December 11, 2024

Let's Talk About Ultra-Processed Foods

December 11, 2024/ Jonathan Jordan

Navigating the nuanced world of ultra-processed foods can feel overwhelming, especially when trying to maintain a balanced, healthy lifestyle. In this five-minute video, I sit down with registered dietician Tarah Valenti from CustomFit to discuss practical tips on how to approach these foods without stress or guilt. Whether you're trying to make better choices or just curious about the role of ultra-processed foods in our world, this conversation will leave you with insights to stay sane and nourished.

October 11, 2024

How Working with a Registered Dietician Can Change Your Life!

October 11, 2024/ Jonathan Jordan

Do you know you want/need to make some changes to your nutritional habits but just aren’t sure where to start? Ever wondered what it would be like to work with a registered dietician to help forge a path ahead and make some real improvements? In this ~30 minute video I chat with my pal Tarah Valenti, RDN with CustomFit, about what it’s like working with her and how a custom nutritional program can help with so many different goals including body fat loss, visceral fat, muscle preservation/growth, improved energy, health, vitality, longevity as well as managing a variety of issues from high cholesterol, blood sugar or blood pressure to perimenopause and other life transitions.

September 01, 2024

Embracing "Lifting Heavy Sh*t" Can Make All the Difference in Your 50s

September 01, 2024/ Jonathan Jordan

When my FABULOUS client Sarah told me she wanted to “lift heavy sh*t” it was music to my ears. We’ve worked together for years and over time we’ve shifted focus of her program to strategically align with evolving priorities including improving body composition and health markers through an integrated approach to exercise, nutrition and recovery; easing the transition into perimenopause; enabling her active lifestyle and love of tennis and scuba; and ensuring her vitality, mobility and agility as she inches toward early retirement. Her love of metrics, data and science have given us the insights necessary to build her ideal program for her unique body which is yielding incredible results. Her continual efforts to learn and try new approaches is inspiring and I’m so grateful she took the time to discuss her journey here.

July 26, 2023

Strategies to Overcome Burnout and Fatigue

July 26, 2023/ Jonathan Jordan

Chronic burnout, stress, anxiety and even pandemic-related PTSD are real. And so many folks, myself included, are wondering how best to deal with it. So I reached out to Dr. Ashton Perroni who is medical director and naturopathic doctor for Thyme Health to discuss proven and practical ways to address it.

April 05, 2023

Client Spotlight: Katherine Takes on the 292 Mile Lebanon Mountain Trail!

April 05, 2023/ Jonathan Jordan

The BEST part of being a personal trainer is witnessing how clients use the fitness we build to live their fullest lives. It gives me tremendous satisfaction when clients feel empowered to take on new challenges both in everyday life and in big new adventures. I'm beaming with pride that the amazing Katherine Maher is off this month to take on a herculean challenge and to fulfill a dream and I'm grateful she took a few minutes to share in a quick interview how integrating fitness into your daily life can prepare you for HUGE adventures.

September 23, 2022

Dr. Mark and JJ Discuss and Demo the Latest Uses for BFR Training

September 23, 2022/ Jonathan Jordan

I’ve written about BFR (“Blood Flow Restriction”) or “Occlusion” Training on and off since 2017. This modality of resistance training has been clinically proven as a way to effectively and safely “hypertrophy” muscle. So when I was recently visiting my AMAZING physical therapist Dr. Mark Bautista, I was surprised to see patients being treated with BFR cuffs. I asked Dr. Mark about it and I learned about the deluge of recent clinical studies that have broadened the usage of BFR to include injury-specific rehab/prehab, sports performance, endurance, strength as well as traditional hypertrophy.

July 16, 2022

Couch Talk with Morgan and JJ: Goal Setting and Planning Strategies

July 16, 2022/ Jonathan Jordan

In this month’s edition of "Couch Talk with Morgan and JJ" we take a few minutes to share some goal setting strategies that will help you find the right goals for where/who you are and how to prepare and plan to succeed!

February 14, 2021

Client Spotlight: Kimberly Su and Her "Virtual Fitness" Journey

February 14, 2021/ Jonathan Jordan

When I met Kimberly in February 2020 for a quick chat to discuss training together I was super excited. She wanted to build a strength training program to help her recover from a hip injury and to get her feeling strong and balanced in her body. She was everything I look for in a client: ready, willing and energetic. And then COVID hit.

September 01, 2020

Q&A with the Founder of Ariana’s Energy Bites

September 01, 2020/ Jonathan Jordan

I sat down with my friend, personal trainer and entrepreneur Ariana Parvin to learn about how her struggle with digestive issues and food allergies led her to create super tasty and healthy "energy bites" that are popping up in some of the Bay Area’s best markets and restaurants. Since launching in 2018 her bites have become a favorite energy snack for thousands of Bay Area peeps and it’s amazing watching her woman-owned business grow. Hear her story and find out where you can get some to fuel your body and tickle your taste buds!

January 25, 2020

5 Lifestyle Tweaks That Will Dramatically Improve Your Wellbeing

January 25, 2020/ Jonathan Jordan

Thanks to Dr. Seeds and the folks at Authority Magazine for featuring my story about how I transitioned from a corporate consultant to a fitness professional and my advice for lifestyle tweaks that can positively change your wellness. Spoiler alert, this includes a shout out to my mentor Marcia Robles and a declaration of love to Madonna. Read the full interview.

January 03, 2020

Five Simple Stretches Every Desk Worker Should Do

January 03, 2020/ Jonathan Jordan

For this post I’ve enlisted the help of one of San Francisco’s most talented and credentialed chiropractors, soft tissue specialists and athletes—Dr. Nick Cruze. Chronic sitting, typing on devices and stress leads to shoulder, back and hip pain (not to mention unwanted body fat and other health issues). While I recognize it’s not always possible to abandon the office or laptop to hit a yoga class or to go for a walk, it IS possible to spend a minute or two several times a day to stretch and give those tight, shortened muscles some relief before they turn into serious issues. In this video Dr. Cruze shares five stretches he most often recommends to desk-bound patients to safely provide relief.

December 05, 2019

SF’s Dynamic Duo: Chiropractors and So Much More!

December 05, 2019/ Jonathan Jordan

I get asked all the time by clients, gym members and colleagues who I trust for care when I’m in pain or injured. Dr. Brad Bailey and Dr. Nick Cruze at SF Premier Chiropractic are hands-down my go-to guys for keeping my body in great working order. They have successfully helped dozens of my clients recover from injuries, reduce pain and improve posture. Literally every person I have sent them has improved and raves about the quality of care. They are the real deal and I’m so proud to have them as JJFit partners. And I’m grateful that Dr. Cruze took a few minutes to be interviewed here for those curious about their practice.

May 02, 2019

Fit Pros to Watch: Q&A with Brandon Kolar

May 02, 2019/ Jonathan Jordan

Clients and friends often ask me who inspires me in the fitness word. Who do I look to for inspiration, innovation and perspiration? I stumbled upon Brandon Kolar's IG last year and his is one of the few accounts I follow religiously. He knows his stuff and his latest project, 365 Days of Exercises, gives so much to the community that I had interview him for JJFit.com. Simply put, he's someone to watch and follow!

April 05, 2019

How this busy FiDi guy regained control of his health and body

April 05, 2019/ Jonathan Jordan

In this month’s client Q&A Andy shares how he changed his mindset, nutrition and relationship with exercise to avoid obesity, improve his productivity at work and to get lean.

March 23, 2019

SF's Top Style Gurus Talk Gym Fashion and Shopping Tips

March 23, 2019/ Jonathan Jordan

Sometimes a workout can feel more like a fashion show and if you live in the Bay Area a nice dinner out can look more like a SoulCycle class. Fashion and fitness are becoming increasingly intertwined as luxury athletic wear and “fit fashion” are dominating not just the gym but also the streets, our favorite restaurants, airplanes and even the office. I asked three of the San Francisco’s most fashionable style gurus their thoughts on this growing trend, their “go to” gym styles and how those of us on a budget can look current and appropriate without breaking the break.

February 06, 2019

Why This Former Athlete Turned White Collar Pro Refocused His Approach to Fitness

February 06, 2019/ Jonathan Jordan

From the minute I met Chris C. I was impressed. This former college athlete turned white collar finance professional has some very admirable goals and a commitment to them that is inspiring. He wanted help developing a program that would make his body more mobile, more endurant and strong for the long haul. There’s nothing wrong with aesthetic goals. I have them myself. But it’s uncommon these days for a man in his 20s to tell me he wants to move better, longer and stronger. That he doesn’t want his desk job to destroy his body and that he just wants to be the best version of himself possible. I am so lucky to work with clients like Chris (including his roommate and gym buddy Chase) and I’m honored he took time from his busy life to share his thoughts and reflect on his progress with me for this Q&A.

November 01, 2018

Inspiring Cycling Stories to Motivate You

November 01, 2018/ Jonathan Jordan

Sometimes, all it takes to get motivated is changing your internal dialogue, as was done by one of the clients here at Jonathan Jordan Fitness. Alejandro, explained that he had to “learn to change the inner voice from ‘Ugh . . .’ to ‘Come on! You can do it!’" And that worked! Other times, though, it takes a serving of inspiring stories to motivate someone. So without further ado, here are four similar stories that can motivate you to saddle up and get fit.

October 19, 2018

For the Healthiest Food in the FiDi Lite Bite Is Where It's At!

October 19, 2018/ Jonathan Jordan

Finding TRULY healthy lunch options, especially in downtown San Francisco, can be a wild goose chase. The city is littered with quick serve restaurants and pop ups marketing themselves as “fresh”, “light” and “natural” but when you look closely you find hidden calories, astronomical amounts of sodium and food devoid of any real nutrition. But there is one option that stands out—Lite Bite. Having Lite Bite’s DELICIOUS proteins, veggies and salads as options for a quick lunch, snack or dinner, is a godsend.

June 16, 2018

Brides, Body Image and Building a Strong Fitness Foundation

June 16, 2018/ Jonathan Jordan

I recently started working with a young, successful and fierce bride-to-be who has infinitely impressed and charmed me. It's easy for clients to succumb to pressure (from themselves, the media, family, etc) to look "perfect" on the big day. Sometimes the quest for the ideal body can lead to negative self talk, unhealthy behaviors and mental and physical stress. What impresses me about Erica is her primary desire to BE healthy and happy. In this post she shares her journey and perspective with us on body image, building a strong fitness foundation and setting expectations.

June 09, 2018

What I Learned from a RUNANATOMY Assessment

June 09, 2018/ Jonathan Jordan

If you follow me on social media you've likely caught on that I'm running the SF Half Marathon in July with #teamunicorn. But I wanted to be smart about this. I realized there could be some dangers to running 20-30+ miles per week over many months. So before I really amped up my training, I worked with the awesome Dr. Justin Jellin, DPT, ART to have my running gate, muscle output and form professionally analyzed in a RUNATOMY assessment. I interviewed Dr. Jellin for JJ Fit 24/7 so you can learn more about RUNATOMY and decide whether you could benefit from a similar experience.

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