The best newsletters of the past year 🙌

There is so much noise in the fitness industry.

So much « Don’t do that » or « You’re doing it wrong if… » So much fear mongering and finger pointing. And frankly, it disappointed me.

It’s overblown, exaggerated, and not that helpful. Especially for those of us who just want strength, energy and health to flow into everything else that happens to us.

One year ago today, I took over the writing of this newsletter from Steve with one goal in mind: provides you with practical, real-world lessons from my 15+ years of coaching that you can actually use.

I wanted to show you how fitness can be a part of your life without it taking over your life. And that we can have fun with it too. 😊

I am very grateful for the reply. For every note and response that tells me about your goals, your struggles, and what resonates most.

So to celebrate one year, here’s a list of my best newsletters. These are the ones worth a refresher or second look if you missed them the first time around.

💙 The ones that hit home

​Turns out I needed my own advice last week (twice!) Sometimes we need to hear the same advice we give others. As I often say, « Even coaches need coaches! » If you’ve been holding yourself to an impossible standard, start here.

« Thank you for helping to get me going. I’m not going to put pressure on myself, I’m just allowing myself to take each day as it comes and do the best I can. And thank you for being vulnerable. I’m learning that vulnerability like that is a beautiful thing. It’s more impactful than any advice because it’s real and raw. » -W

​NAWs: The Art of Getting Back on Track If you are currently in a state of confusion – illness, travel, life – this is for you.

« This email came at the perfect time! I had a whole fitness structure planned for March and couldn’t stick to it for medical reasons… This past week I tried to show up regardless. No PR, no new exercises. The only victory was showing up and trusting the process. Ending the night with this reading was such a comfort. Thank you! » -L

​Feeling exhausted? Try this. Because when your tank is empty and the answer isn’t « push harder ». Sometimes the most important training decision you make is the one that protects your energy.

« It was really helpful, it lifted me up at a difficult time. » -J

​Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can. The post that elicited more « I felt like you were talking directly to me » responses than anything else I’ve written. Thanks again to Charlie for sitting down to record this live coaching session with me.

« Matt, you are speaking to my soul with this email today! Just what I needed to hear to remind myself that I am not alone, I am not a total failure, and there is still hope! Thank you! » -S

🔧 The practical book

​How to get stronger if you feel stuck Another live session with a reader, Rosanne and I unpacked exactly what to do when your progress stalls. If you’ve hit a plateau, this is for you.

« I’m seeing MUCH more progress. In fact, I think I’m going to have to buy some heavier weights to keep at home soon as I’m maxing out what I have with a few moves, which is a big problem to have! » -R

​What does « enough » fitness look like?(plus the 5-minute mobility routine) Answering one of the most common questions I get: « How do I know I’m doing enough? » This pair of posts gives you a real answer and a concrete example you can do today.
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​Dumbbell workout for beginners The most clicked workout of the year – and a great companion to our beginner bodyweight workout.

🏆 The most read of the year

​3 lessons from training thousands of geeks The main frameworks I return to again and again. It’s worth re-reading every time you feel out of sorts, just to check: do I do these 3 things?

​What if I fail again? One of the hardest mental hurdles I see people face. If you’ve struggled to stick to your fitness habits in the past, it may seem almost impossible to believe that you’ll succeed this time. You are not alone in this. This post is the first step I walk people through to break this cycle.

Whew, we’ve come a long way this past year!
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Once again I want to thank you.

Thank you for your questions Kind words. The « hey Matt, this shot is different » response. If you’ve ever written back to me, you know I read every single one. It really makes my day to hear from you, solve problems together and cheer you on from afar.

That’s what this whole thing is about.

Here’s to another year of breaking through the noise together. 🥂

– Matt