21 Sources You CAN Trust to Get You in Shape
You can’t trust just anything to help you get in shape. In fact, last week we exposed 7 undependable things specifically.
This week is a little different.
I believe in having 2 positive things to say for every negative. But we’re doin’ ya one better by giving you 3 trustworthy sources for each of the unreliable ones we named last week.
Every source here is one we depend on personally, and we aren’t being paid for mentioning them.
I’ve left a brief description of each one to help you decide if it’s something you might be interested in checking out, either now or some point down the road (listed alphabetically in each category, NOT by order of importance).
Get ready!
Exercise/Nutrition
1. Examine
I use this site all the time for getting an unbiased look at what the totality of research says about specific nutrition topics.
They don’t tell you what to think, they tell you which way the research leans, and let you make your own decisions on how to respond to it.
2. Lab Door
This website tests and rates supplements based on a number of critical factors. That way when you buy something like fish oil, you can know if it really is fish oil (I shudder to think what else it could be).
If you have back issues that prevent you from working out, or even going through normal daily movements without pain, make Dr. McGill’s website your first visit.
Specifically check out his book, Back Mechanic.
This is the company Megan has her nutrition coaching certification through.
I love that they’re evidence based, but they understand that not everyone approaches healthy eating from the same starting point. So, while their articles can be a bit science-y, their advice is still very accessible.
Some smart people here, giving their take on both exercise and nutrition based on the existing science, but also from the perspective of their own (impressive) experience.
My Favorite Coaches
This list isn’t exhaustive, even of the coaches I know and trust. However, these are the ones I find myself referencing regularly, depending upon their area of expertise and whatever I happen to be researching at the moment.
6. Eric Cressey
He works with a lot of pro baseball players, because he’s somewhat of a shoulder specialist, and, I would say, also really bridges the gap between personal training and physical therapy. That probably puts him in too small a box, as he’s a great coach in general, but I find myself going to his website when I’m looking for info on learning better movement patterns.
7. Joe DeFranco
A legend of a strength/conditioning coach for athletes. While a lot of the coaches I follow go deep into the science of fitness, Joe speaks from his firsthand experience getting results for people. That said, he isn’t clueless about what the research has to say, and, unsurprisingly, the strategies he uses to get people results often line up with what the science has to say anyway.
8. Duquette/Walker-Ng/Polowick
These are the guys who make up the team at Bony to Beastly and Bony to Bombshell. They specialize in helping skinny guys and skinny gals bulk up.
I still use them a lot for my own training (because hiring a trainer always gives you better results, even if you’re a trainer yourself), as I am one of those rare types who people love to hate — the guy who has trouble gaining weight.
That said, they do a good job of staying current on all the science of exercise and nutrition in general, and I’m sure anyone could learn a great deal from them.
A solid coach (he founded Cressey Sports Performance with Eric Cressey), and a very good writer. I find myself visiting his page to read on whatever subject I’m interested in at the time, and then staying and continuing to read because there’s just so much good stuff there.
10. Brandon Heavey
The dude used to work at NASA. Now he is a coach. He knows his stuff. He also shares my affinity for Scotch, hence the reason I listen to his podcast Strength & Scotch.
11. Eric Helms
Eric is a bodybuilder with a firm grasp on the science of diet and exercise. I mostly listen to him on the podcast Iron Culture, and in MASS, which I’ll discuss more later. (this link is for the podcast)
12. Dan John
A legend of a strength coach who has a way of breaking down complex training ideas into simple, practical advice. I often visit his site to peruse his articles.
13. Greg Nuckols
A world record holding powerlifter, who also happens to be super smart (he’s the owner of Stronger by Science), which is his website. It’s also the name of his podcast, which he does with another great coach who I’m not listing separately (only because it would just be another link to Stronger by Science), Eric Trexler. (this link is for their podcast)
14. Jordan Syatt
This is the guy I look to most for ideas about training people online, because he is a master of giving helpful advice without talking over your head.
15. Jim Wendler
His 5/3/1 program has become a highly popular strength building program for a lot of people, and for good reason. I specifically like him for his no-nonsense approach to fitness.
Resources
16. Clue
Megan recommends this app for women. It helps you make sense of your periods, cycle patterns, and menstrual health. It can even make it easier to anticipate things like carb cravings.
17. Groove Life
If you workout regularly and, like me, find yourself having to take off your wedding ring all the time, you might want to consider Groove Life rings.
I’ve tried other brands, and I personally find this one the most comfortable. The lifetime warranty doesn’t hurt either.
18. MASS
This one is for those of you who like digging into the science of exercise and nutrition so much that you’re willing to pay for it.
It’s a monthly research review magazine I subscribe to. It’s more for coaches and serious lifters. But if you are a bit of a science nerd and want a resource to help you sort through all of the current studies, it’s worth the investment.
19. MyFitnessPal
I don’t recommend this for their fitness advice, but their app can be a great tool for tracking what you eat.
We don’t always count calories, nor do we recommend most people do it. But that doesn’t mean it’s all bad. There’s a time and a place for it, and MyFitnessPal makes it easier.
20. Plan to Eat
This is the website Megan uses for all our meal planning, shopping lists, and her recipe box.
21. White Noise App
Getting good quality sleep is vital for your overall health and fitness. We have an actual white noise machine in all of our bedrooms. But we’ve also used this app and liked it.
As Always
As I finish this blog post, I already have other names I could add to the list. However, I’m going to leave it as is because, although there are other sources I trust, these are the ones I can confidently say I keep an eye out for when I’m searching for articles, podcasts, videos, etc.
Hopefully, by seeing this list, you can tell that Megan and I have made it a commitment to stay educated on the things that matter most when it comes to helping you achieve your goals.
And hopefully that makes us #22 on this list of sources you can trust.
If so, learn more here about how our 1-on-1 coaching can help you on a more personal, individual level.
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