Linear progression stalled and not sure what to do next? Learn the three signs you’ve hit the advanced novice wall, three bridging strategies to extend your progress, and a simple decision tree for knowing when to move to intermediate strength programming.
Online coaching software is where most coaches quietly waste hundreds — sometimes thousands — of dollars a year. This guide breaks down the online personal training tech stack into four categories, compares TrueCoach, TrainHeroic, and Trainerize, and identifies the seven essential tools every online coaching business actually needs. Learn what’s essential, what’s optional, and what to cut from your subscriptions today.
Most personal trainers are undercharging — and it’s costing them income, energy, and their careers. Learn why fitness professionals underprice, what the market actually pays, and a step-by-step framework to set your rates, build coaching packages, and handle price objections with confidence.
Does squatting past 90 degrees really wreck your knees? We break down Joel Seedman’s 90-degree rule and chaos training against the peer-reviewed research on range of motion, instability, and joint health. Learn how fitness pseudoscience gets sold to coaches and clients — and the evidence-based principles that actually build strong, resilient athletes.
Imposter syndrome in the fitness industry is far more common than personal trainers, strength coaches, and gym owners realize, with research showing roughly 70% of professionals will experience it during their career. In this episode of the THIRST More Podcast, Brandon Smitley breaks down the five types of imposter syndrome, why fitness professionals are uniquely vulnerable, and the evidence-based REALS framework you can use to manage self-doubt, raise your rates, and grow your coaching business with confidence.
Every year the fitness industry rolls out new “revolutionary” trends, but separating real science from marketing hype takes a clear evaluation framework. In this comprehensive breakdown, THIRST Gym owner and strength coach Brandon Smitley analyzes the biggest fitness trends of 2026 across velocity based training, blood flow restriction, zone 2 cardio, HRV wearables, biohacking protocols, and more, identifying what’s legitimate, what’s overhyped, and what’s complete nonsense. Learn how to filter fitness trends through peer-reviewed research, effect size, and cost-benefit analysis to make smarter training, nutrition, and recovery decisions.
The best ab exercises aren’t the trendy ones flooding your social media feed — they’re the five movements backed by EMG research that actually build a stronger, more functional core. From the dead bug and Pallof press to the ab wheel rollout, hanging leg raise, and kneeling cable crunch, this guide breaks down exactly how to perform, progress, and program the most effective abdominal exercises for powerlifters, combat athletes, and general fitness enthusiasts. Stop wasting hours on endless crunches and learn how to train your rectus abdominis, obliques, and transverse abdominis the right way.
The traditional “senior fitness” model — light weights, resistance bands, and Bosu ball balance drills — is not just ineffective for older adults; research shows it may actually be accelerating their decline. In this post, Brandon Smitley of THIRST Gym breaks down the physiology of aging, dismantles the most damaging myths in senior fitness, and delivers a research-backed framework for programming high-quality strength and power training for clients over 60. Whether you are a personal trainer looking to better serve your older clients or an older adult who wants to train with real intention, this is the resource you have been waiting for.
Master nutrition fundamentals every personal trainer needs to effectively coach clients on energy balance, macronutrients, meal timing, and evidence-based supplementation. This comprehensive guide covers practical nutrition strategies for fitness professionals, from setting proper protein requirements and managing calorie deficits to communicating nutrition principles that create lasting behavior change and client adherence. Learn how to provide confident, science-backed nutrition guidance within your scope of practice while helping clients achieve sustainable fat loss, muscle gain, and optimal training performance.
Discover the five biggest strength training myths that prevent people from achieving real results, from the misconception that heavy lifting is dangerous to the belief that more training always means better gains. Learn the science-backed truth about weightlifting safety, optimal training frequency, and exercise selection from a strength coach with 16 years of experience. This comprehensive guide debunks common fitness misinformation and provides actionable strategies for safer, more effective strength training.