Good morning everyone, today I want to talk about sources.
Last week I got into a discussion, or better said ‘a debate’ with a colleague and after a few minutes of back and forth I asked him, “Where are you getting your information? Who are your sources?”
And when I did our debate basically ended. He “couldn’t remember” and had to slink away knowing he couldn’t back up his argument.
Now my winning the argument isn’t the point here (Even though it was awesome). The point is that after I pushed him about his ‘sources’ I realized my team and I write a weekly newsletter that goes out to thousands of readers and we haven’t talked to you once – about who our sources are!
You see, our profession as strength coaches, nutritionists, health managers and personal trainers isn’t so much to do with research, pioneering new methodologies or acting as the cutting edge in health and fitness development.
Rather our profession is to accumulate the deepest knowledge pools possible on the most important topics in health and fitness and then pass that knowledge onto you.
And to do that effectively we have had to identify the best, most reputable companies and individuals in the health and fitness field who are doing the primary research. And then we learn, study and follow them.
So today I want to introduce you to some of the best, most thoughtful, knowledgeable, critical and experienced men and women in the fields of health and fitness. The men and women we hold in the highest regard and the men and women that we literally base the health and progress of all our clients and ourselves on:
Alan Aragon
First up we have Alan Aragon. Alan is not particularly well known outside the health and fitness industry, but within the health and fitness field there are few people held in higher regard.
Alan has become one of the most respected and listened to researchers in our field. He is one of the guys actually doing the raw research on topics such as weight gain, weight loss, health optimization and exercise programming.
He has written a number of great articles and just published his first book. He also publishes a monthly research review called the “Alan Aragon Research Review” which you can subscribe to for $10. (Candidly this research report isn’t really for the every day trainee and is more geared towards coaches. But if you like reading first hand studies then have at it)!
Check out his website here: https://alanaragon.com/books/
Brad Schoenfeld
Next up we have Brad Schoenfeld. Like Alan, Brad Schoenfeld is one of the guys in the research trenches. Brad has overseen a number of studies on weight loss and physique sculpting and is considered one of the foremost experts in his field. He has written a couple of great books and published hundreds of excellent articles on weight loss and physique sculpting. All of which you can find on his website.
Check out his website here: http://www.lookgreatnaked.com/blog/
Dr. Kelly Starrett
Now Dr. Kelly Starrett is someone that some of you may have actually heard about. Dr. Starrett is a renowned physical and physiotherapist who has risen to relative renown thanks to his website MobilityWod.com
MobilityWod.com is a website, a movement really, dedicated to helping individuals identify and fix their muscular, fascial and joint mobility and stability dysfunctions, movement dysfunctions and causes of chronic joint pain.
So much of what we do with our clients in terms of increasing flexibility, mobility and reducing chronic pain, has come from what we have learned from Dr. Starrett and his team.
If you have to sit for long periods of time for work, have to spend long periods working at a computer or have previous injuries that still cause you chronic discomfort and pain, then we cannot recommend Dr. Starrett’ work enough.
Check out his website here: https://www.mobilitywod.com/
Eric Helms, Andrea Valdez, & Andy Morgan
We are putting these three together because Eric, Andrea and Andy wrote two of our favorite exercise and dietary books; “The Muscle and Strength Pyramid: Training” and “The Muscle and Strength Pyramid: Nutrition”.
There are countless exercise and dietary books out there, but we have not encountered books as well written, clear, well organized and as full of usefulinformation as “The Muscle and Strength Pyramid: Training” and “The Muscle and Strength Pyramid: Nutrition”.
These two books combined will teach you everything you need to know and how to proceed through the beginner, intermediate and lower advanced levels of exercising and eating healthy.
If you are serious about building a lean, strong, healthy and great looking body, these are the two books we recommend most. Honestly, these are the books we wish we had written!
Bret Contreras
Bret Contreras rose to prominence after essentially obsessing over glute (Butt) training, over a two year period, which included using himself as a guinea pig in multiple EMG (Electromyography) based studies and then publishing one of the few “game changing” books on glute training in the last twenty years.
His book, “Advanced Techniques in Glutei Maximal Strengthening”, is an absolute beast of a book. It is loaded with his findings and his assessment of current glute training methods and his recommendations for improvements.
Candidly his book is not for beginners or even intermediates. It is advanced. But if you’d prefer not to read a 700 page book aimed at strength and conditioning coaches, you are able to view all his articles and videos that are geared towards the every day trainee from his site.
Check out his website here: https://bretcontreras.com
Every one of our clients who have built great butts – owes Bret a thank you!
Mike Boyle
When it’s time for us to develop our programs for our more athletically oriented clients, those not only focused on improving the way they look, but equally focused on their performance and preventing overuse and traumatic athletic injuries, Mike Boyle is the man we listen to intently.
His newest book “Advanced in Functional Training” needs to be a mandatory read for all strength coaches and personal trainers and his pod cast “The Strength Coach Pod cast” is one of our favorite fitness related pod casts.
If you are a weekend warrior trying to excel in any athletic endeavor and not just trying to look good naked, then Mike Boyle is one of the best to learn from.
Check out his Website and pod casts here: https://strengthcoachblog.com
Precision Nutrition
And finally, we have Precision Nutrition.
Founded by Dr. John Berardi, Precision Nutrition has become the most well known and respected dietary management company within the health and fitness field.
They work with and advise clients ranging from individuals trying to lose hundreds of pounds to world class athletes.
The Precision Nutrition team has published hundreds of great articles on all aspects of dietary management and nutrition and unlike many other nutrition companies; Precision Nutrition also emphasizes behavioral change methodologies as part of their curriculum.
Precision Nutrition is the team through which I and my team members have obtained our nutrition certifications.
Check Precision Nutrition out here: http://www.precisionnutrition.com
Okay, that’s it for today and between these seven + sources, you’ve now got a lifetime worth of new material to get into!
Enjoy!
Until next time and as always,
To our health
Your exercise and dietary coach
Zach Moore
And everyone, if you found today’s article insightful, inspiring or enlightening and you have a friend, family member, colleague or peer who you think would benefit from what we’ve talked about here today, pass on this email please.
One of the best things you can do for those you care about is helping them to build a healthy and great looking body. A body that is strong, capable and moves without pain and a body in which they feel confident and happy.
