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Training Science

No gimmicks. No bro-science. Just research-backed training advice from NSCA-certified coaches who practice what they preach.

What Actually Happens at Your First Personal Training Session
Personal Training

What Actually Happens at Your First Personal Training Session

Most people expect their first session to be brutal. It isn't. Here's what actually happens, why the first session is structured the way it is, and what to bring.

Ryan BensonMay 3, 20265 min read
How to Actually Preserve Muscle While Taking Ozempic or Wegovy
GLP-1

How to Actually Preserve Muscle While Taking Ozempic or Wegovy

GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and Wegovy create real weight loss, but without the right structure, a significant portion of what you lose will be muscle. Here's the practical framework for protecting it.

Keri MerkelMay 1, 20264 min read
What Actually Makes a Volleyball Player More Explosive
Team Training

What Actually Makes a Volleyball Player More Explosive

The difference between players who jump high and those who don't usually comes down to strength training, not more reps on the court. Here's what actually works.

Jimmy FreemanApr 28, 20265 min read
What Nobody Tells You About Exercise After Weight Loss Surgery
Bariatric

What Nobody Tells You About Exercise After Weight Loss Surgery

After bariatric surgery, most patients get detailed nutrition guidance but vague advice on exercise. What happens during that gap matters more than most people realize, especially once the rapid weight loss begins.

Keri MerkelApr 26, 20265 min read
The Muscle Loss Nobody Warns You About
Geriatric Training

The Muscle Loss Nobody Warns You About

Most people chalk up the weakness and fatigue that creeps in after 50 to getting older. There's a name for what's actually happening, and unlike aging itself, it responds directly to training.

Keri MerkelApr 24, 20265 min read
What Personal Training Actually Costs (And What You're Really Paying For)
Personal Training

What Personal Training Actually Costs (And What You're Really Paying For)

Most trainers won't tell you the real numbers. Here's the honest range for personal training in St. Louis, what drives the difference, and how to decide if the investment makes sense for you.

Ryan BensonApr 21, 20265 min read
Powerlifting Isn't What Most People Think It Is
Powerlifting

Powerlifting Isn't What Most People Think It Is

Most people picture elite athletes when they hear powerlifting. As the USAPL Missouri Co-State Chair, here's what the sport actually looks like from the inside.

Jimmy FreemanApr 19, 20265 min read
You Built the Off-Season Strength. Here's How Not to Lose It.
Team Training

You Built the Off-Season Strength. Here's How Not to Lose It.

Most volleyball programs stop lifting when the season starts. Here's what that actually costs, and how two sessions a week can protect everything you built.

Jimmy FreemanApr 17, 20265 min read
Osteoporosis Isn't Inevitable: What Strength Training Does for Your Bones
Geriatric Training

Osteoporosis Isn't Inevitable: What Strength Training Does for Your Bones

Most people find out their bone density is low at a routine scan and leave with a short list of vague advice. Here's what that conversation usually misses, and what actually works.

Keri MerkelApr 14, 20266 min read
What Nobody Tells You About Exercise After Weight Loss Surgery
Bariatric

What Nobody Tells You About Exercise After Weight Loss Surgery

The advice most people leave surgery with (eat your protein, start walking) is a start. But without a plan to protect your muscle, you risk losing the wrong weight. Here's what a real recovery program actually includes.

Keri MerkelApr 12, 20266 min read
How Long Does It Take to See Results with a Personal Trainer?
Personal Training

How Long Does It Take to See Results with a Personal Trainer?

The honest answer isn't what most trainers will tell you. Here's the real timeline, phase by phase, and the variables that determine how fast you actually progress.

Ryan BensonApr 10, 20266 min read
Why Cardio Isn't Enough When You're on a GLP-1 Medication
GLP-1

Why Cardio Isn't Enough When You're on a GLP-1 Medication

GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and Wegovy are powerful for weight loss, but cardio alone won't protect your muscle. Here's what most people miss, and why strength training is the non-negotiable half of this equation.

Keri MerkelApr 7, 20265 min read
Why Strength Training Is the Best Fall Prevention for Seniors
Geriatric Training

Why Strength Training Is the Best Fall Prevention for Seniors

Most falls aren't random accidents. They're the predictable result of muscle weakness and poor reaction time. Here's what actually prevents them, and why balance classes alone aren't enough.

Keri MerkelApr 5, 20265 min read
Small Group Training vs. Personal Training: What Nobody Tells You
Personal Training

Small Group Training vs. Personal Training: What Nobody Tells You

Most people shopping for a trainer are comparing two options without realizing it. Here's an honest breakdown of small group training versus one-on-one coaching, and how to pick the right fit.

Ryan BensonApr 3, 20265 min read
Why Your Off-Season Volleyball Training Isn't Working
Team Training

Why Your Off-Season Volleyball Training Isn't Working

Open gyms and conditioning runs feel productive, but they don't build the physical qualities that actually win matches. Here's what a real off-season volleyball program looks like.

Jimmy FreemanMar 31, 20265 min read
Is Personal Training Worth It? Here's the Honest Answer
Personal Training

Is Personal Training Worth It? Here's the Honest Answer

Most trainers won't give you a straight answer on this. Personal training done well is one of the highest-value investments you can make in your health, but it only works under specific conditions.

Ryan BensonMar 31, 20266 min read
Should You Lift Weights While on Ozempic or Wegovy?
GLP-1

Should You Lift Weights While on Ozempic or Wegovy?

GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and Wegovy work fast. But without strength training, much of the weight you lose may be muscle, and that's a problem worth understanding before it happens.

Keri MerkelMar 30, 20266 min read
Is It Safe for Seniors to Lift Weights?
Geriatric Training

Is It Safe for Seniors to Lift Weights?

The fitness industry has convinced too many older adults that strength training isn't for them. As a trainer who works with seniors every day in South St. Louis, I want to set the record straight.

Keri MerkelMar 30, 20266 min read
What's Actually Working in 2026 (And What's Just Marketing)
Training Science

What's Actually Working in 2026 (And What's Just Marketing)

The fitness industry loves trends. But most of them are garbage. Here's what the research actually says about training in 2026.

Ryan BensonJan 15, 20266 min read
Why You're Not Getting Stronger (And How to Fix It)
Training Fundamentals

Why You're Not Getting Stronger (And How to Fix It)

Everyone talks about progressive overload. Almost nobody does it right. Here's the truth about building strength that actually lasts.

Jimmy FreemanJan 10, 20265 min read
You're Not Too Old to Get Strong
Age-Specific Training

You're Not Too Old to Get Strong

I see it all the time: people over 40 who think they missed their window. They're wrong. Here's how to build real strength at any age.

Keri MerkelJan 5, 20267 min read
Do Fitness Trackers Actually Make You Stronger?
Technology & Training

Do Fitness Trackers Actually Make You Stronger?

Your watch knows your heart rate, sleep score, and recovery status. But does tracking all this data actually improve your training? Let's look at what matters.

Ryan BensonDec 28, 20256 min read
Stop Training So Much (Seriously)
Recovery & Programming

Stop Training So Much (Seriously)

The gym is where you break down. Recovery is where you build up. Most people have this backwards, and it's killing their progress.

Jimmy FreemanDec 20, 20257 min read
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