Posts Tagged ‘weight loss’
Wednesday, February 17th, 2010
Day two is officially in! Have you been logging your food? If not, I bet if you opened a blank document on your computer screen you could remember everything you ate today (unless you really want to forget-in which case, you need to write it down as a reality check.) You don’t actually think that just because no one saw or it’s not on paper, that it doesn’t count, do you? Just do it already and get the ball rolling on positive changes.
For those of you already over the first mission-starting a food journal, we’re moving on. What did you have for breakfast today? I had 1% low fat cottage cheese, apple and organic peanut butter. I have to take my breakfast on the go by 5:30 every morning so that works for me. BUT I have other options ready to go for mornings I’m not in a rush and an option for when I’m in oops-I-hit-snooze-4-times mode, so that I never risk skipping the most important meal of the day. Just look how happy it makes this fella!
Eating a well balanced healthy breakfast is essential to firing up your metabolism, balancing your blood sugar and assisting you in much better decision making at your next meal or snack. You simply cannot afford to slack off on meal one not only for the above reasons but also for the mental aspect. If you feel like you screwed things up first thing, and tell yourself “you’re off” or you’re a failure at your new program, well then, you’ll most likely live out that self-defeating mantra. So shape up and get ready for…whatever the morning throws your way.
What do some simple, well rounded Meal #1s look like?
- 1 omega egg with 5 whites and veggies, 1/2 cup oats & 3 fish oil
- 1 cup 1% cottage cheese w/ large apple & Tbs Organic Nut Butter (try slicing the apple into the cottage cheese and adding cinnamon)
- (better than a skipped meal)-Protein shake in water, almonds and any piece of fruit I can grab
When it comes down to it there is no such thing as a good excuse. Keep your shopping list tailoring to the reality that rough days happen, oversleeping happens and you need to have the basic supplies to keep up with life.
Please feel free to post your fave breakfast solutions! You may just help someone find a new fave or find one yourself!
*scroll over the word “comments” below for a link to post*
Tags: boost your mood, build a metabolism, building healthy habits, diet, eating clean, marlboro personal trainer, meal ideas, Nutrition, personal trainer, weight loss
Posted in Fitness, Nutrition | 15 Comments »
Monday, February 15th, 2010
My Journey Down The Aisle
News Flash! For those of you who don’t know, Mike Hanley from The Training Studio & HanleyStrength.Com and I are getting hitched in June and beginning our life as a Super, Butt-Kickin Duo!
Changing lives, fighting lovehandles and sculpting tushes on a daily basis. 
BUT! That doesn’t mean that the hectic wedding planning and long days at the studio don’t take it’s toll on my energy levels just like the next working girl. When It finally comes down to that little window when I need to squeeze in the “me time” to make sure I feel and look my best for our big day, I have to admit, I’m feeling a bit lackluster. I’m also not going to name names by mentioning Holly, Jaime and Mara as Co-Bride-To-Be-Babes and the slew of beautiful ladies like Laura, Diesel, Nicole, Jackie, Amy, Jamie….the list goes on, who will be strolling down the aisle in honor of their Rock Star Friend status to the brides to be as well. Life’s a stage ladies! So lets team up and give it our best side!
I’m turning my blog into a support forum for ANYONE who wants to make changes, stay motivated, learn new diet and exercise tips and feel like they have a place to check in on a regular basis. Making sacrifices in your lifestyle to get results doesn’t have to be a drag. So let’s all keep putting our best foot forward “left together, right together, left together….” and make the journey down the aisle, or to the beach, or where ever your vision takes you-together!
My first results-driven tip? Start your food journal today! This is a must if you want to know what’s working and what’s not. Feel free to post your meals on the blog. It can help keep you feeling accountable and you will have someone to glance at it and offer suggestions. I started my log up today as well. I use a free online food journaling program called FitDay check it out. It won’t cost you a dime. Join The Journey AND the Body Blog for better strategies and more support! Post if you’re on board!
Tags: Bride to be tips, diet, exercise, fat loss, marlboro personal trainer, morganville personal trainer, motivation, nutrition support, weight loss
Posted in Fitness, Nutrition, Strength Training | 29 Comments »
Saturday, January 2nd, 2010
**BE INSPIRED TO BE A BETTER YOU**
We all have learned that looking at our weaknesses is essential for progress.
Equally important is letting go of the limitations you cannot change
and recognizing your strengths,
allowing you to be the
BEST YOU
possible!
Tags: Fitness, inspiration, marlboro personal trainer, morganville personal trainer, motivation, strength, weight loss
Posted in Fitness, Strength Training | 5 Comments »
Tuesday, December 29th, 2009
I bet many of you are already thinking it…it seems to be the time of year when you move past making wish lists for your loved ones and start scratching up a wish list for yourself in the New Year. With the blur of glitter, tinsel and candle light fading fast you find the time to evaluate yourself and your life over the past year. Do you remember what you vowed to do last year? Well? Dare I ask? There is no shame in not being able to achieve all your fitness or weight loss goals all by yourself. There IS shame in knowing you need guidance and the proper tools to succeed but do nothing to seek out a solution.
Health and a great body are not as ridiculously expensive or out of reach as the media would have you believe. You do not need personal chefs, a trainer 7 days a week for two workouts per day and a closet full of ipod-ready, climate proof training apparel dangling neatly over a slew of top of the line fitness shoes and those lame booty lifter sandals in every shade available. Would it help? Probably not even. Because everyone’s results start upstairs. No, I’m not talking about the level 2 cardio deck at your local gym. You’re results start in your mind-your attitude, motivation, effort to seek out quality knowledge and strategies that will once and for all help you achieve that elusive fit body.
So step 1. Resolve to STOP crash dieting and overtraining for a month before you feel like crap and quit. If that cliche’ worked, everyone in the world would be fit and fabulous by spring. So why not try something new? Something that has potential to change your life and leave your resolutions for something more profound than losing weight.
Step 2. Write down your goals and collect your measurement tools. For example, if you want to fit into your size 5 jeans comfortably enough to not have to do squats to stretch them out before a night on the town 
then pull those jeans out of the drawer and keep them accessible to gauge your progress. You can also pull out a favorite bathing suit and take pictures-front back and side. NOBODY wants to but its motivating and you’ll be glad you have them to compare to new ones later. Lastly, notice I didn’t say lose 40 pounds. Forget the scale and go for the “look” you’ve always wanted, not some random number.
Step 3. Clean up your diet. Ditch meals in wrappers or boxes like snack bars, cereals, frozen meals and other processed foods. Opt for natural sources of food like lean proteins, veggies, fruits and nuts. Sound too simple? Well, if your hooked on junk food it can be a challenge but it’s only hard if you make it hard. What do I mean by that? Calling your boyfriend is easy, calling him when you want to dump him? Seems hard. But its still just a phone call. It’s all in how you perceive it. So when you go to grab a snickers or bagel with cream cheese and you remember you should be eating natural foods… you decide either stick to your goals and find something healthy you like, or you eat it anyway. Not a hard choice. Just a choice.
I know that this can be YOUR YEAR. Because I’ve seen many finally have “their year” and make it happen for themselves. It’s doable. But first things first, don’t do what you did last year and start on step one!
Tags: diet, fat loss, Fitness, marlboro personal trainer, morganville personal trainer, Nutrition, personal trainer, weight loss
Posted in Fitness, Nutrition | No Comments »
Tuesday, September 15th, 2009
1. STARTING SMART: It can be a bit overwhelming to build all new healthy habits in order to sculpt the body you really want. Where you need to start completely depends on where you are right now and what your habits are on a regular basis. The only way to prioritize which eating and activity habits you need to change first, is to see what your doing on paper. That’s right. The simple act of journaling what you eat and what, if any, activity you did that day, will show you where you really need the most work and pronto! Some big no no’s to watch out for are:
- Skipping breakfast
- Eating fried or processed food (they ruin your skin anyway)
- Not drinking enough water (shoot for 8 glasses to start)
- Drinking your calories (soda, juice & calorie bomb coffee drinks) and…
- SUGAR! Yes, even the “fat free” kind. Sugar is sugar period.
What about your activity levels? If you weren’t active today-drop and give me 20! Well…maybe that’s a bit much. If you don’t have much experience in exercising, it would be best to get your first workout by hiking to your local trainer for some professional help. You’ll get a big return on the investment in your figure. If you’re on a very limited budget, bodyweight exercises in your own home is a great place to start.
2. EMOTIONAL EXTREMES: This is a BIG one. Food is not the solution to your problem. A sleeve of cookies won’t fix your relationship, eggplant parmesan won’t help you nail that interview and no- sucking down fancy cocktails doesn’t give you a body like Sarah Jessica Parker on Sex In The City. The real solution? Start journaling. Clear your mind. If you’re not sure what’s wrong or why your self- sabotaging your fitness goals, you need to find out ASAP. The only way to do that is by doing a bit of soul searching. So get out of the danger zone (aka back away from the fridge) and find a quiet spot to vent on paper. Instead of eating everything, you’re much more likely to find out what’s eating you.
3. FAT FAUX PAS: Gasp! The “F bomb”! If Fat is a dirty word in your diet lingo, you’ve got it all wrong. Healthy fats keep your hair shiny, eyes bright, skin smooth and waistline trim. Grandma was right when she said all things in moderation. Either way, too much junk fat like saturated fats in pizza, or too little fats like the blubber blasting omegas in salmon, and you’re slowing your results. How do you know what you’re eating? You got it. A journal. One day you might eat NO fat and another day you might eat way too much of the wrong kind. Start journaling what you put in your mouth and ask a professional. If you’re afraid of eating fat, it’s likely because you’ve been misinformed for some time now. How can you start small? Take 2 omega 3 fish oil caps at breakfast, lunch and dinner.
4. THE STRESS EFFECT: It’s not just hype. Stress can do horrible things to your body. For one, it can cause your body to pump out hormones like cortisol. Cortisol regulates blood sugar, inflammation, your immune system and your energy levels. One of the results of elevated cortisol levels is the storage of extra body fat especially around your midriff. Bummer. How can you combat the onslaught of stored belly fat with fear, worry and stress on the job? Exercise! Breaking a good sweat, whether at home or at the gym can help relieve stress by pumping out feel good chemicals called endorphins. The science of endorphins is controversial because some pros believe the positive feeling you get is from meeting a physical challenge, not the exertion itself- BUT, whatever the direct cause of the endorphin pump, exercise has been proven to enhance mood! So journal down your start mood, get in a quickie workout and head back to your journal to record some new adjectives to describe your post workout mood. You’ll not only be pleasantly surprised by the immediate results but journaling will help remind you that it’s a really beneficial habit to keep.
5. CONSITENCY=SUCCESS: On the wagon, off the wagon, back on the wagon…only to fall off again. Can someone please show me where this dreaded colony- sized wagon is so I can burn the thing! Believe me when I tell you …RUN from the proverbial wagon because apparently everyone falls off this darn thing! Your best bet is not to set unrealistic goals that set you up for failure. If you try to workout 7 days a week, you not only risk injury but you set yourself up for big disappointment in yourself. Plan to begin exercising 3 days a week and go from there. Don’t set a consistent exercise goal of 4 days a week until you’ve accomplished the first goal of 3 days a week for at least a month or two. Similarly, don’t go overboard with a super strict diet. Start by following the guidelines above and don’t make it more complicated until you have those mastered.
If you take nothing else from this blog, please remember the small ,healthy changes you make really do count in the long haul. If you make a mistake, don’t blow the day, week or month. Just get up, dust the donut powder off, and log your journey to fitness success. Staying consistent with your nutrition and exercise is key, and keeping a journal for yourself is your only feedback you have for what’s working and what’s not. So, 5 diet and exercise disasters greatly improved with 1 smart solution- keep a journal and keep at it!
Post comments below and feel free to make blog requests!
Tags: body weight workout, boost your mood, coping with stress, depression, diet, diet pitfalls, diet planning, diet program, Eat right, exercise, fat loss, fat loss goals, fat loss results, Fitness, fitness goals, healthy life style, life style changes, Nutrition, personal trainer, training, weight loss
Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments »
Friday, June 5th, 2009
We know how hard all of you dedicated members are working during your training sessions and metabolic condition classes. We also know that when your pushing yourself that hard, occasional muscle soreness will remind you for 1 or 2 days just how hard you worked. Where muscle soreness is natural and nothing to be concerned about, the worst thing you could do that next day or two is to “take it easy” or hit the sofa to rest up. Being sedentary will contribute to, and lengthen the duration of your stiff muscles. The best thing you can do for fast relief is get up and move it! Now I am not giving you permission to over train and do strenuous exercise everyday, but I am reminding you that the best solution for relieving muscle aches is healthy blood flow to the sore spots and throughout your whole body. That blood flow will warm and ease your muscles while supplying them with the nutrients they need to feel relief.
Some key reminders for you to feel better fast:
Do not HOLD stretches while your body is stiff and you have not warmed yourself up. Holding stretches are known as Static Stretches. These are best left to the end of your training sessions or after engaging in enough movement activity to break a light sweat. You’re muscles will not be as willing to “give” and stretch if they have not received adequate blood flow.
Do not bounce (ballistic stretching) or force a movement that your body is not ready to give. A good indicator of this is if a stretch causes you pain, causes you to break the form of the movement or makes you grimace in a face of true discomfort. More importantly, stay within your current range of motion and continue the movements as you steadily increase that range of motion allowing healthy blood flow to the achy area.
Keep it moving! Don’t change your movements to cater to your soreness. Move through regular steps and reaches so that you don’t avoid using the areas that need to be loosened up.
Follow this at home solution to muscle soreness for a full body treatment after another great Training Studio Session!
- Walking Warm Ups 1 to 2 lengths each
- Stiff Kicks 15 reps each side
- Seal Jumping Jacks 15 reps
- Prisoner Goodmornings 15 reps
- Arm Circles small to big 20 forward then 20 backward
- Spiderman Hip Stretches 12 to 16 total reps
*Each rep and round increase the range of motion through each movement while taking minimal rest, creating optimal body heat to warm muscles and feel relief fast
*Repeat 2-3 total rounds through and start feeling more flexible!
Lastly, if an ache or pain persists longer than 3 days, inform your trainer! Open lines of communication are key in achieving the best results for your body. Let us help you feel your best!
Tags: aches and pains, at home mobility workout, at home workout, back pain, body weight workout, chronic pain, done for you workout, exercise, family health, fat loss, fat loss results, Fitness, fitness goals, flexibility, healthy life style, life style changes, mobility, muscle soreness, personal trainer, recovery, sports recovery, streching, training, weight loss
Posted in Fitness, Strength Training | No Comments »
Thursday, May 21st, 2009
It’s no secret that our children live in a different world than that of children raised even as short as 5 years ago. Internet, X Box, Game Boys, Wii, texting and super sized-super convenient meals out. Obviously no parent is responsible for the crime rate that keeps our children from riding bikes all over town or being tempted to order out all the time because both parents work crazy hours- But! There are some precautions to take immediately to ensure that your child doesn’t become a statistic in the battle of obesity now or later in life.
The secret? The smart start young! Even with all the technological distractions these days it’s imperative that you begin to instill healthy habits in your child or teen’s regular routine. You teach a child that they have to brush their teeth whether they like it or not from a young age, and sure enough, because they know its important to their health, they do it the rest of their life. Now if we only did that with exercise and balanced nutrition! Well, I would like to pose the question Why not? And why not start today?
Step One: It’s irrelevant whether your child or teen is currently at a healthy weight or not. They all need to learn about a balanced diet and the importance of physical activity (besides Guitar Hero). Most importantly, do not discriminate between your children if one is a different weight or size than the other. A healthy body image is instilled and doesn’t just magically appear. Teach health equally and foster only positive emotions towards fitness and proper nutrition.
Step Two: Breakfast is a must! No matter the age or the fuss they kick up about being picky or too busy to eat before catching the bus. Choose a breakfast with a healthy source of protein, carbohydrate and fat for a well balanced meal that will support your child or teens: brain function, mood, metabolism and focus in school. Ex. 1 whole omega egg with added whites (veggies are an added bonus) and either a piece of fruit on the go or throw those eggs over some whole grain toast. In a super rush? A scoop of dream protein blended for a minute with some frozen fruit and a small handful of almonds is fast and will have your child thinking they earned a smoothie treat.
Step Three: Prioritize your child’s busy schedule. Don’t keep health on that back burner for when social clubs, art class and other after school activities are over. Enroll your child in a fitness program where they will learn about strength, conditioning, healthy foods, discipline, team work, respect…and the list goes on and on. Check out our programs here and allow your child or teen to watch and try one for free with no obligation.
Step Four: The teeth brushing rule- It is your direct responsibility as a caretaker to help keep your child consistent. I don’t know any parent that purchases a tooth brush and doesn’t encourage and check that their child uses it regularly. Do the same with their breakfast, training and positive reinforcement for a healthy body image. They will thank you in the future with the same pearly smile.
Step Five: Start today! Not after the school year or after camp or…you catch my drift. Your child is growing NOW and learning NOW. We can’t put that on hold so let’s not wait. Take even the smallest step today by getting outside with your child or teen and going for a bike ride, walk ,or invite the neighborhood kids over for a back yard game of badminton. Learning a healthy lifestyle can be really fun if you let it!
Post your experiences of bringing your child to The Training Stud
Tags: active children, boost your mood, building healthy habits, children's fitness, children's fitness program, children's health, diet program, exercise, family fitness, family health, fat loss, Fit Families, fit kids, Fitness, healthy life style, keeping teens off the internet, kids texting, Nutrition, personal trainer, Quii, stop teen texting, teen training, training, weight loss, young athlete training, young athletes
Posted in Fitness, Strength Training | No Comments »
Monday, May 4th, 2009
While maintaining your body weight can be relatively painless, losing the last ten pounds or first 20 takes discipline and a positive attitude towards your new and improved lifestyle. But is it possible to go overboard? Just when you thought you had no will power at all…you could have gotten yourself into a groove for a major diet flop.
One of the most common mistakes we see on a regular basis is dieters eager for quick results want to crash diet and drop their calories to a sudden, all time low.
Unfortunately there is no such thing as overnight fat loss but there IS a such thing as wreaking havoc on your metabolism and fat loss efforts by not eating enough.
If you’re not consuming at least 1,200 calories per day (and even more if you’re active) your body thinks its starving and flips an emergency switch to start storing all your calories as fat, instead of burning them during the day. It’s a basic survival mechanism.
Research has shown that people who don’t eat consistent, regular meals tend to consume extra calories later to make up for the deficit. For example, skipping lunch and your mid afternoon snack will most likely lead to a large dinner of foods you might not have otherwise chosen if you weren’t so hungry. That pesky sweet tooth and munchie cravings will kick in too!
The biggest problem now, is that with this eating pattern, your metabolism will slow with an extra low calorie intake during the day. Not only that, but now your body is going to crave more heavy foods and then store that lump sum of calories right away as fat.
Ok, so skipping meals and snacks is more than bad, it’s totally counter productive to your goals. What now? Work on eating 4 smaller meals to 6 mini meals of whole foods like lean proteins, your favorite fruits and vegetables and small amounts of healthy fats at each meal.
Not sure how much your eating? Check out www.FitDay.com it’s a totally free online nutrition logging program that can help you stay on track with you dieting goals!
Tags: build a metabolism, calorie counting, crash diet, diet, eat more to lose weight, eating clean, eating disorder, effects of eating disorder, fat loss, fat loss goals, food cravings, free nutrition tips, metabolism, Nutrition, nutrition support, quick results, satisfy your cravings, slow metabolism solutions, sweet tooth cravings, weight loss
Posted in Nutrition | 1 Comment »
Monday, April 6th, 2009
One of the biggest myths and misconceptions in weight loss is telling yourself that your body is what’s holding you back from your fitness goals and your genetics are the blame. I’m sure you’ve all heard someone out of shape say “I just can’t lose weight, I have a slow metabolism!” Well, I have heard this many times and seen it proven wrong many times, so it’s my pleasure to break the good news to you…YOUR METABLOLISM IS WHAT YOU MAKE IT.
You might not be in the 1% of genetically gifted individuals that can eat whatever they want, but we average Joes’ just need to get over it. There will always be someone out there that genetically breaks the rules. For instance, that 98 year old neighbor that has smoked two packs of cigarettes a day and eaten junk food their whole life but has no health issues. Or that girl friend of yours that eats buttered bagels and cheesy tuna melts for lunch but never gains a pound. Well get off the pity pot because there is absolutely nothing wrong with having a normal or average metabolism.
If you come from an overweight family, or have hereditary thyroid issues, this just means that you may be predisposed to having to work harder at your fitness goals. It is by no means a lifelong sentence to be fat or out of shape. People with a family history of high blood pressure, may have high-ER blood pressure but through training and nutrition can keep it within normal range. This person isn’t destined to have a coronary if they take good care of their body.
On the other hand, I must tell you it is also common to take a normal metabolism and slow it down by yo-yo dieting, crash dieting, fasting methods and/or an unfit sedentary lifestyle. But again, the good news is that you can rebuild and make a better metabolism and well, the bad news is that you don’t have that excuse anymore. So, let’s stop finger pointing at the genetically elite. Honestly, I can’t remember the last time I looked at an Olympic Sprinter and complained to my friends that I couldn’t sprint to my mail box in 2.3 seconds. Catch my drift?
Please post comments and thoughts and stay tuned for tips on building a healthy, fat-burning metabolism!
Tags: boost your metabolism, fat loss, Fitness, fitness goals, lose weight, marlboro bootcamps, marlboro personal trainer, Nutrition, six pack, slow metabolism, training, weight loss
Posted in Fitness, Nutrition | 3 Comments »
Monday, February 16th, 2009
We are now a month and a half into the new year. Are you seeing the health and fitness results that you set out to achieve? Sometimes we can be too drastic with our health and fitness goals which makes it very difficult and even seemingly impossible to keep them. The following are basic but super effective methods at making progressive changes to keep you on point with your goals. I call them the ABC’s of making change.
Attainable-Something realistic and achievable. It makes no sense to set yourself up for failure with drastic and over the top goals, especially when your just getting started. Short term goals will keep you fresh and inspired by guess who….you! Seeing yourself succeed is exactly what the doctor ordered to help you feel in control and motivated!
Believable-If you don’t actually think your capable of achieving what you set out to do, then The Mission IS Impossible. Do you feel as though you’ve failed yourself time and time again? Do you think you will be fat or out of shape forever? Well you’re not destined to failure. It’s much more likely that you just aren’t setting proper goals. If you want REAL RESULTS for a LIFETIME, you need to start off by conquering simple goals one by one until you build your self esteem. Along the way you will be moving closer and closer to the lifelong results you’re looking for at a pace that keeps you feeling in control and motivated.
Clear- Now this is important. Your goals MUST be clear and measurable. Share them with your personal trainer, family and friends so they can keep you accountable. A good example of a clear goal would be eating a healthy breakfast consistent with your diet plan every single day. Another example would be to add 20 minutes of cardio after every strength training session for this upcoming week. Both goals are basic, simple and measurable.
The ABC’s of Goal Setting are applicable to EVERYONE. No matter what your fitness level or training/nutrition experience-every journey big or small, begins with a single step. So stop wishing for change and get started!
Tags: family fitness, fat loss, fat loss goals, Fit Families, Fitness, getting healthy, getting motivated, getting results, goal setting, healthy lifestyle, life style changes, staying motivated, training, training goals, weight loss, weight loss goals
Posted in Fitness, Nutrition, Strength Training | No Comments »
