Just some random thoughts....

• Have an open mind. If you think you know it all, you will not go anywhere in your Life. Learn from people who are successful and have strong values. Keep learning and watch yourself grow.
• When you listen to a lecture you only retain 5% of what is going to be said. Lesson to be learned.....take notes. Write down things when you hear them and you are more likely to remember all those great things.
• Just because someone is a "personal trainer" doesn't mean they know the right things to get you in shape. I have seen some "personal trainers" do the worse things possible for their clients. Remember, if you are a trainer, you have to be a teacher. Get your clients to do things perfect. Do not make excuses and do not get lazy. You have someone's life in your hands and if you get lazy, it could cost you. If you are a person looking for a trainer, make sure they are qualified and look the part. IF they do not practice what they preach you probably shouldn't be listening to them.
• Always say thank you to the people that have helped you get to where you are at. Do not take advantage of your relationships.
• Gatorade and power gels are not good for you. There is no nutritional benefit to these products. They are meant for replenishment of electrolytes and sugars during exercise. Do not just drink or down a gel if you are just "hanging out".
• Did you know that the Leg Press machine at most gyms is probably one of the worse exercises to do. It puts unwanted stress on your lower back and works primarily the quadriceps without incorporating other muscle groups. If you want a blown out disk, then keep doing leg presses. Do a split squat or a 1-leg squat instead and you will see the difference.
• I really enjoy college football on saturday's.
• The sport of triathlon can get you to believe you can achieve anything. If you need something to train for, try a sprint triathlon. You can still lift your weights, you do not have to put in 20 hours/week of training time, and you can still have a life outside of training. But remember, once you complete a small event, you will get addicted and will want to see how far you can push. Be prepared for the craziness.

It is all in your Attitude!

Just by changing your attitude about things, you can look at life in such a different way. We turn on and off our light switches in our house all the time. How easy is that to do for us?.....IT'S EASY! Same with your attitude. You can, in a matter of a moment, change from being down in Life, to having a strong positive outlook on Life. The question is, will you "turn that light switch on?"

There are too many people that leave that light switch off and always find negativity in their daily life. We need to change the way we perceive our daily situations. You can find something positive in almost every situation that comes. Just by having a better and more positive attitude, you can see things in a different light.

Be the unique one. Be the one that guides people down the right path. Be the person that inspires others. We have so much opportunity and so much potential....it is crazy! It is just a matter of taking advantage of what we were blessed with and living Life to the ultimate fullest. Remember, it is not about those materialistic items that we get caught up in. It is about creating a legacy and a passion for Life. You can enjoy everyday to the maximum. Even when times are tough, which there will be those times, you will bounce back and be stronger than ever.

Look...I know it is easier said than done. But, with a consistent approach to get better and improve yourself, you will see the changes it will have on your Life. Stay healthy. Workout. Eat healthy foods. Be consistent. Take a friend who needs motivation to the gym for a workout. Inspire others to fulfill their lives. Do not take Life for granted. Everyday is an opportunity to get better.

"Flip on your light switch!" And watch how your vigor to Live Life increases. You will see the positive changes and you will be ready to take on each and every day!

Another week to get better....

Another week is upon us. We have opportunities everyday to improve and get better. Do not settle with just ordinary. Always strive to reach your fullest capabilities. There is no limit on what you can accomplish. When you achieve a goal, set higher goals and go out and achieve them. You have the power to do anything you want.

This weekend was another triathlon. Overall, this was my 18th triathlon. And 11th in the last 2 years. I participated in the San Luis Obispo Sprint Triathlon. It was a great race. I competed with twelve members from the Visalia Triathlon Club. It was great seeing everyone on the course. We represented and got Visalia on the map in the sport of triathlon.

Two years ago, when I completed in this event for the first time, my time was 1 hour 37 minutes. Sunday, my time was 1 hour 17 minutes. Good enough for 9th overall and 1st in my age group. It is pretty cool to see how much I have improved in this tough sport. I know I have a long way to go, but I will continue to work my butt off. I am excited to get better and I am excited to see how far I can go with this sport. With a determined attitude, who knows what I can do.

I thank the "man upstairs" for the people He has surrounded me with and the skills and traits He has blessed me with. I will contine to use my skills and traits to motivate and inspire everyone around me!

Let's all continue to be positive and motivate others so that we make this world a better place to live. It is our job to inspire and drive others to be their best.

LIVE LIFE!

Training for Life

Training for Life
By: Justin Levine, Owner and Head Trainer of
California Fitness Academy

What are you training for? Is it a specific sport or are you trying to shed off those last ten pounds? Whatever your goals are, in order to accomplish them you need to make your health a priority. You will not achieve the goals you set out for if you do not live a healthy life day in and day out.
Here are 5 ideas you can put into your daily routine, starting now, to enhance the vitality of your Life. Implement them into your schedule and see your levels soar beyond what you imagined. You can do anything when you put your mind to it. You just have to put in the work. Do not MAKE EXCUSES and do not wait, DO IT NOW!

1. Wake up and eat breakfast every morning. You must wake up every morning and eat a good quality meal. In order to get your metabolism where we want it, eating first thing in the morning is crucial. You will speed up your metabolism, increase your lean body mass, burn unwanted body fat, and “wake” up the body. Do not let a morning pass without eating a good balanced breakfast.

2. Workout 4-6 days a week. Be consistent with your working out. Fitness is not fitness without the working out. You must stay cardiovascular fit, strong and healthy in order to feel good everyday. Just because you are going out of town, that is no reason to skip a workout. Do not make excuses. Working out will release endorphins, give you energy and you will feel good about yourself. It needs to be apart of your Life.

3. Don’t do diets! Diets are things you get on and get off. Learn how to eat healthy all the time. In the long run, diets do not work. You can get great results from a specific diet but when you get off you will lose everything you worked for. You must create a lifestyle to where you eat nutritious foods on a daily basis and it is just something you do automatically. Eating a healthy diet will keep your immune system strong, fight away infection, give you energy and keep you going all day long. Plus, it will aide in your recovery from your hard workouts.

4. Eat more protein. Most people do not eat enough protein to surplus their activity level. They are constantly in a catabolic state; meaning they are tearing lean muscle, storing body fat and decreasing metabolism. When you eat more protein you will stabilize your blood sugars, increase your lean muscle mass and increase your metabolism. After a grueling workout in the gym, your body is broken down and it is very important to eat quality proteins the rest of the day in order for your body to rebuild, recover and get stronger. Do not be afraid to drink a protein shake if you do not have time to cook or prepare a meal. Protein is a needed nutrient that you body needs everyday.




5. Be POSITIVE! Do not put yourself down. Always believe in yourself and have confidence. You will not accomplish your goals if you are constantly being negative and do not believe you can achieve your goals. Fitness is your Life. And if you continue to make it a priority you will see the long term benefits. Enjoy the adventure and continue to get better!

My first blog.

Life is such a precious and awesome thing we were given. We are able to make people happy, take care of our bodies and enjoy every single day to the fullest. Make sure to take advantage of every single day. We need to use what we were blessed with and change people's lives. Every day is an opportunity to live a better life. Whether you help a family member, a friend, or a plain stranger, do those things that make you feel good. Life is what we put in, each and everyday. If you wake up each morning with a negative aspect and do not believe in yourself, then you are not doing your part to live a positive life. Really try, every morning when you wake up, to live a positive and motivating life. One day at a time. If a barrier approaches you, then take it head on and find a way to get past it. You will be such a stronger person. Mentally, we all need to start thinking a bit more positively. This world is full of negative people and negative vibes, but we can change that. By being unique and different, we can make a change. Let's start doing good things, spread motivating thoughts, and see how much change we can make. We can either look at our lives empty or full. You need to make that choice. It doesn't matter about the size of your bank account, the prestige of your job, or how many people you know. What does matter is how many lives you can touch, and what kind of legacy you will leave behind. Remember, when we are no longer here, we do not take our money, clothes, shoes, and the rest of our materialistic objects with us. What we do take is our soul, our character, and our self of well being. Remember, everyday is a brand new day. Do not get frustrated with what happened yesterday or the day before or the week before. Go forward! Take one day at a time. Be positive. Motivate others. Inspire the people around you. Surround yourself with positivity and inspiration and watch your LIFE soar. You have more power than you think. Use those powers for good and it will come back twice fold. This is a test for myself and you. See what kind of person you are and what you will become. You can do so much with the right mindset. Just go for it and do not MAKE EXCUSES. MAKE IT HAPPEN! ENJOY!