What would you guys recommend for habit building when it comes to nutrition? Nutrition success like anything else is about sustainable habits that you can stick to for the long term. I have my guys using a nutrition journal for the first month, getting them to focus on building mindfulness around their relationship with food and giving us the data for feedback to make any amendments. Curious as to what everyone does here with that. @Megan Barb what are your practices and philosophy as a Nutrition coach?

Hey @Phil Daru , I am curious to get your insight as to how you program for busy guys with hectic schedules that change on a weekly basis (which is fitting considering you work with combat athletes) I always tend to start with the MED for them. I have two guys who are incredibly busy business owners so we have a 2+1 system where they have 2 Full Body S&C days and the +1 acts as a floating session based on their schedule. However, there are weeks where things pop up and sometimes they don’t get anything or just do 1. What would you do to work around these? I call audibles a lot due to believing in auto regulation. Would love to pick your brain on this!

I’m putting together a From the Field – Directed Topic (FTF-DT) article for ASCA based on real work done with my athletes. Rather than guessing, I’m keen to hear from coaches and athletes. What would you choose as an article topic that actually changes what you do in your training?

The Romanian Deadlift has always been more than just another posterior-chain exercise. For me, it represents the intersection of education, biomechanics, and responsible progression—a reminder that good programming is rooted in understanding why an exercise belongs, not just how it looks. Years ago, I was fortunate to receive in-depth instruction on the RDL from Dragomir Cioroslan—Romanian Olympic medalist and former U.S. National Weightlifting Team head coach—alongside Al Miller and Johnny Parker in Denver. Learning the movement from a Romanian weightlifter brought immediate clarity: the RDL was not an accessory lift; it was a precision tool for building strength, control, and durability. In the athletic performance setting, the RDL is a cornerstone for developing the low back, glutes, and hamstrings. In the sports rehabilitation environment, it becomes something even more valuable—a bridge between protection and performance. When working with posterior knee injuries—PCL, meniscus, or post-operative conditions—timing matters. Biology dictates the rules before ambition ever can. Healing must occur. Goals must be met. Clearance must be granted. Only then does loading become a tool for adaptation rather than a risk. The brilliance of the RDL lies in its biomechanics. Executed as a closed kinetic chain exercise at roughly 30 degrees of knee flexion, it maintains joint stability through compressive forces and agonist–antagonist co-contraction. This knee angle significantly reduces posterior shear forces across the tibiofemoral joint when compared to movements performed at deeper flexion angles or isolated open-chain exercises. Contrast that with movements like Nordic hamstring curls or open-chain knee flexion. While valuable in the right context, they initiate from approximately 90 degrees of knee flexion, increasing posterior shear and limiting quadriceps contribution—factors that demand caution in early or mid-stage posterior knee rehabilitation. Even more compelling is the transfer. Hamstring injuries during running most often occur near ground contact—either during late swing or the eccentric-to-concentric transition—when the knee is again near 30 degrees of flexion. The RDL strengthens the hamstrings precisely at this vulnerable angle, reinforcing tissue resilience where it matters most.

Good morning friends! I have a gen pop client around 70, in great shape. I hold mitts for him, some light ladder work he’s enjoying and strength and conditioning. Would love some help with a mobility program where I can measure his progress and success. I was inspired by Phil’s fitness testing to always try and incorporate some assessments so clients can see their progress. What assessments and programs do you all use for mobility? Flexibility? Thank you and have an amazing day!!