I love the sled because it’s a great option to strengthen the legs for people who have knee issues. Squats and lunges and split squats and step-ups are all great exercises for strengthening the legs, but in the presence of a knee issue, sometimes there is pain associated with those exercises.

Look at any advertising for gyms and personal training and the message is that you need to either have or be working toward ripped abs. This message is usually supported with photos or videos of shirtless young people showing off their six pack abs. This, despite the reality that most people will never have a six pack. And probably never wanted one.

Now here’s the interesting thing about dead bugs: They are incredibly hard for people who tend to arch their backs, and they’re pretty easy for people who don’t. The difference in difficulty that this exercises poses between two people of similar strength and fitness level but differences in their typical back posture is astounding.

I know some trainers who won’t work with a client unless they’re willing to train with them at least three times per week, and I’ve had other trainers tell me that working out once per week is a waste of time.

Here are some comments I’ve received from clients who work out once per week: