How to navigate the online fitness world, according to a personal trainer

It’s a paradox particular to our digital age – we have access to all of the information ever created, and yet we appear to be less well-informed than ever before. Part of the problem relates to quantity, the other to quality; there’s simply too much content coming at us, much of it contradictory and from dubious sources who present themselves as experts and authorities.

Just about every aspect of our culture has been affected by this phenomenon, and the popularity of fitness influencers on social media is one of the more obvious examples. The number of talking heads vying for thought-leader status within the industry is overwhelming. Whether it’s gym bros arguing over protein intake, science dorks splitting hairs over semantics or soccer moms spreading health misinformation, the end result is the same: more noise polluting an already oversaturated airspace.

I’m doing my part to combat this scourge by removing myself from the mob; last month I deleted my Instagram account, leaving this column as my main platform for connecting with an audience. I’ve also been developing my trainer IQ by making use of these antiquated relics called “books”; it’s amazing how much you can learn when you give your brain a chance to focus on a single subject for an extended period of time. If you too would like to distance yourself from the influencer sphere, but aren’t quite ready to take the same drastic measures that I have, I suggest limiting your inputs and seeking information by going directly to credible resources outside of social media.

I’ll give you a hand here by sharing my go-to avenues for staying current with what’s happening in health and fitness.

Learning how to move

If I could recommend only one organization for obtaining your fitness information it would be GMB Fitness. I’ve learned so much from following GMB’s programs and studying their methodology. Their unique approach to bodyweight training is the perfect antidote to the physical maladies imposed upon us by modern life, and their laidback style of coaching is the exact opposite of everything promoted by the fitness-industrial complex. Their YouTube channel offers some of the best exercise tutorials I’ve seen, and while their podcast hasn’t been updated in a while, the episodes that exist are well worth exploring.

See also: Anyone older than 40 and/or who has struggled with back pain should acquaint themselves with Dr. Eric Goodman’s books and his Foundation Training protocols. Centred around promoting ideal posture and enhancing breathing mechanics, this stuff is legitimately life-changing.

Learning how to eat

For nearly 25 years, Precision Nutrition has been delivering the highest quality nutrition content on the internet. A Canadian-born company, PN’s flagship certification program has become an industry standard; I have my PN Level 1 certificate and I implement the lessons learned daily. But you don’t need to be a professional to take advantage of PN’s content. The amount of free stuff in their archives is astounding – from guides, e-books and do-it-yourself courses to academic articles and infographics, the layperson can earn an education that rivals any nutritionist’s without spending a dime.

See also: I’ve been following a plant-centred diet for nearly 15 years. Whenever I have questions surrounding plant foods or am curious about the latest science on the subject, I turn to Dr. Michael Greger and his team at NutritionFacts.org. Greger’s best-selling books are also excellent resources.

Learning how to lift

It often comes as a surprise when people learn that I buy training programs for my own fitness needs. Of course I have the knowledge and skills needed to write my own plans, but that’s a little like the accused who represents themselves in court proceedings – they have a fool for a client. My favourite traditional weight lifting programs, the ones I keep returning to and recommend to anyone who asks, come from Zach Even-Esh. His no-nonsense, old-school approach to building strength appeals to my inner Luddite. There’s nothing fancy in his programs, which is one of the reasons they deliver results.

See also: Girls Gone Strong. I doubt that any fitness pro has done more to promote the radical notion that women belong in the weight room more than Molly Galbraith. The GGS YouTube channel is filled with free content aimed at educating and empowering women in the gym.

Paul Landini is a personal trainer and health educator in Kitchener, Ont.