Jim Carpentier

Jim Carpentier is a certified strength and conditioning specialist, New Jersey-licensed massage therapist and a health/fitness writer. He currently serves as associate health and wellness director at the Greater Morristown YMCA in Cedar Knolls, N.J.

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Body Image vs. Sports Conditioning: What Needs Priority In The Weight Room?

May 21, 2013 | Jim Carpentier

A killer physique is one of the many byproducts of an efficient training program. But if your workouts are tailored more toward improving your body image than conditioning for your sport, you are headed in the wrong direction this off-season. It's...

How to Prevent Performance Plateaus and Slumps

May 14, 2013 | Jim Carpentier

Humans are creatures of habit. There's something comforting and convenient about the everyday normal. However, settling into a "comfort zone" does nothing to benefit athletes. Think about the NFL quarterback who stays in the pocket all game, never making adjustments until...

How to Lose Your Roster Spot

May 9, 2013 | Jim Carpentier

Your talent may have secured you that roster spot, but it doesn't mean you'll keep it. Staying on the team means displaying certain characteristics on and off the field. Don't fall victim to the following errors and forfeit your valuable...

Banish Shin Splints With Stretches and Prevention Guidelines

May 2, 2013 | Jim Carpentier

You only have a mile left on your run and you have plenty of wind left, but you have to call it quits. The shin splints are back. A common malady among recreational runners, shin splints cause discomfort along the bony part...

Boost Power With This Med Ball Chest Workout

May 1, 2013 | Jim Carpentier

Traditional chest workouts are boring. Training your chest with a medicine ball can increase your strength as much as your standard routine of Bench Presses, Dumbbell Flies and Bar Dips. Medicine Ball Chest Combos Ball Rolls with Medicine Ball Push-Ups Similar to Dumbbell...

Build Powerful Forearm Muscles Quickly

April 29, 2013 | Jim Carpentier

Forearm strength facilitates a powerful swing on the baseball diamond, tennis court, golf course or lacrosse field. (See Improve Bat Speed With Forearm Exercises.) The following forearm exercises are quick and simple. Use them to add forearm size despite your busy...

A Surprising Secret About Speed

April 28, 2013 | Jim Carpentier

Parachutes—they're not just for jumping out of airplanes. Inexpensive, portable speed parachutes, which fit conveniently in small tote bags, can be purchased online or at sporting goods stores. The 'chutes work like weighted vests, with trapped air producing resistance that intensifies...

3 Challenging Muscle-Building Push-Ups

April 24, 2013 | Jim Carpentier

Incorrect push-up form minimizes upper-body growth. Although pounding out 50-plus at max speed may feel impressive, the results will not be. Basic Push-Ups strengthen the entire body, but a slight form error and can seriously strain the lower back. General Technique Errors Sagging...

Treating Tennis Elbow: Pain Relief Techniques

April 18, 2013 | Jim Carpentier

Spring is the season for baseball, softball, lacrosse, field events like the javelin and the discus, and (in most schools) tennis. It's also the season for tennis elbow. Repetitive movements in these spring sports make athletes more susceptible to the condition....

The Multi-Talented "Athlete of the Dairy Aisle": Cheese

April 12, 2013 | Jim Carpentier

Cheese is like a multi-talented athlete—powerful and versatile. It's an international healthy food staple, and it belongs in your nutritional starting lineup because it contains muscle-building protein, bone-building calcium and vitamin D, and fat-burning CLA (Conjugated Linoleic Acid). Here's why you...