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How to be a Winner (if you aren't planning to compete in the Olympics)

Okay. We need to clear the air on something. I’m sure by now you’ve seen the meme going around with Michael Phelps and Chad Le Clos in the 200m Butterfly Final in Rio. In the last few meters of the race, Phelps stares dead ahead while Le Clos looks over in desperation at his opponent surging to the finish. The meme reads, “Winners focus on winning. Losers focus on winners.”

Really…?

Commit to Consistency

Trying to figure out where to start when getting in shape can be overwhelming. If you spend any amount of time on the internet, you’re bound to come across advertisements for pills that claim to incinerate fat, shoes that guarantee a butt lift, and workout routines that promise you a six pack in six weeks. The thing is, if you actually buy into any of these ads, you’re likely to end up worse off than where you started. Not only will you fail to see improvement, but there’s a good chance that in not making progress, you’ll be discouraged to try again. As one of my clients said about a previous fad diet failure, “what’s the point of trying if I’m just gonna fail again?”

But, obviously people are making it happen. There are people out there burning fat, lifting butts and flaunting six packs. So what do they know that other people don’t? How are they able to succeed where other people fall short?

30 Days of Active!

My fitness journey started in hotel rooms. I was eating Taco Bell for breakfast and Jim Beam for dinner. I hated how I felt and had to make a change. But I had no equipment, little time and never knew my schedule day to day. All I knew was that I had to do something.

JUST DO SOMETHING - that was my motto, that was my goal. I challenged myself to be active every day. Push-ups at gas stations, Burpees in hotel rooms. Didn't matter as long as I did it. And it worked.

So now I'm challenging you guys! 30 days of doing something active every day. If you read our last blog post, you saw that we created a guide to help you out. And to show you how effective this challenge can be, we start with a test on Day 1 and a retest on Day 30. To participate, check us out on Instagram! Post a photo of yourself doing something active - whether you follow the guide or not is up to you, just show us that you hustle - and tag us in the pic. Share this with someone and encourage them to participate as well!

Happy Hustle, Fit Fam!

Learn to Love the Hustle

I was watching TV the other day and a commercial came on for the new Boflex Max Trainer. If you haven’t seen it, let me set it up for you. Like every other infomercial for fitness equipment, the commercial was filled with glistening 6 packs and bulging pecs from people who’ve clearly never once used the piece of equipment they’re pitching. It’s basically a hybrid of a stair climber and an elliptical and claims to give you every fitness goal you’ve ever dreamed of. Want razor sharp abs? Use this thing. Want to PR your 5k? Use this thing. Want huge biceps and a buns o’ steel? Use this thing. But what I found most offensive about this whole ridiculous display - and I actually rewound the DVR to make sure I heard it correctly – was their sales pitch: “Why do exhausting, high-intensity workouts when you can do long periods of rest with short bursts of effort.”

What??

6 Crucial Steps for Dealing with an Injury

Man, I lost it.

“How much do you really need to use your knee?” the Doctor asked. “You can still do your job without doing squats.”

Crushed.

I’d been dealing with some pretty severe knee swelling for about 6 weeks before I finally went to the Doctor. We assumed it was meniscus related. He and I discussed the best-case scenario: quick surgery, 4-6 weeks of rehab, and back to business. No big deal, right?

Then the MRI results came back...

4 Reasons You Should Brave that Winter Workout

After a balmy holiday season, cold weather has finally hit Atlanta. Most people will bid farewell to sunny outdoor workouts and resign themselves to several months inside a stuffy gym. But you’re not most people. We’ve already told you how to safely work out in winter conditions, but why should you bother? We’re glad you asked…

6 Must-Know Tips for Working Out in the Cold

Exercising in the briskness of the great outdoors during the winter is fun. No, really. It is. All that sun and fresh air and lack of humidity can be downright delightful, but only if you prepare appropriately and don’t lose a toe to frostbite. Ain’t nobody got time for that. We’re not exactly living in the tundra down here in the dirty South, but it is finally cold enough that you’ll need to do a little extra prep before embarking on your outdoor workout. Here’s what you need to know…

Unusual Atlanta Races Guaranteed to Add Fun to Your Run in 2016

Staying healthy is not always a bucket of fun. In fact, sometimes it’s more like a bucket of suck. You might get bored with your routine. You might have days when you just don’t feel like putting in the work (but you’ll do it anyway because the results are worth it). The good news is, when you’re tired of running the same old boring neighborhood route, you can always sign up for one of Atlanta’s more interesting races to inject some fun into your run. Here are some 2016 events that will help you make some memories while you log some miles…

5 Ways to Survive Thanksgiving (Without Busting Your Diet Wide Open)

Thanksgiving is an awesome time of the year. One filled with good food, family and positive vibes. But, the Thanksgiving feast isn’t known for having the healthiest fares. The fat and sugar heavy calorie bombs, although delicious, can derail just about anyone’s diet. Here are 5 sure-fire ways to enjoy your holiday while preventing a total nutritional nightmare.

Bust Out Of Your Slump

You’re gonna hit a slump. It happens to every one of us at some point. And when it does, it’s tends to snowball. Maybe three weeks of straight rain and no sun got the best of you. You miss a workout, then two. Who can blame you? Getting up at the crack of dawn when it’s cold, dark and raining just sucks. Then you miss a few more. Before you realize what’s happening, your fitness routine isn’t as much a “routine” as a series of excuses.

Maybe work’s keeping you busy. Long hours and lots of stress will take a toll on anyone’s priorities. Maybe something else is throwing you off your routine like a new baby, an injury, or moving to a new city.