BUILDING CONFIDENCE THROUGH PERSONAL TRAINING
How can personal training help you build confidence? It seems really simple and obvious, right? You’ll look better, of course! Wrong - not where I’m going with this. At all. Building confidence can be done in many ways and can mean many things. I’m going to explain how personal training can help you build confidence on a much deeper level. Confidence comes from within and how YOU perceive yourself. Some ways personal training helps build confidence include but is not limited to having learning opportunities when you train, feeling better in your body, and creating consistent routines and discipline. I’ll dive deeper into these topics below.
PHYSICAL THERAPY IS AT PFP
Hi All! I’m Diana Jordan, a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) and newest member of the team at Pittsburgh Fitness Project. I earned my DPT degree from the University of Pittsburgh in 2023 and specialize in orthopedic and pelvic floor physical therapy. I’ve been training and competing in powerlifting and weightlifting for 8+ years and I’m passionate about helping lifters and active individuals feel stronger and more confident during their training.
BEANS, GREENS, & GRAINS
Here is another quinoa recipe for the week from NYT Cooking!
WHY MASSAGE THERAPY IS YOUR BFF IN RECOVERY
Imagine this: you're lying on a comfy table, relaxing while a skilled therapist works their magic on your tired muscles. Sounds like heaven, right? But here's the thing— massage therapy isn’t just about relaxation (though that's a nice perk). It actually plays a key role in how quickly you bounce back from physical exertion.
VEGAN MUSHROOM SOUP
After Pittsburgh’s brief warm weather tease, it’s clear that the cold weather is here a bit longer—so why not embrace it with a comforting, hearty bowl of goodness? Inspired by Live Eat Learn's original recipe, this soup is your perfect excuse to slow down and savor the season.
TIPS TO GET STARTED WITH WEIGHTLIFTING
Here are some of Isaac’s best tips when it comes to getting into weightlifting. If you’ve tried before, but something was off, now may be the right time to try again!
SELF-CARE IN FITNESS
We all know the drill: you hit the gym, get super motivated, and then—bam—soreness. After all that squatting, lunging, and running, your body’s like, “What did we do to deserve this?” That’s where massage therapy comes in, the unsung hero of recovery.
QUINOA & BROCCOLI BOWL
A warm, hearty, and yummy quinoa and broccoli bowl from NYT Cooking.
OVERCOMING NEW YEAR RESOLUTION PITFALLS
At the start of the new year, many of us set intentions to improve our fitness and wellbeing. As time goes on, it can become quite easy to fall into some common pitfalls. In fact, most resolutions get dropped by the second week of the year! As you get back on track, the key is to focus on goals that are realistic, sustainable, and designed for long-term success. Let’s talk about some common pitfalls and tips for staying on track with your fitness journey in 2025.
UNDERSTANDING THE IMPORTANCE OF RECOVERY
Whether you’re a die-hard athlete or just someone who occasionally jogs to catch the ice cream truck, recovery is key. After all, your body isn’t a machine—it needs time to heal after a workout (or, let's face it, after life). And that’s where massage therapy comes in, a game-changing tool to help your muscles bounce back. Let’s break it down.
ART’S WEEKEND CHILI
Here is an Art weekend recipe, for which he gave himself a solid B+!
JASON’S KEY TO NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS
Now that the celebration is over and we most likely put on a couple more pounds from a loved one's pies and/or cookies. It might be time to start doing the New Year’s resolution. For Jason, the key to this has been doing something he already loves or figuring out how to love something new.
CRISPY TUNA CAKES
A great tuna recipe from NYT Cooking!
THE BENEFITS OF PERSONAL TRAINING
The start of a new year often comes with health and fitness-related resolutions. These resolutions may include becoming stronger, eating better, developing a consistent workout routine, drinking less alcohol, etc. While these goals are realistic and attainable, sticking to them can be a challenge. This is where personal training at PFP can make all the difference. Here’s how working with a personal trainer at PFP can help you achieve your New Year’s fitness goals and sustain them long after January ends:
FEVER IS YOUR FRIEND
Most of us have reached for some Tylenol when we are sick and feel feverish. That makes us more comfortable, but is that the best thing to do?
A recent NPR report about illness and the benefits of raising your body temperature to fight off disease inspired me to write about this common concern – why are we afraid of fevers?
Let’s explore how fever can be your friend.
ERICA’S CHICKEN POBLANO LASAGNA
A family friend made this on the fly. Here, I'll try to reproduce it.
UPDATES AT PFP
Hey everyone – happy 2025! Here are all of our gym updates condensed into one place for the new year.
NEW YEAR, NEW YOU…
It’s that time of the year again when we all collectively agree to pretend that we’re suddenly going to transform into perfect, glowing versions of ourselves in 24 hours. Resolutions are set, gym memberships are activated, and Pinterest boards are filled with dreamy salads and motivational quotes. But by February, it’s usually just us, a bag of cheesy Doritos, and a firm belief that we were "probably too ambitious" in our goals.
Well, this year, let’s ditch the "I’m going to work out every day and eat only kale" approach. Instead, let’s go for bite-sized resolutions—tiny, achievable, totally doable goals that don’t make you want to cry by the end of January. Let’s talk fitness, nutrition, and self-care in ways that won’t make you feel like a failure before the first snow melts.
ART’S GREEN CHICKEN CHILI
This green chicken chili is a great winter dish. Enjoy!
PFP BARBELL METHOD: WHAT IS IT? WHO IS IT FOR?
Something new we are introducing at PFP in 2025 will be our PFP Barbell Method class. For current members, this may sound familiar, like PFP Method, our group fitness class we hold throughout the week at PFP. It is similar in terms of the length of the class and has a structure that should feel very recognizable.