Probing Your Probiotics

Written by, Coach Crystal Salaz

Jacob: This is My Story

Supplement Breakdown - Creatine

Written by, Coach Vanessa Panella

**A Quick Disclaimer**

Taking supplements can only help move the needle if you are already doing everything else to get results. 

• Good nutrition
• Good hydration
• A solid training program with clear SMART goals

If you haven't checked the boxes above creatine will not be a magical fix. Also, always consult a medical professional before consuming any new supplements. 

What is Creatine?

Creatine is the most studied supplement that is currently on the market. It is also found in your own body every day and is stored in your muscle tissue. Any creatine you consume through diet and/or supplements is stored for later use. Now, to really get into how, and why, creatine works we have to know the important role it plays in our bodies. To put it simply, your muscles use energy from a few different sources. When you are doing activities such as lifting weights, sprinting, and pretty much anything...

Written By, Coach Vanesa Suazo

Doesn’t it seem like there’s always the new latest trend for the best diet that will help you lose those unwanted pounds in record time? New research showing that “this diet” is the one that will give you the results you want. Then there’s always all this conflicting information on whether to eat high or low carb; whether to eat plant based or carnivore ; whether calories matter or they don’t. We’re left conflicted, not really knowing what to do and jumping from one plan to the other, never really getting the results we want. The question is, what actually works? The answer is there isn’t one single diet plan that works, they can all work, it all depends on our lifestyles and what we’re trying to achieve. Oftentimes, I think we fail in reaching our goals, because we don’t posses the skills needed to get there - we’re lacking a good foundation. I believe any nutrition program can work for...

It’s becoming an exciting time, finally! After a long year, we are beginning to see some lasting changes. Restaurants are opening back up, activities are becoming more accessible, and the weather is getting better every day (here in SoCal at least). For some of us, it’s just about the Spartan Races showing up on the calendar!

Spring cleaning is something we are all familiar with, but I am shifting that perspective towards our health, fitness, and wellness. Wintertime starts to drift out of sight, and summer brings exciting new things and a new outlook.  How do we spring clean our lifestyle to help us achieve our health and fitness goals? We do that by cleaning up some old habits, setting goals, and maybe even toss out that old bag of crackers in the cupboard!

The area of opportunity for many people is to stay consistent with their nutrition, staying active daily, and the types of choices we make on the weekends! I’m going to give you some tips...

Nutrition. Perhaps one of the most foundational pieces within a person’s fitness journey. Some say that abs are made in the kitchen, but truthfully I wish it were that simple. 

When it comes to making the best choices, obviously it is apparent that you should eat your fruits and dark leafy greens and choose healthy, lean proteins to pair with your complex carbohydrates. But what happens when the cycle of these habits turns to be a bit toxic? Establishing a schedule and a habit of eating healthfully on the daily is not what becomes the problem, but when it becomes an obsession, this might be where one needs to step back and reevaluate your overall life satisfaction. 

For years, I succumbed to frugelant eating behaviors and falling into endless cycles of dieting. The desire to be so lean ultimately impaired my overall muscle mass, appearance, and overwhelmed me in my day-to-day living. The truth is, however, that many male and female athletes in their lifetime will...

Hard75

If you are any bit involved in the health and fitness industry whether as a client, coach or any measure of a fitness professional, you have probably at one point or another heard of the “Hard 75 Challenge”. 

If not, let me explain. 

The Hard 75 Challenge was a concept created by a man named Andy Frisella. He put together this challenge that is meant to go for a full 75 days. No stops. No rest. All in with no cheating. 

The Hard 75 Challenge Rules: 

1. 2 Workouts a day; 45’ inside, 45’ outside 
2. Follow a nutrition/ diet plan/ meal plan. 
3. No alcohol. 
4. No cheat meals. 
5. Read 10 physical pages a day (no audiobooks!) 
6. 1 progress picture a day. 
7. 1 gallon of water a day. 
8. Finally, there are no cheat days or cheat meals!

This sounds borderline psychotic and practically impossible to most. And that is exactly what I needed. Where I was at in my life, I knew I was about to endure a lot of change. I was about...

Spartan Race Gym Workout

Kick Your Spartan Race Training Into Gear

It doesn’t matter if this is your first Spartan Race or OCR or if you’ve competed in marathons before—we’re about to prepare you for your future race or races! In this post, we’ll show you how to get a great workout in at the gym (we’re hoping that it’s at Fitness On Fire!) or wherever your race training takes you.

Spartans know that race day is much more enjoyable when you’ve put in the work at the gym. The journey to a successful race begins with your training plan. Any obstacle race training requires preparation and Spartan Races are no different. If you want to enjoy race day and complete the course injury-free, training is mandatory. 

In this article, we’ll discuss how to kickstart your training plan so you can reach your fitness goals, become stronger and more resilient, and prove to yourself that you can do anything you put your mind to. Without...

Written by, Coach Noah Grime

Many struggle to determine what the perfect breakfast really is. What makes it right? Does a piece of fruit make sense? Bacon and eggs? What about skipping it all together?

Many philosophies will be determined on what we are used to doing and the way it makes us feel. Some will say they eat before heading out of the door for energy and to avoid a crash, while others make lunch their first meal. Who is doing it the right way? 

My philosophy about the first meal of the day is simple. Your first meal should be healthy, taste good, and easy to make. This rules out a donut or pastry from being the ideal situation. In the morning, we generally rush around to try and get our day started. This is when “grabbing something quick” might not be the best solution. Maybe it’s time to consider skipping that sugary cereal or meal bar and go for water and a simple coffee.

Sugar and a calorie overload is the opposite of...