Fitsmart

We talk about the fitness equation – there’s no magic formula, and depending on what you’re trying to accomplish, there are a few things to consider.

Fashion is thrown aside as we run through what to wear to the gym, what not to wear, and when not to care. Also, we talk about pushing yourself, and how to avoid injuries.

You want good food, fast, and having the right setup and tools can make all the difference — in this episode, we discuss getting organized in the kitchen.

We discuss how to use fitness information to your advantage – where you get it, how you use it, and dealing with the inevitable inaccuracies. Also, we take a moment to consider the need to dismantle some self-imposed boundaries.

We find inspiration in the positive spirit of the 2012 summer olympics, and we talk about group exercise and Chuck’s recent foray into trying out group bike rides — a surprisingly positive experience.

At first, any change feels like a huge investment. Then at some point, it starts to feel like you can do anything — today! Experience tells us that both of those aren’t the case, so how much change is good? And how quickly should we try to make changes? Also: We share some experiences (good [...]

We take a great listener call asking about the possible benefits of scheduling workouts early in the morning. (Short version: You might increase your overall daily burn, but remember that getting the workout in is more important than scheduling it for optimum burn!) And we take a look at a common article from a popular [...]

If one can learn to control one’s eating, workouts, and even sleep schedule, is it possible to get stress under control as well? We explore the possibility. Chuck offers a final update on his efforts to fix his sleep schedule — and eats some crow about his previously-expressed dislike of running. Finally, we ponder the [...]

We discuss some of the awesome entertainment options available to make those long cardio (and heavy lifting) sessions a little easier to live with, including video (action movies, sitcoms, Top Gear, and documentaries), music (different types for different needs), and podcasts (of course).

Know how a homemade chocolate chip cookie warm out of the oven kicks the crap out of dry, crusty bag cookies? It turns out figuring out your own workouts and diet kicks the crap out of cookie cutter options, too. Also: Chuck updates us on the changes he’s seen from adjusting his sleep schedule and [...]

You’re working hard, both at the gym and at eating right. But are you resting hard, too? We discuss the challenges of building sleep time into a hectic schedule and talk about some of our difficulties in accepting that rest time can prove every bit as important to fitness as active time.

We discuss the art of matching one’s activities to one’s eating and fitness activities to maximize enjoyment and preserve the social interactions that help make us who we are. Also: Chuck shares his recent discovery of almond milk and Mitch suggests a kick-ass easy almond milk and frozen fruit dessert.

We identify one of the biggest keys to ongoing fitness success: celebrating the small victories as well as the large.

We discuss various data points and how to interpret them in meaningful ways. Also: Chuck shares his reasons for eating vegetables.

We discuss the difference between simply sacrificing food you like to meet your goal-oriented diet needs and accepting the limitations while still making the most out of the available choices. Our take: A little creativity along with some introspective thought about what (and a deep, core level) drives your desires for a specific dish combine [...]

We dive deep into what motivates us to go back to the gym each week and ponder how self-image can both motivate and de-motivate. We also take a great listener question about food tracking apps and on-the-road food options.

There’s more to “working your core” than abdominal crunches. We explore the deeper meaning, seeking to find the core of our workout routines — what we need to achieve our goals. We discuss the lesser-known core muscle groups, including the obliques and glutes. We talk about avoiding absolutes to see best results. And we think [...]

Being a geek is awesome, and we look at some of the ways your geekdom can help you along the path to fitness. We delve deeper into methods for re-wiring habits. We look at social networks and their effect on fitness decision-making. And we put some thought into becoming ok with making your own decisions [...]

We discuss the many effects of diet beyond simple weight and appearance. We share our experiences with diet change and what it does to us in terms of energy, hydration, feel, attitude, and sleep. We also take on some listener questions, including whether or not it’s’ ok to eat badly on heavy workout days, the [...]

We dig into the tricks of finding time in your schedule for a workout and keeping a positive attitude when life happens. We talk about BMI, what it means (and what it doesn’t) and how you can use it and other measurement metrics to work toward your own personal goals. And we take a listener [...]