{Exercise Tutorial} Slider Ab Progression!

The people have spoken.

Well, at least the people over on the Purposeful Strength Instagram…

ArticlesCasey LeeApril 21, 2022ab training, abs, free workout, exercise tutorialComment

End Training Frustration With This Strategy

In 2017 I made a major shift in programming for my clients to help with that very notion of progress.

Specifically, the shift made progress transparent.

Now, I don't mean transparent in a way that you can clearly see it. I wish it was that easy.

"Okay, put 5 more pounds on the bar and go"

Boom. Progress. Right?

Well yes. That is indeed progress. But, what if the weight doesn't go up? What happens if you can't increase the difficulty of the movement?

What happens next?

This is the challenge my clients were facing and this is the problem I knew I needed a solution for.

So, here's what I did.

ArticlesCasey LeeMarch 21, 2022progress, fitness program, personal training, strength trainingComment

What Makes An Exercise 'Dangerous'?

Just like the title of the article says, this week I wanted to dive in to this concept of ‘danger’ and exercises.

When I first started as a Personal Trainer in 2010, strength training machines, specifically the seated leg extension were deemed ‘dangerous’.

I remember telling clients “avoid this machine because it’s going to put a lot of stress on your _____” or “You could do this movement, but you need to watch out for ____ so you don’t hurt yourself”.

After 12+ years, I have an official statement on ‘danger’ and exercise.

There are no bad movements, exercises, or machines…there are only bodies that aren’t designed or that aren’t ready for what that movement, exercise, or machine provides.

Let me break this down.

ArticlesCasey LeeMarch 14, 2022movement assessment, strength training, myth bustingComment

Home Gym Series: 3 Things To Consider When Switching To A Home Gym

Making the jump from working out in a gym to your own home gym brings a grocery list of benefits.

You’ll save time with no commute
You’ll save money with no membership (or you can allocate your gym fees to buying home gym equipment)
You’ll be more efficient with less distractions
You’ll have more opportunities for fitness with the gym hours being 24/7 (see what I did there?).

Pretty great list, right?

Well, like with any gym membership, it only works if YOU work and you’ll only get the list of benefits above if you actually use it.

That’s what I wanted to write about today. Though a home gym is more accessible, more cost effective, and more time-saving, it can be a tough transition working out in your home, basement, or garage.

ArticlesCasey LeeMarch 10, 2022home gym series, home gym, workout tipsComment

Lacking Motivation? Read This. [Free Download Included]

Motivation is the most fickle emotion in the land if fitness and nutrition.

It comes in fast and can leave even faster.

I've touched on this topic in the past a few times. The feedback has always been positive, so I wanted to take another approach to answering the question.

"Why can't I stay motivated to workout?"

ArticlesCasey LeeMarch 7, 2022motivation, training motivation, how do i stay motivated, free downloadComment

Why You're Doing What You're Doing: The Movement Assessment

For those keeping score at home, I write the Home Gym Series, which has been going splendidly, twice a month, nutritional strategies get some love one week a month, and now this series.

This series is all about answering questions related to the programming clients receive at Purposeful Strength. Through these answers I am hoping that you will learn about new concepts in your workouts, see the thought process(es) that go in to working with a Personal Trainer, and like I am doing with Beyond Strength, steal my ideas for your own workouts!

Our first edition covers a topic that all my personal training clients, in person and online, go through; the movement assessment.

“Hey Casey, Can you just start the workouts?”

Nope.