Stew Smith Fitness News

How Do You Never Quit? Quitting is rarely a sudden decision. It builds quietly, moment by moment, when discomfort, doubt, and fatigue begin to outweigh purpose and why you started down this road in the first place. It becomes an internal debate that you have to win. These moments forget all the hard work that you put into just getting to where you are today. That is why one principle matters more than anything else: quitting has to be more painful than what you are enduring. If it is not, the mind will find a way out. Don't make quitting...

Take Your Training to New Levels.Summer is That Time. Some of my best workouts over the decades of training have come during the summer months when the normal grinding schedule slows down. From no school, longer day time hours, and fewer commitments (typically), you can work a little harder over the summer and not get the typical burnout that accompanies burning the candle at both ends (work, school, sports, workouts, family events etc).  The summer presents a unique opportunity to elevate your performance as you prepare for military or special operations service. This is your chance to transform every weak link...

The Importance of Smiling and Laughing During Stressful Times While there are moments to be serious and focused on getting things done, there will be times when laughter and smiling can help you mitigate the hormonal effects of high physical and mental stress.  Here is a video intro I did the other day prior to a LIVE QA session about the topic, as Hellweek was getting underway: Could a Smile Be the Simplest Biohack for Feeling Better? It sounds almost too easy to be true, but science suggests that even a deliberate smile can give your brain and body a...

Try this drill next time you are at the pool Repeat 3-4 timesTread / no hands 2-3 minutesStretch/foam roll 2-3 minutes The Frog Pose Series / Tread Protocol  Hips, knees, and ankles need to open up to produce a good egg-beater kick. If you grew up as a land athlete/lifter/runner, your hips, knees, and ankles may need some mobility work. It takes about 2-3 weeks to see the results of stretch/mobility exercises. Be patient with the new drill and you will feel a difference after your first session of mixing in the frog pose stretches and treading combination.  Here is...

Workouts Can Be Life-Changing - What Are Some of Yours?  Where it all started in 1981 At 12-13 years old, with a concrete set of weights and a bench, I started on what became a life-changing journey into lifting weights and exercising with a goal. Previously, the early years of activity were seasons of recreational sports and pick-up games with neighborhood kids, and simply playing outside. What started out as basic workouts of 3 sets of 8 reps of a mix of isolation and compound lifts laid the foundation of fitness that has evolved just about every decade of my...