Tag Archive for fitfluential

Hitting Your Workout Groove + Less Serious Stuff

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Hey guys!

We are THISCLOSE to the weekend! Woohoo!

I have a good mix of relaxation, fun and activities planned into my weekend:

-Teaching Boot Camp

-Friend’s Birthday Dinner

-Playing baseball (I joined a men’s wooden bat league!)

-Laying by the pool

Good Workouts and Hitting your Workout Groove

I’ve been getting in some really great workouts lately and it reminded me of the ups and downs that come with fitness. You go through times where you just have it in you to push really hard, hit new PR’s, and see great results. Then you have times where you are unmotivated, barely getting through your workouts, and just feeling kind of BLAH. These times can last anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. It isn’t a perfect cycle and it goes in waves. I’m currently on a HIGH with workouts and have been really crushing it in the gym! I took a week off when I was in Big Bear and can’t help but think that giving myself a break from the gym was the exact motivation and rest my body needed to start hitting it hard again. Finding your groove isn’t easy and isn’t always something you can wrap your head around. It’s easy to workout when you’re feeling motivated, and extremely difficult when you’re not. The important thing to keep in mind is to stay consistent and push through no matter what you’re feeling that day. This isn’t to say that some days are better taken as a rest day, because there are definitely times like that, but I’m talking about the mindset. If your head is what’s getting in the way, you have to push past it. You have to keep on keepin’ on and KNOW that if you’re in a rut, at some point it will turn around. It’s part of the process and learning to love and trust the process is a HUGE thing that has taken me YEARS to learn. I used to hear it and even repeat it to myself, but I didn’t truly believe or understand it. These days, I do. I get it. I’ve been training for 8 years straight now (hard to believe!) and it amazes me that I just keep learning more and more about myself, training, the body, and how they all work together and sometimes against each other. This is sort of a brain dump, but I couldn’t help but think about it today. So what should you take away from this?

If you’re having a bad/off day, week, or even MONTH, don’t get discouraged. YOU ARE NORMAL. Everyone goes through it. Bodybuilders, gymnasts, athletes, you name it. No matter how much someone seems into their sport, there are times where you just don’t feel like you’re able to push and give 100%, and that’s OK. What’s important is that you stay in the game. You give what you can that day, and you trust in the process. The good days WILL come back.

(drops mic, walks off stage)

Less Serious Stuff

-I posted this photo on Instagram last night….Oscar is going Hollywood on me….

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-If anyone tries to bring you down, just send them this photo

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-Does anyone else’s dog sit on their lap like a human? Oscar is so odd.

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Look at where his feet are!

-I went to Ross the other day and bought a bunch of tank tops for like $6 each. This is one of them. Love keppra online shopping!

IMG_9094Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Question of the Day

1. Are you currently in a high or low with your workout routine?

2. Are you obsessed with your pet like I am?

 

Posted in motivation, Oscar, random tagged with , , , , , , , , , ,

Why Lifting Weights Rocks + Leg Workout

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Wednesday already?!

I’m not complaining, but this week is kind of flying by! I also have Friday off of work, save for a few personal training clients, so I’m definitely excited about the weekend! Summer is just the best!

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Since taking a week off from the gym, I’ve been getting in some really awesome workouts! I thought I’d share my leg workout from yesterday. It was a KILLER. I even posted a video on Instagram mid-workout. For anyone that thinks weight lifting doesn’t have cardiovascular benefits, think again! I was sweating and breathing hard the entire workout!

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As you all know, I’m a big believer in lifting heavy weights (which is totally relative to what is heavy for each individual person). Lifting weights and working towards getting stronger WILL change your body composition. If you’re eating in a deficit, you WILL start to lean out and the beauty of it all is that as you put on more muscle, your resting metabolism increases, which means you’ll burn more calories throughout the day even when you’re just sitting around. Bret Contreras put up a great Facebook post the other day that sums it up pretty well. Smart guy!

This point really, really, really needs to be driven home. All of my clients who stay the same weight and gain a lot of…

Posted by Bret Contreras (Fitness Page) on Thursday, June 25, 2015

Okay, on to the workout:

LEG DAY

-Hip Thrusts (4 sets of 5 reps): 255#, 275#, 275#, 255#

-Deadlifts (3 sets of 12 reps):  135#

-DB Bulgarian Squats (3 sets of 12 reps): 15# DB’s

-45 Hypers (1 set of 20 reps & 1 set of 15 reps):  25# plate

-Lateral Band Walks w/ Squat (2 sets of 20 per leg): I used a light band

-Kettle Bell Swings (3 sets of 15 reps): 20kg KB

Question of the Day:

1. What’s your favorite way to sweat?

2. Any fun plans for the 4th?

Posted in motivation, Workout tagged with , , , , , , , ,

Big Bear Vacation Recap

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Well, it’s official. I’m BACK. Big Bear was SO much fun and I so wish I was still there! I’m already trying to figure out when I can go back.

This past week was FULL of activities, so I’ll get right to it.

We arrived in Big Bear last Monday around 2pm. Luckily, we didn’t hit any traffic, so it only took us just over 2 hours to get there. The drive up the mountain was gorgeous, as always.

bigbeardriveSince we arrived a few hours before we could check in, we decided to start our vacation right away with a hike up Pine Knot Trail!

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Charlie and I did this hike last year and loved it, so we knew we wanted to do it ventolin-albuterol. It’s about a 7 mile hike round trip. We didn’t quite go to the top this time because Oscar was pretty hot and my brother was ready to go down as well. We did about 5.5 miles total of this hike, and it was still amazing!

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After the hike, we headed to the cabin to check in. We had such a great view from the cabin! You can see why I want to go back….

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We spent some time down by the lake for the rest of the evening, which Oscar LOVED. I have never seen him so happy. It totally warmed my heart to see him sprinting around on the sand and running through the water like that. He was in total doggy bliss!

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On Tuesday morning, Charlie and I got up super early to head out for some wakeboarding! The early morning is when the water is best, so we traded sleep (which we got hardly any of) for some fun on the water!

IMG_8762After wakeboarding, we headed to a local favorite, Grizzly Manor. They’re a hole in the wall breakfast joint with really good food! I had 2 over easy eggs on an english muffin, sausage, and hash browns.

We spent the rest of the day checking out the village, riding the Alpine Slide, relaxing at the cabin, and finally BBQ’ing. Instead of dining out most nights, we actually opted for BBQ’ing at the cabin, which turned out to be an excellent choice! We made grilled chicken, hot dogs, hamburgers and corn and enjoyed it while looking out over the water. It was absolutely perfect and delicious!

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IMG_8805The rest of the trip was spent doing a mixture of relaxing and activities.

We hiked 2 other trails, including part of the Pacific Crest Trail. (This trail goes from Mexico all the way to Canada!!!)

IMG_8849One of the other highlights of the trip was taking Oscar out on the paddleboard! He was super scared at first, but after we were out on the water for a while, he started to enjoy it. He even tried walking around the paddle board, which made balancing really difficult for Charlie (haha!).

IMG_8855IMG_8859I can’t get over how cute he looks out there!!!

Overall, this was the best vacation I’ve been on in a LONG time. Big Bear Lake has quickly become one of my favorite places I’ve ever visited. I am a lake girl through and through. Couple that with the gorgeous views, endless hiking, and a fairly un-plugged town, and its everything I could ever want or need.

This trip also did more for me than I expected. I’ve taken many short weekend trips or longer family trips over the last 4-5 years, but no real vacation. This vacation changed something in me. It was the first time I had truly unplugged and just enjoyed nature in a longgggg time. I came back with a renewed sense of “living” and what it really means. I’m feeling more inclined to say YES to many things I turned down in the past. I want to experience and explore more than I did before. I feel like a new person and I’m so, so glad we took this trip!

Now I just need to figure out how and when I can get back….

Until then, here are some more pictures from the trip:

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Question of the Day

1. When is the last time you took a real vacation? Do you have anything planned for this summer?

Posted in Vacation tagged with , , , , , ,

Big Bear + NOW Foods Review!

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Hey guys!

Sorry for the disappearing act! Work got really busy + I was getting ready to head out for vacation, so the blog got pushed to the wayside. Tis’ life! But I’m here now, so let’s get right to it!

I’m currently on my first REAL vacation in about 4 years and I couldn’t be happier. Yes, I do lots of quick weekend trips, but this time we decided to really relax and get out of town for a whole week. We went to Big Bear Lake last year for a day and a half and I basically fell in love with it instantly, so we’re back!

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How could I not with a view like that? Wakeboarding, hiking, beautiful weather, gorgeous lake, and with the people (and pup) I love! I love the mountains and being outdoors, so this is the perfect place for me. It’s also only about 2 hours away from Los Angeles, so it’s a quick and easy trip.

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Whenever I head out for a trip, I like to bring a mixture of bars, protein powders, and of course, necessary items like sunscreen and lotions. Per this post, it helps me in a pinch and it’s nice to have some healthy stuff with me wherever I go.

I met the folks from NOW Foods at BLEND this year and they were nice enough to send me an AWESOME package with some really useful stuff! It’s great for every day life, but has made my vacation so much easier too!

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Check this out:

  • Plant Protein Complex
  • Probiotics
  • Garlic Infused Coconut Oil
  • B-12 Energy Packets
  • Vitamin D-3 lotion
  • Toffee Caramel Fudge Whey Protein Powder Packets
  • Bug Ban
  • Energy Nut Mix
  • Organic Toasted Hemp Seeds
  • Farro
  • Avocado Oil

So much good stuff, right?! Here’s what I’m loving so far on this trip:

The Probiotics and B12 Energy Packets

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These are so, so convenient! They are in powder form and easily mix with a glass of water. I’ve been mixing the B12 energy packets in my water first thing in the morning. B-12 has many benefits, but what I like most is that it helps keep a steady level of energy + keeps you alert and awake! I’ve been mixing the Probiotic packets in my water bottle that I carry around with me as well. It’s flavorless too, so it’s an easy drink and a great way to keep my gut in check while I’m eating my way through Big Bear!

Bug Ban

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ROOKIE MISTAKE. We are staying at a cabin right along the water and if you’ve ever been up in the mountains, you know that BUGS are EVERYWHERE. Our first night here, we left the patio door open all evening long (order cymbalta). We walked back in the house to bugs flying around everywhere! We tried turning the lights off in the house and keeping them on outside, but it didn’t really help much. Being the huge bug-phobe that I am, I sprayed this stuff generously all over myself so that at least if they were in the house, they’d stay away from me! I was surprised to see that it actually worked! Ha! SO glad I brought this with me! #lifesaver

 

Raw Energy Mix

IMG_8645When we got into town on Monday, we had a few hours to go before our check-in at the cabin. I suggested we go on a hike. We brought some of this with us and ate it at the top of the mountain. It was a hit! The bag may or may not be almost gone already.

Vitamin D-3 Cream IMG_8648This has been another lifesaver out here! I’ve been in the sun basically since we got into town, and have been lathering this on throughout the day. It smells AMAZING (it has a light citrusy scent) and really has been keeping my skin nice and moist, even though it’s pretty dry up here.

Toffee Caramel Fudge Whey Protein Isolate

IMG_8646This is hands-down one of my favorite protein powders now! As you may have noticed, I don’t discriminate and I like to try different brands and flavors. This one is definitely going into my rotation! I have now used it for a protein shake and protein pancake, and it was delicious in both cases!

Garlic Infused Coconut Oil

IMG_8743I’ll be honest, when I saw this, my first reaction was that I wasn’t sure what to do with it. I always associate coconut oil as a “sweet” flavor, so I was a little bit confused at first. I decided to try it with some chicken (pictured on the left above), and I’m so happy I did! The garlic flavor is light and you get a really good “sweet and savory” flavor combo with this coconut oil! This is definitely staying in my kitchen!

Overall, I’m so, so happy with these products! Everything seems to be well thought out, their ingredients are good, and the company is constantly coming up with new products for their customers.

If you want to check out more NOW products, visit their website or follow them on Twitter and Instagram (@NOWFoods)!

I’m going to get back to enjoying this amazing weather and view. I’ll have a full recap of the trip when I get back. Having so much fun! Catch you guys later!

Questions of the Day

1. Have you ever been to Big Bear?

2. What’s your favorite vacation spot?

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Posted in reviews, Vacation tagged with , , , , , , , ,

Switching Gears

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Hey people!

I’m not sure why, but I had a realllllllly hard time saying goodbye to the weekend yesterday. I worked most of Saturday, so that may have added to it, but I definitely feel like I could have used a 3 day weekend!

I’m heading to Big Bear next week, so I won’t complain. A whole week in the mountains is going to be amazing!

Switching Gears

Thank you all for the emails and comments I received on this post. It was a fun experiment and I’m excited to do more in the future!

With that said, for the time being, I’m going to switch back to heavy lifting for a few months. Not only do I love it, but I’ve been really itching to do a powerlifting competition lately! I’d like to start training more for that and sign up for one later in the year. I thought about doing a local one next month (and still might, just to get my feet wet), but being that I just got my wisdom teeth out (and my workouts have been mellow since Wednesday), and that I’ll be in the mountains next week, I’d really only have about 18 days to prepare. At the same time, it’s not sanctioned, so I still may do it just to get some practice!

Workouts for the Week

This is tentative, but here’s what I have planned for this week

Monday: Kettle Bell Conditioning (workout below) + Upper Body Push

Tuesday: Legs (focus: squats & hip thrusts)

Wednesday: Upper Body Pull + Sprints

Thursday: Legs (focus: deadlifts)

Friday: Upper Body

Saturday: OFF

Sunday: Legs

If you’re looking for something quick to change up your workouts or to add some conditioning into your current program, try this:

Kettle Bell Conditioning: Perform Circuit Style for 5 Rounds

  • 10 KB Cleans
  • 10 KB Snatches
  • 15 KB Swings

Question of the Day

1. What’s your favorite way to train? For power? strength? aesthetics?

Posted in Workout tagged with , , , , , ,

10 Random Things This Week

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Hey guys!

Hope your day is treating you well. I had my wisdom teeth out yesterday, and am actually not in too much pain. I wasn’t sure if I’d be up and about today, but it turns out I’m feeling pretty good. I was feeling a little cabin fever yesterday, even though I was only at home for a few hours. I guess when it feels like I can’t go anywhere, it makes me want to leave!

I thought it’d be fun to share 10 random things this week, so here goes!

1. I had never been put under before until yesterday when I got my wisdom teeth out. I was definitely nervous, but it was super easy. The best part: the videos that were taken of me right after I woke up. Apparently I also Face Timed everyone in my family and they are now wishing they could have recorded those!

2. I made this delicious smoothie this morning since I can’t really eat much solid food. It was SO GOOD. I posted the recipe on my instagram.

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3. I’m going to Big Bear in 2 weeks and I’m SO excited. Here are a few photos from last year. This year we’re going for 5 days instead of 2. I can’t wait to wakeboard, hike, and enjoy the fresh mountain air!

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4. My brother and dad are coming out to visit me for Father’s Day weekend. I love visiting them, but it’s also really nice when they come to visit me! I can’t wait to hang out with them at the beach!

Hanging with my little big bro!!!

5. I decided to take Oscar to the dog park for 15 minutes yesterday before my surgery. It had rained a bit the day before, and Oscar found a puddle of mud to play in.

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Needless to say, I had to take him straight to the pet store to get him a bath after this because there was no WAY I was bringing him into the house. Puppies!

6. I already mapped out my next workout challenge (it’s 30 days this time). I’m going to start it right after I get back from Big Bear. I’ll share it with you guys in the next few weeks!

7. I’ve been using Gnarly Nutrition’s Chiseled Chocolate Grass-Fed Whey and am LOVING it. It tastes delicious and is really good quality. I first got to try it at BLEND Retreat, and the folks at Gnarly were kind enough to send me a full tub of it. I’m definitely going to continue buying this! I can’t wait to start cooking with it as well.

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8. I ate a glazed donut the other day and it was SOOOOO good. Haha. I haven’t had donuts in a while, but it looked good the other day. Since then, I decided that I think I need to eat them more often. #iifym #donutstopme

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9. I saw these two memes in my Facebook feed the other day and had to save them. I love these!

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10. Random picture of Oscar’s cute face…..because puppies.

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FitLizzio Experiment UPDATE + Weekend Fun

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Hey, HEY!

How’s your Monday treating you?

Mine is quite divine if I may say so! I LOVE productive Mondays because they set the tone for the week.

I trained a client early this morning, got my own workout in, and then got started on work. It’s a busy time for us right now, so I’m being very diligent about keeping lists and calendars to make sure I get everything done on time.

FitLizzio Experiment – Day 20

Guys, I am almost done with the 21 Day Clutch! It’s been a really fun experience and I can’t wait to give you a FULL recap (progress photos and all) this week!

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Remember when I said I didn’t really like the workouts? Well, I’ve been getting more accustomed to them. They’re still not my favorite way to push myself, but I’ve come to enjoy them. I’ll likely continue to do them once per week when I’m finished with the program.

Which brings me to my next thought: Sticking with something. It’s interesting to me how my attitude towards the program has morphed over the last 20 days. I’ve gone from super stoked, to somewhat bored, to seeing results and getting excited, to wondering how to incorporate this way of training into my regular training schedule. Total 180, right?!

It proves that even though something might not SEEM like the right thing, if you stick with it, it might just become something you like. While sometimes that won’t be the case, it is something I will keep in mind going forward.

This is by far my favorite part about doing challenges. I love learning new things and seeing what I’m capable of doing. I love finding out more about myself. It’s amazing how much we don’t know! You always hear that you learn about yourself when you push yourself outside of your comfort zone, but it’s a really hard concept to grasp until you do it. I haven’t pushed myself outside of my comfort zone in far too long when it comes to working out, so this was really fun and motivating.

Look out for a post in the next few days for #allthethings related to the first installment of the FitLizzio Experiment: 21 Day Clutch.

Weekend Fun

This past weekend, my friend Torri and I launched Rockstar Fitness™ Boot Camp! Quest Nutrition was our sponsor and it was SUCH a fun day! Our class went really well and everyone loved it! I can’t wait for next Saturday!

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Special RSF Gift Bags from Quest!

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Rockstar Fitness™ Boot Camp in action!

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Wall balls!

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Our OFFICIAL Mascot: Oscar the Boxer

Our crazy group!

The rest of the weekend wasn’t quite as exciting, but was just what I needed: time with my pup, time with my man, and relaxation.

We went to breakfast at IHOP on Sunday morning (and of course, we brought Oscar).

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We followed that up with coffee, of course, and then decided to hang out by the pool for a bit.

It was a perfect day outside!

Afterwards, we went and saw Spy with Melissa McCarthy and Jason Statham. SO funny! I love MM and both Charlie and I really enjoyed it.

We came home and watched a few episodes of Better Call Saul (we just started it…so far so good!) while we ate dinner, and then I was so exhausted that I headed straight to bed.

THE END.

Question of the Day

1. What do you LOVE about boot camps?

2. What do you HATE about boot camps?

Posted in FitLizzio's Bodybuilding.com Experiment, motivation, Weekends tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Traveling? 6 Tips to Stay on Track with your Health and Fitness Goals

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If you know me at all, you know that I love to travel! Since I work A LOT, I have to be very creative in my travel plans, but I still make room for a quick escape at least once a month!

In the last 3 months, I’ve been to Scottsdale twice, San Diego, Santa Barbara, Salt Lake City, Boulder, and Las Vegas. (Woah, writing that out makes me wonder how I did all of that myself!)

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When I travel, I like to enjoy myself, but I don’t like to throw myself completely off track from my health and fitness goals. I work way too hard in the gym and the kitchen to throw it all away on a few days of vacation. I also don’t want to be the girl with chicken and broccoli in her suitcase (been there, done that), so I’ve had to find ways to be creative when I travel.

Here are 6 Tips to Staying on Track with your Health and Fitness Goals while you’re traveling!

1. Pack some healthy snacks. Whenever I’m leaving for a trip, I always pack Quest bars, some protein powder (and a shaker bottle), and some Justin’s peanut or almond butter packets. This way, I always have a snack if I get hungry and it’s not time for a meal. Depending on where I am, I don’t always have control of the snacks on hand, so I like to keep something in my purse in case my options are slim. Perfect afternoon pick-me-up.

2. Build your meal around protein. When you go out to eat with friends or family, you don’t have to order the plain chicken breast with steamed green beans (although if it’s not a restaurant I’m super excited about, I definitely do that. I’d rather splurge on something that I REALLY want instead of loading up on calories for a food I’m indifferent about.). I’ll typically choose a protein (steak, chicken, or fish), and build my meal around that. Sometimes I’ll try to stay really healthy and do a salad with meat, some type of healthy fat (avocado, cheese, oil), and lots of vegetables with dressing on the side so that I can control the amount used. Other times I’ll be more lenient and go for a meat, a side of vegetables, and a 2nd side that isn’t as healthy, like sweet potato fries or something similar. It all depends on the restaurant for me and I choose based on how healthy I want to be and how much I like the restaurant.

For your enjoyment.

Protein & Carbs. 😀

3. Splurge when it’s worth it. I’m a big fan of not missing out on the things you really love. For example, when I go to Arizona and visit my favorite restaurant, White Chocolate Grill, I have to get the White Chocolate Brownie. I’m fairly sure it’s at least 2,000 calories, but I just take a few bites (which is plenty) and satisfy my craving. Because I know I want this dessert, I make sure to choose a healthy entree. There are some instances where I’d rather skip dessert and eat french fries or macaroni and cheese, so I’ll allow myself to splurge on my side dish, and choose other healthy options for the rest of my meal.

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4. Workout. Regardless of where I go, I always find time to get a work out in at least every other day. This helps me get into a healthy mindset for the day and I always feel better after a great workout. If I can’t make it to a gym or a mountain to hike, I wrote a book with 25 workouts you can do anywhere in 20 minutes, so I’ll choose one of those and bust it out in someone’s living room or backyard. (like I did in Boulder a few weeks ago!)

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5. Walk, walk, walk. (and take the stairs). When I’m traveling, I always try to “lifercise” as my dad calls it. This means walking instead of driving when possible. Taking the stairs. Carrying the heavy groceries or bags. Basically, if you can make it harder, do it. That sounds counter-intuitive to being efficient, but it’s a great way to sneak in some extra exercise throughout the day.

Practicing Yoga...err something..

Or do yoga outside of the airport…..

6. Research. If you’re going to a new city, research your options before you arrive so you have some idea of places you’d like to go. I used to be the person that would stay quiet when everyone started talking about where they wanted to eat. I’d end up at a restaurant that was a little-higher-end-than-KFC-but-not-much and find myself with very few options. While sometimes that WILL be the case (in which you just enjoy the fried chicken and move on with your life), if you have some ideas and vocalize said ideas, often times you’ll be able to try out some of the restaurants you’d be hoping to visit during your stay.

Question of the Day

What is something that you do to stay healthy while traveling?

Posted in Vacation tagged with , , , , , ,

FitLizzio Training Experiment: Day 1

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reebok tank

Hey guys!

I hope you’re all as excited as I am about my new experiment!! If you’re not, I need you to be so I can get through it with some motivation haha!

Yesterday I did Day 1 and I do have some initial thoughts!

The Workout

The workout was INTENSE. It was a “lifting” day. It started with a warm-up on the treadmill that included a sprint progression: 30 seconds walking, 30 seconds jogging, 30 seconds sprint x4.

Once I was warmed up, it was time for the workout. This workout was circuit-style and recommended completing 3-6 rounds with 12-15 reps per exercise.

Here are the exercises:

  • Clean & Press
  • Med Ball Slams
  • DB Reverse Lunges
  • Push-Ups
  • Bench Dips
  • Sprint in Place
  • Bodyweight Squats
  • Wide Grip Lat Pulldowns
  • Med Ball Jumping Jacks
  • Incline Push-Ups
  • DB Bicep Curls
  • Side Lateral Raises
  • One Arm DB Rows

I made it through 4 rounds. The idea is that by the end of the program you can complete 6 rounds, so hopefully I’ll get there! I’m sure I could have pushed my way through 2 more rounds, but my form was starting to slip and I had made it a goal in my head to get to 4. It was plenty for the first day. I was sweating bullets by the end.

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Not sure if you can tell, but my shirt is drenched!

The Food

This is where I may have to make some adjustments and add a little bit to my meals. When I totaled everything for my day’s meals into MyFitnessPal, it came out to just 1380 calories!! I am almost 5’8 and 151 pounds. That is just not enough on a day I’m working out (or even a rest day for that matter). I’ll likely just adjust the amounts at each meal (i.e. instead of 3.5 oz of chicken, I’ll do 5 oz. and instead of 1/2 cup of carbs, I’ll try 3/4). I want to participate in this FULLY, but I’m also not willing to risk my health over it. The plan does call for a good amount of fats, so I’ll probably leave those as is.

I will say, the chia seed protein pancake I had for breakfast (right from the 21 Day Clutch) was SO delicious!

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It doesn’t look pretty, but it tasted good!

20 days to go on the FitLizzio Training Experiment….

Question of the Day

1. Have you ever done any of the training programs on Bodybuilding.com? What were your favorites?

Posted in FitLizzio's Bodybuilding.com Experiment tagged with , , , , , , , ,

FitLizzio Training Experiment

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bodybuilding.com

So I was sitting at home last night after workout perusing the interwebs.

My new apartment has a HUGE patio (in LA, a big patio is pretty much like having a backyard), and I am determined to make it my playground. I already purchased some rubber flooring I need to put down and I have some light dumbbells ready to go.

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My next purchase is going to be a squat rack, olympic bar, heavier DB’s and plates (just so you know, Charlie). I’ve been scouring over Craigslist and other used outlets to see what I can find.

Anyways, as I was perusing, I was being all introspective and thinking a lot about me, myself, and I.

As I was doing so, I started thinking about my many failures with fat loss, specifically. You see, I LOVE working out. I LOVE weight training, plyometrics, and pretty much any type of high intensity training. It makes me sweat, breathe hard, and feel like a total badass.

But when it comes to eating? I like food. I’m stubborn. I don’t stick to meal plans very well. I make excuses. (That’s the key there, the making excuses.)

You see, I’m comfortable in my skin. This is GREAT (especially considering how I felt just a few years ago), but it’s not great for working towards fat loss. It’s easier for me to just say “eh, whatever” because it’s not a DIRE need for me to lose weight and I do feel good and comfortable with my ed-pills24.

Could I stand to lose a few pounds? Sure. Do I NEED to? Nope. I’m at a healthy weight and I feel good.

HOWEVER, I also see my inner self as something completely different than what I see in the mirror. In my head, my ideal is ripped and shredded. I like veins, I like muscles, I like striations, I like it ALL! Now, I don’t necessarily want to BE that lean, but I would like to be something closer to that extreme than I am currently.

SO, anyways. I have been trying to find the inner determination to stick to something long-term (which for me is macro-nutrient counting) and see what changes I can make. I’ve been doing okay, but haven’t been very consistent. No consistency = little to no results.

I also love new challenges and while in the past I haven’t always stuck with them, I know that I am capable of it. Hell, I gave up all added sugar for 37 days. 37 days without gummy candy is no joke people.

So back to perusing the world wide web….I ended up on Bodybuilding.com because I love looking at the various training plans for inspiration, as well as giving myself ideas for my own training + my clients’ training.

If you didn’t know, there are a TON of free training plans on Bodybuilding.com. They make it fun (choose your gender, choose your goals, choose your intensity, etc.) and this is when the crazy/fun idea hit me:

I’m going to slowly but surely work my way through the training plans and review them each as I go right here on Fit Lizzio Fitness!

Here’s what I’ll be doing:

-Taking before/after pictures & measurements

-Doing the daily workouts

-Following the meal plans

-Taking most of the recommended supplements (if I change or don’t take something, I’ll let you know that)

-Checking in here on the blog throughout each program

For the plans that last longer than 2 months, I’ll cut them short (so that I can get through at least a few by the end of 2015). At the end of each training program, I’ll do a FULL review on the blog highlighting my successes, failures, what I liked/disliked about the program, and my overall thoughts on the program from both the perspective of a user and a personal trainer. These will be FULL disclosure reviews (i.e. I will tell you if they flat out suck, although I don’t anticipate that). I think this will be a fun way to keep me motivated, provide some good content and reviews for others out there, and hopefully yield some results that I’m looking for!

So what do you think…am I crazy??? I actually keep texting my friends asking if I’m crazy (they’ve all responded yes, so I’m not sure what that says about me), but they all think it’s a great idea. Either way, I think it will be a super fun experiment and I’m excited to do this!

If you’d like to follow on this journey (or better yet, JOIN ME), I’m starting with Ashley Conrad’s 21 Day Clutch.

bodybuilding.com

Photo Credit: Bodybuilding.com

I’ll have an initial post about this up on the blog as soon as I start to tell you about Day 1 and my expectations. Don’t worry, regularly scheduled blogging will go on as a normal, with just a few posts each week about this experiment, which I’ve titled: FitLizzio Training Experiment

I’ll also be posting on Instagram (@fitlizzio) using the hashtag: #fitlizzioexperiment

P.S. If you are crazy like me and want to join me, e-mail me at [email protected] so we can help each other through the programs!

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