponsors of All About Fitness:

Terra Core by Vicore, Better Products for Better Results; use the code AAF to save 20% on the purchase of a Terra Core

ActivMotion Bar - the first weighted bar with a dynamic, shifting mass, Let the resistance move YOU!

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Episode 49: David Harris Jul 08, 2017

Show notes

Not all health clubs are the same; many have similar types of equipment like treadmills, free weights and machines, but what really sets one health club apart from another is the environment, the education of the staff and how that creates a unique member experience. When was the last time someone from your health club or gym talked about understanding how exercise affects the human genome? David Harris is the Vice President of Health and Human Performance for Equinox, an upscale health club company with locations in the U.S., Canada and the United Kingdom. Among his other duties for the company David chairs the Health Advisory Panel for Equinox which includes neurologists and molecular biologists who study how exercise affects the human body down to the cellular level.

David Harris, Vice President for Health and Human Performance, Equinox

The purpose of All About Fitness is to introduce you to the thought leaders and companies who are making a difference in how fitness is delivered to you, the consumer. As a health club company Equinox provides a variety of programs and services beyond just being a place to sweat. On this episode David and I speak about the role that exercise plays in preventative health care and how Equinox is positioning itself to offer a variety of lifestyle solutions that will help members maintain optimal health. In addition, we talk about the core pillars that establish Equinox's unique brand of fitness, why they exist and how they can help you to enhance your overall quality of life.

To learn more about Equinox or to find a location near you, visit: www.equinox.com

To learn more about Equinox's unique brand of fitness, visit their blog: Furthermore

Twitter: @equinox

Instagram: @Equinox

If you work for a health club or studio that is offering unique programs for members, contact me: pete@petemccallfitness.com

Please visit the sponsors of All About Fitness

Terra Core by Vicore - Better Products for Better Results; use code AAF to save on the purchase of a Terra Core

ActivMotion Bar - Let the Resistance Move YOU!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 48 Quick Fit Tip: All About Fitness Certifications Jul 08, 2017

Show notes

Did you know that currently ZERO states require personal trainers or fitness instructors to have a license? Did you know that you need a license to cut hair or do nails (non-living tissue) yet anyone can simply call his or herself a 'fitness expert' and begin dispensing advice that could potentially be deadly? On this Quick Fit Tip of All About Fitness I explain the fitness certification process and why you should only work with instructors that have earned an accredited certification or have a college degree. As someone who currently does freelance work for two of the largest fitness certification organizations and teaches personal training courses in college (ok, junior college, but still) I offer unique insight and background into the process and why you should only be working with certified fitness professionals.

For 15 years I've been educating personal trainers and fitness instructors around the world to help them earn and maintain their professional certifications.

Back in the early 2000s the fitness industry agreed to an accreditation standard for fitness certifications (the National Commission for Certifying Agencies - NCCA run by the Institute for Credentialing Excellence - ICE). Since then health clubs have been advised to hire personal trainers and instructors with a certification accredited by the NCCA but this is only a suggestion and NOT a legal requirement.

Some health clubs have rigorous standards for hiring personal trainers and fitness instructors and offer extensive continuing education to ensure they are delivering the highest level of service possible. However at other health clubs trainers and instructors are often hired based purely on their appearance and are allowed to teach or train without having any existing credentials.

Why does this matter? Exercise is physical stress applied to the body, when done correctly it can impose the desired adaptations such as weight loss, muscle growth or improved definition. However, if an exercise program is too intense or too technically challenging at best it could cause an injury and at worst it could be fatal. On this episode I explain the education and certification process and tell you what you should be looking for when seeking the services of a trainer or fitness instructor. As one of my favorite quotes says: 'Now you know and knowing is half the battle.'*

Here are the largest (and most popular) certification organizations - in alphabetical order. Each one provides information on the certification process and has search engines to help you to find certified professionals in your area:

American College of Sports Medicine

American Council on Exercise

National Academy of Sports Medicine

National Strength and Conditioning Association

REPS - Registry of Exercise Professionals - You can check here to see if your trainer or instructor has an accredited certification.

*Tweet me the source of this quote and you could win a free All About Fitness T-shirt!

Twitter: @PeteMc_fitness

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Episode 47: Jessica Matthews returns Jun 29, 2017

Show notes

On this episode of All About Fitness my former colleague from the American Council on Exercise and wellness expert Jessica Matthews returns to discuss her book: Stretching to Stay Young. There are three components of a well-designed workout program: strength or resistance training to increase lean muscle (and improve definition), energy system development (often mistakenly called 'cardio') and flexibility - often overlooked in favor of the other two components. In our discussion today, Jessica and I address the role that flexibility plays as an integral component of well-designed exercise program and how the right types of stretching can help reduce pain, improve physical performance and stave off the effects of the biological aging process.

It's always fun to catch up and hang out with Jessica when we're speaking at the same events

Jessica is a college faculty, PhD candidate, content contributor to well-known fitness magazines, international speaker and now a book author. I have known Jessica for the better part of a decade, consider her a good friend and have a tremendous amount respect for her contributions to our industry so I always enjoy the opportunity to sit down, catch up and talk shop. Besides discussing the science of stretching our conversation covers common mistakes could keep you from reaching your fitness goals.

Jessica in her happy place

If you want to know how stretching can help you to stay young, then be sure to listen to this episode of All About Fitness. If you want to learn how to use foam rollers for myofascial release - a key component of flexibility and one that we mention in our discussion - check out my article for the American Council on Exercise HERE.

Follow Jessica on social media:

Instagram: @FitExpertJess

Twitter: @FitexpertJess

Contact me: pete@petemccallfitness.com

Please visit the sponsors of All About Fitness:

Terra Core by Vicore Fitness - Better Products for Better Results! Use code AAF to save 20% on the purchase of a Terra Core!

ActivMotion Bar - Let the Resistance Move YOU!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 46: Quick Fit Tip Jun 29, 2017

Show notes

There are three primary components of any workout plan: strength or resistance training, energy system development (often mistakenly called 'cardio') and flexibility, or more appropriately, mobility training. Doing too much of any one of these components at the expense of the others could mean that your exercise program will not produce the results you want it to; additionally, if you want to how leaving a car in your backyard is relates to a proper, well-designed exercise program, tune in to the episode of All About Fitness.

Exercise should be a balance between strength training to help develop lean muscles, mobility training so they function properly and energy system development to ensure they have the proper fuel for activity. Or this is just an opportunity to stick in a gratuitous Arnold pic.

Strength training helps improve muscle force production. On the podcast I explain why cardio is a misnomer for how we exercise to improve aerobic capacity or anaerobic efficiency and flexibility is not exactly the most correct term to describe what is going on when we stretch. On this Quick Fit Tip I explain some of the proper terminology and why each component should be an important part of a successful workout plan.

Quiz: True or False - this is the best way to stretch your muscles

Muscle imbalances can occur from repeating the same movement too frequently or from lack of regular movement; movement-based mobility exercise programs can help eliminate muscle imbalances and ensure proper joint function. To learn more see my blog on the topic I wrote for the American Council on Exercise.

There are two types of muscle tissue in the body: the contractile element responsible for generating force and the elastic component that distributes it around the body - to learn more about the difference and why we should be paying attention to our fascia read my article on the topic here

Answer: False, moving upright through a variety of different movement patterns, like in a Tai Chi kata, can be the most effective way to stretch and lengthen both types of muscle tissue.

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Episode 45: Clifton Harski Jun 24, 2017

Show notes

How many times have you seen an advertisement for a fitness product or exercise program and wondered, "Does that really work?" On this episode of All About Fitness I talk with Clifton Harski about how to identify fitness programs that work and how to determine which ones are complete nonsense. We also talk about awesomeness - I'm not sure about you, but I am always interested in how I could be doing things a little better and Clifton is one of the most awesome guys I know so we discuss strategies on how to be more awesome. Clifton is the Director of Fitness Programming for Fitwall - a unique studio training concept THAT WORKS, as well as an educator responsible for teaching kettlebell and Animal Flow workshops to personal trainers. Clifton is a hella smart guy who knows how to design exercise programs that deliver results so his advice can help you identify workout programs to meet your needs.

Clifton is not only a cool guy, he's pretty freaking strong

I've gotten to know Clifton through his social media posts and consider him to be one of the most creative guys in our business; he creates killer, science-based workout programs for Fitwall and his social media videos and pics always crack me up so if you're looking for ways to make your life a little more awesome, he's the right guy to help you identify how. This video clip of Clifton recreating an old-time barbell workout from the era of physical culture is only one of the things that make him AWESOME!

This pic of Mr. Harski in his 4th of July workout gear shows him in ALL of his innate awesomeness; a little cheesy? Yes - but having the confidence to pull it off is what makes it great!

Interested in what the heck a FitWall workout involves? Check out this video clip featuring Clifton and the FitWall team. Clifton is a Master Trainer, meaning he trains personal trainers, for both Kettlebell Athletics and Animal Flow.

Here's the backstory on this interview: as I started the podcast one of the pieces of advice I read was to have a couple of interviews saved for when you need to post a podcast and didn't have anyone scheduled. We had this conversation after a killer kettlebell workout next to the beach in San Diego and I saved it until now - the reason I'm launching it now is that Clifton and his wife (standing on his back above) just introduced a new bundle of awesomeness to the world, congratulations guys - hope you survive the experience.

Follow Clifton on Social media:

Instagram: @Cliftonharski

Twitter: @Cliftonharski

My social media tags:

Twitter: @PeteMc_fitness

Instagram: @PeteMcCall_fitness

www.petemccallfitness.com

My blogs for the American Council on Exercise:

https://www.acefitness.org/blogs/author/58/pete-mccall

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 44: Giovanni Roselli aka Romeo Roselli Jun 21, 2017

Show notes

Adding muscle, improving definition or just simply looking better are popular reasons for starting a workout program. The past few episodes of All About Fitness have featured guests who specialize in a movement-based approach to exercise because, whether in sports or activities of daily living, moving better is the foundation for everything else from performance to appearance. Exercise programs that focus on movements like squats, lunges, pushes and pulls as well as multi-planar patterns are not only important for athletic performance but can also help produce a shredded physique. In an effort to discuss how the two approaches can merge to produce the results you want from your workouts I reached out to professional wrestler turned personal trainer and health coach: Giovanni Roselli.

Giovanni aka Romeo Roselli doing his thing in the ring

This was a fun interview for me because as a kid growing up in the 80s I was a huge (at the time) WWF fan. To me the wrestlers were real-life superheroes capable of amazing feats of strength and athleticism and were one of the inspirations for starting on my fitness journey in the first place. Giovanni and I met a few years ago and while I don't follow professional wrestling anymore I still have a tremendous amount of respect for the men and women who put it all on the line for their fans. It has been fun getting to know Gio and talking training, specifically how to balance the competing interests of training for performance AND physique.

As a wrestler Giovanni competed in the WWE and other circuits under the name Romeo Roselli; he now works as a personal trainer and health coach to help other people learn how to practice healthy behaviors like exercise and getting a good night's sleep. Gio is not just a personal trainer, he is also a master trainer responsible for teaching workshops on how to use exercise equipment like the ViPR and Core-Tex as well as being an ambassador for Pt on the Net - the leading online education resource for personal trainers. If you're not familiar with the ViPR, a relatively new and unique strength training tool, check out this video of Gio with the Trevor and Shawn from Genesis Performance.

As a trainer Gio created the Fully Loaded group fitness program for Equinox health clubs.

On this episode of All About Fitness we talk about how he trained as a wrestler - a major challenge given the travel and appearance schedule and how he exercises now that he is working full time in the fitness industry. We also talk about the importance of exercise programs that can help you to both look good and improve your overall quality of life. Getting results from strength training requires more than just lifting heavy - it's also extremely important to know a few training strategies that can help ensure proper muscle adaptation.

In this episode Gio and I discuss a number of exercise programs, including:

Institute of Motion and the 4Q Model of Exercise Programming and

Follow me on:

Twitter: @PeteMc_fitness

Instagram: @PeteMcCall_fitness

www.petemccallfitness.com

Please visit the sponsors of All About Fitness:

ActivMotion Bar - let the resistance move you.

Terra Core by Vicore Fitness - Better products for better results! Use code AAF to save on the order of a Terra Core.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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