Each Sunday morning at 6am in 2016 we have been publishing a list of the best fitness articles that were written that past week. The list is chosen by coaches who work independently of the PTDC so as to avoid bias with instructions to choose the best information, regardless of source.

To celebrate the end of another amazing year of fitness information we decided to go through all of our weekly lists and decide on the best articles published over the course of the year. Below is the best of the best. Each one contains tremendous knowledge and insight for both fitness professionals and exercise fanatics alike. 

Thanks for a great year and we'll see you in 2017,

-Coach Jon and the PTDC team

The Top Article of the Year

Science vs. Coaches vs. Athletes: Who Should You Listen To? -- Nick Tumminello

"The best fitness article on the internet from the year 2016."

- That's not a statement that should be thrown around lightly. So we didn't.

Ask any experienced fitness professional to give you the number one problem in the fitness industry today, and he'll likely point to the undereducation of trainers. But importantly, a lack of fitness education isn't the problem. In fact, that is the exact opposite of the issue at hand. The truth is, newly certified trainers today face the same dilemma as do their clients. There is too much information out there-- most of which is conflicting. So when none of the reputable sources can seem to agree on a damn thing, how can a personal trainer effectively grow his/her knowledge base?

You are the fitness expert for your clients, and as PTDC head coach Jon Goodman notes -- being the expert doesn't mean knowing all the answers, but rather knowing where to find them. This is why if you -- the dedicated fit pro -- were to read only one article from all of 2016, you'd find your highest ROI in this gem by Nick Tumminello (A.K.A. the "Trainer of Trainers"), which answers the most important question of all: who should you listen to?

General Health

Never Waste An Injury: The Psychology of Setbacks in Combat Sports  -- Ciaran O’ Regan, Sigma Nutrition

A Trainer’s Guide to Help Manage and Fix Lower Back Pain -- Dr Stuart McGill, The PTDC

Impostor Syndrome — Identifying the Less Admirable -- Dani Overcast, EliteFTS

Building Bridges: Leveraging Your Employer to Enhance Your Personal Brand -- Tony Bonvechio, petedupuis.com

Drilling Through Upper Body Mechanics  -- Dean Somerset

Strength Training

How to Bench: The Definitive Guide and How to Squat: The Definitive Guide  -- Greg Nuckols

Everyone NEEDS to Deadlift -- Andrew Millett, TonyGentilcore.com

The Complete Female Pull-Up Makeover -- Meghan Callaway, drjohnrusin.com

The Lifter’s Guide to Training Through Lower Back Pain  -- John Rusin

Size vs. Strength: How Important is Muscle Growth For Strength Gains? -- Greg Nuckols

Nutrition

Can Personal Trainers Give Nutrition Advice?  -- John Berardi

Dieting And Metabolism -- Brad Dieter

Genetically Modified Organisms -- Brad Dieter

The Clean Eating Delusion -- Steven Novella, Science-Based Medicine

How To Make Your Own Successful Meal Plan -- Steve Hall

Bodybuilding

The Ultimate Guide to Building Any Physique (or Skill Set) -- Steve Kamb

How Much Training is Necessary to Maintain Strength and Muscle? -- Bret Contreras

Can We Predict Muscle Growth?-- Greg Nuckols

Intensity = Lift More Weight NOT Lift Weight More -- Mike Sheridan, TonyGentilcore.com

What Is The Ideal Rest Interval For Muscle Growth? Implications From Our Recent Study  -- Brad Schoenfeld

Fat Loss

“Eat Less Move More” Is Bullshit -- James Fell

5 Significant Reasons To Lose Weight. Forget Heart Attacks And Skinny Jeans. This Is Why Weight Loss Is Important. -- James Heathers, Precision Nutrition

A Response To The New York Times Biggest Loser Study -- Leigh Peele

What Is Reverse Dieting? (A Comprehensive Guide) -- Mike Vacanti

Changing Your Life Is Not A 45-Day Challenge -- Pete Hitzeman, breakingmuscle.com