My legs are aching and my lungs are burning as I ascend to the top of the Bright Angel Trail at the Grand Canyon. My 4th grader, who strikingly resembles a mountain goat, ambitiously sets a goal that we climb back up in half the time it took us to hike down. I looked at his excited smile and the twinkle in his eyes as he asked. The mom and coach in me couldn’t say no to that kind of goal setting, so up we went.

Let’s talk about your relationship with your day 1, your ride or die, your...self.

Your relationship with yourself sets the foundation for all others. No one is going to have your back, anticipate your needs, or know exactly what you’re thinking and feeling better than you.

So why then do we talk down to ourselves and hold ourselves to unrealistic standards?

Study after study after study has shown that exercise alone, without addressing nutrition, does not result in any real-life significant fat loss results. Many of the participants in these studies began a rigorous exercise routine only to lose a pound or two of fat after several months. Talk about spinning your wheels!

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.

Angela had just finished a round of Whole 30. She had diligently thrown out everything that wasn't on her approved list and only eaten items that were "clean," which sometimes meant having 5 pears at a meal just to satisfy her hunger and cravings. She had declined social events for fear of not following her plan and "falling off the wagon."

How many people can relate to this?  From my experience, a lot, and I bet you this picture was taken on a Sunday, because “my diet starts Monday,” right?  Sunday becomes time to eat all the “fun foods” so there’s nothing left to tempt you tomorrow, and with your head hung low you prep the kale and plain tilapia.  No wonder everyone hates Monday!  

Where did Kaizen Health & Fitness get its name? What does Kaizen mean?