I must confess...

Hey there it's your friend Ed from Fitlorenzo Training Center again. This blog post I'm writing to you today actually started off as an e-mail, but it sort of took a life of its own and so I decided I would rather write it as today's blog post.

The thing is that I have a confession to make. I was at McDonald's this morning.... There I confess. However before you go jumping all over me and saying 'what'... let me explain why I was at McDonald's today.

The thing is I've been working very hard the past several weeks getting Fitlorenzo Training Center up and ready to go. At the space we have designated for a lounge we've added the microwave, the fridge and my coffee machine (I can't live without coffee)... Finally just the other day I brought in the coffee and cups to brew it but I didn't have milk. And you know I need at least some milk in my coffee if not I can't sip it down, it's one of those things trust me.

So at 7am, after our Strength & Conditioning Boot Camp, the only place close by serving coffee is McDonald's. After thinking about it for a while I said what the heck went out and drove there. As I get into the drive thru lane, my only hope is for not having anyone recognize me there. Suddenly it hit me, I just put in the back of my car my web address www.fitlorenzo.com so regardless everyone will know it's me.

I'm like forget about I'm already here and I want coffee. But as I'm waiting in line, I'm doing my thing as the super observant that I am; and I must say I was astound by the amount of people in the drive thru, I mean I don't visit these places so I wouldn't know. But I was like holy cow, and the place was also packed inside.

It made me think, 'why is it that there are so many people there in the morning?'... It's not the best food available, they know it, I know it, you know it... Sure they have added some new items to their menu trying to make it look healthier; I don't know to be honest how to measure those food if they are or not healthy. But I guess it's for several reasons one they are cheap, and two people leave their homes without eating. I mean we as a society continue to skip breakfast - the #1 meal of the day, the most important one - and we are leaving it up to cheap fast food joints for our nutrition.No wonder diabetes, obesity, heart diseases and other medical issues keep rising.

If there is something I've noticed through the years, is that we are creatures of habit. It's very likely then, that these same people frequently visit these places and tend to skip meals during the day. That is the problem we as a society are facing.

Some say they don't have time, it's more expensive, whatever... But put it in perspective; how much time would you spend driving to the fast food joint on a regular basis and waiting in line, cause trust me you have to wait a long time with so many people at these places. Then; go ahead and add up all the money you spend on a daily basis on breakfast, lunch and dinner... cause the it's very possible that if you didn't eat breakfast you don't have time to pack lunch and will get home to tired to even cook dinner. In the long run if you add it all up you will spend more money, more time and very likely become unhealthy in the process.

This is why we have issues and are so unhealthy. Most people are not active, eat poorly and continue to make bad decisions when it comes to food and lifestyle; something as important as this. You need to understand that food and physical activity will affect your mood, energy levels, performance, sex drive, mental focus, alertness, productivity, strength and so many other things. It is literally that important.

All it takes is some pre-planning, and after a while you will start noticing some significant changes in your body, health and overall quality of life. Of course only if you are serious about your health and fitness levels, which the mere fact you have gone through the length of reading this blog post already tells me you are. Don't be afraid of it, put the effort and the extra time, at the end of the day your body will thank you for it.

Go ahead and think for a moment how can I better myself today and tomorrow and the next. Don't overwhelm yourself trying to do it all in one day, it doesn't has to be all at once. However, choose something to focus on today and work on it.


Always remember to eat well, stay away from junk and crappy foods. Aim to exercise at least 2 - 4 days a week, even if its just 30 minutes; it'll go a long way to benefiting you.

Simplicity

This week Mariano Rivera of the New York Yankees reached a milestone. He became the all time leader in regular season saves with 603 as of today (and still counting), and has a post season ERA of 0.71 and 42 post season saves (an all time best as well) and still going strong as the Yankees make a push in the post season this year.

Undoubtedly he is the best ever in his position in Major League Baseball. However what makes it even more impressive... he's accomplish all of this success with one single pitch, that's all nothing else. I mean everyone he faces in baseball knows he's gonna throw you the cutter. Sure he ain't perfect and he's been hit before, and he has lost a few games in his career. But when you enter the game (with his theme song Enter the Sandman from Metallica) everyone knows, even the opposing team that you basically lost, that's how impressive this guy is.

It ain't luck, one year, perhaps two or three with some success; but after 17 years... its not called luck, we call it greatness.

As I'm writing this, I just can't shake the fact he's accomplish all of this with just one pitch. Talk about simplicity.

What we learn from Mo is the lost art of simplicity. However keeping things simple doesn't means they are easy, but neither do they need to be complicated.

I see this everyday from almost everyone who surrounds me. We are constantly bombarded by this new diet, or this new gadget, or this weird treatment for weight loss and many confusing thoughts about fitness, that in turn makes it so complex... no wonder many people just give up.

In my opinion exercise and nutrition is something that works best when its simple and easy to follow. People come to me with questions about losing weight, dropping fat, and nutrition saying things such as "can I eat carbs", "should I be starving" or "what new fancy exercises I should be doing for this and that?" Yet in my intent to please whoever has taken the time to seek my advice often they respond surprised when I say that their programs are too complicated, they are doing too much and need to basically simplify it.

Someone one asked me, 'you know Ed I don't like running because I can't seem to run well and last enough, I lack the endurance to run. What can I do to get better?' My answer was run... After all how can you get better if you never practice? They where expecting a more complex answer and perhaps some fancy exercises. However my point to her was, you can't expect to be able to run 3 miles or 10 if you have never ran. You need to build up to it, it's that simple. And the same applies to many other things in fitness and nutrition.

It doesn't takes a rocket scientist to know eating chicken, lean meat and fish is always better than pizza, burgers and fries. Eating fruits and vegetables is better than cookies; and water, coffee and natural juices (if you squeeze them) will always be better than sodas and other high sugary drinks.

Eliminate from your diet all the clunk that is holding you back, have positive outlook and be realistic as to how much you can dedicate to exercising and gradually progress from there. If you are in doubt, that you can't do this on your own, then hire an expert who can show you the way.

Keep things simple and you will notice how easy things in life balance themselves out.

Train focused - Eat well - Enjoy life!!!

ed