Welcome to Fit For Life!Home of the Fit For Life Bootcamp, the #1 "Before and After" Bootcamp in California! We are expanding up and down California to help bring our "Transformation Stations" closer to a city near you! We are opening up in Redwood City!
The picture pretty much says it all…. BUT wait there is more! Jeremy not only put in the blood, sweat and tears necessary to make this AMAZING transformation happen, he also wrote up a little something so we can all share in his journey.
“ Time for a change…
In May of 2008 I was challenged by my family to lose 30 lbs by my 40th birthday the following May (I weighed over 250lbs). I was able to make it happen, but it was a slow, difficult and a boring process. I was a member of 24-hour fitness at the time, and not being well-versed in exercise routines, it was cardio work only.
Since then I put about 10lbs back on. Last Winter(2012) I saw a Fit for Life Bootcamp deal on Groupon, being the softball off-season, I thought it would be a great way to start getting ready for spring and summer seasons.
When I first sat down with Beau, I told him I was coming in with my ego in check, and he (and everyone else) had my full attention for the 30 days of my trial. We set some start-up goals, talked about some of my eating struggles, and setup some workout routines to do on non-Bootcamp day. At the end of 30 days I was hooked… I had lost “10 pounds, 1% body fat, and 3 inches off my waist.” I told him “Sign me up Beau!”
It has been a very big challenge over the past year to keep up on my training and nutrition, being single and self-employed, it has required a significant increase in my self-control and discipline as I am so used to doing what I want, when I want. I do alot of work at “remote offices” (short for coffee shops) and am also always on the go, so it has required a HUGE change in my eating habits as well. Keeping those habits has been the biggest challenge because it almost feels like an addiction I am trying to free myself from. THAT is a lifestyle change…. walking into a supermarket and shopping is very different than before, NOT stopping at 7-11 on the way home from a softball game…. or before one for that matter!
Plateaus happen…. we all hit them…. Throughout the year I have struggled on many occasions, but Beau and the other trainers were all willing to give me a push…. make an exercise harder, issue a challenge to re-motivate me(they learned very quickly I am foolish like that). That has helped keep me going…. if I could do this myself, I wouldn’t be on this program…. so for that assistance, I am very grateful!
The bigger motivation has been from my fellow bootcampers. The support I have gotten from them and hopefully given back has made working out and getting our butts kicked on a daily basis almost…. FUN! From the push we give each other in class every day…. to the creation of “Hardcore Wednesdays” nights, you can’t help but want to work out harder as we all hold each other accountable EVERY day. You are all crazy…. but trying to keep up with you has made me work harder at this than anything I could have ever done in a very long time.
As I start my second year as a Fit For Life member, I look back at how far I have come and can’t believe it. I far exceeded any expectations I ever had. I recently completed the “Survivor MudRun” in Sacramento with some fellow bootcampers (my first time doing ANY type of competitive event), and we are currently training for the “Spartan Beast” later this summer. Never in my wildest dreams would I have ever thought I’d be doing these types of events. I am closing in on having lost “50 pounds, 11% body fat, and 11 inches from my waist.” I am at a weight I haven’t been at in probably 15 years!
Recently, Beau Byron issued the ultimate challenge to me.… he said “When I am done with you, you are going to be in the best shape of your life.” Well, my friend…. challenge accepted!
In summary, thank you to EVERYONE involved with Fit For Life Solutions in 2012-13 (current and former trainers, and fellow bootcampers). You have all helped me make some AMAZING changes in my life this past year. I hope to continue that trend, and that i can return the support to others as well. “
Well said buddy! Jeremy shows us with a NEVER say “quit” attitude, a great workout format and an amazing support system, that NOTHING is impossible. Lets all learn from him; make a change, keep the change a priority and have fun doing it! That pretty much sums it up people, I don’t need to say anything more, Jeremy stole the show with his AWESOME Before and After pictures! Great work buddy, we love having you as a part of the Fit For Life Family.
This is a quote that I implement into my own personal life in many areas. I believe in being an “over-shooter” in goals and dreams! I want you to use this motto in your life. Not only in your fitness goals, but in your own life.
Don’t let the “men” part throw you off. This applies to you too ladies! When you say you are going to change up your diet “a bit”…. How effective do you think “a bit” really is? It is practically giving up before you start. How happy would you be if you came into one of our locations and we said we would help you get “a bit” of results? NOT HAPPY!
So why devalue your self, results, dreams, hopes, etc.? What’s wrong with shooting for the moon? If you fall short you will still be way farther than settling for that “comfortable” goal that you weren’t very excited about. I believe if you dream BIG then the excitement remains beyond the initial stages; the encouragement lasts longer and you strive farther with bigger goals.
Like Trump says, “If you are going to be thinking anyway, you might as well think big.” I love applying this awesome quote in my life. I’m a big dreamer and thinker. Maybe I even dream a little bigger than I can handle, bbbuuuutttt I do it anyway :). This is something no one can take away from me, and I hope you don’t allow anyone to rob you of your dreams either!
So think about this just for a minute: In what ways will you apply this to your fitness goals? Will you shoot for the moon? Will you decide to over achieve? Or will you want and shoot for what the average person goes for? Do me a favor, email your bootcamp trainer right now! Send them a goal, a dream, your dream! Anything… running a marathon, losing 50 pounds, getting a bikini body in time for summer. I hope I hear from the bootcamp trainers that their emails are overloaded!
“Do you know whats there, waiting beyond your comfort zone? Results, take them, there yours!”
Good-tasting food should never come at the expense of nutrition, health, or a steep price. It can be difficult to find it though. You’ll have to brows various aisles of large supermarkets and grocery stores and maybe even dig deep through dozens of different brands. While it is time-consuming and overwhelming at first, it’ll pay off later on with healthy meals for you and your family. As you become experienced, grocery shopping will be as easy as it is now!
Try the pointers below to find healthy food at your local store.
Shop Around
The general rule of thumb when searching for a product is to look around and give the area a clean sweep. Usually, your grocery store or supermarket area will comprise of produce, dairy, and meat products. While browsing aisles, look for certain healthy but good items like whole grain bread, pasta, cereals, beans, etc.
Read Labels
It is important to read the nutrition facts and list of ingredients to determine how much nutrition you can get from the item. If you’re trying to lose weight, stick with low-calorie products. Make sure you’re prepared to read these labels and understand exactly what they mean. Though companies won’t really include information that could jeopardize their product, there are some giveaways like sodium and sugar content.
Produce
You can’t really go wrong when searching this area. Food items included in the “Produce” section are all natural and packed with nutrients. You’ll find fresh vegetables and fruits you can experiment with to whip up an exciting and healthy meal. In some grocery stores, there is a separate aisle for all-natural and organic food, which is becoming increasingly popular today. These are helpful areas as they include only trusted brands and there is less junk food for you to sort across.
Finding Meats
This is a bit tricky. Lean meat is an excellent source of protein and minerals, but some parts can contain excess saturated fat. This is where your label practice reading comes in handy. Usually, the packaging is marked 90 percent lean or 95 percent lean. 90 percent is significantly cheaper but has less nutritional value than 95 percent lean meat. If you’re really aiming for health, find and buy the leanest meat in the market.
Be Vigilant
Wouldn’t it be great if food were just food? All-natural and artificial-free, health conscious shoppers wouldn’t have to worry about reading nutrition facts prior buying and consuming it. But it is what it is. Avoid falling for traps in the form of fancy marketing ads on the packaging front. Flip the product over and read the nutrition facts and ingredient list thoroughly. If you find any uncertain facts, put it back on the shelf.
Finding good but healthy foods can be tedious, but it’s a worthwhile feat. Furthermore, expect the process of changing your diet to all-natural and healthy meals difficult. Make sure to include your family in this newly established goal to make the change easier and more effective. Also, prepare a shopping list before going to your local store to avoid panic buying and/or poor food choices.
Faith Rogers writes about health, nutrition and her career as a nursing assistant.
Just 7 of the many trials you will be tempted with on a daily basis.
Butter.
Read the word above again, Butter. Fat. Just fat. And not only fat, some genius decided to make it salted fat…. Does this sound funny? Are you laughing? Well keep spreading this creamy glob on your food and you won’t be laughing long. You’ll be looking in the mirror…. crying.
Healthy Butter Alternative : Incorporate more Avocado into your meals, it has a great buttery taste to it, and loaded with tons of HEALTHY fats.
Salt.
Look at that little shaker. Looks innocent huh? No, it isn’t… It will make you bloat, and you do not want that. You want to keep salt intake low, just enough to stay hydrated. It’s not rocket science: don’t use the shaker, stay away from frozen meals. Anything that has a long shelf life is loaded with sodium.
Healthy Salt Alternative : Use Garlic to doctor up your meals. It has an amazing flavor, and adds a little salty taste.
Soda.
Water with bubbles and sugar mixed together. No, just no. Would you sit down on the couch and eat 20 spoonfuls of sugar….? Didn’t think so. You have to think of it that way. Look at a big glass of soda like all spoonfuls of sugar dumped into the cup. You get “light” or “skinny” coffee to avoid the extra few grams of sugar, but chug a 50g mountain dew? Get real people.
Healthy Soda Alternative : Add some fruit slices to your water, or seltzer water. Stevia is a great alternative, a natural, REAL natural sweetener to add to your drinks.
Late Night Snacking.
Sooooo, I will break it down for you quick and effectively. You wake up every morning to an empty gas tank. You are on a “fill as you go” system. So why would you “fill up” your tank right before you parked it in the garage all night long? That’s correct, you shouldn’t! Have a good dinner, and a light pre-bed protein snack, and hold back the cravings!
Healthy Late Night Alternative : I personally like non-fat milk pre-bed, but the best option is a casein protein, like cottage cheese. A slow breakdown protein that will keep you satisfied through the night!
Sauce / Dressing.
Calorie sauce. You should just imagine numbers pouring out of thousand island dressing bottle, because that what it is, just calories. And who came up with taking lettuce, veggies and healthy stuff and pouring thick, sugary syrup on top. It just doesn’t make sense, and makes my brain hurt to think about it.
Healthy Sauce/Dressing Alternative : Olive oil and vinegar makes a great salad dressing. And nothing beats the low calorie salsa as an amazing topper for tons of things!
Fast Food.
I understand being on the road, but there is no excuse for a poor high calorie choice. Every place I have stopped at has salads, or a “light” menu. It’s not a first choice to stop at a fast food joint, but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.
Healthy Fast Food Alternative : Salads are on the menu! Make a good choice, a bad decision for a big mac can ruin hours of cardio… hours. No seriously, hours.
Scale.
The scale is for tracking progress, not stepping on it twice a day and letting it consume your life. Yeah you, I mean you reading this, I know you do that. Stop it. Do it once a week, on the same day, same time.
“If you start something, you better finish it.” Ring any bells from your childhood? Definitely rings from mine. You start a workout program, diet, dvd at home, training for an event… and what happens? That little voice creeps up on you slowly, every time you hit a speed bump in your path to completion. But here is the deal, you start…. you finish. Even if you don’t WANT to, to complete a path you have set forth is to build your character, to show friends, family and co-workers that you are someone who finishes what they started. You know deep down you can push through, destroy obstacles, and conquer fear.
My favorite line to use in the face of any obstacle is from the movie 300. “Never retreat! Never surrender!” If you give up on one thing, what’s the next thing you’ll give yourself an excuse to stop doing? Everyday my staff and I hear the same things… “I’m just here to give this a try.” “I’m not sure if I will be continuing.” Then why start? If you are just “trying it out,” then are you even giving it your all? Or are you just pretending to? If the trainer turns around and you stop to rest, who are you cheating? Not Me! If you cheat more then is allowed on your diet, who is getting hurt from that? Not anyone but YOU!
As you can see, there are ALOT of question marks in this article. The reason for that is this: I don’t want you reading another cookie cutter article, maybe taking a half a sentence worth of knowledge you found in it. I want you to leave asking questions; questioning yourself; questioning your motives and goals. If you question yourself, you grow with every answer. If you think you know it all and make excuses for yourself, you remain stagnant, never growing, staying the same. Being comfortable and never growing leads to laziness, which leads to doubt, and you’ll be stuck on the couch forever. You’ve heard it a million times: leave your comfort zone! It’s fun out here!
Make a choice. Make a change. Make an impact on your life and those around you who admire you and follow your footsteps. Be an example, an example of someone who can accomplish whatever you put your mind to. You may just be completing a small goal in your mind, but to someone else you can be an inspiration, a motivational figure, a hero in their time of doubt. Be someone others can look up to.
This may sound like a bunch of motivational speaking crap, but I believe in it. I believe you can speak things into your life by acting and believing that you DESERVE it. You do NOT deserve to be unhappy, sad, disappointed… You deserve the you that you see when you close your eyes. Wouldn’t it be nice to see who you want to be when your eyes are open and looking in the mirror? Remember, it’s just a decision away. A decision that YOU must make, no one else. If you fail, it’s yourself to blame, and WHEN you succeed, it’s all your glory.
“And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion…”
Thou shall keep the Holiday pounds off this season.
Thou shall have no other foods before me. Me meaning the “Square Meal”, a solid setup of Protein, Carbs and Fats. A balanced meal that will keep you full of energy and the protein flowing for recovery. Before you take another sweet potato, make sure you have cleaned off the chicken, veggies, other essential foods necessary to keep your body in peak condition.
Thou shall not make for yourself an idol. I know everyone likes to do the whole motivational figure situation, but for me and what i suggest is not to do this. EVERYONE is different, different metabolism, different strengths and weaknesses, different body type. So that means different results, don’t beat yourself up over how one of your friends lost 20lbs on some fad diet, do what works for you, and you will have results that Fit Your Life. Stick to a solid clean diet and consistent workout regiment and you will have the results meant for YOU.
Thou shall not take the name of thy trainer in vain. If you are taking a class, using a personal trainer, doing an at home workout video or even a printed workout program. Do not blame the system, trainer or product, results come in time. You must be patient and persistent, keep at it. Take accountability for your training and diet. If the results aren’t coming, push harder, keep your diet more in check, always something you can improve on.
Thou shall remember to take a day(s) of rest. Recovery, let’s say it again, recovery. It is key to results, you can’t work out every day, and get 4 hours of sleep a night and expect to get great results. If you train hard, you need to sleep a solid amount, you need to take days off from the gym. I myself do a 4 day a week program, taking Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday off. It works for “me”. Eat well, sleep extra, and relax on your “off” days, that will promote a healthier you.
Honor your family and friends. As your results come, you will bring happiness to your friends and family members faces. They will ask you what changes you have made, what adjustments to life you have done. You will spring a new sense of inspiration to your surrounding people in your life, your hard work will push them and motivate them to make healthier life decisions.
Thou shall not kill your consistency. If the results aren’t coming in the time “you” want them to. You are NOT allowed to stop, that’s called quitting, and quitters never get what they want, because they don’t believe they deserve it inside. you have to want it, and want to work for it. It’s a mental game as well.
Thou shall not cheat on your diet. People! Diet is 85%, so if you are at the gym, doing an hour of cardio, 30 minutes of weights and some stretching….. and you eat a Big Mac…. you just wasted your time. If you are on a solid and balanced diet, and you get distracted, you are not only cheating yourself, but also your results.
Thou shall not steal results. After infomercial and infomercial, you have seen it all. Cookie diets, pills, juices, everything and anything you can think of to give you those “easy” results. Look, here is the breakdown, easily lost, easily gained back. Solid results, are consistent results, results from hardworking, not from over working your adrenal gland with a diet pill for results, but ruining your body in the process.
Thou shall not lie about results. Once results are on the way, you need to make sure you got everything straight. In your mind you know that keeping your diet strict and clean is WHY you are getting your results, that because you finish those last reps that burn on each set is WHY you are getting toned. that all the benefits you are experiencing from your training is because you ARE dedicated and will continue to live a better, healthier life.
Thou shall not covet your neighbors results. Jealously does nothing but make you discouraged. Like we touched on in the past commandments, you are you, your results are your results, your diet is your diet, you get the point… Basically, when training with a partner, or team. Be glad for their results, they will be glad for yours, it promotes team morale for you and them. Worry about your results, and you will get them. Worry about everyone else’s results, and you will forget about yours.
I got some inspiration from fellow trainer Josh Carter to make you this video. It’s a video that demonstrates what kind of effect your cardio has versus the foods you eat. After all, it takes a lot of your time and effort to throw in even just 20 minutes on the treadmill, so we want you to be clear about what you’re up against.
We know that the mentality with a lot of people is that it’s ok to eat whatever you want, just as long as you exercise. But is it really ok, or are we just fooling ourselves? This video will explain that cardio can’t compensate for a poor diet!
If anything, watch this video to see if I hurl after eating 1,900 calories of fast food, then running at 6.5 miles per hour on the treadmill! ; )
Roy.
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