Fitness Simplified

Coaching & education designed to help you build real fitness.

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The founder:

Hello! Thank you for stopping by.

I’m Zachary Keith.

I hold a degree in exercise physiology from Florida State, I’m a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), Certified Sports Nutritionist (CISSN), and current student of physical therapy.

I’d consider myself a hybrid athlete of sorts. I’m endlessly fascinated by exercise physiology & nutrition research, and the applications of such info.

As of the moment of writing this, I’ve coached in-person & remotely for 8 years.

Apart from fitness stuff, my interests include pickle-ball, science-fiction books, chess, black coffee, and MMA.

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Training: Recent Articles

Featured

Seated versus Straight Leg Calf Raises: What’s the Difference?

Understanding these differences will make your training that much better.

Anaerobic vs Aerobic Training: What’s the Difference?

Don’t guess with your conditioning. This article will help you understand the difference between aerobic & anaerobic training; and how to capitalize on each.

How to Balance Leg Day & Running as a Hybrid Athlete

Run far, lift heavy. How to accomplish both.

How to Create a Hybrid Training Program

How to create your own hybrid program in 7 steps.

Hybrid Training: Strength & General Aerobic Development

Learn how to effectively build endurance and strength at the same time.

Can Lifting Weights Count as Cardio?

Can strength training improve your endurance?

RPE/RIR Training Explained

Here, I explain what RPE/RIR are and how to use them in your training.

Can Your Back Round While Lifting?

The truth about back safety while lifting

Why Hybrid & Concurrent Athletes Need Power & Speed Training

An often neglected key to good hybrid or concurrent programs.

The Interference Effect: Fact or Fiction?

What you NEED to know about the interference effect…

The Hybrid Triathlete: The Master Guide to Training

A comprehensive guide for the hybrid triathlete.

The Beginner’s Guide to Hybrid Athlete Training

The ultimate guide to training like a hybrid athlete for total beginners.

Are Two Workouts Per Week Enough?

Two workouts per week: optimal, good enough, or a waste of time?

How to Start Training Sprinting: a 3-Step Plan

A short guide to start sprinting for everyday people.

22 Different Hybrid Athlete Training Splits

22 different ways to split up your hybrid training.

The Complete Guide to HIIT

Your favorite social media influencer doesn’t know what HIIT is. This article explains the truth.

Plyometrics Explained

A full explanation of what plyos are, benefits, and how to do them.

Lengthened Partials Explained

Lengthened partials: a new way to maximize your training efficiency.

How to Start Running as a Total Beginner

Running can be confusing at first, this article provides some clarity.

VO2max Explained

One of the most important variables for athletes and for health.

If you could only pick one ab exercise, pick this one…

The internet is riddled with useless ab exercises. In my opinion, this is one of the few effective ones.

Warming up for Strength Training: a Short Guide

Not sure how to warm up for strength training? This 3 minute article has you covered.

Reverse Nordics: the BEST Quad Exercise?

This one exercise stands above all other quad movements.

How to Workout for Health, longevity & Quality of Life

If your goal with exercise is to have the best quality of life possible, this article is for you.

5 Tips for Training like a Hybrid Athlete

Hybrid programs differ in many ways, but these 5 tips should be true for all hybrid athlete programs.

Leg Extensions without a Machine: 5 Alternative Exercises

Want to train leg extensions, but don’t have a machine? Use these 5 alternatives.

How to Structure Full Body Workouts (& why to do them)

Full-body workouts might be the best way to split up your sessions. This article explains why that is and how to set them up.

How Cardio Will Help You Build More Muscle

Cardio done wrong can kill your gains. Done right? Improve your gains.

Zone 2 Cardio Explained

Zone 2 cardio might be the key you’re missing to ignite your health & performance. This article breaks down what it is, how to do it, & everything else you need to know.

What is Periodization?

Periodization is the art of drawing up succesful programs. Here’s a summary.

Nutrition: Recent Articles

Featured

Ashwagandha Explained

Ashwagandha is a supplement that has soared in popularity. Is it worth taking for you? Find out here.

Do You Need Electrolytes?

Are electrolytes right for you?

Creatine Explained (May 2024 Update)

A full explanation of creatine.

The Nuance of Calories In, Calories Out; in Layman’s Terms

9 Tips to Make Fat Loss Easier (that don’t involve tracking)

Are you trying to lose some fat but are struggling with hunger or plateaus? Here are some quick tips to make the process easier.

Cutting as a Hybrid Athlete: Best Practices

Hybrid athlete looking to lose fat? This article is for you.

Animal vs Plant Protein: What’s Better?

Animal vs plant protein for health & performance.

OutWork Nutrition’s vs Bare Performance Nutrition’s ‘Recovery’

Which ‘Recovery’ is better?

HVMN’s Ketone-IQ: A Complete Waste of Money

A full Ketone-IQ review

4 Ways to Make Protein More Convenient

Make hitting your protein needs easier than ever.

Skim vs Whole Milk: Advantages & Disadvantages

A brief, but complete comparison between whole- and skim-milk.

3 Reasons a Calorie Deficit Didn’t Work for You

This article may shock you…

Does a High Protein Diet Harm the Kidneys?

Ever heard someone say eating a lot of protein is dangerous? I’d argue other wise: this is why.

Essential Amino Acids (EAAs) Explained

Whether it’s in a supplement or your food, you need to understand these concepts about EAAs./

How to Fuel & Hydrate your Kids for Youth Sports

Are you a parent with a child in youth sports? This article will help you play their best and their safest.

Athletic Greens (AG1) Full Review (updated 2024)

Does the Athletic Greens hype live up to its price? I’m not so sure.

Sodium Bicarbonate: an Unknown but Powerful Supplement

Nearly no one knows about this supplement, but it happens to be one of the most helpful.

Beetroots, Nitrates, & Athletic Performance

A new supplement with benefits sprouting out of nowhere (haha get it?)

Nutrition Considerations for Hybrid Athletes

A complete guide to fueling the hybrid athlete.

Collagen: a Brief Review of the Research

Is collagen useful or useless? It depends.

7 Best Supplements for Hybrid Athletes

As a hybrid athlete, your nutritional needs are unique. This article breaks down what supplements will benefit you the most.

What Does it Mean to Eat Healthy?

Eating healthy can get confusing in this day and age. This article sums up what’s most important.

Fish Oil & Muscle Building

You might have heard of fish oil’s health benefits. What about how it affects muscle size and function?

How Does Alcohol Affect Your Body Composition?

Not sure how alcohol will affect how you look? Find out here.

Nutrient and Meal Timing: Does it Matter When You Eat?

Not sure when you should be eating? This article simplifies what you need to know.

5 Protein Snacks Everyone Should Know About

Hit your protein goals more easily with these 5 snack options.

Macronutrient Basics: Understanding Carbs, Fats, and Protein

Your first step in understanding what the macronutrients are.

Ketogenic Diets Explained

The keto diet gets a lot of hype. Does it deserve it?

Intermittent Fasting Explained

All things intermittent fasting. Find out if it’s right for you.

4 Carb Myths Busted

If anyone’s ever told you to avoid carbs, this article explains why they are wrong.

Tips & Opinions: Recent Articles

Featured

14 Lifestyle Factors Affecting Your Health

A guide for what to focus on & what to ignore.

4 Ways to Make Running More Fun

The best strategies to adhere to running.

8 Tips to Sleep Better

We can all benefit from sleeping better. Here’s 8 tips to do just that

Deload Weeks: What Are They and Do You Need One?

Does a deload week make sense for you? Find out in this article.

How often should you change up your workout routine?

Not sure when to make a change in your training? This article breaks down what you need to know.

There’s Only One Real “BioHack”

In most instances, I’d tell you to run the other way when you see the word “biohack.” However, there is an exception.

6 Practical Tips to Eliminate Soreness

Don’t let soreness get in the way. These tricks are guaranteed to take the edge off.

The Accuracy of Smart Watches

Evaluating the accuracy and worthwhileness of smart watches like the apple watch, FitBit, Garmin, and others.

4 Tips for Working Out While Travelling

How to make working out easier on the road.

Should You Stretch When Warming Up?

Stretching might be doing you more harm than good.

How Deep Should You Squat?

Curious to how deep you should be squatting? Find out here.

How to Lose Weight When You Hate Exercise

Want to lose weight but hate working out? Don’t worry, your goals are still obtainable.

How Does Exercise Improve Our Mental Health?

Exercising is one of the most important things we can do to help and heal our mental health. This article explains how and why.

3 Tips For Balancing Strength and Endurance Training

Combing strength training and cardio can be confusing. Here are some tips to make it easier.

5 Tips for Working Out First Thing in the Morning

If you work out right when you wake up, here are a few tips that will make that process a little easier.

Be a More Effective Grocery Shopper

You shouldn’t have to waste and throw out so much food you bought from the grocery store. This article will share the best tips for making you an effective shopper.

A Small Discussion on the Basics

Most people overcomplicate their fitness, health and nutrition. Read this article to learn which mistakes to avoid and what will bring you the best results.

3 Simple Tips to Get More Active

Want to get moving but hate exercise? Read this for tips to get started.

2 Tips to Pick Out Credibility

The internet is full of conflicting information. Here is how to know which side is right.

6 Major Health Benefits from Strength Training

Getting stronger is arguably the most powerful thing you can do for your health. Here is why.

How to Workout More Efficiently

You might not always have a ton of time to train. Here are some ideas to get more out of less time.

5 Tips to Eliminate Gym Anxiety

If you’ve ever experienced gym anxiety (Which we all have), these tips will help you erase that problem.

15 Common Gym Terms Defined

A lot of foreign words and acronyms are often thrown around in the gym. This read will help you understand them all.