Stew Smith Fitness News

From Aging Athlete to Ageless Athlete For years, I have considered myself an "aging athlete." It is true - I was an athlete aging into my 40s and mid-50s. It was about a 5-year process before I started using the word "ageless" instead of "aging." I would not have been able even to consider that mindset change if it had not been for me to start flexibility and mobility training, which I now call "Mobility Day." One day, at 45, I started on a run, and everything hurt - well - everything from the waist down. I thought my running...

Fitness for Beginners Get Started for Free!  Everyone starts off as a beginner at some point. You can make today Day One!  This week, a question comes from a gentleman who was once fairly active, former military, but has not done anything in about five years besides an occasional weightlifting session at his gym. The question is, "How do I get back into working out again without killing myself after a five-year hiatus?" However, the same answer can apply to this very common question from teenagers who also want to serve: "I am interested in serving in the military, but I...

Don't Do Cardio? Not Smart if Military Service is in Your Future Become a Cardio Machine without the Overuse Injuries The Spec Ops Triathlon is a common workout evolution we do monthly to improve and maintain the needed skills seen in many military training and special ops selection programs. Mastering the run, swim with SCUBA fins, and 50lb ruck needs to be as much of your programming as lifting weights and doing calisthenics.  Check out #specopstri on Instagram for some great pics and ideas to add to your workout routine.  Run - Ruck - Swim Guidance (Some Basics) If you you...

Mobility and Flexibility IS the Workout  I was recently asked, "When do you do your mobility and flexibility training - during the warmup or cooldown?"  Answer: Well - both. Plus, the workout itself. Mobility is the workout. Here's how and why: Adding flexibility and mobility training into your calisthenics, cardio, and even strength training can be done with excellent results. You may want to limit stretching during rest periods during strength training to maximize 1RM. Flexibility and mobility can be trained when doing auxiliary lifts with moderate weight and higher reps. in between calisthenics sets and during rest sets in...

Rebuild Yourself and Learn How to Move Again Do you want to get back into the habit of fitness for health and performance learn how to move with less pain, lose weight, build muscle, and look and feel better? I know these are my primary goals as I age well into my sixth decade on this planet.  Getting started can be tough especially if all you know is what you used to do when you were in your teens and twenties. Have you experienced failure with lack of consistency and building good habits like you had 20 years ago? You may be...