Happy New Year everyone!  I hope y'all had a great holiday season, and are enjoying a day of lounging around in your pajamas.  Because after all, isn't that what New Years Day is all about?

Anyway, 2014 was a great year for me and this blog for a few reasons: 

1. Lindsay and I got married!!!!

2. I learned much more this year than any other year....not just about planning a wedding, but about Strength and Conditioning as well ;)

3. Judging by my site's analytics, I have a handful of more readers than my immediate family (as always, you're the best Mom!!)

As a strength coach, I like to think that 80% of my job is helping people get stronger and reach their goals.

The other 20% of my time is usually devoted to dispelling myths that currently persist in our culture:  

• No, carbs aren't the devil.
• Yes, intermittent fasting is probably a terrible idea for you.
• No, squats aren't bad for your knees....what YOU'RE doing is bad for your knees (hat tip to Dan John).
• Yes, "Do They Know It's Christmas" by Band Aid is ladened with naïveté and ironic racism.  And, do I hate myself for still thinking it's catchy as hell?  Oh yeah!

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!!!!!!!!!!!