Explore Your Fitness

Thank you so much for being here!

I started this podcast about 7 months ago and it’s been an amazing experience. Whether you’ve been listening since day one, or this is a first for you, THANK YOU! Your support means the world to me.

The goal with this show is to be an inspiration. So that when life get’s hard, and you feel down or defeated, you have something to help lift you up and keep you going! Because that’s what it takes to succeed. You have to keep going.

  I chose to interview Colorado fitness experts because these guys are the ones we turn to for support and motivation. They help people just like you every day and have likely had some of the same struggles as YOU! I want you to get to know them, the challenges they’ve faced, and how they can help you with your fitness goals.

Today I'm talking with Katy Meuer.

Katy’s a public speaker, Master Trainer for Beach Body, and founder of Live Your 10 and team TRUE Heart!

And heart is exactly what Katy brings to this interview. Just like you and me, Katy  has had to overcome  self-doubt, that little voice that says, but what if I fail, what if I’m not good enough? One of the quotes that Katy shares is, "You have to do the next right thing." Sometimes you're going to mess up, but you have to do the next right thing and be better next time.

I think a lot of you are going to relate to Katy’s story and come away with some inspiration to keep you moving forward!

Takeaways

When it comes to overcoming self-doubt and reaching your goals, it's about passion, not perfection.

You might fail, make mistakes, and have bad days.

You're not perfect.

But if you are passionate,

go for it.

Even if you fail, be determined to figure it out.

Keep moving forward and making progress.

You should set goals, but don't forget to evaluate those goals.

Realize you ARE enough.

Your workout doesn't have to be the same as anyone else's.

There's a huge world of fitness out there.

Go EXPLORE!

If you're scared or nervous about your goal, that means you're on the right track.

Katy, thank you for sharing your story and being such a great inspiration!

As always, I love hearing from you guys. You can comment below or click "Leave a Review" to go to iTunes.

If you liked this episode or know someone who might, please share it out.

Connect with Katy at liveyour10.com and check out her social pages there as well.

Thanks so much for all your support.

Talk to ya next time,

Jason

Music Credit: The Passion HiFi - MACH III - Hip Hop Beat / Instrumental

It can be hard to let go of the self-doubt sometimes.

I find myself feeling overwhelmed and defeated way too often.

Thinking in my head,

I don't know if I can do this.

What if I'm not good enough?

What will people think?

Should I even try?

We all need inspiration and motivation in our lives.

And today's guest loves being the one to bring it to you.

She's Tara Laferrara, personal and group fitness trainer, and expert wanderluster.

 

In this episode, Tara talks about playing sports as a kid, running, and doing what she's passionate about now which is inspiring people through fitness and traveling.

Tara's focused on getting women interested in lifting weights.

She says,

You won't look big and bulky.

It won't hinder your looks.

If anything, it helps.

It's exciting and sexy.

Think of all the confidence you'll get by lifting something heavy.

Think of how you'll look in a tank top or a dress.

Everyone loves toned arms.

Really focus on your form from the beginning.

It's ok to start out with lighter weights, but once you have the form down push yourself with heavier weights.

You can find Tara at Fitness In The City or connect with her on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Snapchat @lafitara.

FITC on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and Yelp.

Tara,

Thank you for sharing your story and advice. I'm looking forward to jumping into one of your classes someday soon!

Thank you all for your love and support.

Talk to ya soon,

Jason

 Music Credit: The Passion HiFi - MACH III - Hip Hop Beat / Instrumental

In this episode, Stefan talks about getting his diet in check.

"We all have this image of what fitness and health  looks like. I had to get out of my own head, and remember that we're all on our own journey."

Tips for getting started

If you don't know anyone in the class, introduce yourself to at least one person.

You don't have to jump all the way in from day one, just do something.

It's about taking small, incremental steps.

Be consistent.

Don't beat yourself up.

If you want to make positive changes in your life and meet people somewhere other than the bar, check out a fitness community like Fitness In The City.

FITC has a $60 intro month, unlimited classes, which is half off their regular monthly dues and a $199 intro month which includes four personal training sessions.

Here's part of the Butts and Guts class I went to last week:

You can find Stefan on Instagram and Facebook. FITC on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and Yelp.

Resource mentioned: IF IT FITS YOUR MACROS

Books recommended:

 Many thanks to Stefan for sharing his story and sharing some great advice on getting healthy and fit!

And thank you for all your support!

I'm having so much fun talking with all these fitness pros, trying their workouts, and sharing it with you.

Show Stefan and Fitness In The City some love and share this episode out with your friends and family.

If you liked it, leave me a comment below or click Leave a Review and give a shoutout on iTunes.

Cheers,

Jason

Music Credit: The Passion HiFi - MACH III - Hip Hop Beat / Instrumental

Check out Stefan's interview with FitXchange:

FitXchange helps you discover exceptional fitness experiences by connecting you with gyms, trainers, studios, and outdoor activities unique to your location. Are you a fitness professional looking to bring in quality clients and potential members? FitXchange is currently looking for fitness partners in the Denver area!

I don't always get to meet my guests in person.

But I did get to meet Jon shortly after our interview.

When I saw him, I was a little surprised.

Jon's a big dude, a tall and muscular kinda guy.

I wouldn't look at him and think Yoga Teacher.

But then again, Yoga is a great practice for every body, all shapes and sizes.

Jon's a really passionate guy.

I heard it in his voice and could see it in his face.

He lights up when he talks about his Yoga practice, and I think that's because he really cares.

It's a great thing to see in someone.

I know several of you would love to see videos of the guests and their workouts.

So here you go.

I hope this is the first of many videos to come!

In this episode

Jon says, his fitness story started before he was even born.

You'll have to listen to know what he meant by that.

He also mentions that he's been stretching his whole life.

I know that there's been some debate about whether or not stretching is good for you, and whether you should stretch before or after your workout.

But I think it's a good thing, if for nothing else than to just unwind and relax at the end of a busy day.

I definitely miss the flexibility I had as a kid.

And then there's the challenge.

What has been one of the biggest obstacles for Jon?

It's something I've heard from many of our guests, and it's either something you've dealt with before or you're scared you'll have to deal with it in the future.

Getting injured

We all want to improve.

If you push yourself hard enough and long enough, it's a real possibility.

This is a big reason why Jon loves Yoga, especially the style of Yoga he teaches called Forrest Yoga.

It really focuses on healing the body as you get stronger and more flexible.

This makes it a great practice for any of you newbies out there.

You want to fix any imbalances and learn how to move the right way before trying to make any big changes.

Start with your foundation and work up.

Jon's also had success helping people overcome injuries and disabilities.

One of his students had suffered a stroke, and he was able to make some amazing progress with Jon.

This gentleman called in to voice his love and appreciation for Jon.

You'll hear from him during the show.

Tips for anyone new to Yoga

Find something that you can do regularly and be consistent.

Find a studio that's convenient, and a teacher you connect with.

Talk to your teacher. Tell them if you have any injuries or problems.

This is the land of a million yogis, as Jon says. There are several different types of Yoga. Find one that feels right. (Explore Your Fitness :))

Listen to your body.

Jon wants his students to leave feeling better than when they came in.

Connect with Jon on his site, Facebook, or  Yoga Loft Boulder. He also has his own studio, shown in the video above, where he does private sessions.

Many thanks to Jon for sharing his story and to you for all your support.

If you enjoyed this episode or know someone who might, please share it.

I always love to hear from you guys. You can leave a comment below or click the Leave a Review tab for iTunes.

All my best,

Jason

Jon's recommended book:

Register here for the Evo Hemp Giveaway!

"How out of shape am I that I'm only seventeen, and I can't even walk up three flights of stairs."

Lauren Danielle Simms is a Keynote Speaker, Business Coach, Nutritionist and Personal Trainer.

She's successful, healthy, and fit.

Lauren helps thousands of people overcome financial, physical, mental, and emotional barriers and improve their health everyday.

But she hasn't always been this person.

Often times we look up to fitness professionals like Lauren and all we see is where they are now.

We don't see where they came from and all the physical and emotional challenges they've faced along the way.

Lauren smoked, hung out with the wrong crowd, and struggled to do the simplest things like walk up a few flights of stairs.

 She's faced many of the same challenges that some of you have.

"The left ... An unhappy, fluffy, yo-yo "dieter".

The right ... A more confident, happy, and fit girl.

So grateful for holistic nutrition and an unstoppable mindset.

Down 17lbs and 14%bf.

This journey is a work in progress and I've got big goals to crush. Who's with me?!"

In this episode, you'll not only learn about Lauren's journey, but also what she's done to get where she is today, and the one thing that will get you 80 percent of the results you want!

Maybe you don't want to be everything that Lauren is.

But I bet you'd like to have a little less stress in your life and not worry so much about all those things that seem to weigh you down.

Listen to Lauren's story and take away some great advice that you can use to crush your goals.

And if you're serious about taking her advice, reach out and get in touch with Lauren.

Her site is Life with Lauren Danielle.

While you're there, subscribe to her list and follow her on social.

You'll be the first to know about her upcoming events, and you'll get a healthy dose of motivation!

Thank you for all your support!

Jason

*Register here for the Ozo Coffee giveaway.

*Music credit: Sentient Pulse - Cloudburst [melodic Dubstep]

Dusty DeGroff, Manager and Personal Trainer at Fitness Together in Denver.

He has a degree in Exercise Science with a minor in Nutrition, a Masters in Sport Psychology, and he's a Certified Sports Conditioning Specialist with the National Strength and Conditioning Association.

There are probably a couple of other certifications that I'm missing.

But you get the point. This guy knows his stuff!

Let's be honest though.

How many of us know what all the degrees and certifications mean?

How many of us have used a personal trainer?

You might think it's too expensive.

There are a lot of different ways people view personal trainers.

But let me ask you this:

Are you where you want to be with your fitness and health?

No?

Maybe it's time you invest in yourself and hire a trainer like Dusty who will push you when you need it, lift you up when you feel down, and be there to celebrate with you when you finally hit your goals!

Dusty has a ton of great advice in this episode.

But the one tip I love the most: BE CONSISTENT

What's your motivation?

What do you love?

What get's you out of bed in the morning?

These are things we all have to ask ourselves, sometimes daily, and sometimes more than once a day.

Whatever it takes.

Dusty also shares what you should look for in a personal trainer.

His favorite quote:

"It's supposed to be hard. Your first attempts aren't going to work. It's going to take a lot out of you-but energy is an asset we can always find more of. It's a renewable resource. Stop looking for an epiphany and start looking for weak points. Stop looking for angels and start looking for angles. There are options. Settle in for the long haul and then try each and every possibility, and you'll get there." ~ Ryan Holiday

Takeaways

Find your passion. Chase after it. Never give up and never let anything get in your way.

Connect with Dusty and Fitness Together Denver on Instagram, Facebook ,Twitter, Google+, YouTube, and Yelp.

Thank you for being here today and for all your support!

I'll see you next week!

~Jason

Check out the Explore Your Fitness Facebook page for upcoming events!

Enter here for your chance to win the Honey Stinger Giveaway!

212 Degrees Fitness, the best gym in Littleton?

If you look at their reviews on Yelp and Facebook you might think so.

"Fun"

"Encouraging"

"Caring"

"Exactly what I was looking for"

212 isn't a big box gym.

It’s a small private club, focused on your personal fitness goals.

But you have to ask yourself:

What am I looking for in a gym?

Boot Camp Classes?

Yoga Classes?

Kickboxing Classes?

On-going fitness assessments for easy fitness goal tracking?

Nutritional coaching?

Discounted Personal Training packages?

Frequent motivational check-ins for accountability?

212 has all of this.

And they also have a workout you won't find anywhere else in the Denver area.

Something you might have seen on a little well known show called Shark Tank.

And it goes by the name  SurfSET.

212 Degrees Fitness is the first and only studio in the Denver area where you'll find it.

 

Now that you've seen the reviews, and you know what 212 has to offer, I want to introduce you to Delisa Novak.

She's a personal trainer, yoga instructor and the owner of 212 Degrees Fitness.

Just like many of us, Delisa's struggled with being lazy and making excuses.

Fitness professionals aren't immune to the effects of a busy schedule.

But Delisa's found two solid ways to overcome these challenges:

Find a friend and put it on the calendar! 

We only have so much self-control and will power.

Few things will help you succeed like the support and accountability that you can get from a friend or group.

And as with all the important things in life, you don't find time. You make time.

Schedule your workout like you would an important meeting or a date with someone you love.

You are important, and you love yourself, right?

Delisa has a few more tips for achieving your fitness goals:

Make your goals attainable and realistic.

Be consistent.

Understand why you have these goals.

Be patient with the process.

 Don't doubt yourself.

They have a motto at 212 Degrees Fitness: I can. I will. End of Story.

Takeaways

Treat yourself right. Treat your body right and take care of it. When it comes to fitness, find something you enjoy doing.

If you're in the Littleton area, sign up for your free week. Try out the bootcamps, kickboxing, and get a free SurfSET session!

Find 212 Degrees Fitness on their site, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Google+, or YouTube.

A few of you called in to show Delisa and 212 some love. Thank you so much!  You can hear those shout outs at the end of the episode.

If you want to give a shout out and show some love, you can leave a comment below, click "Leave a Review" at the top of the page, and share this interview with your friends and family.

Thank you, Delisa, for making such a huge impact in people's lives and for sharing your story!

For upcoming events, please visit the Explore Your Fitness Facebook Page and like to stay in the loop!

Lastly, The Healthy Skoop Giveaway!

Healthy Skoop makes whole food, plant-based powdered nutrition blends. Superfoods made super simple!

I reached out to them because I know they're a local company that you know and love.

And Healthy Skoop is going to hook you up!

They're giving away 3 prize packs each consisting of 1 tub of Super Skoop, 1 tub of B-Strong, 1 tub of A-Game and 1 blender bottle! And on top of that, they're giving all of you 25% off any purchase on healthyskoop.com through August 31, 2016 with the code "explore".

25 percent off!

This giveaway is only live for a week and will end Wednesday, May 18th at midnight. Don't miss out. Register now!

And jump on this discount! Tell your friends and let's show Healthy Skoop some Colorado...

Danielle is a yoga instructor and managing partner at The River Power Vinyasa Yoga here in Denver.

Growing up in Boulder, Danielle was surrounded by fitness.

She began at an early age, running her first Bolder Boulder 10k at just nine years old!

 Now she finds herself facing one of her biggest challenges ever: finding balance between family time and personal time.

With a two year old and one on the way, Danielle has had to be more intentional and creative with her fitness routine.

She's found ways to include her son in her workouts.

They do yoga together and go on walks.

It's a much slower pace than before, but it's also helped her connect with other parents and moms who have the same challenge.

It's something we all face.

How do you find time for the people you love, your responsibilities, and yourself?

You don't find time. You make time.

Be intentional. Put it on the calendar and make it a priority.

The best intentions and plans don't mean much if you don't follow through with them.

Be creative.

Reach out to those who are in a similar situation. Their support and accountability could make all the difference.

If you're a parent in the Denver area, visit The River. They offer childcare, kid's yoga, and kid yoga teacher training.

"Stepping into The River is an unforgettable experience. The River is a beautiful, safe and welcoming space flowing with united and inspired people. The River is hOMe. Those that enter feel seen, heard, known, and lovingly challenged.  The environment is one of openness and acceptance, where we take risks from a place of compassion so that we can clearly see, realize, and actualize our personal potential."

 

In addition to being runner up in Denver's A-List 2016 for best Yoga Studio, The River was selected as presenting studio in June for Yoga on the Rocks!

Join up to 2,000 Yogis in experiencing an exhilarating workout at the most awe-inspiring venue in the world -- Red Rocks!

The River will be presenting every Saturday in June.

And you can go for free!

Register here for your chance to win!

Giveaway ends May 18th.

Are you new to yoga?

Maybe you're thinking this is great and all, but I'm not flexible enough to do yoga.

I asked Danielle what advice she has for those of us who are yoga curious.

#1 There are no prerequisites.

You don't need any experience. The River has a class called River basics which is great for beginners or anyone looking for a refresher.

#2 Go with a friend.

#3 Tell the teacher that you're new.

I've only done yoga a few times now, and it's definitely a little intimidating not knowing the yoga terms and the names of the poses.

#4 Ask questions.

The teachers will walk around and help you get into the right position.

I talk to the person next to me before class and tell them I'm nervous or new.

They're usually either in the same boat or nice enough to encourage me and let me follow their lead through the poses.

If you need extra incentive to go to the studio in the first place, consider this:

Aside from being great for strength and flexibility, yoga does wonders for your nervous system.

I know you've thought to yourself, man I feel stressed.

But that usually has a negative condentation.

We stress our mind and body in so many ways all day, every day.

There's bad stress like getting angry when you're late for work and traffic's not moving.

There's good stress like resistance training and cardio.

Yoga helps our nervous system calm down from all the stress and get out of that fight or flight mode.

It's nice to go and just feel more in tune with your body and aware of how you're breathing and how you feel.

You may even feel like you used muscles that you've never ...

Cycling's huge here in Colorado.

I'm sure either you or someone you know rides on a regular basis.

That's why I'm excited for this interview with Shawn Milne.

Shawn's a retired professional cyclist.

He knows what it's like as an amateur, and he knows what it takes to compete at a professional level.

As always, I like to get an idea of where the love for fitness came from.

Most of the time, it's competing in sports as a kid.

Shawn played several different sports, but he found a love for cycling.

"What I loved about cycling before I competed was the ability to explore."

Some questions I ask:

Where did your drive to compete come from?

What was your proudest moment as a professional cyclist?

What was your biggest challenge?

Shawn has some great advice for the cyclists out there:

To be a great amateur, you have to train hard. To be a great professional, you have to rest hard.

Take the time to rest. That doesn't mean getting off your bike and finding other work to do. Lay on the couch. Be lazy and rest.

Enjoy the moments.

Go through the steps. I learned a lot of tactics by moving up through the points.

Shawn also shares the story behind Skratch Labs and why founder Allen Lim started it.

Skratch Labs is sports nutrition for athletes located in beautiful Boulder, Colorado.

Their mission is to provide people with the inspiration, life skills, and products to take better care of themselves and their families.

There's good science behind their products.  Basically, they looked at what the body loses when we sweat, and designed their products to replace that using natural, tasty ingredients that would help athletes perform better without any stomach issues.

Skratch Labs is also very involved in the community.

If you've been keeping up with my last few episodes, you know that I've been supporting some of our local Colorado nonprofits on the show.

One of those nonprofits is Epic Experience. Skratch Labs generously donated hydration packets and delicious cookie mix to help their campers prepare for an active week of outdoor adventures.

You can read more about that here.

Shawn recommends checking out Skratch Lab's book:

"Chef Biju and I wrote the Feed Zone Cookbook and Feed Zone Portables for anyone interested in improving athletic performance. So when we heard that people who don’t necessarily consider themselves athletes were using our cookbooks because they wanted simple, healthy recipes to share with their friends and family, we were pleasantly surprised . . . and inspired.

For us, neither sports nor nutrition is solely about performance. The reality is that we value activity and food not just because we want to perform better but also because both have this amazing ability to bring people together, to give us pleasure, and to feed our souls." ~ Dr. Allen Lim

 Takeaways from today's episode

Enjoy life. Too many people get bogged down with their self-inflicted competition.

Connect with Shawn at [email protected], on Twitter, and LinkedIn. Connect with Skratch Labs on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Skratch Labs will be sponsoring the Reel Rock Tour later this year.

One lucky listener will be getting some tasty treats from Skratch Labs. All you have to do is click on the "Leave a Review" tab up top, leave a review on iTunes, then mention your review in the comments below. I'll contact the winner with the details on Wednesday, May 4th!

Be sure to check out the homepage for additional giveaways and news.

Thank you so much for your support, and I'll talk to you soon!

Cheers,

Jason

Chris is a University of Colorado graduate in Integrative Physiology with a certificate in Neuroscience.

He's spent time working with the CU Sports Medicine Department assisting in treatment, rehabilitation, and recovery of their athletes.

We talk about his experiences in sports and some of his biggest challenges.

However, the majority of the interview is focused on Denver Sports Recovery and how they can help you.

Whether you're trying to recover from a sports injury, trying to increase your performance or you just want a better quality of life,

Denver Sports Recovery can help.

 Stop by their recovery center.

The first day is complimentary!

No more jumping around to different providers.

DSR has several therapists and services.

Choose from:

Fascial Stretch Therapy

Sports Specific Therapy

Neuromuscular Therapy

Naturopathic Medicine

Acupuncture

Chiropractic

Muscle Activation Technique

Active Release Technique

Kinesio/Rock Taping

Dry Needling

Joint Injury Treatment

Class IV Deep Tissue Laser Therapy

LOKTE™ Method – Connective Tissue Release

Sports Nutrition

SFMA (Selective Functional Movement Assessment)

Chris's tips for recovery:

Soft tissue manipulation (massage therapist, foam rolling, trigger point work)

Work on flushing through hot/cold contrast like going from a cold pool to a hot tub or shower and using different compression tools

Electrical Stimulation

Take in enough of the right calories and avoid inflammatory foods

SLEEP

Chris's recommended book:

Takeaways:

You've only got one body. Take care of it.

Denver Sports Recovery is expanding in May!

Stop in and try them out. The first day in the recovery center is free!

You can find DSR at 2242 W 29th AVE | DENVER, CO 80211

Call them at  303-718-3435

Reach out to them on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

And if you do get a chance to try them out, leave a review in the comments here.

Thanks for stopping by!

Reach out and let me know what you think about the show.

Cheers,

Jason

Music Credit: Foxes - Youth (M3H Trap Remix)

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