Personal Life Archives - Orange County Personal Trainers - Personal Training in Orange County, CA

Fitness Motivation Is About More Than Physical Results, Just Ask Jeff!

October 6, 2017 by Jessica 6 Comments

Today Innovative Results is stoked to highlight soccer stud, and director of the LA Galaxy South Bay College Prep Program for girls, Jeff Schofield!

When did you start training at Innovative Results?
I started in November of 2014

Why did you start training with Innovative Results?
I started training there because I was looking for something different than running and going to the gym on my own. Being a former collegiate athlete I missed the intensity of workouts, energy of exercising with other like-minded people, and motivation of coach/trainer. I chose Innovative Results because it worked perfectly with my schedule. I teach during the day and then am a soccer coach at night so I needed something early afternoon and their large number of class times worked well for me.

What have you improved since you started training with Innovative Results?
Of course, I have improved many physical aspects such as speed, strength, increased core strength, lower body fat, and my clothes fit better. It also improved many aspects of my life in addition to the physical. I enjoyed setting goals and working hard to attain them. I enjoyed the relationships I built with the other clients and trainers. I improved my self-image and confidence.

What kept you coming back to Innovative Results?
It is a competitive and motivating environment that includes unique exercises that are very functional for everyday life. I also enjoy that you do a certain set of exercises for 3 weeks, which allows you to set goals for that period and try to improve at those exercises before they change it for the next set of 3 weeks.

How has Innovative Results improved the other areas of your life (i.e. work, relationships, finances, education)?
I have mainly used the knowledge and exercise for my job in coaching soccer and as a PE teacher. There are so many ways to strengthen and increase mobility and flexibility using just body weight and I have adapted a lot of what I do at IR to my teams and classes. This last year I started at a new school and their percent of students that pass the Physical Fitness Test was 44%. I did a lot of exercises that I use at IR to help them improve. For students, they need a variety of exercises to prepare for the test not just the same push ups, sit-ups, mile run, etc. As a result, my students passed at a 73% rate. I credit IR for providing me the tools to help my students.

What advice do you have for someone who is just getting started with Innovative Results?
It is going to be challenging at first. You will be sore and some of the exercises you won’t quite get immediately, but have an open mind and stay with it. Before you know it, you will be one of the regulars that is encouraging the new people.

How has your life changed since you started training at Innovative Results?
I feel better physically which improves all aspects of life. I used to wake up in the morning and was in pain as I would get out of bed. That pain is gone and I am able to play soccer more consistently without being sore or in pain.

Who would you want to experience what you get to experience at Innovative Results?
I think anybody that is looking to improve their health should come and be a part of IR. There is every kind of client there from teenagers, elite athletes, former athletes, to injured clients. The workouts can be adapted for you to make it challenging for everyone and to get out of it what you want.

Why do you stay committed to your improvement in and out of the gym?
I realize that life is much more enjoyable when you are pain free and mentally it is good to challenge yourself.

Can you relate to Jeff’s story? We’d love to hear from you!

Start your fitness journey with the Innovative Results Family! Your first session is on us, just fill out the form below!

MOVEMENT IS MEDICINE

August 29, 2017 by Jessica 3 Comments

By: Coach Dane Fernandez

WHAT IS MOVEMENT

We have been living in a civilized society for thousands of years, and only up until recently have we seen a decline in of our populations physical abilities. There are few who have excelled at getting their body to its maximum ability and potential, but for the vast majority of the civilized world we have let our immediate environment take over causing physical evolutionary change.

It’s funny to think we live in a society that needs to count their steps in order to meet the suggested physical recommendations for daily exercise. Surrounding environments play a big factor in dictating a routine or habit. When living in a modern environment we feel the need to create things like the “10,000 step a day rule”. We also create modified movement facilities like weight gyms.

As a culture we have learned that in order for us to live in the modern world we need to take part in physical activity to up keep one’s health. Gyms and sports are a means to fun physical activity in hopes of improving oneself in dimensions of speed, agility, quickness, power, and strength.

GOOD MOVEMENT vs. BAD MOVEMENT
Are we creating healthy individuals or are we taking people farther from true healthy movement? With generalized and sport specific training we are developing the bodies abilities, but are we doing it correctly and safely? Doing a gym workout is believed to replace the physical activity that we’d normally take part in if we were still living in pre-modern times. Being in a gym setting is probably not the most ideal way to express excess energy but it works with our modern society and culture.

Sport specific and generalized training are great for personal development, they provide essential skills for mind and body awareness. It takes phenomenal strength and control to perform these types of activities. We can all agree that any type of body training is going to be beneficial compared to remaining stagnant. Education, discipline, and time are a few factors when looking at developing a healthy human body.

HEALTHY MOVEMENT vs. UNHEALTHY MOVEMENT
When training is done correctly it can be extremely beneficial as one takes part in their daily lifestyle. The more your mind and body are trained the better they will respond when called upon. It is important to train ‘’the right way” on a daily basis.
Movement in our daily life comprises of multiple movement patterns. When we get stuck in a repetitive day-to-day routine it’s hard for most of us to practice healthy movements. Our movements become repetitive and unhealthy becoming harmful to one’s health.

Healthy movements can be tough to identify with all the misconceptions out in today’s health industry. Stick to the basics and master them, this is key. Once you’ve owned the basics only then can you start doing all the fun and cool movements and workouts.

Healthy movement starts with where the movement takes place. Moving in all three planes of motion will allow your body to be optimally trained. Movement in the Sagittal (Forward-Back/Up-Down), Frontal (Left-Right), and Transverse (Rotation)planes of motion will put a halt to the day to day routine.
Moving correctly takes time and dedication to the basics. Learning to control you body through it’s proper movement patterns becomes essential for optimal human health.

Control has to be one of the most underlooked components to a healthy body. Proper stabilization and mobilization of your body needs to be addressed before performing SAQ, Power, Strength, and Endurance activities or workouts. Capabilities and abilities improve when mobilization and stabilization are performed on a daily basis.

With mobility and stability improving you will be setting yourself up for successful training protocol and workouts. Addressing strength, power, speed, agility, quickness, endurance, and aerobic capacity will be much easier. Focusing on how to train the correct energy pathway for the given workout will be the main concern instead of correcting bad form and posture.

SMART ACTIVE RECOVERY
Performing movements and workouts will place stresses on your body’s bones, joints, and soft tissues. We’d all like to go day-to-day without any aches and pains and by starting a recovery protocol you will help ensure a healthy body. Succeeding in your workouts are very important for one’s health, but paying attention to how you treat your body after a workout has huge implementations as will.

By doing multiple active recovery techniques your body will start to notice faster adaptations to the stresses placed on it. Placing an emphasis on how your body heals and regenerates itself post exercise is an important part of a great training protocol. Emphasis can be placed on two types of recovery; active and passive recovery.

Usually many different theories arise as to how to do recovery and what methods to use. When dealing with post exercise protocol, one of the first things that should be implemented is an active decompression. This can be considered to be a short jog or locomotion technique to help circulate blood flow in the body, thus improving overall recovery. Other types of active recovery are self myofascial releases along with tissue and joint decompression stretches.

Passive recovery is something that you do without exerting any effort like a hot/cold contrast bath, epsom salt bath, and massage or physical palpation. Passive recovery is commonly mistaken as “my recovery day” which consist of lying on the couch all day doing nothing at all (this is not what we want to do). Using proper passive recovery techniques can provide insights to body awareness and healing. By adding multiple recovery disciplines into your daily workout progression you are supercharging your bodies recovery cycle thus making you a healthier individual.

Add up all the smart movement strategies and start to implement them into your daily regime. If you are still unsure about how to apply there techniques into a fitness program please don’t hesitate to visit a local “smart gym”. Make sure that they go through proper programming and recovery in their day to day progressions.

It’s time to get out there and make your own medicine out of movement.

4 Workouts That Will Keep You Going All Year

February 13, 2017 by Jessica 2 Comments

Article By: Paige Johnson, Learnfit.org

In exercise, a lot of people tend to develop the habit of sticking to what works for them. However as with anything, all things change —including your body and what it needs to thrive. If you allow your muscles to become accustomed to your workout routine with little to no variety, you will begin to see little to no results. Little to no results will in turn lead to frustration and inactivity, which is never the goal! This year take the time to add variety to your existing fitness regimen and watch as your body changes along with you!

Join a jogging club

The benefits of jogging are tremendous and one of the best ways to yield results in your overall health and wellbeing. Jogging improves your cardiovascular fitness, strengthens your bones and it aids in maintaining a healthy weight. If you are new to jogging or just trying to find ways to spruce up your routine, joining a joggers group may be just the right step for you! You may find a runners club sponsored by your local sports store or you can form one in your own neighborhood! The primary foundation of a running group is to meet one or two times a week and run a select distance as a group. The encouragement and team response you will receive from participating in such a group will prove to be beneficial to your general mood as well as your health. The accountability that comes with running in a group also will assist you in maximizing your fitness efforts to attain better results!

Try a spin class

Spinning, a specific format of indoor cycling, is a exercise routine that has quickly made its way around the world. As you ride on a stationary cycling bike under the supervision of a certified spinning instructor, your heart rate will shoot up which in return allows you to sweat, burn a sustainable amount of calories and improve your lower body strength. Most spin classes typically last an hour or less and can be taken at your local gym or fitness facility. Classes are uptempo and accompanied with loud, adrenaline pumping music. Be sure to bring a towel for sweat and plenty of water! Consider bringing a friend to enjoy the new experience with you!

Practice yoga

Yoga is not your typical heart racing type of exercise, however if done properly the benefits practicing are amazing. The practice of yoga originated in India and has widespread across the globe as a phenomenal way to improve your mental and physical health and wellness. Physical benefits of yoga include increased core strength, increased flexibility and weight reduction. The mental benefits of yoga sharpens your concentration, helps you de-stress and also increases body awareness.

Start using weights

The use of weights, also known as strength training is a wildly successful way to add more value to your fitness efforts. The use of weights create a compound called resistance, which can be explained as using your muscles to work against the extra pounds. Weight training helps you burn calories more efficiently than traditional exercise and it also reduces body fat. The best way to become introduced to strength training is by acquiring a personal trainer to allow yourself to see maximum results and avoid potential injuries. It doesn’t hurt to get some equipment for your home either.

Incorporating one or more of these exercises into your routine will be more than enough to keep your fitness goals on track throughout the year. Adding variety is the best way to ensure that you are getting the most out of your efforts, and it will keep you from inactivity due to boredom. Keep your routine fun and fresh by stepping outside of your workout habits and begin to enjoy the fittest, healthiest version of yourself!

If you are ready to start a new training program, whether it be running, strength training, yoga or all of the above – Go ahead and fill out the form below and one of our Innovative Results Personal Trainers will contact you to discuss your training goals!

Reduce Stress and Increase Happiness in This Ten Minutes Per Day Habit – Improve Your Quality of Life Today!

October 6, 2016 by IR Staff 2 Comments

Reduce Stress and Increase Happiness?

In Ten Minutes or less per day?

Sounds too good to be true, right?

This article might be long, but it will be worth the read, if you would like to experience an increase in your happiness, satisfaction, and success.

I have been partaking in a daily habit that is completely transforming the way I think about my life, my relationships, my work, and my purpose in life, and at this point, it would be selfish and wrong to not share this with the people in my life that want to experience improved quality of life. So here it goes…

Founder and Owner, Aaron Guyett with his kids.

How can you spend 2 to 10 minutes every day, and experience more happiness, satisfaction, and success, even in the midst of our busy and stressful lives?

First, we need to understand that thinking happy, satisfying, and successful thoughts goes against our nature. All of humanity is wired to remember and focus on the negative, and in case you think you are the exception, read these questions and ponder the answer.

Which thing can you remember faster, something a significant other in your life did that was good or bad?

When you have performed a thousand good deeds or actions for your boss or job, why do they (or you) recall or focus on the one bad thing?

When asked a general question about the way you perform, why do you instantly think with a negative bias, and tend to find your body language, words, or thoughts to be defensive in nature?

Why do we tend to believe the World is getting more violent, oppressive, and dangerous, when every study of history depicts the opposite is in fact occurring in today’s World?

This is the way our minds were created, and without getting overly spiritual, this is what keeps us out of harms way.

kettlebell, kettlebell team, innovative results kettlebell team, Amanda Clover, Keri Guyett, Harrel Carman, Aaron Guyett, Manny Aragon, Christabel Tabbada, Jessica Ciske

If negatives didn’t affect us in a profound way psychologically, we would find ourselves eaten by animals, walking in front of fast-moving cars, and stepping off buildings, bridges, or cliffs often.

The issue with this brain wiring, is that even though life is easier and safer, relative to our human history, we are more depressed, anxious, and medicated than ever before.

We don’t have to fall into this pattern, though. We can make daily choices that help us focus on all of the good stuff, and experience lives that are happier, more satisfying, and more successful, despite the social, emotional, and environmental pressure and stress that can seem to surround us.

Innovative Results, workouts, become better, better everyday, next one best one, orange county fitness playground

If we train our brains to focus on the positives and help seat these positives deep into our psycho-social rhythms, we will reap amazing quality-of-life improvements (And that is what Innovative Results is all about).

Daily movement is shown to improve us psychologically, just as much if not more than it improves us physiologically, but if our thoughts are bad, even playful movement can seem like a daunting task or difficult chore.

I challenge you, to take the 90 Day Bliss challenge:

Take 2 to 10 minutes everyday to partake in one of the Bliss App exercises to improve your quality of life for 90 days in a row.

Why perform positive psychology or positive neuroplasticity training (PNT) daily?

From the Bliss App Page:

“Psychologists have identified a collection of exercises, or “interventions,” which have been shown to create long-lasting improvements in happiness, motivation, resilience, life-satisfaction, and a host of other positive mental traits. Bliss packages these exercises up for you in one application so that you can easily incorporate them into your life and reap all the benefits from decades of research in positive psychology.”

You can get the Bliss app on your phone (even iPhone) here: http://bliss31.com/about.php

If you are interested in some of the research behind this I suggest reading:

“The Happiness Advantage” by: Shawn Achor
Dr. Rick Hanson’s handout here: https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/fwb-media.rickhanson.net/PDFfiles/UsingYourMindToChangeYourBrain.pdf
And this study http://www.rickhanson.net/teaching/tgc-public-summary/

There is a lot more material proving the point, but I won’t burden you with an exhaustive bibliography.

Know that I want you to experience improved quality of life through increased happiness, satisfaction, success, and purpose in you life, and I believe you will appreciate this HUGE step in that direction!

Did you enjoy “Reduce Stress and Increase Happiness in This Ten Minutes Per Day Habit”?

Please comment and share with your family, friends, and coworkers.

If you would like to improve your quality of life with Innovative Results, please fill out the form below.

6 Keys to Improving Your Physical Health

April 3, 2016 by ptpt 1 Comment

By Aubrie Pohl

-A constant lethargic feeling.
–Achy joints and tired muscles.
-A lack of motivation and desire.
-Sitting down for more hours than standing.
-Feeling like you are capable of so much more.

These are all characteristics of a less-than optimal health.

Our physical state of health can affect every aspect of our life.

Human bodies are incredible.

Do you ever think about how much your body loves you?

Your body is always adapting and accommodating to the situation at hand.
Constantly healing.

Constantly trying to make your life easier for you.

It will get strong if you start strength training.

It will continue to breathe when you don’t even think about breathing!

However, our bodies will only work at their optimal level if we do our part to keep them in the healthiest condition that we can.

There are many ways of improving your physical health, so we can make great steps towards an improved quality of life!

Here are the 6 Keys to Improving Your Physical Health:

1. Movement

We are born to move.

Our bodies love movement.
Without it, our joints ache, our bodies inflame, and we experience pain and weakness.

With every push, pull, reach, stretch, twist, jump, lift, and dance our bodies reciprocate and strengthen, lengthen, expand, open, and grow towards their greatest potential.

Most of our modern day jobs require us to sit for hours at a time, performing robotic motions and allowing our bodies to be stagnant. But they yearn for the freeing sensation of muscles contracting and expanding, of giving and receiving.

Encourage yourself to move on a regular basis, freely and openly, in whatever way feels best.

Even if that means circling your shoulders in line at the grocery store.
Stretching your legs while watching TV.
Twisting your spine as you lay in bed.
Moving your body is always an option.
Feeling better is ALWAYS an option.

2. Nutrient rich, Unprocessed, Living Foods.

Your body takes the food you eat and breaks down the food into the macronutrients and micronutrients you need, then reassembles those into your cells to provide you with the energy that allows you to thrive and grow towards your optimal being.

However, your body is only as efficient as the material it has to work with.

The quality of food you send into your body can have a powerful effect on your mental clarity, your ability to perform, and your overall function.

The “Standard American Diet”, also known as SAD…. is sad!

Highly processed foods and a portion distortion leave our bodies critically short of nutrients our bodies crave.
Everybody is different, but we all have an intuitive wisdom that allows the fibers of our being to send us signals of true wellness.
Notice the way your body and energy levels respond after eating certain foods.

So what should you eat?

Eat foods with no labels.
More nutrient dense fruits, vegetables, lean meats.
Less sugary, carbohydrate dense processed foods.
Shop only around the perimeter of the grocery store.
Eat without distractions and notice how foods make you feel.
If you see a food that is not something your great-grandparents ate when they were young, disregard it.
Drink water all day, every day.

After all, a healthy outside starts from the inside.

3. Sunshine

A little sunshine every day can boost your mood and serotonin levels, our happy hormone.

If we allow our bodies to absorb a healthy amount of Vitamin D through the sun, we can prevent illnesses that occur from Vitamin D deficiency.

The sun also warms our muscles to reduce inflammation and stiffness.
a small 15 minute walk through the sunshine can do wonders for your body and mind!

Your body will tell you when you’ve had enough sun, turning a shade of pink or feeling warm to the touch.

So go outside for a healthy amount of sun and feel healthier!

4. Sleep

Our hasty, task-filling lifestyle has the ability to distract us from getting enough sleep.
We get caught up in our busy lives, and sacrifice sleep to get more things done.

Our body revitalizes itself during sleep.
Sleep is as vital to sustaining a healthy, energetic life as eating, drinking, and breathing!

Allow your body a restful night and experience yourself feeling attentive, refreshed, and more prepared to challenge your day, so you can live your full potential.

Even a short nap during the day can reinvigorate your system to take on the rest of the day!

Develop an intimate relationship with your body to discover the amount of sleep that you need, and feel your energy increase!

5. Less Chemicals

Living a life with less chemical additives can have a profound effect on your well-being.

Hand soap, shampoos, perfumes, make up, lotions, deodorants, air fresheners, and many other products can potentially contain dangerous chemicals that can disrupt your body’s functions.

As you educate yourself about what products your body is absorbing, you will be able to make conscious decisions on how to lessen the amount of toxins you take in and discover better-for-you options.

6. Positive Actions

Instilling our actions in forward momentum will allow us to continue on a path of self-transformation and success to make our lives more meaningful and satisfying.

By taking the right steps in the right direction, positive actions become intentional activities that manifest more motivation, happiness, and improved life conditions.

Mindfully build good habits, pursue goals, endeavor to live the life you have imagined and you can confidently move in the direction of your highest potential!

In fact, a change of behavior can alter how we think and feel.

Even our poses and demeanor have the potential to change the chemical make-up of our bodies.
Smile and you will feel happier!

Stand tall with your chest out and you will assert confidence!

At any moment, you have the power to construct your decisions and actions towards an improved quality of life.

Ready to Kick-Start Your Improved Quality of Life with Innovative Results?

Fill Out the Form Below!

I Choose HAPPY Now – A Story About Choosing Happiness from Aaron Guyett

October 23, 2015 by Jessica Leave a Comment

By Aaron Guyett

What are you doing this weekend?

Me personally, I get the opportunity to watch my long time friend and business partner get married…and when I thought about it, I want to share my happiness choice with you.

I choose happiness now, and I encourage you to choose happiness now, too, not because of the good that will happen to you, but because you choose to see the good in everything.

Every dark cloud has a silver lining, and it takes an incredible amount of character to choose love, joy, and happiness even in those tough situations.

I am not saying, “don’t be sad, or sadness, frustration, and anger is not allowed.”

They are all emotions that we experience, and they are all valid.

I am challenging you to pursue happiness from the inside out.

Pursue a new way to perceive your surroundings.

Believe the best in yourself and others.

Look for what makes you happy or grateful for yourself, your surroundings, and others in your life, especially your loved ones.

I would be willing to bet that there are many things you might be taking for granted that you can now show love, happiness, and appreciation for, regardless of how many “bad” things might come with yourself, situations, and others.

Smiling is a way we can all pursue this character in our lives no matter the situation.

Impact your life and the lives of others with a free gift: your smile.

Watch Smile Video here, and I dare you to keep a straight face.

Make your next hour your best hour!

If you liked, “I Choose HAPPY Now – A Story About Choosing Happiness from Aaron Guyett”, please leave a comment, and share this article with your family, friends, and coworkers.

If you are interested in choosing happy with the Innovative Results fitness gym, coaches, and clients, fill out the form below.

Nutrition: How to Stop Storing Fat; Use it As A Fuel Source

July 8, 2014 by ptpt 3 Comments

By Aaron Guyett

Recently I have had a ton of clients ask me to help them with their nutrition. Which is AWESOME!!

Nutrition is literally THE MOST IMPORTANT part of losing or gaining weight. I am stoked to help you with one of these at a time: gaining lean body mass or losing body fat.

Trying to gain lean body mass AND lose body fat at the same time is unproductive at best.

Most of us are trying to lose the body fat, and reveal the sexy and strong muscles we’ve been hiding underneath that blubbery substance for too long! This blog will direct you to some of the best resources I have, in this battle against the bodies best fuel storage ever–fat

To use your fat as fuel instead of cushion here are the principles:

Psychological hunger (boredom usually) is not your friend…drink 12-20 ounces of water when you think your hungry and wait thirty minutes, if you are still hungry, go ahead and eat.
Plan what you consume (eat and drink), and record what you consume–yes, even cheating. If you plan your cheat meals, they will not overtake your life, by going from one meal to an entire weekend (starting Friday and rolling Monday, because-I-already-messed-up-so-I-might-as-well-eat-like-crap-again-today). It is hard to use fat as fuel, when you keep storing up the fuel for four days straight. Try MyFitnessPal as an app to plan and track.
Not every calorie is the same, but if you drastically reduce the consumption of alcohol, high fructose corn syrup, sugar, sodium, and saturated fats, counting calories will really help you understand what is going on with your body. Your lean body mass uses fuel, and your body fat can be used as fuel if you run out of food as its primary fuel source. Estimating calories spent and calories consumed will give you a much better idea of what you are doing to create this internal environment. It is just like using a budget and financial tracker, but for your physical health. S ome of the free websites and apps out there are incredible for keeping track, and make it easy.
If what you are doing right now is not getting you to where you want to be, stop doing it. I think it is unfair to tell someone to stop without giving them at least a couple solutions. Try the above first, and if you need some helpful plans for nutrition I have a link here that has three incredible downloads just for you! http://www.personaltrainerorangecounty.com/30daydownload2013-2/
Use the advice and experience of the experts you pay and visit on a weekly basis. The Innovative Results trainers have not only done all of the above for themselves, but they have literally helped thousands of people lose body fat, eat better, move better, feel better, and look better. They have heard every excuse, situation, and reason for not getting to goals multiple times. They want to help you improve your quality of life. Use them.
Once you get to your goals, please, please, please, pretty please do not go back to the nutrition and lifestyle choices you were making before. That was the reason you decided to get help in the first place, or read and follow this pathway to use fat as fuel. There is no reason in this whole wide world that you would want to go down that path again. So make new habits, and keep them for heaven’s sake!

Here is a quick synopsis of what is written above: hunger doesn’t necessarily mean eat; plan and record what you eat; understand that calories are important, but not everything; stop doing what is storing up fat, and start making changes that help you use fat as fuel; use actual experts in this field; and stay the course, even when you get to your goal weight or look. Going back to your old ways, will only turn you into your old self (the one that had more fuel or cushion than you wanted and needed).

Thank you for taking the time to read this, and I hope the app, link, and blog helped you this week, month, and year!

Email info@innovative-results.com, or fill out the form below to find out how Innovative Results can help you out more specifically.

9 Common Habits That Are Making You Fat, Tired and Unhealthy

October 15, 2012 by ptpt 12 Comments

We are all creatures of habit and as we look to improve our health, lose weight, perform better, we are forced to assess our daily habits and see what we can improve upon. Below are 9 common, daily habits that people, including me, do that hurt our progress in the gym and out. By addressing these and replacing them with healthier alternatives, we can improve our health, increase our energy and look better in the mirror.

1. Hitting snooze. Set your alarm and wake up the first time. One way to make this easier is to understand that we typically sleep on 90 min cycles and come into the lighter stages of sleep every 90 minutes or so. If we wake up on these cycles, we tend to be more alert and wake…versus hitting snooze and waking up in a deeper sleep cycle and being out of it, groggy and upset that we have to wake up.

2. Adding sugars, sweeteners and other flavors to our morning coffee. Adds unnecessary chemicals and calories. Ideally, you would have a tall glass of water first thing in the morning. I typically do this as the coffee maker is brewing. Then, avoid adding a bunch of nonsense in your coffee. Chemical flavors, soy milk, sugars, sweeteners and other additives are horrible for our bodies.

3. Eating cereal, bagels and other starches and sugars for breakfast. Starts the sugar roller coaster that repeats all day to keep energy. Convenient quick breakfast foods are typically loaded with sugar and are the worst way to start our day. Ideally you would have a breakfast higher in protein and healthy fats, like eggs, avocado, good meats, veggies or similar.

4. Lunch on the Go. Fast foods and quick lunches can add tons of calories and no quality. Ideally you would plan your meals and have yourself surrounded by good, quality foods during the day. Eating at restaurants provides lower quality foods, higher calories and creates too much temptation to eat bad foods.

5. Afternoon coffee, soda or energy drinks. The sugar high and lows, combined with loads of caffeine is an exhausting roller coaster. It not only provide

6. Quick trip to the vending machines, quickie mart or coffee shop pastry, candies and snacks in the afternoon. This craving usually occurs because of habit and low blood sugar levels after a heavy carb laden lunch. Keep raw nuts at your desk and in your car. If you need a quick snack, stick to a small handful of nuts and it will help control your blood sugar levels, as well as providing healthy fats, which are good for your brain, heart and many other systems in your body.

7. Dinner at a restaurant. Dining at restaurants is hard on the waistline, period. Sure, you can make wiser choices, and that’s fine once in a while. Its always better to cook at home with high quality foods. If you are not a cook, don’t worry. Shopping and preparing good foods is something that you will learn over time. We have shopping lists, sample days and many healthy recipes available on our site.

Healthy Shopping List and more

Eddie’s Healthy Tuna Recipe

8. Beer, wine or cocktails at night. The average American drinks 400 beers per year. Considering that 1/3 of Americans don’t drink, that means the people that do, drink at least a couple every night. If you are interested in a healthier lifestyle, losing weight or performing at your best, I would avoid drinking alcohol every night. If you have a couple drinks once a week, no problem, but the daily intake adds up a lot of calories that will pack on the pounds.

9. Mindless snacking in front of the tube. The average American watches 4-5 hours of television everyday. Many of us, mindlessly eat in front of the tube, meaning we tend to eat way more than if we were actually paying attention to what we were eating. Plus, most snacks are worthless calories anyway. Avoid snacking between meals and best to get the sugars and starchy snacks out of the house period.

How many of those 9 habits do you do frequently during the week?

While, we understand that people are not perfect, it is our job to help people live healthier lives and reprogramming bad habits is essential. Start by assessing your daily habits, then make improvements over time. Just like any habit, changing it takes focus, consistency and patience over time to make it stick.

So, take a minute and review your day. How many of these are habits for you? What do you think is a better alternative?

If you have any questions, leave us a comment or email us directly – info@innovative-results.com.

We are always happy to help!

Innovative Results is committed to helping make Costa Mesa and the surrounding communities healthier, more energetic and active.

Do you believe that improving your fitness, can positively affect all other areas of your life? We do, we’ve seen it happen and experience it ourselves every week.

Give it a try this week…on us! Try a week for FREE – fill out the form below!

Are you Overtraining or Making Progress Toward your Goals?

July 17, 2011 by ptpt 5 Comments

Exercise is a stress on our bodies. When our bodies are able to adapt to the stress, we make progress. When we are unable to adapt efficiently, then our bodies begin to break down. The goal of this article is to give you a brief overview of the types of overtraining that occurs and how to avoid it.

There are basically 3 different types of overtraining which include sympathetic, parasympathetic and central nervous system overtraining. What does that mean? Well, here are some simple breakdowns of each category.

‘Type A’ Adrenaline Junkies

Orange county fitness — Not the sign of a good workout

Sympathetic overtraining is probably the most common type of overtraining these days and occurs from an excessive amount of strength/anerobic activities without proper time to recover between sessions. Day to day mental stress also affects this system, so stress levels outside the gym have to be addressed and accounted for if you want to keep this balanced and healthy. Common symptoms include loss of appetite, weight loss, disturbed sleep patterns, increased resting heart rate, irritability, decrease in performance and fatigue.

Cardio Junkies

orange county exercise — Addicted to runner’s high?

The second category is called Parasympathetic overtraining and is more commonly seen in endurance type athletes. It is caused by an excessive amount of aerobic type activity. “Cardio junkies, triathletes, runners and other distance athletes are most susceptible to this type of overtraining. Symptoms can include depression, unmotivated and a general disinterest in things.

Olympic / Power / Strongman Lifter Types

The 3rd category in central nervous system (CNS) overtraining and occurs from excessive high intensity activities such as Powerlifting, Olympic weightlifting, plyometrics, strongman and other power drills. This typically occurs when the volume of these types of activities os too high. Symptoms can include decrease in reaction rate, lower strength, poor motor skills, and decreased ability to focus.

So how can you avoid overtraining?

Planning your workouts is essential. Assessments are key to figuring out where your ability level is and then goal setting to determine where you want to go.

These days there are lots of programs that throw people into high intensity workouts and run them into the floor every time they come in the gym. Other people may jump right into plyos or running long distances. This is a recipe for disaster which can lead to overtraining, injury and more. The key to long lasting success is the ability to vary workouts between stimulating and recovering, using all three energy systems and adjusting exercise variables to allow proper progression towards your goal.

At Innovative Results we use proper alignment, exercise progression and varying intensities as the foundations of our workouts. Its not just about getting a tough workout! Varying ability levels and goals dictate the exercise selection and intensity of each workout. Over time, everyone makes progress toward their goals safely and efficiently.

Remember, there is no “one size fits all” program that works for everyone. Each person is unique and requires slightly different programs in order to perform. Taking the time to learn and apply these principles can mean the difference between positive results and frustration.

Recommended reading

You deserve more than just a great workout

3 aspects of movement that affect your workout

9 ways to renew, recover and feel your best

If you need help developing a program, fill out the form below and a member of our training team will contact you!

We work with clients all over Southern California and have helped thousands of women, men and athletes look better, feel better and perform better!

Resources:

“Ultimate MMA Conditioning” Joel Jamieson. 2009 Peak Performance Inc.

“Acute Exercise Variables” Tony Bruno. AB&C Fitness.

Pieces of the Puzzle – Part 2 – Nutrition Tips to Look and Feel Better

February 28, 2011 by ptpt 10 Comments

Ever take a tired and hungry 3 year old into a toy store?

What happens?

You know the story…I want this, I want that, can I have this…and then disaster if they hear “no”.

Now, you may smile and laugh because of a recent encounter with this.

You may have even learned a lesson and avoid this situation at all costs!

You don’t blame them for this, right? Kids don’t know any better and it takes time for them to learn that they can’t have everything they see.

You obviously don’t buy them everything they want, because they will become spoiled and you’ll go broke!

Pretty obvious, right?

My question is: Why do most adults correct their kids about WANTING everything at the store, then allow themselves to indulge in every gluttonous pleasure they encounter?

I’m sure you don’t do this, but it really just boils down to human nature.

In truth, I really don’t think people these days understand how to eat healthy. There is so much noise out there regarding healthy foods, diets, plans, groups, supplements, replacements, suppressants and other stuff, that it has become very confusing.

Some people may scream “fat free” or “sugar free”, but is that really the answer?

Major Problems with Our Nutrition

1. People don’t know what to eat

Eat this vs eat that..so many questions, right? This diet, that diet, fat free, sugar free, sugar substitutes, trans fats, marketing, doctors, friends, family etc etc etc. Everyone has an opinion. Most people I talk to are completely confused, frustrated and looking for the truth.

2. People have become dependent on convenience

Everyone is busy, so if they are going to eat healthy, they have to figure out how to make it work in their crazy schedule. Taking the time to plan, shop and preparing good food is more simple than you may think.

3. People have an unhealthy expectation of perfection.

People always stumble or get stuck in a funny situation and eat poorly. The key is to do your best on the next meal, the next snack or the next day. Perfection is not the goal, so relax. Use each mistake or challenge as a learning experience.

Those who succeed will be the ones who are most prepared for any situation. See below for specific tips and tools to help you along the way.

4. People are too emotionally attached. Food is comfort and pleasure.

This is no different than your kid touching the stove, burning his/her hand and then learning not to touch the hot stove, right? If you keep leaving the bread on the table at dinner, eat the whole thing, then feel guilty…my advise is to learn to tell the waiter to get that basket of rolls away from you. Simple.

Is your goal bigger than the temptation?

3 simple Nutrition Tips to eat healthier without the pain of dieting.

1. Get the bad food out of your house, office, car, purse, backpack, etc.

Here is a good rule of thumb…If God made it, eat it. The more we touch it (alter it, refine it, package it, market it, etc) RUN! I truly believe that eating more naturally occurring foods will transform the way you look, feel, perform and recover!

Now, since we are all a little weak, it is vital to get the bad food out of site. Don’t tempt yourself with the bad alternative. If oatmeal raisin cookies or brownies are around, I WILL EAT them! I have proven it time and time again, so I have learned not to keep them around.

** KEY POINT: I do NOT expect perfection from myself or my clients. I indulge from time to time, but it is not a daily habit. An occasional sweet is not the end of the world. Enjoy it and move on 🙂

2. Surround yourself with good food and snacks

Once the bad food is out, then its time to restock the shelves with good food. We have provided a great shopping list for you to use as a template at the grocery store. You should also look for local farmer’s markets. These can be a great way to find fresh produce, save money and support a local farmer. Once you’ve got good food around, then you should cook a few meals and/or prep it for the week.

I prefer to cook on Sunday and Wed nights. I cook a large amount of food, divvy it into Tupperware and then I have it ready for the next few days. This process solves 2 big problems: Getting busy, not having good food available and making a poor choice…and its a simple way to control portion sizes.

Plus, did I mention that this could save you hundreds of dollars per month? Check out the Dining Out Budget sheet for more details.

3. Forget “diet” food – fat free, sugar free and other diet gimmicks are just marketing hype.

Filtering out all the hype and noise is the next big task. These days we are bombarded with new foods, diets, supplements and ideas. The truth is that without having a good foundation of real, natural foods, all the supplements, bars and shakes are useless. Its not just about fat, carbs and protein. Real, whole, natural foods provide minerals, vitamins, antioxidants, phytonutrients, a variety of amino acids, fiber, carbohydrates and fats. We need all of these things to function at our highest levels.

Most diet foods tend to focus on Protein or Sugar, but lack the balance we need to function properly. So realize that the majority of your calories should come from natural foods and everyone should eat a balance of proteins, fats and carbohydrates. Strive to hit the basics before you start thinking about supplements or drastic diet plans. I bet you’ll be surprised how great you feel!

“It’s the unconscious behaviors that impact diet/nutrition the most. Being conscious is important w/ food choices” -Candice Cendana

Thought Candice (aka @HealthOC) hit the nail on the head when she sent me this tip on Twitter. Lots of us have heard about healthy food, read books, and heard scary statistics, but unfortunately we continue with our old bad habits. In order to change, we have to become conscious of our eating habits.

What we Think we do and what we ACTUALLY do are two different things

Ideally, you would keep a daily Food Journal, but here are some simple questions to assess your daily drill:

Print out this piece of paper and simply fill in the blanks for the third part to these Nutrition Tips.

1. I wake up at ___and eat ______________. (include drinks)

2. I stop on the way to school/work and get ________________.

3. I always snack on ____________ in between meals.

4. My favorite snack is _______________.

5. I usually (pick one) bring my lunch to work / go out to lunch.

6. If you dine out for lunch…I usually eat ____________ for lunch.

7. I usually buy a _____________ to drink from the gas station, vending machine or quicky mart.

8. I usually have __ cups of coffee per day

9. I usually have __ alcoholic drinks per night.

10. When go out on the weekends, I will have ___ glasses of wine/beers/other drinks.

11. I eat ___ meals at restaurants every week.

12. I cook ___ meals at my house each week.

13. I ________ vegetables.

14. I go grocery shopping every ___________.

15. I plan my meals for the week every ____________.

16. ___________ is my day to plan, prepare and cook meals.

17. I could schedule time on __________ to shop, prepare and cook every week.

18. (Yes or NO) I am conscious of the amount of food I eat. Yes or No

19. I keep a food journal each day. Yes or No

20. I take the time to learn and gather new healthy recipes and ideas. Yes or No

21. Eating good, quality food is important to me. Yes or No

22. I am willing to work on implementing new eating habits to help my family become healthier. Yes or No

These are just some basic questions to get you thinking (conscious) about your eating habits. The next step is to actually start making healthier choices, implementing them into your life and creating new habits that help you work toward your goals. Remember, you have everything you need to change and you are strong and powerful enough to make these changes.

Is it always gonna be easy, of course not, but nothing worth while ever is 🙂

More Nutrition Tips! Try These Recommended Tools and Resources:

Check out our FREE Fitness Tools page for grocery shopping lists, sample days, and more.

You should also check out the Nutrition Articles on our blog. They are packed full of helpful information!

If you have specific questions, leave us a comment!

Next Up! Pieces of the Puzzle – Part 3 – Learning the ins and outs of Exercise.

How to Get Started
Exercise Selection
Making Progress
Changing things up
Answers to a few Important Questions

Gonna be a great one, don’t miss it!

If you liked these Nutrition Tips, leave us a comment and share this with your friends, family, and coworkers.

If you want some extra guidance, we would love to help you at Innovative Results – The Orange County Fitness Playground.