Reggaetronic 2017!

Myself and the Artist-DJ Rehab

I had the ULTIMATE pleasure of accompanying my favorite person ever to a killer music festival; Reaggaetronic! He happens to be one of the best DJ’s in the south and goes by the name of DJ Rehab. 😀

Why am I sharing this on a fitness related blog? The same reason why I showed you pictured of my trip to Hawaii! To show that you can still have an insanely FUN life while still retaining your health and fitness goals. Work hard play hard right? RIGHT. 🙂

This picture represents years of setbacks, failures, and ultimately finding my own balance and success. Stay consistent!

Knowing that you will be in a bathing suit all day is great motivation in itself-but honestly PLEASE know you can still achieve goals and maintain them 365 DAYS A YEAR. Yes-summer IS a great motivating factor in starting new healthy habits. BUT-being a healthy human being truly only matters if you are working hard all year round. Don’t let the seasons of the year be your only motivating factor in your health and fitness. You can still look and feel your best in the dead of winter as well!

BACK TO THE FUN ON THIS DAY! This event was great, my boyfriend DJ’d to over 5,000 people all on boats! The stage was on a floating barge as well-and after he played his set we were able to relax and enjoy the day with lots of dancing, swimming, and RELAXING. We all need time to unwind and enjoy life from time to time, and we most certainly did just that.

So CHEERS to having BALANCE  between your professional life, family, loved ones, and health-remember it’s all about trial and error. Find out what works for YOU, everyone’s schedule for a well balanced life is very different. Find what makes you feel good on the inside and out, and what brings you joy. Eventually you will find your sweet spot in all of it; and as always personal trainers are there to help you find that balance in regards to your health and fitness. Your health is always a priceless investment that will forever pay off immensely!

Swimsuit provided by MegLiz Swimwear.

Sunglasses provided by TopFoxx.

In Health-Demi

Charleston’s Choice Awards!

I’m SUPER excited to announce that I (DM FITNESS) am on the FINAL voting ballot for BEST PERSONAL TRAINER in the Charleston’s Choice Awards! Presented by The Post and Courier. 😀

I need to preface this by telling you that this business literally means everything to me. This is not just a “job” for myself. I live and breath this business, and I ADORE every single one of my clients. They are NOT numbers to me. They are PEOPLE that I truly care about. Their goals are MY goals, and that is what drives me forward with DM Fitness. My goal is to expand DM FITNESS into the masses, and it starts right here in Charleston, SC! I am truly honored and humbled to be apart of such a vital role in my client’s lives. There really is no better feeling then seeing them get healthier, reach their goals, and most importantly gain the confidence to see themselves the way I see them.

I would be *honored* to win this very prestigious award! A vote is all that is needed by clicking HERE …scroll down to the category of “Personal Trainer” and you will see my business name, “Demi Eliese, DM FITNESS.” Click on VOTE and follow the super easy voting instructions that take less than a minute and you are good to go. THANK YOU SO MUCH IN ADVANCE. Feel free to share with friends and family! 🙂

As always feel free to ask me anything!

In Health-Demi

Inside Demi’s Gym Bag

As a Personal Trainer, especially in the hot and humid climate of Charleston, South Carolina…there is definitely a bag that I bring with me every day to the gym that help me tremendously.

Besides what I’m wearing to the gym, I always bring extra supplies just in case something gets too sweaty or dirty, and of course when I get hungry…which happens often!  The gym I train out of, Exemplar Fitness, has bathrooms with every personal cleaning amenity that you can imagine…so I don’t pack soap, shampoo, body wash or any of that (thank God!).

I always wear my favorite crosstrainers by Brooks…the women’s PureFlow 6 shoes, they are currently my absolute fave for everyday training, not only other people but for myself as well. On days when I want to get my cardio in on the spin bike-I always carry my Bontrager Cycling clip in shoes to help me sweat and be super comfy at the same time.

Of course water and snacks are important! I ALWAYS bring a Lenny & Larry’s cookie with me (Peanut butter is A MUST!), sweet and packed with protein…it makes for a great snack! Also I prefer to drink alkaline water-our neighborhood Earthfare…great store with tons of healthy choices, including some good quality H2O.

When I need a SERIOUS pick me up, I love to make a protein shake combining Dr. Schulze’s Super Food Plus (blasts your bloodstream with a rich supply of vitamins and nutrients that increase energy, vitality and strength) with some Bone Broth with Collagen powder (I love the chocolate flavor, great for overall gut health, muscle recovery, and skin!). Throw in some water or almond milk, ice, and some stevia…delicious and SO good for you!

As far clothing-I always bring an extra sports bra, and I love Fabletics!  They have great leggings and sports bras that are super flattering. I’m a BIG fan of ANYTHING by Under Armour, NIKE of course, and Champion Apparel is just awesome.

All in all-I always bring a long sleeve top in case the AC is blasting in the gym on any given day, extra leggings, sports bra, extra socks, cycling shoes, snacks, water, lip gloss, and protein shake ingredients that I can mix at the gym in between clients.

It’s all about being prepared! Looking and feeling good about yourself are crucial in all areas of life. As my drill instructor from Marine Corps bootcamp always said, “If you look good, you’ll feel good, and then you will perform your best.”

As always feel free to ask me anything!

In Health-Demi

Grocery Shopping for the health conscious athlete in the making

 

This is..without a doubt…the toughest ordeal one has to master in their health and fitness journey. If you are reading this, then I promise you it doesn’t have to be so hard. You got this! 😉 Lets get right to it.

I know you’ve heard it before-but you have to start with sticking to the perimeter of the grocery store. The reason being is that obviously that is where your perishable (i.e. FRESHEST) foods are. Start there. Obviously you do need to go in the middle for certain things such as coffee, oatmeal, tea, etc but start on the outside of the grocery store FIRST.

I told you I was going to make this simple, and I am!

Before you go to the grocery store, think of all your favorite proteins, vegatables, fruits, nuts, carbs, etc. Keep that in mind and write that all down if needed.

We are going to break this down into groups.

1. PROTEINS
2. COMPLEX CARBS
3. HEALTHY FATS
4. FRUITS
5. VEGETABLES

Acceptable and preferable PROTEINS are the following:

• 1. Greek Yogurt
• 2. Cottage Cheese
• 3. Swiss Cheese
• 4. Eggs
• 5. Milk, 2% (I’m not a huge fan of drinking straight up milk, I prefer Almond milk for a variety of reasons, but that’s for another blog post. 🙂
• 6. Whey Protein
• 7. Steak (Top Or Bottom Round)
• 8. Ground Beef (95% Lean)
• 9. Pork Chops (Boneless)
• 10. Chicken Breast (Boneless And Skinless)
• 11. Turkey Breast
• 12. Yellowfin Tuna
• 13. Halibut
• 14. Octopus
• 15. Sockeye Salmon
• 16. Tilapia
• 17. Anchovies
• 18. Corned Beef
• 19. Tuna
• 20. Chicken
• 21. Sardines
• 22. Navy Beans
• 23. Dried Lentils
• 24. Roast Beef
• 25. Canadian Bacon
• 26. Chorizo
• 27. Pepperoni
• 28. Roasted Turkey Breast
• 29. Jerky
• 30. Peanut Butter
• 31. Mixed Nuts
• 32. Bean Chips
• 34. Tofu
• 35. Edamame
• 36. Green Peas
• 38. Wheat Germ
• 39. Soba Noodles
• 40. Quinoa

COMPLEX CARBS

1. Oatmeal (old fashioned or Steel Cut)
2. Yams (almost same as sweet potatoes)
3. Brown rice (love basmati, a long grain rice)
4. Sweet potatoes
5. Multi grain hot cereal (mix or barley, oats, rye, and a few others)
6. White potatoes with skin (glycemic index be damned!)
7. 100% whole wheat bread
8. 100% whole wheat pasta
9. Beans and lentils (great for healthy chili recipes)
10. Cream of rice hot cereal
11. Quinoa
12. Couscous
13. Pumpkin
14. Butternut squash
15. Fresh beets

**I’m well aware of the gluten free and lactose free needs of certain individuals-if this applies to you, make those selections of the same food, or choose another food altogether.**

HEALTHY FATS

• Avocados
• Cheese
• Super dark chocolate
• Whole eggs
• Fatty fish
• Raw nuts
• Chia seeds
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Coconut oil
• Full fat yogurt

FRUITS

• Short list: every variation of a fruit is allowed. 🙂

VEGETABLES

• Kale
• Spinach
• Broccoli
• Brussel Sprouts
• Peas
• Tomatoes
• Asparagus
• Bell Peppers
• Okra
• Scallions
• Zucchini
• Green Beans
• Cauliflower
• Beets
• Cucumbers
• Mushrooms
• Eggplant
• Radishes
• Onions

THAT’S A LOT OF FOOD!

Alright, so as you go through this list-pick your favorites before you go food shopping and think about the meals you want to create. There are tons of meals you can put together with what is above. You do NOT have to purchase all of that food for one week! But these are your preferred options to eat healthfully.

To create a PERFECT meal, this is what you need (as stated above)…

Protein, Healthy fat, Complex Carb, Vegetable, and an optional fruit. 

As far as how to meal prep and put it all together, that is for another blog post. But start here! Now you have the tools to get a feel for what top athletes eat. Remember: you are fueling a Ferrari, not a Pinto. 😉

Also, SHAKEOLOGY is a great way to add in a high protein superfood shake that can be used as a meal replacement and/or snack. Check it out! Vegan options are available.

EAT TO PERFORM!

In Health-Demi

Personalized Workout Plans

I personalize all workouts to YOU! Your workout plan will never be the same as anothers, and comes with clear instruction and most of all; a results oriented plan of attack.