How to navigate the world of online fitness, according to your personal trainer

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It’s a strange thing in our digital age – we have access to all the information that’s ever been created,​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ but we are more ignorant than ever. Part of the problem has to do with quantity, the other has to do with quality; there is too much news coming our way, many contradicting dubious sources posing as experts and authorities.

Almost every aspect of our culture has been affected by this phenomenon, and the popularity of fitness influencers on social media is one of the more obvious examples. The number of talking heads vying for thought leader status within the industry is overwhelming. Whether it’s gym bros arguing about protein intake, science dorks splitting hairs over semantics or soccer moms spreading health misinformation, the result is the same: noise and more and more pollutants in an already saturated airspace.

I am doing my part to fight this epidemic by standing out from the crowd; last month I deleted my Instagram account, leaving this column as my primary platform to connect with the audience. I have also improved my IQ trainer by using these ancient relics called “books”; it’s amazing how much you can learn when you give your brain a chance to focus on one thing for a long time. If you too would like to break out of the influencer space, but aren’t ready to take the same drastic steps that I have, I suggest narrowing your mind and looking for information by going to the sources credible outside of social media.

I will help you here by sharing my ways to stay informed about health and wellness.

Learning to walk

If I could only recommend one organization for getting your fitness information it would be GMB Fitness. I learned a lot by following GMB programs and studying their methods. Their unique weight training method is the perfect cure for the physical ailments that modern life has imposed on us, and their passive training method is unlike anything else out there. another is promoted by industrial practice. Their YouTube channel offers some of the best exercise tutorials I’ve seen, and even though their podcast hasn’t been updated in a while, the episodes are worth checking out.

See also: Anyone over 40 and/or suffering from back pain should familiarize themselves with Dr. Eric Goodman and his Basic Training methods. Based on promoting proper posture and improved breathing techniques, these substances can positively change lives.

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Learning to eat

For nearly 25 years, Precision Nutrition has been providing quality nutrition content online. A Canadian-born company, PN’s state-of-the-art certification program has become the industry standard; I have my PN Level 1 certificate and I apply the lessons learned daily. But you don’t need to be an expert to take advantage of PN content. The amount of free stuff in their database is amazing – from guides, e-books and do-it-yourself tutorials to educational articles and infographics, the average person can find an e-learning course. compete with any nutritionist without breaking the bank.

See also: I have been following a plant-based diet for about 15 years. Whenever I have questions about a plant-based diet or am curious about the latest science on the subject, I turn to Dr. Michael Greger and his team at NutritionFacts.org. Greger’s bestselling books are also excellent resources.

Learning to lift

It is often surprising when people learn that I purchase training programs for my fitness needs. It is true that I have the knowledge and skills necessary to write my plans, but that is almost like the defendant defending himself in court cases – they have a fool for the client. My favorite traditional weightlifting programs, which I always go back to and recommend to anyone who asks, are from Zach Even-Esh. His no-nonsense, old-school approach to strength building appeals to my inner Luddite. There is nothing fancy in his programs, which is one of the reasons why he delivers results.

See also: Girls Out Loud. I doubt any fitness professional has done more to promote the stereotype that women belong in the weight room than Molly Galbraith. The GGS YouTube channel is full of free content aimed at educating and empowering women in the gym.

Paul Landini is a personal trainer and health educator in Kitchener, Ont.