Leona and I decided to challenge ourselves by buying a package of 5 boot camp sessions on Living Social (one of our favorite online deal finders in the Los Angeles area.) At an incredible low price of $25 we decided we had nothing to lose but body fat.
When I contacted Adrian at West Coast Boot Camp to schedule our first class he informed me that there was a nutrition consultation included in the package. To be honest I initially declined the offer thinking that we were both pretty dialed in with our diets and I wasn’t thrilled about making a drive out to La Canada. On second thought, in the name of research for Adventures in Fitness and getting the complete experience, I called him back and scheduled an appointment with Dr. Joe Ferrara PhD for the following Saturday.
I was pleasantly surprised with the consultation experience and so happy that I changed my mind.
Click here to read on . . .
I have never been a real coffee drinker. I do have an in-home client that drinks coffee every morning. Since I train him a couple of times a week it is becoming a ritual to have a quick cup together before we workout.
He is nice enough to supply his fridge with “My” creamer which is Coffee Mate Vanilla flavored. I have read the ingredients and I know it is terrible for you. Ingredients include: Water, sugar, partially hydrogenated soybean and/or cottonseed oil, sodium castenate, dipotassium phosphate, color added, natural and artificial flavors, sodium stearoyl lactylate, mono and diglycerides, polysorbate 60, carrageenan, beta-carotene color. Hmmm tasty!
So what are some alternatives? I came across this article that highlights some different options.
What’s In Your Coffee Creamer?
Another great article I found has a recipe for Homemade Coffee Mate. I think I’ll have to try that one as I am definitely not ready to drink black coffee.
Check out my new post on Adventures in Fitness LA where I join friends on a night hike into Topanga State Park.
Here is an excerpt or click here for the full article:
My colleague Dave Cantarella suggested I join he and his friend, Steve, on a night hike in Santa Monica. My reply was, “Sure! Will you keep the bats out of my hair?” He upped the ante by saying, “Yes and the Mountain Lions too.” Ahhh that’s a relief.
Since I am prepping for my cleanse program, doing something fun and healthy on a Saturday night seemed to fit. I packed my water and “fizzy tab” for a little late night energy and chose to wear long pants in case it got cool (okay . . . really it was to keep any critters from crawling up my legs.) We agreed to meet at 7:30pm to begin our hike.
As I was beginning to research and more fully understand the cleanse program, my mentor, Colleen Carney, recommended this great book. Author Jessica K. Black, ND gives a brief, but in-depth, 50 page explanation of the rationale behind the diet. She explains how inflammation in the body can lead to several diseases including heart disease, diabetes, chronic pain and insomnia.
The rest of the 200 page text is a great collection of recipes for everything from muffins to entrees to teas.
One concept that really stood out to me is how simple carbs can raise cholesterol. Here is an excerpt from the text,
“Simple carbohydrates raise blood sugar levels quickly and cause the body to increase insulin production, which triggers cholesterol synthesis. Therefore, increased insulin output caused by excessive amounts of sugar in the diet increases cholesterol levels, as well as promoting fat production and fat storage. Simply put, simply carbohydrates exacerbate diabetes, obesity, high cholesterol and poor lipid profiles.”
If you are considering the Embody Fitness Cleanse Challenge and want to understand more of the science behind it then check out the book.
As I was sneaking out early of the Cardio Kickbox class tonight I was reminded of my journey recovering from a hip flexor injury. I’ll try and be brief while I explain the process that began 3 1/2 years ago with a car accident. What I want to share is the lessons I learned from my process so that if you are injured you can be quicker at nipping it in the bud.
While on Irvine Avenue 3 1/2 years ago I was rear-ended by an SUV. When I got to Newport Workout immediately after for work I felt pain in my left hip joint. The pain went away the next day and I went on with my life which consisted of dancing professionally and being a trainer. Six months later, during a performance, the strain of my hip flexor had progressed to the point where I was in tears walking down the hallway to get on stage. I had to leave in the middle of the show and I wouldn’t get back on stage for another year.
That year consisted of a mix of Chiropractic, massage, Electrical Stimulation Therapy, Physical Therapy, Trigger Point Therapy, anti-inflammatory diet, nutritional supplements, stretching, strengthening, and bags and bags of ice. Phew! In hindsight, that is A LOT and it was expensive. (For those who know anatomy, it specifically was my Sartorius and Rectus Femoris tendon.) Read more »
My client Tony brought me this article from the OC Register. Scott Parker of Watson Drug & Soda Fountain in Old Towne Orange lost 105 pounds all while continuing to eat three meals a day at the restaurant. It’s inspiring and a great reminder that people can make lifestyle changes at any age and in any working environment.
Diner owner learns to trim the fat | pounds, parker, people – Life – The Orange County Register.
A client observed that I have been “running” on my blog for over a week. Oops! I haven’t been running but I HAVE been pre-occupied with working on a new website that launched last week called Adventures In Fitness LA.
My partner Leona Laurie has been helping me with the Embody Fitness site since last year. When I moved to Los Angeles, I started writing about my fitness experiences as I explored my new city. Leona came to me with the idea of creating a new site that focused just on those specific adventures. Since she is moving to Downtown Los Angeles in a couple of weeks, we make the perfect team to explore together and create a resource of fitness activity information in Southern California. And that is how AdventuresInFitnessLA.com was born. Read more »
For the last few years my line has been, “I can’t run. I’m allergic.” Well okay it’s not quite an allergy but whatever the reaction is where you get a variety of pain anywhere from the feet on up to the hips. As I approach my 9th year as a personal trainer I am realizing that it is a bit ridiculous that I can’t even claim to run a mile comfortably.
I have had shin splints since I was on dance team at the University of San Francisco. I developed plantar fasciitis while rehearsing for a dance production several years ago. I spent 2.5 years recovering from a hip flexor injury and have been pain free for a year now. These are the excuses and fears that have kept me from running. Although these are all good reasons to stay away from running I know that if I train correctly and get proper instruction I should be able to run a couple of miles without any problem. Read more »
It took a bit of negotiating but Marty Potts agreed to a modified version of the 28 day cleanse program. I get it. Summer is a tough time of year to restrict yourself from alcohol and treats especially when you’re dining with 8 year old triplet sons!
I knew Marty would find success with the cleanse so I wanted to help him find a way to make it happen that was reasonable for him. He had back surgery months before and was just getting into his workout routine. Fighting inflammation at this stage is key for his progress. Read more »
In the midst of my workout motivation slump I had lunch with a girlfriend who is a Pilates trainer. She told me that she had been seeing a personal trainer in North Hollywood once a week for over a year. Right away I said, “I’ll share sessions with you if that’s an option!?” She said yes and that is what brought me to the World Sports Center on Lankershim for my first time EVER being a paying client of a personal trainer.
I had to laugh at myself as I somewhat fumbled asking where the lockers were and did they have towels . . . you would think it was my first time in a gym. Garry, my trainer, introduced himself and he definitely fit the description I had heard of a big tall, black guy with dreads with a pleasant demeanor. I resisted the urge to launch into my concerns and physical issues I wanted him to be aware of before we started. “Don’t be a pain in the ass.” I told myself, “Just go with the flow.” Read more »
Adventures In Fitness LA | kendra | 
September 6, 2010 9:00 am | 
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