Let Exercise Coach co-founder Brian Cygan and franchisee Amy Hudson help you navigate your health and fitness with research-backed, easy-to-understand information to transform your body. See why just two 20-minute workouts a week is all it takes to rebuild your strength and keep you pain-free!
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Nourish Your Mind. Love Your Body. Rock Your Life! Join world-renowned fitness and healthy lifestyle coach Betty Rocker and special guests for conversations and content that will uplift you, inspire you, and provide you with valuable insights for a healthy mind, body and spirit.
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The Courtney Black Podcast is a place where me and celebrity guests will be talking all things fitness, health, mindset and so much more! Let's get fitter, healthier and happier TOGETHER!
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Multi-Joint vs. Single-Joint Strength Movements - Is One Better Than the Other?
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Join us for this replay from the archives and learn more about the right movements and how they may give you more time... Discover the secret to amplifying your total-body fitness results while also spending less time at the gym. Find out why multi-joint movements can have a serious positive impact on your strength and physical fitness while taking…
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Protein for Women: Part 2 Plus, How to Use Aminos, BCAA's, Collagen and Creatine
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When it comes to supplements, there are so many out there. But how do you know what you need, and what the difference is between protein powder and say, a BCAA? And do we all need to be taking collagen? Plus there's a lot of buzz about creatine for women right now...is it merited? We're diving into all of this in more in the second installment of m…
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Should I Stretch Before or After a Strength Training Session?
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Join us for this replay from the archives and learn the truth about stretching before and after exercise... Before you jump into your next exercise session, learn why what you’ve been told about stretching is completely wrong and how it can actually increase the odds of you getting injured. Brian and Amy explore some common myths regarding stretchi…
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Is It Safe to Wear a Mask While Exercising?
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Join us for this replay from the archives and learn more about oxygen intake and masks... Since the beginning of the pandemic, there has been a lot of talk about whether or not wearing a mask during exercise is a safe thing to do. Amy and Brian breakdown the studies and science behind wearing a mask and oxygen intake, and reveal why The Exercise Co…
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Protein for Women: Part 1 Plus Tips for Using and Choosing Protein Powders
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Why is protein so important for us as women? The reasons go well beyond our body composition goals. Today I’m talking all things protein, including why we need it, how much we need, and how those needs change over time. Plus, I’m covering protein powder and some different ways you can use it - from timing around your workouts to cooking with it. An…
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Join us for this replay from the archives and learn more about how smart scales can be important to your fitness journey... Brian and Amy discuss the pros and cons of a smart scale and how using one properly can help you stay motivated and on track to hit your fitness goals. You will also learn how to avoid one of the most common mistakes people ma…
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What Kind of Weight Bearing Exercise is Best for Osteoporosis?
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Join us for this replay from the archives and learn more about how strength training can help people with osteoporosis... Learn why strength training is the foundation to rebuilding bone strength and bone density and why osteoporosis isn’t a permanent sentence. Amy and Brian break down the research around bone density and strength training, what ex…
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Join us for this replay from the archives and learn more about the optimal amount of exercise... One of the most common questions we get at the Exercise Coach is “Is exercising twice a week really often enough?” Listen in as Brian Cygan and Amy Hudson explore why whole effort exercise twice a week is not only enough, it’s the optimal amount you nee…
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Why "healthy eating" can look so many different ways
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Is there a "perfect diet?" I don't think so. One of the challenges many of us face on our health journey is wading through the conflicting and confusing messages about "eating healthy." It's hard to navigate and it's hard to know if what you're doing is supporting your goals or hindering them. I think different things work for different people at d…
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Join us for this replay from the archives and learn more about muscle vs fat while on the road to improved health... Brian Cygan and Amy Hudson break down the age-old question of whether muscle really weighs more than fat and why the number on the scale can be very misleading when you’re trying to improve your health and fitness. When many people s…
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Join us for this replay from the archives and learn more about the benefits of doing the right workout... Amy Hudson and Brian Cygan reveal the truth behind the fitness industry and why you don’t need to spend hours at the gym every week in order to stay fit and healthy. Learn the science behind the 20-minute workout and how you can achieve optimal…
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5 Essential Recovery Tips if You Get Sick or Injured
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If you've ever gotten injured or been recovering from an illness wondering when you could start training again, today's conversation is for you! After recently getting COVID and suffering a lengthy recovery period, I had time to ponder - and put into practice - the very advice I so often give. Not only will you learn how to get better more quickly,…
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Join us for this replay from the archives and learn more about the truth to losing belly fat... Six-pack abs are what most people think of when they think fitness goals, but how hard is it really to get that washboard stomach and lose the stubborn belly fat? Brian and Amy bust the most common myths around losing belly fat and talk about the incredi…
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Is High-Intensity Strength Training Safe For Seniors Too?
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Join us for this replay from the archives and learn more about preventing the ill effects of aging... Is it safe for seniors to perform high intensity strength training? The question is actually “is it safe for them not to?” Brian Cygan and Amy Hudson discuss the science behind strength training and why high intensity, whole effort exercise is one …
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Join us for this replay from the archives and learn more about getting toned and lean, rather than bulky... Brian Cygan and Amy Hudson break down the science of strength training and discuss why you don’t have to worry about getting bulky from exercise, and why strength training is the most effective way to get that toned, lean body you always want…
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No matter what your current age or stage of life, I'm sure you'd like the actions you're taking to be impactful - both for your current state of health, but also for setting yourself up down the road. Because we want to be able to look back in 10 years and thank the person we are today for setting us up so well with a strong body, healthy joints, g…
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What about Cardio? - Part 3: Training For Sports Performance vs Training For Cardiovascular Health
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Join us for this replay from the archives and learn more about exercise for athletes vs the average person... Is strength training enough for longevity and quality of life? That’s the question Brian and Dr. James Fisher explore in the final episode of the What About Cardio? series. Learn about the difference between how athletes and the average per…
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What about Cardio? - Part 2: Fat Loss vs. Weight Loss, and How to Stay Strong and Lean into Old Age
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Join us for this replay from the archives and learn more about staying strong as you age... In part 2 of this series with Dr. James Fisher, Brian and James discuss the downsides of cardio and why so many people can’t seem to resist binging after cardio exercise. Learn why cardio is important and useful when done right, and how it can lead to even w…
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How walking supports your muscle and long-term fat loss
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How does walking support your fat loss goals, support muscle and bone density and give you so many other health benefits at the same time? And where does that fit in with our cardio, cortisol levels and changing hormones when we get into our 40's and beyond? Today I'm taking a deeper dive into how our resting metabolic rate is influenced by our bod…
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What about Cardio? - Part 1: Is It Possible To Improve Your Heart Health Without Doing Traditional Cardio Exercise?
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Join us for this replay from the archives and learn more about strength training versus traditional cardio... Dr. James Fisher answers the question once and for all, do we really need to do exercises like running, cycling, and swimming to improve our cardio? Find out the truth about cardio exercises and cardiovascular health and why you should get …
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A healthy and diverse gut microbiome helps support the balance of our hormones, a robust immune system and impacts how efficiently we absorb the nutrients in the food we eat. Tune in today for a tour on the ecosystem that makes up your digestive system, how you support better estrogen balance, get better results from your training and be a good ste…
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Join us for this replay from the archives and learn more about how this smart workout program can work for anyone! Brian and Amy discuss the cutting edge technology that powers the Exercise Coach and makes it possible to deliver the world’s smartest 20-minute workout. Learn the secret to maximizing fitness results in the shortest time possible and …
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I made walking more a huge priority over the past couple of years and it's helped me in so many ways! I wanted to share some of the inspiring data that shows the tremendous health benefits women get from walking more, which become especially significant in our perimenopause and postmenopausal years. Plus, I'm sharing details on how I've been able t…
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Why Muscle Quality Matters More Than Movement Quantity
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Join us for this replay from the archives and learn more about quality over quantity! Learn about why systemic inflammation is known as the silent killer, why inflammation creates a vicious cycle that very few people escape as they get older, and how you can be one of the few who do. Brian Cygan and Amy Hudson reveal why muscle quality matters more…
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Postmenopause: Training and Nutrition Success Guide
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In our postmenopausal years, we have achieved an important milestone as women! Let’s explore the way the inner landscape of our hormones has changed so we’re better equipped to navigate these new waters. I’m sharing my Postmenopause Training Trifecta so after you finish this episode, you’ll be armed with the specific training and nutrition strategi…
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The Biggest Reasons People Can’t Stick To The Traditional Exercise Program
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Join us for this replay from the archives and learn more about starting and sticking with the right exercise program! Brian and Amy dig into the top five reasons why people can’t begin or stick with the average fitness program and why those barriers don’t exist over at the Exercise Coach. Learn what’s holding you back from making strength training …
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Mastering Perimenopause: 5 Strategies You Need
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In perimenopause, the 5-10 year period before our cycle stops entirely (menopause) it might feel like all the things that used to work for you don't work anymore, and your body just isn't responding like it used to. As our estrogen and progesterone levels begin to get off balance and decline, it has a big impact on our recovery, our body temperatur…
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The Optimal Exercise Program For Maximal Results in Minimal Time
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Join us for this replay from the archives and learn more about our optimal exercise program... Brian and Amy break down some of the most common misconceptions around exercise and reveal how Exercise Coach clients are getting maximal results from only a couple 20-minute workouts each week. Learn the three most important aspects of exercise and why y…
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Women's Cycle Training and Nutrition Guide
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Training with your cycle - explained! While you’re in the phase of life where you’re having regular periods, you may feel intuitively that you just don’t have as much drive during the days leading up to your period. And you may notice that certain times of the month you are able to absolutely crush your workouts. Following the rhythm of your cycle …
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The Origin Story of the Exercise Coach and Why Strength Changes Everything
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Join us for this replay from the archives and learn more about our origin story... Brian Cygan and Amy Hudson reveal the origin story of the Exercise Coach and the one book that completely changed the trajectory of Brian’s life by transforming his understanding of what strength training can do in your life and how quickly you can see results. Find …
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5 Essential Self Care Tips for Better Muscle and Joint Health
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Think about how you are sitting or standing right now - and the posture you are in. Is this a posture you are frequently in? What muscles are activating in this posture? Over time the muscles that work more than others can exert pulling forces across our joints, causing imbalances we're not aware of - and that show up when we're training as well if…
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Running Isn’t the Only Way To Train Your Heart and Lungs
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Join us for this replay from the archives to learn more about your energy systems and how effective strength training is in how they work... Brian recently had a friend come into the Exercise Coach and he was shocked to find how quickly his heart rate went up after only 60 seconds of properly calibrated strength training exercise, despite being an …
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Join us for this replay from the archives to learn more about myths involving fitness... Brian and Amy explore a couple of articles talking about the impacts of weight loss vs. exercise on longevity, and discuss the myths surrounding losing weight and achieving optimal physical health. Learn why focusing on losing weight is the wrong goal, and why …
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12 Ways to Improve Your Stress Resilience
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What impact is stress actually having on our muscle tissue and our ability to lose body fat? Can a workout be too stressful, or does it actually act as stress relief? And how do our stress hormones interact with hormones like estrogen and insulin? Today I’m diving into the body’s stress response for women in different life stages, key data points t…
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The Dose-Response Relationship in Exercise
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Join us for this replay from the archives to learn more about dose-response and what it means for your fitness... Learn how a little-known principle in exercise determines whether you get the fitness results you are looking for, or you just spend some time moving weights up and down at the gym. Find out why the dose-response to exercise is what you…
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How do we get past plateaus in our training? If you've ever wondered how to keep progressing on the foundation you've built, or have questions about a specific program or how to tailor your training to your life stage (cycling years, perimenopause or post menopause), this episode is for you. I'm talking you through how your body responds and adapts…
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Why Does Muscle Really Matter for Weight Loss?
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Join us for this replay from the archives to learn more about how strength training should complement dieting for weight loss... Dr. James Fisher answers the question “Why does muscle really matter for weight loss?” Find out why muscle mass should be a vital component of your weight loss strategy and why dieting without strength training is a recip…
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3 Ways to Get Faster Workout Results in your cycling years, in perimenopause and post-menopause
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Have you been faithfully working out, but feeling frustrated by how slow your results seem to be? Chances are, you're doing plenty of exercise....but you may be overlooking some key areas of your daily actions that are undermining your efforts! Let's talk about 3 key surrounding actions that will help your workouts pay off big time, and why this is…
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The Secret to Strengthening Your Lower Back and Eliminating Lower Back Pain
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Join us for this replay from the archives to learn more about effective exercise for your lower back and what can surprisingly make lower back pain worse... In part two of the interview with Dr. James Fisher, we explore what it takes to actually strengthen the lower back and why exercises like the deadlift are not effective in targeting your lower …
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Join us for this replay from the archives to learn more about solving the problems causing lower back pain... Brian Cygan and Dr. James Fisher discuss the origins of lower back pain and why the vast majority of Americans will experience some form of lower back pain in their lives. Learn about the root cause of lower back pain and why most treatment…
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Do you find it hard to stay on track with your fitness goals or find yourself feeling overwhelmed by everything on your to-do list? Join me today to talk about the 5 key reasons we get burned out, and how you can “all or something” your way forward! In this episode, I’m exploring…. ⭐️ If you’re stuck in a rut, here’s what to do! ⭐️ Identifying burn…
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Join us for this replay from the archives to learn more about the importance of muscle burn... Amy Hudson and Brian Cygan explain why that feeling of your muscles burning is exactly what you want to feel every time you go to the gym. Learn why muscle burn is one of the best indications that you’re exercising at the right intensity and without it, y…
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How Strength Training Prevents and Reverses Pre-Diabetes
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Join us for this replay from the archives to learn more about life-changing advice and details about pre-diabetes... Amy and Brian break down the science behind pre-diabetes and how strength training is the most efficient and effective way to escape the negative feedback loop of insulin resistance, systemic inflammation, and weight gain. If you or …
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The Exercise Coach Came Out of 2020 Strong, Here’s Why
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Join us for this replay from the archives to learn more about the Exercise Coach's strong business model... Amy and Jesse Hudson explore the reasons the Exercise Coach saw phenomenal growth over the past 18 months while other fitness brands struggled to stay open. Learn about the key differences in the business model that make the Exercise Coach a …
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Free Weights vs. Machines: Which One Is Better?
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Join us for this replay from the archives to learn more about misconceptions about machines and if free weights or machines are better... Amy and Brian settle the age-old debate of which one is better: free weights or machines? Learn about some common misconceptions about machines that prevent people from getting the fitness results they want in th…
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Join us for this replay from the archives to learn more about how you can use more effort in less time... Amy and Brian go into the science behind eccentric overload and why this little-understood movement is responsible for the incredible gains in strength Exercise Coach clients experience in their first six sessions. Find out what eccentric overl…
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The Science of Why Strength Changes Everything
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Join us for this replay from the archives to learn more about the science and principles behind strength training... Brian and Amy explore the scientific research that shows that strength training is the ultimate exercise for combatting the aging process, getting into the best shape of your life, and how those principles are applied to every workou…
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How Many Benefits To Strength Training Are There?
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Join us for this replay from the archives to learn more about the benefits of strength training in a fun manner... In the midst of preparing for the upcoming National Exercise Coach Conference, Brian and Amy play a game of trying to name as many benefits of strength as they possibly can without repeating themselves. As you would expect of something…
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The Science of Strength: Brian Cygan Interviews James Fisher, PhD - Part 2
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Join us for this replay from the archives to learn more about what is accepted versus what is truth... In part 2 of this interview, Brian Cygan and Dr. James Fisher discuss the science of strength and why the accepted wisdom of exercise may actually be causing more harm than good. Learn how many exercises you really need during a session, why “card…
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The Science of Strength: Brian Cygan Interviews James Fisher, PhD - Part 1
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Join us for this replay from the archives to learn more about the science of strength and how it may affect your fitness plans and goals... Brian Cygan and Dr. James Fisher break down the science of strength and discuss what the proper level of resistance during training is, the threshold for the effort that you need to achieve to see results, and …
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