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January 15, 2014

A Dozen Must-Read Fitness Blogs

There’s certainly no shortage of fitness blogs on the internet. Everyone who’s ever lifted a weight seems to have one. Problem is finding those that have solid info backed by research and experience.

In an effort to separate the gold from the silt, I’ve compiled a list of fitness blogs that IMHO consistently deliver the goods. They provide info you can trust. No hype. No bro-science. Just quality fitness content.

A few caveats before proceeding. First off, the list is in no particular order — placings are not indicative of one blog being better than another. Rather, the blogs are all inherently different and unique, and therefore provide complementary reading. In addition, the list is not intended to be comprehensive. There are certainly a lot of other excellent blogs that are not mentioned here. I had to keep the number of entries manageable so I limited it to a dozen (actually a baker’s dozen, but who’s counting :)).

With that out of the way, on with list.

Bret Contreras: If you could only read one fitness blog, this is the one I’d recommend. No one puts out more quality content than Bret. It is really amazing how many posts he pens, but even more amazing that the info he provides is so consistently cutting-edge. There is a focus on glute training (he is “The Glute Guy” after all), but there’s also tons of posts on pretty much every aspect of exercise. Importantly, the info is always presented in a balanced fashion; there’s never an agenda furthered.

Weightology is a blog written by James Krieger. I’ve known James for years and collaborated with him on a number of research-based projects. Hands down he’s one of the brightest minds in the fitness industry. Much of his blog is pay-to-view, but there also is a good amount of free content as well. When James posts, you can bet the info is scientifically sound.

Alan Aragon: I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, no one has a better grasp of the practical application of nutrition to exercise than Alan. As would be expected, his blog is great…except for one little thing: He’s too busy dominating the nutritional stratosphere to write many posts. Fortunately, when he does decide to post it’s invariably a homerun. For Exhibit A, check out this now-legendary rebuke of fructose alarmism. Side note: The comments section is just as compelling as the article with a guest appearance by Dr. Lustig himself!

Eric Cressey: In case you don’t know, Eric Cressey is one of the most sought-after strength coaches for baseball conditioning. Players come from all over the country to train at his facility, Cressey Performance, including many top pros. His blog includes baseball-related contditioning info but focuses more on general S&C info, including lots of discussion about mobility and stability drills. Best of all, he posts numerous teaching videos that demonstrate concepts discussed in the articles. Always a great read.

Born Fitness: This blog is written by Adam Bornstein, former editor for Men’s Health and Livestrong. Adam has keen insight into what fitness topics people want to read, and an innate ability to convey the info in an interesting fashion. He’s knowledgeable about exercise, and astute enough to consult with experts when needed. Bonus points for having one of the most well-designed sites as well.

Exercise Biology: This blog is written by Anoop Balachandran. Anoop has a terrific grasp of the exercise literature (he’s currently pursuing his PhD in ex phys), and understands the practical implications for the general public. The content is always evidence-based, with lots of discussion about the application of research into practice. When you fnish reading the blog, scan through the forums; they often contain high-level discussions as well.

Lou Schuler: Lou is perhaps the best pure fitness writer I’ve encountered. He has a knack for being able to present technical topics in a manner that is easily-digested, and usually does so in a humorous way. Similar to Adam Bornstein, Lou was a former editor at Men’s Health and other fitness mags. As such, he always seems to be at the forefront of what people want to know fitness-wise.

Nick Tuminello: Nick is another guy who amazes me with the number of articles he writes. He’s truly a writing machine. Nick posts on a variety of topics and isn’t afraid to tackle some controversial issues. He’s got a good sense of research and provides innovative training strategies based on a combinatoin of evidence and experience.

Burn the Fat, Feed the Muscle: This blog is written by Tom Venuto. As the name implies, the blog primarily focuses on how to optimize body composition. Tom is a former bodybuilder and his approach borrows from many of the popular bodybuilding principles. But Tom isn’t just some bro. He’s well-versed in exercise science and dishes out advice in an evidence-based fashion. You won’t read about “peaking the biceps” or “carving out an inner chest.” You will read about time-tested training practicies that will help you attain a better physique.

Dean Somerset: Dean has more of a post-rehab focus than the others on this list. Accordingly, you can get a fresh take on topics that aren’t well covered elsewhere. While much of the posts delve into the medical fitness arena, there also are some good general training articles as well.

Body Recomposition: This is Lyle McDonald’s blog. Lyle is probably best known for writing about ketogenic diets, but he is highly knowledgeable in many areas of nutrition. Over the years he’s been an innovator in the field, using research to develop strategies for optimizing fat loss. Lots of evidence-based info about fitness on his site, particularly pertaining to diet.

Robertson Training Systems: This blog is penned by Mike Robertson, a popular strength coach based out of Indianapolis. Mike mostly focuses on performance-based topics with an emphasis on exercise technique. That said, there’s a little bit of something for everyone here, including some interesting interviews with up-and-coming fitness pros.

Tony Gentilcore: Tony is a partner with Eric Cressey in Cressey Performance. His blog covers serious training topics, but generally does so in a humorous manner. The topics are fairly diverse and the supporting videos he posts are first rate. What sets Tony apart is his fluent and engaging writing style that continually holds your interest. Always entertaining.