Recent Blog Posts
Personal Appearances, Studies, Training Seminars, Videos
February 12, 2016
Wanted to keep you updated on all that is going on at the moment. So much to share!
First and foremost, I’m excited to announce that I have two soon-to-be-released books. One is a consumer book, called Strong and Sculpted, that’s targeted to women who want to optimize muscle development. The book details a complete periodized program to achieve this goal, combining the latest scientific evidence with time-tested experience from the field. The other is a textbook called, Science and Development of Muscle Hypertrophy. This book is the culmination of my professional life to date. It is the first text solely devoted to exploring the science of maximizing muscle growth through regimented exercise. I cover the molecular basis of hypertrophy, the mechanisms, the practical application of resistance training variables, and the different periodization models that can be used to optimize results. There are chapters on the effects of aerobic exercise and nutrition, as well. No stone is left unturned. I couldn’t be more proud of this effort. Both books are available for pre-order by clicking on the highlighted links.
I had the privilege of serving on the dissertation committee for my great friend and colleague Bret “The Glute Guy” Contreras. As you might expect, Bret’s research focus was on hip extension exercises and their effects on muscular and performance-based adaptations. Happy to say that Bret was successful in his defense and received his PhD in sports science from AUT University. Numerous studies were ultimately published as a result of Bret’s efforts; you can read about some of these publications here.
Here’s a vid of the cross cable reverse fly exercise. It’s one of my favorite exercises for targeting the posterior delt. Notice the control throughout both the eccentric and concentric actions, making sure to keep constant tension on the target muscle.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHVgTjZtilA&feature=youtu.be
In early January I was notified that someone had impostered me on Instagram. Hard to believe, but for whatever reason the offending party took my name and credentials, and created an Instagram account. At that point I decided to step up my social media game and create my own Instagram page. I’m just getting the feel for how to use the medium, but it’s actually a pretty cool outlet that is synergistic to my Facebook and Twitter posts. You can follow me @bradschoenfeldphd
I have numerous speaking engagements scheduled for this year that will take me around the globe. I’m particularly excited about a couple of upcoming events where I’ll share the stage with my esteemed colleagues Alan Aragon, Bret Contreras, and James Krieger. We’ll be speaking at the inaugural Personal Training Collective Annual Conference to be held at the University of Bath in England on April 23 and 24. We next will be speaking in Sydney, Australia at Bropocalypse 2016 taking place on June 11th and 12th. These events are sure to sell out so get your tix early! My travels will also include engagements in Denmark, Norway, Brazil, and New Orleans, with others currently in discussion. I’ll keep you all posted over the coming weeks.
I recently co-authored a paper with Bret Contreras on the “mind-muscle connection” that was published in the current issue of the NSCA Strength and Conditioning Journal. In the paper we lay out evidence that suggests a potential benefit to the approach for maximizing muscle growth. It’s a really interesting topic that needs more research; as such, I have a study planned for later this year that will hopefully shed more light on its efficacy. You can read the full text of the paper, as well as most of my other published works, on my Researchgate page
Last but not least, I have coordinated to have an ISSN Workshop held at my school, Lehman College, on Saturday, April 2nd. The workshop will feature some of the best minds in sports nutrition. I’ll be doing a talk on the facts and fallacies of fat loss that is sure to challenge some closely held beliefs. And it’s taking place in New York City so can’t have a better venue! Hope you can make it.
In addition to all of the above, I have numerous studies currently in review as well as many more planned to take place over the coming year. My passion is to educate and inform; hopefully my efforts are making an impact.
Personal Appearances, Speaking
March 14, 2013
The 2013 NSCA Personal Trainer Conference was held at the newly renovated Tropicana Hotel in Las Vegas. The conference took place over two days: Friday March 8 and Saturday March 9. I was slated to speak on Saturday. My topic: The Science of Squatting.
I arroved in Vegas around 11 pm Thursday evening after teaching a kinesiology class until 4:30 pm EST. I’m in New York so the flight is 5 hours with a 3 hour time difference. To say I was jet lagged upon arrival is akin to saying the Ronnie Coleman is somewhat muscular. Didn’t matter. I was stoked for the conference.
For those who’ve never been to an NSCA event, the quality of speakers and topics is always top notch. I’ve attended every NSCA Personal Trainer Conference for the past decade; this was without question the best line-up of presenters ever assembled.
Sessions ran from 8 am to 5 pm on the hour with a lunch break from 12-1 pm. Each session lasted 50 minutes.
The format of the Personal Trainer Conference allows for each speaker to present the same topic twice in a given day; once in the morning and once in the afternoon. Four speakers are presenting at any one time, so this affords attendees two opportunities to see a presenter of interest. Still, even if you go to as many sessions as possible, you will still miss out on some presentations. Because of these limitations, I unfortunately was unable to attend the sessions of a number of excellent presenters. These included uber-trainer Jay Dawes, speed-training guru Loren Landau, nutrion expert Marie Spano, the always innovative and creative Nick Tumminello, Alwyn Cosgrove, Phil Kaplan, Robert Linkul, JC Santana, Fraser Quelch, and a few others. What’s more, Lou Schuler, Nick Winkelman, and Martin Rooney all presented at the same time that I did, so unfortunately I missed out on these sessions as well.
So with this as background…what follows is my overview on what transpired. I’ve divided the post into two parts. Here I’ll go over Friday’s events; in Part II I’ll cover Saturday.
The first session I attended on Friday morning was by my good friend and colleague, Alan Aragon. I had the pleasure of introducing Alan here, and noted that he is as knowledgeable about nutrition as anyone in the field. Just as importantly, he understands practical application of nutritional principles to real-world dietary practices. This is a skill that’s lacking for many in the field. Alan’s topic was titled, “The Paleo Diet: Claims Versus Evidence.” He systematically took apart all the claims of the diet, discussing logical fallacies and flaws in the interpretation of research. The overriding point was not that there is anything inherently wrong with the diet itself, but rather that it is not the be-all-end-all way to structure a nutritional regimen. Chalk one up for science 🙂
The second session of the day was given by Dr. Len Kravitz, a professor in the exercise physiology department at the University of New Mexico. I’ve known Len for years and he is without question the most polished speaker on the fitness circuit today. His energy and enthusiasm are contagious. His content superb. His powerpoints unsurpassed. I’ve often joked that Len could recite the alphabet and make it interesting. In this lecture he discussed various strategies to enhance metabolism. One area of focus was non-exercise activity thermogenesis (NEAT). Simply stated, NEAT is every activity you do other than formal exercise, and even includes things such as fidgeting. A take home point Len made was to incorporate regular “NEAT breaks” where you get up from your chair and just take a walk around. Doesn’t sound like much, but research shows that this alone can burn a significant number of calories. He also discussed performing metabolic circuits for fat loss. These included some novel exercises, demonstrated in video clips by strongman competitor Jonathan Mike. As expected, an overall terrific presentation.
Next up came an eagerly anticipated session: the debate between Alan Aragon and low-carb research expert Jeff Volek titled, “Reconsidering the Role of Carbohydrates: Is Low Carb Dieting Optimal for Improving Body Composition, Health, and Performance?” Alan did an excellent job reviewing this session on his blog here so I won’t rehash what transpired. Instead, I’ll offer my opinion of the debate. Although both speakers did an excellent job presenting their positions, my take after seeing both the morning and afternoon sessions is that Alan had the clear advantage from an evidence-based standpoint. He was able to refute virtually all of Jeff’s points, and make a strong case that carb intake should be based on individual needs with most doing well with moderate consumption. I’ll also note that I had a chance to speak to Jeff following the presentation. He told me that his primary interest in low carb diets deals with those who are either diabetic or pre-diabetic. He conceded the diet is not ideal for gaining muscle and said he doesn’t feel it confers any advantage over non-ketogenic from a weight loss standpoint. As reflected both in the literature and through experience, optimum nutrition is highly individualized. I predict that nutrigenomics is our future, where diets will be customized based on a cheek swab of a person’s DNA. The technology is already here. It just needs to be perfected. That day is coming, perhaps soon.
The final session before lunch was given by my good friend and frequent collaborator, Bret Contreras. Bret is affectionately known as “The Glute Guy.” And for good reason. No one, bar none, knows more about the gluteals and their form and function than Bret. Heck, he’s doing his PhD on the topic! Not surprisingly, Bret’s presentation was titled, “The Science of Glute Training.” Despite knowing Bret for years, this was actually the first time I had the priverlege to see him speak. He didn’t disappoint. Bret has a unique presentation style. His sense of humor balances high-level technical content. He covered a wide array of topics on the glutes, including their five major roles and the varying torque angles associated with different glute exercises. What I found most interesting were the many tidbits of info Bret provided as to how train the muscle for optimal strength, power, and muscular development. The perfect blend of science and application.
Following lunch, I stopped in to see Joe Dowdell’s presentation, “Structuring the Training Session for Optimal Results.” Joe is one of the top trainers in the industry. His knowledge of programming is vast and backed by years of practical experience. Joe’s session was a “hands-on” presentation where he actively took attendees through his recommendations. This included various warm-up and activation activation drills, as well as specific exercises designed to enhance improvements in body composition. Very useful info.
The final session of the day was “Benefits and Drawbacks of Using Kettlebells in a Training Program” by Dr. Bill Campbell. Bill is a noted professor and researcher at the University of South Florida in Tampa. As you might expect, his presentation was a research-based analysis on the use of kettlebells. Bill did an excellent job overviewing the peer-reviewed literature investigating kettlebells as a modality. It was a balanced lecture that touched on the implications of using kettlebells to improve body composition, strength/power, metabolism, and low back pain. The evidence is still evolving on the topic, and Bill highlighted directions for future research.
Following Friday’s sessions, there was a social by the pool where all attendees and speakers got to mingle and network. Had a glass of Cabernet…or perhaps two. It was great to get a chance to meet a lot of trainers who I’ve corresponded with through social media but had never spoken to personally. I then went to dinner with a number of friends including Bret Contreras, Alan Aragon, Joe Dowdell, Dan Trink, Nick Tummniello, Lou Schuler, and Chad Waterbury. A power-gathering of fitness pros if there ever was one.
It was an action-packed day. Fortunately, there was still another full day of presentations to come as well as my own lecture. More on that in the next post.
Cheers!
Brad
Personal Appearances
June 26, 2012
Just a reminder that I’ll be speaking at FEI Eclipse Conference this Friday, June 29th. The topic is one of my favorites: Facts and Fallacies of Fitness. Here I’ll debunk many of the popular myths and misconceptions about exercise and nutrition that continue to be erroneously promoted as fact. The event is being held at the Hilton Double Tree Hotel in the heart of Times Square. Hope to see you there!
Brad
Personal Appearances, Speaking
July 25, 2011
I will be speaking at next month’s CanFitPro International Fitness Conference. The conference will take place at the Toronto Convention Centre in downtown Toronto, Ontario Canada from August 17 to 21, 2011. This will be my fifth straight year presenting at the conference, and it always is one of the best fitness venues I’ve had the pleasure to speak at. The following is a list of the sessions that I will be presenting. I’m particularly excited to be co-presenting with my friend and colleague Bob McAtee on the science of PNF stretching. Hope to see you there!
Program Design for Muscle Hypertrophy: Muscle development is of primary interest to those who lift weights. This workshop will elucidate the science behind optimizing muscular hypertrophy. It will detail the effects of manipulating intensity, sets, repetitions, and rest intervals on growth, as well as exploring the roles of factors such as exercise modality, training to failure, speed of movement, and recovery. The significance of acute hormonal fluctuations and lactate production and their effects on increasing protein synthesis will be addressed. Sample routines are offered in the context of a periodized approach to help the practitioner with perfecting program design.
Optimal Fat Burning Strategies: Losing body fat is the # 1 reason why people work out. This seminar will explore the science behind fat loss, debunking several of the more common myths on the subject. A research-based approach is taken to present the most effective exercise strategies for optimizing fat loss in a safe and efficient manner.
Facts and Fallacies of Fitness: The fitness field is rife with folklore that often leads to questionable practices. This lecture helps separate fitness fact from fiction to reveal the real truth about many myths and misconceptions associated with exercise and sports nutrition. An evidence-based approach is taken to examine the validity of many long-held fitness beliefs in this informative and entertaining seminar. An interactive question and answer session is provided to address specific questions on the topic.
Scientific Stretching: Mechanisms and Application of PNF Techniques: Flexibility is an integral component of a fitness routine, and can help to improve functional capacity and athleticism while reducing the potential for injury. Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) is one of the most popular and effective techniques for improving measures of flexibility. This combined lecture/workshop details the mechanisms of PNF while reviewing the research into its effects on joint range of motion and sports performance. Participants will learn and practice specific PNF techniques to illustrate practical application.
You can register at the following link: Register for CanFitPro
Personal Appearances
July 29, 2010
Wanted to let everyone know that I will be speaking at the 2010 CanFitPro conference in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. In addition to giving lectures on a variety of professional topics, I will also be speaking at the consumer show on home workouts. The conference runs from August 11-15. Here is a link to the event:
2010 CanFitPro International Fitness and Club Business Conference
Stay Fit!
Brad
Personal Appearances, Training Seminars
February 25, 2010
Wanted to let everyone know I’ll be conducting a seminar at the upcoming NSCA Personal Trainer’s Conference. The conference is taking place at Bally’s Casino in Las Vegas on March 7th and 8th, 2010. The topic of my seminar is “Maternal Fitness: Safe and Effective Strategies for Training the Pregnant and Postpartum Client.” Hope to see you there!
Stay Fit!
Brad
Personal Appearances
August 8, 2009
For those of you in Canada (or for those interested in visiting Canada), I’ll be lecturing once again at CanFitPro–Canada’s largest fitness convention–which takes place August 19 to 23, 2009 at the Toronto Convention Center. I’ll be speaking on multiple topics geared to fitness professionals, as well as presenting at the trade show in a more general context for consumers. If you’d like more information, visit the CanFitPro website. Hope to see you there!
Stay Fit!
Brad
Personal Appearances
July 27, 2009
Wanted to let everyone know that I will be conducting two advanced training seminars in NYC. The lectures are geared towards fitness professionals (CECs are accredited for NASM and should translate for other organizations), but anyone with a good knowledge of exercise science can benefit. The courses are as follows:
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Program Design for Hypertrophy: Muscle development is of primary interest to those who lift weights. This workshop will elucidate the science behind optimizing muscular hypertrophy. It will detail the effects of manipulating intensity, sets, repetitions, and rest intervals on growth, as well as exploring the roles of factors such as exercise modality, training to failure, speed of movement, and recovery. The significance of acute hormonal fluctuations and lactate production as to their effects on increasing protein synthesis will be addressed. Sample routines are offered in the context of a periodized approach to help the practitioner with perfecting program design.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Maternal Fitness: Safe and Effective Strategies for Training the Pregnant and Postpartum Client: Exercise is one of the most beneficial things a pregnant woman can do for her body – provided proper guidelines are followed. This workshop teaches you how to address the biomechanical and physiological changes that occur in the pre and postnatal period, and develop sound training programs tailored to the unique needs of the maternal client. Programming for strength training, cardiovascular exercise and flexibility training is covered in detail, with insight provided on how to modify exercise based on the individual needs of the client. Contraindications to exercise are addressed with respect to each trimester.
The courses are being offered through Innovative Wellness and Education. To register or learn more about the courses, click on the following link: Innovative Wellness and Education. These are researched-based workshops that really get into the science of exercise. I guarantee you’ll learn a lot. Hope to see you there!
Stay Fit!
Brad
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Exercise, Personal Appearances
June 18, 2009
Wanted to let everyone know that I will be conducting two advanced training seminars on Monday, July 6, 2009 in NYC. The lectures are geared towards fitness professionals (CECs are accredited for NASM and should translate for other organizations), but anyone with a good knowledge of exercise science can benefit. The courses are as follows:
Maternal Fitness: Safe and Effective Strategies for Training the Pregnant and Postpartum Client: Exercise is one of the most beneficial things a pregnant woman can do for her body – provided proper guidelines are followed. This workshop teaches you how to address the biomechanical and physiological changes that occur in the pre and postnatal period, and develop sound training programs tailored to the unique needs of the maternal client. Programming for strength training, cardiovascular exercise and flexibility training is covered in detail, with insight provided on how to modify exercise based on the individual needs of the client. Contraindications to exercise are addressed with respect to each trimester.
Program Design for Hypertrophy: Muscle development is of primary interest to those who lift weights. This workshop will elucidate the science behind optimizing muscular hypertrophy. It will detail the effects of manipulating intensity, sets, repetitions, and rest intervals on growth, as well as exploring the roles of factors such as exercise modality, training to failure, speed of movement, and recovery. The significance of acute hormonal fluctuations and lactate production as to their effects on increasing protein synthesis will be addressed. Sample routines are offered in the context of a periodized approach to help the practitioner with perfecting program design.
The courses are being offered through Innovative Wellness and Education. To register or learn more about the courses, click on the following link: Innovative Wellness and Education. These are researched-based workshops that really get into the science of exercise. I guarantee you’ll learn a lot!
Stay Fit!
Brad
Personal Appearances
August 12, 2008
I’ll be lecturing at the CanFitPro this weekend, beginning with a pre-con presentation on Thursday, August 14, 2008. Hopefully I’ll see some of you there. Stop by and say hello!
Stay Fit!
Brad
Tags: CanFitPro
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