Smarter Workouts: The Science of Exercise Made Simple was written to help you understand how exercise changes your body and the most effective exercise solutions to help enhance your quality of life. Chapter 1 of Smarter Workouts is titled, "How Exercise Changes Your Body" and organizes exercise into three main categories: force production (which includes the entire spectrum of endurance, strength and power), mobility and metabolic conditioning. Muscles control physical force in your body; when ...
Sep 27, 2022•27 min
Do you want to know how to design your own workout program? Do you want to learn the most effective exercises for your body? Do you want to understand the science of how exercise changes your body? All About Fitness is back from a brief hiatus with a little twist, before returning to our interview format, we’re going to do a book-on-tape; specifically my first book, Smarter Workouts: The Science of Exercise Made Simple. In this series, I will be reading from the book and providing commentary on ...
Sep 22, 2022•31 min
What are some tried and true techniques for getting stronger? Is there a difference between big muscle and strong muscle? Why can a shorter person lift more weight than a taller one? This special episode of All About Fitness attempts to answer these questions. while providing the origin story on how host, Pete McCall, started his career in fitness industry. Chris Hodson is a plumbing contractor in North County San Diego who has been a lifelong fan of the iron game; he knows a lot about the scien...
Jun 14, 2022•1 hr 23 min
Do you love going to the gym but dread going to your job? Are you interested in making a career change to help people change their lives? Have you ever thought about becoming a personal trainer but didn't know how? If you answered yes to all of these questions, then this episode is for you! Dan Duran is a vice-president for the International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA) and he talks about how he went from a government job with a secure salary to working as a personal trainer, in his fortie...
Jun 07, 2022•1 hr 2 min
The human body is made to move, all of the joint structures and muscle attachments are aligned to allow our muscles to harness energy from gravity while walking. When 4 legged animals are born, they know how to walk almost immediately; when a human is born, it takes about a year to learn how to walk. When was the last time that you saw a baby doing crunches or biceps curls? The human body is programmed to move as an integrated system of many muscles working together so exercise programs that foc...
May 14, 2022•1 hr 11 min
Sleep, it's something that we all do, but the fact is that we probably do not do enough of it. Sleep is the time when our body repairs itself and should be considered an essential component of a comprehensive fitness program. Dr. Craig Heller is a professor of biology at Stanford University and has been studying why we sleep and the ways that sleep can support physical performance. Learn all about how sleep supports your workouts as well as ways that you can improve your sleep hygiene to achieve...
May 04, 2022•49 min
Got glutes? Because of its role in controlling human movement, and probably because it's one of the most visible muscles in the human body, people are always interested in learning how to develop a stronger gluteus maximus. Dr. Bret Contreras is a personal trainer who popularized the barbell hip thrust exercise. Not only did Dr. Contreras successfully use the exercise to help many of the female figure competitors he works with prepare for their competitions, BUT he also studied the benefits of t...
Apr 28, 2022•34 min
Mixed-martial arts (MMA) is one of the most physically demanding sports on the planet and the individuals who compete are some of the toughest and fittest people you could ever meet. MMA is associated with unreal levels of fitness, so the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), one of the first professional MMA leagues in the United States, partnered with fitness industry experts to start UFC Gyms. However, UFC Gyms are not just for MMA athletes, they have the resources to help anyone work towards...
Apr 20, 2022•57 min
From Jazzercise founder Judi Sheppard Misset to five-time CrossFit Champion, Tia-Clair Toomey, women have played a significant role in influencing and promoting popular fitness trends. In her book, Let's Get Physical: How Women Discovered Exercise and Reshaped the World, journalist Danielle Friedman reveals the fascinating history of women's fitness culture. Each chapter of Let's Get Physical reviews a different era of the fitness industry and identifies an important woman who influenced it; the...
Mar 29, 2022•1 hr 5 min
The proliferation of boutique fitness studios and multi-service health clubs all over the world combined with the popularity of Insta-famous social media fitness stars make it seem like fitness is a recent trend; however, humans have been exercising since the dawn of time. Part history, part biography, 'Sweat: A History of Exercise' by Bill Hayes is a journey through the years to understand why and how humans feel compelled to exercise. Bill is a gifted writer who creates an engaging narrative t...
Mar 22, 2022•1 hr 5 min
The definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting different results. When was the last time that you changed your workout routine? There is a paradox with exercise: performing the same exercises at the same level of intensity for too long could result in a plateau and changing exercises too frequently does not provide enough stimulus for the results that you want. This Quick Fit Tip explains the benefits of changing your workouts on a regular basis and provides an easy schedule fo...
Mar 20, 2022•10 min
Do you do your favorite activity to get in shape OR do you want to get in the proper shape so that you can enjoy your favorite activity? This is a question that I always ask cyclists or runners; because the fact is that many endurance athletes absolutely LOVE their sport but don't always train the proper way to achieve success or avoid injury. Resistance training can not only build strong, good looking muscles, it can also help to improve overall stamina AND stronger muscles are also more resist...
Mar 05, 2022•1 hr 5 min
The days are getting a little warmer, the sun is going down a little later each evening and the first buds of spring are starting to bloom. If you've been training indoors all winter you are no doubt ready to get outside for your favorite activity, however, keep in mind that there is a BIG difference between running or cycling inside and doing it in the great outdoors. This Quick Fit Tip covers a few issues that you should be aware of so that you can make the successful transition from indoor to...
Mar 03, 2022•10 min
Tom Brady. Drew Brees. LeBron James. Dana Torres. Nolan Ryan. What do all of these athletes have in common? They have each excelled at their chosen sport well into their later 30s and early 40s, ages when most normal individuals would have retired from elite or professional-level competition. Thanks to modern medical science we now know more about how to keep athletes injury-free as well as how to get them back on the field (or court) quickly after an injury happens. Dr. Kevin Stone is an orthop...
Feb 14, 2022•59 min
Variety can be the spice of life, but did you know that certain spices could enhance your life or even extend your lifespan? Dr. Melina Jampolis is an internist and one of only a handful of board-certified physician nutritionists in the United States, she is also the hostess of the Practically Healthy podcast and the author of the book, Spice Up, Live Long: A Guide to Using Herbs and Spices To Live A Longer, Healthier and More Vibrant Life. Dr. Jampolis talks about how her experience as a doctor...
Feb 03, 2022•1 hr 3 min
Yes, it's now a new year, but what does that really mean in terms of your fitness and workout program? Do we have to wait for a new week, new month or new year to start a new, healthy behavior? This episode of All About Fitness features a return of co-host Aimee Nicotera to talk about all issues related to how to stay fit in our 40s; we talk about the right time to start a new workout program, how goals can help with motivation and what you can do to stay active, fit and healthy all year long. A...
Feb 01, 2022•1 hr 3 min
Dr. Chad Waterbury is a Los Angeles-based physical therapist and author of several books about exercise and fitness including Huge in a Hurry and Muscle Revolution; his latest book, Elite Physique, the Science of Building a Better Body, provides evidence-based solutions for how to change the way you look. On this episode of All About Fitness, enjoy an insightful and educational discussion about how to minimize the risk of injury when you exercise along with learning about how exercise can change...
Jan 25, 2022•54 min
If you are in your 40s, or close to it, how do you maintain your fitness? Other than some guy playing quarterback down in Tampa, FL is it even possible to maintain a high level of athleticism once you pass the "big 4-O?" At the ripe young age of 48, Mike Simpson was still running missions in Afghanistan with U.S. Special Forces. How did he keep up? His fitness and his mindset were honed by three decades of Special Forces training, martial arts, and his own specialized knowledge as a doctor of em...
Jan 19, 2022•1 hr 18 min
How should our workouts change as we age? Can we do the same workouts in our 50s that we loved in our 20s? Jason Stella is the National Education Manager for LifeTime, a nationwide chain of premium health clubs, and a career fitness professional. On this episode, Jason and I talk about how the fitness industry has evolved over the course of our careers and where we think the industry is heading. We also talk training, how our personal workouts have evolved as we 'matured' through our 40s and the...
Jan 14, 2022•1 hr 4 min
This Quick Fit Tip identifies the top fitness trends that will be making us sweat in 2022 and beyond! If you love to exercise then you will love hearing about these trends that will influence all sectors of the fitness industry. https://petemccallfitness.com Sign up for the mailing list to receive a free chapter from Smarter Workouts Follow Pete on Instagram: @AllAboutFitnesspodcast Order a copy of Ageless Intensity: High Intensity Workouts to Slow the Aging Process: https://amzn.to/3mH3HNf Orde...
Jan 11, 2022•25 min
There are two types of people who go to physical therapy: those who LOVE to be active and might overdo it which results in an injury and those who are not active but become injured as the result of some sort of trauma. The goal of a physical therapist is to help a patient return to optimal function as quickly as possible. Since many people are in pain when seeing a physical therapist it can be a challenge to engage them and help them learn how to use exercise to heal the pain. Mark Salamon is a ...
Dec 31, 2021•1 hr 2 min
We are only given one body that has to last us an entire lifetime. Exercise and proper nutrition can provide the means for achieving what you want in life, but it can be a challenge to find the best exercise program that fits your needs. Amy Connell is a personal trainer, fitness instructor and mother who has worked to achieve balance in all areas of her life. Amy hosts the Graced Health podcast and has written, Your Worthy Body: Find Freedom in Health by Breaking All of the Rules so that she ca...
Dec 28, 2021•1 hr 4 min
Every day scientists are learning more about how the aging process affects the human body. Longevity is the field of study that seeks to understand how to extend the human lifespan. Dr. Kris Verburgh is a MD, researcher and leader in the field of nutrigerentology, the study of how nutrition can influence aging, as well as an author who wrote the Longevity Code to help readers learn about the aging process and what could be done to slow down its effects. On this episode, Dr. Verburgh shares how n...
Dec 15, 2021•44 min
What do you do to manage stress when life gets hectic? How do you make time for exercise when life happens at full speed and your schedule gets out of control? What can you do to gain control when life seems just a little overwhelming? On this episode of Fit Over 40, Aimee Nicotera joins Pete to talk about life hacks and how to make your needs a priority when your schedule allows little time for exercise. You will learn some helpful techniques and strategies for how to make your health and welln...
Dec 02, 2021•55 min
Thomas Myers is a soft-tissue therapist, educator and author of Anatomy Trains, a book that explains how your muscles and fascia work together to produce movement. On this special rerun episode of All About Fitness, originally recorded in 2018, Thomas talks about what makes the fascia and elastic connective tissue so special as well as sharing insights into the types of exercise that could help you to develop a body-wide network of strong, vibrant and injury-resistant connective tissue. Learn mo...
Dec 02, 2021•44 min
Have you ever felt stiff or sore for no reason? Yes, you may exercise, lift weights, get your heart-rate up and push yourself during hard, high-intensity workouts, but when was the last time that you did anything specific for your fascia and connective tissue? There are two types of muscle tissue, the contractile component that generates force and the elastic element that transmits the force around the body; it's this second type of tissue that is often overlooked with many traditional fitness p...
Nov 24, 2021•1 hr 8 min
On this edition of Fitness Over 40 with Aimee Nicotera, we discuss how fitness has evolved, what that means for you and share our thoughts on how we will all be sweating differently in 2022 and beyond. Fitness Over 40 is a series of Facebook Live conversations that Aimee and I will be having to talk about all issues related to staying fit in our 40s and beyond; the purpose is to provide a different perspective on how to make exercise a part of your daily life. Learn more about Aimee Nicotera: ht...
Nov 23, 2021•45 min
Ok, ok, it's not possible to guarantee a way to exercise completely injury-free, however, there are ways to significantly reduce the risk of becoming injured when you workout. Gerry Drefahl is an athletic trainer, certified strength and conditioning coach as well as an entrepreneur involved in a number of fitness-tech companies; we talk about common gym injuries and, most importantly, how to avoid them. We also discuss the benefits of massage guns and foam rollers in addition to talking about th...
Nov 17, 2021•1 hr 28 min
Exercise is physical stress imposed upon the body; when you do it the right way, you can get the results that you want, however, exercise done the wrong way could result in an injury that keeps you from your goals. Muscles generate force. Fascia and elastic connective tissue transmits that force through the body; it's often these tissues that become injured which can keep you from being able to workout. This Quick Fit Tip identifies what you should know about your fascia so you can avoid injury....
Nov 11, 2021•30 min
Are you getting close to the 'BIG 4-Oh'? Are you already in your 40s (or a little beyond)? Do you find it a challenge to balance all of the things that you have to do, like work and family, with the things that you want to do, like exercise? Introducing a brand-new feature of the All About Fitness podcast: Fitness Over 40 with Aimee Nicotera Aimee is a personal trainer, group fitness instructor and fitness educator (she teaches other trainers and instructors how to make people sweaty); she has b...
Nov 09, 2021•52 min
