CLEAN TECHNIQUE ESSENTIALS
The clean, much like snatching in weightlifting, requires not only power and strength, but good rhythm and timing. In order to execute it properly, we are going to go over some key technical aspects as well as some ways to internalize those cues and output them in your training sessions. We will highlight the overall goals first and then break down how we can ensure they're occurring in the lift properly.
PROGRAM OVERVIEW: BARBELL
One of the unique things we have here at PFP is our Olympic Weightlifting Team. Weightlifting is a sport known throughout the world and in the last 10 to 15 years has gained a lot of momentum and attraction in the United States. With over 1 million members in the US, it has truly built itself into something special. Here at PFP, we love to foster weightlifters, new and old. The first step is our barbell assessment, where we meet a new prospective lifter for our team and either view their current technique or teach them for the very first time. Once that process is complete, we enroll them in our Intro Program. Now that may sound like it’s only for beginners, but I assure you it's not. We label it the Intro because it contains all of the essential pieces to help and solidify the core principles of weightlifting: strength, speed, movement consistency, patience, and fun. So let's talk about how it does that.
STRENGTH TRAINING: ESSENTIAL FOR WOMEN AT EVERY STAGE OF LIFE
For years, women stuck to cardio, light weights, and "toning” workouts. Women were afraid of getting “bulky” or bigger, and “gym-timidation” is a real thing for many women when they enter a space full of males. Now, more and more women are shifting away from working out to look a certain way, and instead working out to feel a certain way. Women understand that strength training isn’t just about building muscle or changing how your body looks, but it’s one of the greatest tools women have to support long-term health, confidence, and quality of life.
RETURNING TO SPORT AFTER A BREAK
It's not uncommon that athletes - whether recreational or competitive - take a break from training. In fact, it's quite healthy and is often built in after the end of a sport season, often called an active rest period, which allows the body to recover from the damage incurred during the competitive season, or for sports without a clear “in-season”, after a prolonged intense training phase and competition.
INSIDE GOLDEN GIRLS: OUR 60+ WOMEN’S STRENGTH CLASS
Our 60+ women’s class is designed to help you move better, feel stronger, and stay confident moving through your daily life and activities. This class isn’t about extreme workouts or aesthetics, but about building the qualities that support you now and for years to come: muscle mass, strength, bone density, and more.
UNDERSTANDING BAR PATH IN THE CLEAN & SNATCH
The path of the bar in weightlifting is all about moving yourself in accordance with the weight as smoothly and efficiently as possible. When you’re first learning weightlifting, the movements can feel unstable and clunky. The way it is usually taught is in segments to make it easier to understand and process. This process is known to some as the “ top-down” method. Essentially, we are starting from our hip position, where the bar would be just before we extend and move the bar to our overhead position. Every subsequent position down towards the ground, our “start” position for a full lift, adds more complexity and requires us to be more aware of where we and the bar are moving simultaneously. In order to make it easier to understand, we will talk about the path from the floor to overhead to make the sequence one seamless progression to picture the overall lift.
SNATCH FOUNDATIONS: BEGINNER MISTAKES & FIXES
Weightlifting is a sport of grace and explosiveness. While those two descriptions may seem odd to master together, they are essential for the two main lifts in weightlifting. The snatch and clean and jerk are the epitome of those two terms, although we are just going to focus on the snatch for today. Let's discuss some common issues and how to fix them.
STRENGTH FOR LONGEVITY
As we age, everyone loses muscle mass at about 5% per decade, starting at age 30. That rate of loss accelerates after age 60. With that loss of muscle mass comes a decrease in strength and function. For older people, this can lead to disability and inactivity. So, how do you promote strength for longevity? Let’s look at how you can maintain muscle mass and functioning as you age.
GPP FOUNDATION: PART TWO
The start of a new year is a great time to focus on GPP, or general physical preparedness. Before chasing max lifts, aesthetic goals, or a packed training schedule, it’s worth reevaluating whether you have the foundation to support the training you want to do this year, or if there is any exercise or skill you can revisit to improve. Let’s dive a bit more into why this functional foundation is crucial to your long-term fitness success!
WHAT THE HECK IS A GPP FOUNDATION?
If you’ve ever set a fitness goal and immediately jumped to “I want abs / a marathon / a 500-lb deadlift,” let me introduce you to the unsung hero of long-term progress: the GPP foundation. GPP stands for General Physical Preparedness, which is a fancy way of saying: “Can your body actually handle training… or is it barely holding together?”
MY FAVORITE FALL BIKING SPOT THIS 2025
There’s something fundamentally refreshing to me about autumn, and it’s never rooted in a singular reason. But one of them for me is the seasonal weather that I love for hopping on my bike and filling my lungs with the still slightly cool air, feeling my body warm from both the sun’s hello and my legs settling into a comfortable rhythm. Let's talk about my new favorite riding spot this fall!
ARTHRITIS & AGING
Recently, I experienced knee swelling while training for a half-marathon. A later trip to an orthopedist and some X-rays confirmed what I probably already knew: I had osteoarthritis. After over 40 years of competitive running, it wasn’t a huge surprise.
But how could I deal with arthritis and aging? Let’s look at how the millions of people worldwide who experience this condition can make life better.
COLD WEATHER WARM-UPS
Fall is finally here: mornings are cooler, leaves are changing, and exercising outside can get more comfortable.
But as temperatures continue to drop, warm-ups become even more important. Let’s look at why cold-weather warm-ups matter.
JOIN OUR DADFIT COMMUNITY!
Calling all Pittsburgh dads! Whether you’re chasing toddlers, coaching sports, or just looking for a way to get back into shape, Pittsburgh Fitness Project (PFP) has created the perfect program just for you. Introducing DadFit — a supportive, motivating fitness community made for fathers who want to feel stronger, move better, and connect with other dads.
And the best part? We’re kicking things off with a FREE DadFit Community Class — and you’re invited!
INTRODUCING PFP DADFIT
PFP Dadfit is less about building 6-pack abs and more about building a pack of 6 dads committed to bettering themselves together. The strength of the dad is in the pack. The strength of our pack is in each individual dad. Let's grow in fatherhood together.
HOW MANY STEPS DO YOU ACTUALLY NEED?
We’ve all heard that we need 10k steps a day to gain the benefits of walking, but what does the most updated research actually say? A meta-analysis was published in July 2025 combined data from 57 studies across 35 cohorts.
STRENGTH TRAINING & NUTRITION FOR WOMEN IN PERI & POST MENOPAUSE
Research shows that the perimenopausal years (typically in your late 30s to early 50s) are the years with the most pronounced shifts in body composition: increased fat mass, reduced muscle mass, and elevated abdominal. As if we needed any more barriers, most research in health and fitness is done on men. Let’s dive into what research on women of this age group recommends.
TRAINING FOR YOUR GOALS
It’s crucial to be clear about your goals, as this helps your coach understand you better. If you’re interested in building strength, modifying your body composition, or simply wanting to make it through the day more easily, it’s helpful for us to know, as that will give us direction for what should be included in your training program.
THE REAL FLEX: RELIABILITY, ACCOUNTABILITY, & CONSISTENCY
We train to get stronger - physically, mentally, emotionally. We chase progress in the gym, track numbers, show up for the hard reps. But what really holds all of that together? It’s not just muscle. It’s not just discipline. It’s integrity.
RECIPE FOR BETTER BALANCE
Balance doesn’t just help you move more gracefully—it helps you train more effectively, avoid injury, and feel stronger in everything you do. Whether you’re lifting weights, doing cardio, or trying to move better in daily life, improving your balance will level up your fitness.