Latest Posts By Pete McCall

It is not uncommon for the Core-Tex to be mistaken for a balance trainer, but according to its inventor, Anthony Carey, it was specifically designed to provide a multi-dimensional reactive training challenge. In this interview, Carey explains his intentions behind developing the Core-Tex, and why engaging all of the fascia and connective tissue surrounding a joint simultaneously is so important.

Everyone, it seems, wants six-pack abs, but the most common exercise most people use to get them may be more effective at increasing back pain than building rock-hard abs. ACE Exercise Physiologist Pete McCall explains why crunches can be a pain in the back and offers 5 great alternatives that not only sculpt the abs, but strengthen the entire core as well.

Fitness industry tradeshows are a great place to spot the newest trends and try out the latest equipment that may be coming soon to a gym near you. If you weren’t able to make it to this year’s IHRSA convention last month, you don’t want to miss ACE Exercise Physiologist Pete McCall’s recap of walking the tradeshow, along with his picks for the most promising new equipment and trends.

ACE Exercise Physiologist Pete McCall recently sat down with BOSU Balance Trainer creator David Weck to discuss his exciting new WeckMethod training program. CoreFIST, which is just one component of this new program, focuses on the importance of optimal bone alignment. Here, Weck explains the principles behind this cutting-edge programming.

Are those New Year’s fitness resolutions already a distant memory? Did you get tired of slogging through the cold and ice only to wait in line for a piece of equipment or fight your way into an exercise class? Don’t worry—there is still time to get cranking with a workout program that will banish winter blahs and have you ready to bare those arms once the first flowers start poking their way up from the soil.

When it comes to creating a flat stomach while also reducing low-back pain, few exercises are more effective than the plank. Here are 5 great variations on the plank, which not only use the deep abdominal muscles (which helps flatten the stomach), but also recruit the hip, shoulder and upper-back muscles as well.

Looking for ways to maximize your workouts and shake things up a bit in 2013? Here are 5 great tips for rejuvenating your exercise routine, increasing your motivation and getting off those dreaded plateaus.

The BOSU® Balance Trainer is an ideal tool for helping your clients develop ideal dynamic balance. Here are five innovative exercises that require the body to work in a coordinated fashion for efficient and effective movement.

The New Year’s rush is almost here—that time of year when healthy resolutions send droves of people to the gym. But by mid-February or so, many of them have already abandoned their efforts. ACE Exercise Physiologist Pete McCall offers some great tips for how you can maximize the New Year’s resolution rush and develop clients who will stay with you for the long haul.

Are women really at a disadvantage when it comes to muscle development and fat reduction? ACE Exercise Physiologist Pete McCall weighs in on a research study that looked at women’s ability to do pull-ups after following an upper-body strength training program.

Metabolic conditioning has become a popular buzzword in the industry, but is this type of training really only about gut-busting workouts and pushing your clients to their absolute limits? Not necessarily, according to ACE Exercise Physiologist Pete McCall, who explains how to effectively—and safely—progress you clients’ programs to maximize the benefits they can achieve from metabolic-conditioning workouts.

Have you tried the ViPR yet? By enabling users to move and strengthen the body in a whole new way, this revolutionary piece of equipment is transforming the way trainers design exercise programs for their clients. ACE Exercise Physiologist Pete McCall explains why the ViPR is destined to become a vital component of your trainer toolkit.

If you grew up in the 80s, then chances are you probably spent most of your teen or early college years trying to look like an old-school action hero. Who didn’t want arms like the Arnold back then? Check out a first-hand perspective from ACE Exercise Physiologist Pete McCall, whose philosophy about attaining all-around fitness has evolved significantly.

Do you ever feel like continuing education is something you have to do instead of something you want to do? Well, you’re not alone. ACE Exercise Physiologist Pete McCall explains how he once felt the same. Check out how and why Pete’s view of continuing education evolved from a means to earn CECs to a way of helping him expand his business.

If you’re looking for an opportunity to appeal to your more adventurous clients, try developing a one-on-one or small-group training plan specific to “mud runs.” Growing in popularity across the country, these grimy obstacle courses attract athletes at all levels – and just the occasional guy (or girl) that likes to get dirty.

The weather is getting warmer, the sun is staying out later, and it’s more pleasant to spend time outdoors enjoying various recreational activities. If you’re like me you may cringe a little bit during this time of year because in my experience when clients start picking up their favorite outdoor activities after a long winter indoors, more often than not they jump right back into their recreational pastime at the same intensity as when they left off in the fall.

The previous two posts addressed how understanding the Functional Movement and Resistance Training components of the ACE Integrated Fitness Training® (ACE IFT®) model can help you market your services when you’re asked about many popular exercise trends. This post will address how to use the cardiorespiratory training progressions of the ACE IFT® to appeal to potential clients when they ask you about popular exercise programs such as Zumba®, indoor cycling or Insanity®.

How many times have you been asked the best way to develop a six-pack? If you’re like me I always chuckle a little and inform the inquisitor that he or she already has a six-pack – the problem is that it’s usually being stored in a cooler. I go on to inform him or her that core training requires a lot more work than one or two exercises and that I can help them move toward their goals, but it will require some commitment on their part.

In my career, I have definitely had bouts of staleness and burnout. What I learned is that once I started feeling that way, then it was time to look for a continuing education workshop to stimulate my gray matter and break me out of the rut. Taking the time to learn anatomy and movement mechanics will help you to add variety and excitement to your exercise programs, creating more enjoyment for both you and your clients.

In part 1, I discussed how the first two faces of the ACE IFT™ model — Stability and Mobility, and Movement — related to yoga. This time, we’ll take a look at P90X and Crossfit, and how the Load and Performance phases of the ACE IFT Model are related to the popular workout trends.