Our own Team Captain Mervat Berry is representing the Las Vegas Figure and Bikini Team in Michigan this weekend May 12!
Mervat has competed in the Las Vegas Classics in November of 2011 in Bikini!
We decided that it was better for her to switch over to Figure after watching her body getting leaner !
Mervat has no problem in putting on that extra muscle she needed….
After only training her upper body a few times, her muscle development on her deltoids were outstanding!
In April of 2012 Mervat placed 4th place in Figure!
At this point Mervat is training very hard despite a knee injury ( inflammation) due to overtraining!
This beautiful girl know what she wants and will not rest until she has it!!!
We are certain that this amazing young girl will place extremely high and qualify for Nationals in July!
Mervat Berry, Angela and I are very proud of you and wish you the best!!!
Success will be yours :))

As soon as we enter a program that will change our appearance everybody will have something to say about it!
From the ” that’s not healthy”, to ” it is all wrong”, to ” why do you want to do that” and ” you don’t need that”……..
The most aggressive opinions are by someone that has never even exercised in their life!!!
Usually a 30 pus % body fat……
Once your weight goes down now suddenly your are ” to skinny” or ” look unhealthy”.
They are always eager to feed you ” REAL FOOD” which means over processed without nutritional value…….
Just today I read one of my FB friends status someone saying she looked “nasty” or “ugly”!
I have met her in person and she is probably one of the most beautiful people I know….
Why do people do that?
My opinion is to cover up their own failure!
And of course everyone can have an opinion!!!
Sometimes people do not see themselves as they are.
I have heard someone say about a relative that was 5’2 tall and weight 165 pounds that she was anorexic….
Most people do not get results because they are not willing to do what it takes!
They still believe in the Magic Pill as seen on TV!
And sometimes, yes, laziness!!!
So why are they trying to keep you from your goal?
Simply because it makes them feel better about themselves 🙂
Don’t be supprised that after you have arrived at your goal you get little remarks like ” why do you show yourself in a little suit ?” or ” are you posing for a nude magazine?”
Some of my friends will give me trouble because I am eating healthy while on vacation.
” you have to live a little”. Or they will be very upset if I stop my little treats ” that’s BS”….
Don’t be supprised if you lose friends over a healthy body!
Some people will completely stop talking to me…..
That’s okay 🙂
The ones that are supportive are the people you want to be with!
Altogether this is about you, not them 😉
It is about you!

I sometimes get into the mode of overtraining, either before a Competition or if I was bad….
We all know you can not out train a bad diet… anyway…
It mostly happens to me in competition mode!!!
I slack for too long and now I’m pressing for time!
I will do 2 and 3 cardio session per day 60 minutes 7 days per week!
Sometimes doing my track workout twice per day, which consists of different ways of lunges, step ups, sprinting, running stairs, sports conditioning moves …just to burn large amounts of calories!!!
I usually ending up with severe knee pain!
Can’t walk up or down the stairs anymore, knee locks up…..
First thought is messed up my knee joint 🙁
Thank Gudness I know how to treat it!
If there is swelling I will ice the joint until the swelling subsides!
After that I will take a hot bath in Epsom salt for about 10-15 minutes…
Now it’s foam rolling time ( roll over the full leg ).
If I need to I apply pressure to trigger points with a tennis ball or my elbow if I can reach it…
Stretching is next: hamstrings including medial and lateral hamstrings, quads including lateral and medial quads, glutes and lower back!
I repeat each stretch twice and hold them for 20 seconds!
I will feel better right away, but usually have to do this a few days in a row!!!
I will be careful with cardio for a day, but then do low impact (bike, swimming, some cross trainer) for a few days!

Remember you cant out train a bad diet!

Muscle growth happens in your resting phase, not your workout!

We Trainers have all been there!!!
One of our clients ( usually a regular one we have been training for years) never changes!
Sometimes going the opposite way 🙁
Why does that happen?
A lot of times it is a person that is not willing to sacrifies!
Does not want to give up their favorite foods or spend time on cardio…. and mostly both!!!
Clients sometimes do not understand that a Trainer needs to see success or some kind of progress .
Especially when we have 90% getting results in one way or another or in everything!
Of course, we still help them… We still make them feel better, be healthier!
Sometimes I get the spouse excuse or you never give me a diet… Which of course is not true!
We feel bad about keep taking their money…
I try to remember that they spend only one hour out of 24 with me!!!
Sometimes 2,3 or 4 days per week!
There can ( and is) a lot of damage to be done for the remaining 23 hour of the day.
Fitness and Health is rented!!!
Rented with healthy eating and regular exercise ( weight baring, cardiovascular, and flexibility )!
You will have to pay rent each and every day to maintain that!
It is that simple!!!
Why does the Biggest Loser work?
Because these people are in a confined environment !
Locked up in prison!
So my fellow Trainers!!!
Don’t sweat it!
In one way or another you are still doing good for that one person that will not listen!
And sometimes it’s just time to let go….

Today another lady asked me about what exercises will help get rid of cellulite!
I could sell personal training with this subject…
But I like be be honest!!!
Usually when I tell them it is a dietary issue, they will not talk to me again 😉
Let’s see …what is Cellulite?
It’s enlarged fat cells and trapped toxins!
Toxins from the air we are breathing, preservatives, pesticides, alcohol, and caffeine!
The heavier you are the more toxins you store.
But even skinny girls have cellulite!
But why?
Well, it is a way of your body to protect you!
Keeping toxins away from your circulation and reaching your organs and important cells!!!
What to do about it?
Keep your food clean!!!
Organic if you can, but even fresh vegetables and fruit, clean meats and eggs will change the appearance of your tissue!!!
Stay away from dairy and wheat products of any kind!
Watch caffeine and alcohol intake….
Increase your water to flush out toxins!!!
Stay away from soda, processed and canned foods, pork ( high toxicity ) and smoked or fried foods!
Eat more fish and white meat!
It takes about 12 weeks to see a significant difference in your fatty tissue!
You better start now if you want to feel comfortable in that sexy two piece swim suit on the beach 🙂