Fitness Focus
The Safe Protein Powder Buying Guide
BY DEZI ABEYTA, RN In the quest to build muscle and strength, you almost always want a good protein powder. But the supplement industry just isn’t as tightly regulated as you might think. A recent Clean Label Project report, reminded...
THE ULTIMATE CALORIE-BURNING WORKOUT
BY EBENEZER SAMUEL, C.S.C.S. If you’re doing a workout purely to burn calories, you’re doing it wrong. Whether you’re trying to lose weight or you’re midway through a summer cut, your workouts should focus on building muscle and strength, not...
BY DEZI ABEYTA, RN Few supplements are as touted these days as branched-chain amino acids. Better known as BCAAs, they’re hyped as a key to muscle growth all across Instagram. But are they that useful? Here’s the reality: If you’re...
THREE LIGHTWEIGHT EXERCISES FOR LONGEVITY
BY EBENEZER SAMUEL, C.S.C.S. I say it all the time: You need to push your limits and train heavy. And earlier in February, we reviewed several exercises worth pushing to their heaviest. But that doesn’t mean that lightweight moves have...
Muscle Growth 101: What Really Moves the Needle
BY DEZI ABEYTA You know by now that protein is crucial for effective muscle recovery and growth. And yes, research has shown that, on some level, it’s as simple as hitting the number (1 gram per pound of goal body...
THREE EXERCISES YOU NEED TO MAX OUT!
BY EBENEZER SAMUEL, C.S.C.S. You can do every major exercise. But how many of these moves can you . . . dominate? If you’re truly chasing strength and muscle gains, this is a question worth asking. Because everything they’ve told...
The Three Best Morning Supplements
BY DEZI ABEYTA, RN Few nutritional moments are more critical than your early-morning meal. Handled correctly, this can jumpstart your metabolism and kick your alertness and body into overdrive. And sure, this means plenty of protein and water – but...
THE ULTIMATE FITNESS TEST-Three exercises you should dominate with your SMRTFT dumbbells
BY EBENEZER SAMUEL, C.S.C.S. Sometimes, you need a workout. Other times (aka, once every two to three months, if you ask me), you need a test that’ll tell you exactly where you are on your fitness journey. The fitness test...
YOUR ULTIMATE GOAL-SETTING TIP GUIDE
BY DEZI ABEYTA, RD, AND EBENEZER SAMUEL, C.S.C.S. You know the drill. Every January, you set ambitious fitness and nutrition goals. But weeks into the year, those goals are history. Whether it involves cutting something out of your diet...
LAY YOUR 2025 FITNESS FOUNDATION
BY EBENEZER SAMUEL, C.S.C.S. You have big fitness goals in 2025. But reaching those goals isn’t an instant process. Whether your goal is to run a marathon, drop 20 pounds, or build an NFL-ready bench press, it won’t happen instantly....
Supplements That’ll Help You Build Muscle
BY MIKE ROUSSELL The formula for building muscle is simple: increased calories, weight training, and proper sleep get you to more muscle. But what if you are already doing all of these things and you want faster results? That’s when...
BY EBENEZER SAMUEL, C.S.C.S. You’ve trained hard and pushed yourself throughout all of 2024 (especially if you’ve followed all our SMRTFT workouts). But how exactly do you navigate the final weeks of the year, when the mind is overwhelmed with...
The Ultimate High-Protein Breakfast
BY DEZI ABEYTA Starting your day with a high-protein breakfast is a game-changer for energy, muscle repair, and staying full until your next meal. But that doesn’t mean chugging a protein shake, because there’s a more delicious and easy-to-make option:...
BY EBENEZER SAMUEL, C.S.C.S. Between the holidays and last-minute work projects, and winter weather issues, the last thing you have time for in December is a body-slamming, sweat-inducing, hour-long workout every single day. But that doesn’t mean you have to...
THE ULTIMATE OVERNIGHT OATS RECIPE
BY MIKE ROUSSELL Sometimes, you need a super-efficient meal that’ll give your body the protein building blocks to fuel your goals while still tasting delicious. That’s where this overnight oats recipe (which has long been my go-to breakfast) comes in....
THE ULTIMATE GO-HEAVY DUMBBELL WORKOUT
BY EBENEZER SAMUEL, C.S.C.S. To get the most out of your strength training, at some point, you’ll need to train heavy. Pushing the limits of what you can lift is critical to building strength. It helps in other ways, too,...
The Most Relaxing Smoothie Ever
BY DEZI ABEYTA In today's fast-paced world, finding ways to unwind and recover is critical to optimizing performance. This smoothie supports those relaxation goals, particularly at night. Packed with a balance of protein, healthy fats, and sleep-enhancing tart cherry juice,...
AVOID THESE BEGINNER GOBLET SQUAT MISTAKES
BY EBENEZER SAMUEL, C.S.C.S. Few exercises build compete leg strength better than the goblet squat. The most underestimated of squat variations, the goblet squat has you holding a dumbbell at your chest as you lower into the bottom of a...