American Council on Exercise

This blog presents My Physical Activity Plate, an evidence-based but user-friendly tool that you can share with clients. Learn why it’s time for a redesign of physical activity recommendations and how unstructured movement and structured exercise can improve public health.

In today’s crowded fitness industry, standing out online takes more than just great workouts—it takes strategy. Monetize your passion and find your niche with these proven tools.

Reduced-exertion high-intensity training (REHIT): Per the American Council on Exercise’s recommendation, this consists of 20 seconds of work followed by three minutes of recovery, repeated two times.

Downing seven to 10 ounces every 10 to 20 minutes is a solid rule of thumb, according to both the American Council on Exercise and the National Athletic Trainers’ Association, as SELF has previously reported. “You want to make sure you're properly fueled for your performance and recovery,” McDonald says.

The American Council on Exercise (ACE) is proud to announce its support of Project COURAGE, a Matrix Fitness initiative expanding opportunities for students and professionals at the 107 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) across the United States.

Calorie burn isn't the be-all and end-all in workouts (far from it), but here's an interesting comparison: trampoline workouts can burn as many calories per minute as running at a pace of 10 minutes per mile, according to a study by the American Council of Exercise.

The American College of Sports Medicine released the 12th edition of ACSM’s Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescription. Read about key updates.

Discover the most effective approach to abdominal training. This evidence-based workout features effective ab exercises that build strength and endurance and improve posture.

As you get stronger, you can try other plank exercises, like lifting one foot off the floor and bringing it to your opposite elbow, recommends the American Council on Exercise. For more advanced exercisers, try raising your opposite arm and leg off the floor while stabilizing your body.

HIIT sparks something called excess post-exercise oxygen consumption (EPOC), which enables people to burn calories even after their workout ends. The American Council on Exercise says that HIIT works best for kickstarting EPOC.

Any activity that puts pressure on the abdominal area can lead to a hernia, especially if you have had surgery in the area or an injury. Can you get a hernia from sit-ups? Sit-ups and over-training before you’re ready may be the cause according to the American Council on Exercise, if you are doing a lot of them, or they may just be making the hernia worse or more noticeable.

Support for Project COURAGE continues to build heading into 2026, backed by new collaboration with the American Council on Exercise (ACE). Finding they were aligned with the Project COURAGE mission, ACE is backing the initiative by providing educational resources and professional development opportunities that advance Matrix’s mission to empower underrepresented communities.

Plus, building muscle and strength improves confidence, regulates muscle repair hormones, and stimulates the brain, according to the American Council on Exercise (ACE). These benefits are especially important after 60.

Circuit training combines strength training and cardiorespiratory exercise in an effective and time-efficient way. Learn programming strategies for clients with larger bodies.

In today’s influencer-led landscape, it seems like there’s something eye-catching every time you scroll: a new “must-do” trend, a newly recommended daily step count, podcast sound bites that lack context and anti-aging misinformation at every turn. Watch this video to learn how to separate fact from fiction.

Running for one mile burns approximately 100 calories, but the exact number depends on factors such as body weight and running pace, according to the American Council on Exercise.

Circuit training combines strength training and cardiorespiratory exercise in an effective and time-efficient way. Learn programming strategies for clients with larger bodies.

The new Certification Advisory Board will enhance integrity and oversight of the ACE credentialing process.

Hispanic Heritage Month is the perfect time to reflect on Hispanic/Latino health and how ACE Certified Pros can better serve members of this vibrant community. Learn how you can help.

Meet James Kropp, an ACE Certified Pro living the mission and shaping the future of fitness. James is a Special Olympics athlete and coach inspiring others to find joy in physical activity.

“The treadmill endures because it really delivers on the essential basics: accessibility, convenience, and proven effectiveness,” says Cedric Bryant, the president and CEO of the American Council on Exercise. “The most basic element to maintaining an independent lifestyle, typically, as we mature, is to be able to ambulate and move on our own. Treadmills help to maintain that quality.”

The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and the American Council on Exercise (ACE) have announced a new strategic partnership designed to strengthen and elevate the health and fitness industry. Through this two-year agreement, the organizations will jointly offer high-quality, evidence-based education for health and fitness professionals worldwide.

Discover the most effective approach to resistance training for the chest. This evidence-based workout features chest exercises to build strength and improve function.

When your client says they “already walk every day,” what’s your next move? Groundbreaking research shows that increasing walking pace—not just walking more—is a game-changer for improving longevity and functional ability. This article describes how you can use cadence as a simple, objective measure of walking intensity and offers strategies for helping clients safely and confidently increase their pace.

Can two diets with identical nutrients lead to very different health outcomes? New research suggests that how much a food is processed may be just as important as calorie count or macronutrient balance. Drawing on two major 2025 studies, learn how ultra-processed foods (UPFs) affect weight, appetite regulation and cardiometabolic health, as well as practical strategies you can use to support clients in making meaningful dietary changes.

Let’s start with a quick physiology lesson. To perform any type of movement, your body needs energy. And there are three main systems your body uses to make that energy: the phosphagen system, the anaerobic glycolysis system, and the aerobic system, according to the American Council on Exercise (ACE).

The ACE RRAMP approach significantly boosts exercise adherence and motivation in group fitness classes  

The Community Physical Activity Leader course empowers people who are not currently exercise professionals, including people with intellectual disabilities, to lead others to perform community physical activity sessions. Read on to learn how those who completed the course plan on implementing what they’ve learned.

Obtaining 3% body fat is rare but possible with strict nutrition and exercise, according to health professionals. The American Council on Exercise says a body fat range of 25% to 31% for women or 18% to 24% for men is typical for the average person who isn't an athlete.

Before I took on the challenge, I called Anthony J. Wall, director of international business development for the American Council on Exercise (ACE) and certified personal trainer. I asked him if he’d ever heard of such a challenge, and what he thought about it.

Meet Ajia Clancy, an ACE Certified Pro living the mission and shaping the future of fitness. As a cancer survivor and equestrian, Ajia knows firsthand the power of health and fitness.

Blanket fluid recs are hard to make for athletes, too, but in general, they should shoot to drink 17 to 20 ounces of fluid two hours before exercising, and seven to 10 ounces every 10 to 20 minutes while exercising, per the American Council on Exercise. Weigh yourself before and after, and drink at least 20 ounces of water for every pound lost through sweat.

Blanket fluid recs are hard to make for athletes, too, but in general, they should shoot to drink 17 to 20 ounces of fluid two hours before exercising, and seven to 10 ounces every 10 to 20 minutes while exercising, per the American Council on Exercise. Weigh yourself before and after, and drink at least 20 ounces of water for every pound lost through sweat.

The Test: Perform as many push-ups as you can until your form breaks or your muscles give out. You can compare your score with those listed by the American Council Exercise.

Built on the footprint of two former racquetball courts, the exercise studio is run by Anna Woods, a certified personal trainer who developed for the American Council on Exercise a special certification for fitness professionals interested in working with people who have neurologic disorders. McKinney, who lives in Hutchinson, was diagnosed two years ago with functional neurologic disorder, symptoms of which can include epileptic-like seizures and narcolepsy.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the American Council on Exercise, a global leader in health and fitness education. ACE Certified Pros are invited to celebrate with us by sharing stories of their role in getting people moving and helping shape the future of fitness.

A new study challenges a long-held belief that obesity is caused by inactivity and instead points to diet, especially ultra-processed foods, as the key driver of rising obesity. Health coaches and exercise professionals will gain practical, evidence-backed strategies for reframing client conversations, reinforcing the unique benefits of physical activity, and building programs that pair movement with mindful nutrition habits for long-term success.

Forty years ago, the American Council on Exercise (ACE) set safety standards for aerobics instructors. Today, it certifies health coaches in more than 110 countries and partners with leading public health agencies like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Since its inception in 1985, ACE has remained a reliable source for education and science-backed information to inspire people to live healthier lifestyles.

The American Council on Exercise (ACE) states that low-impact exercises are activities that do not place large amounts of strain or weight on a person’s joints. These exercises do not cause increased stress on joints and connective tissue, so they can be effective for preserving joint health.