This probably isn't news to anyone, but let it be clear: I love to deadlift.

Now, I'm not exactly sure why I love deadlifting as much as I do.  Until recently, I never would have said I was "good" at it.  And, as a long sufferer of lower back pain, deadlifting used to scare me.

My, oh my, how times have changed.

This past weekend, I was fortunate enough to hit my biggest 2014 goal - deadlifting 500 pounds.  Little did anyone know, I had targeted that day for well over a month as it lined up nicely with my program and I was coming off the carb/overeating fest that is Thanksgiving.  After feeling terrific in my warm ups, I decided to throw some Rage Against the Machine over the speakers, put on my high school baseball shirt (Foxes Up!!!!!!), and give it a go.  Here's what ensued....or, what I like to call, my attempt to use every rainbow-colored plate we have:

One of the biggest knocks against Strength Coaches and Personal Trainers is that we continually need our clients to come back in order to make money.  My answer?  Well, duh....it's called capitalism, folks.

But, the argument goes, in order to keep our client coming back, we teach exercises where people come to depend on us.  Then, with Bosu and Stability balls abound, we'll constantly change the movements ensuring that no one truly masters our "functional" exercises.

If you've ever met me, you know nothing could be further from the truth.

Instead, the biggest compliment I can receive is when someone believes they are strong enough - and knows enough about training - that they feel confident to go it alone.  One of my favorite proverbs is, "Teach a man to deadlift, and he'll get strong for a lifetime."

........or something like that.

Thanksgiving is next week, and if you're like me, it's pretty much a second (but earlier) Christmas.  I love to eat, and when I sit down to my Thanksgiving dinner, I'll be acting like I've just opened the greatest present of all time.

That's right....a NINTENDO SIXTY FOUURRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!

I'd like to clear the record: I'm not a "hater."

Now, that may seem hypocritical given what I've said in the past about running, yoga, and Tracy Anderson.  And, except for Tracy, I'd like to clear up my point of view.

I don't hate running or yoga, as each have their place. Heck, I've even taken Zumba with my Mom where we shook it like a Polaroid picture (that's still an applicable and common reference, right?)

So, when I say that I "get" how strength training isn't everyone's bag of chips, I do understand.  While I may favor particular forms of exercise, anything that gets people moving and feeling better is a-OK with me.

Having said that, know my heart is in the right place when I say the following: when someone does choose to strength train, my biggest pet peeve is hopping from exercise to exercise without taking the appropriate (or any) rest.  In fact, going immediately from a set of squats into planks, then trying to bang out as many push ups as you can is what I like to call, "Fantastic Fitness Fun," where you simply move around for an hour.  To me, it's a lot like this:

Well, we survived.

No, I'm not talking about the wonderful honeymoon Lindsay and I took last week to Paradise Island.  Instead, I'm talking about the first snow showers we had here in Boston this past weekend.  

Yup, it was November 2nd and there was snow falling from the sky. If you were dreaming of an unseasonably warm winter in the Northeast, those dreams are probably dashed.

All kidding aside, if you're curious (and I know you are...), we had a wonderful time in paradise.  Laying in sunny, 82 degree weather was exactly what the doctor ordered for Lindsay, after she planned more than 80% of the wedding.

And me?  I was busy reading my copy of Strength Coach, while watching people's posture and scapular positioning.  It's true....I don't have an off switch.