In this raw and real episode, I open up about the journey of rebuilding after life's unexpected detours. I share my personal experiences with setbacks, navigating weight gain, losing friendships, and ultimately finding my way back to a stronger, more authentic version of myself. If you have ever faced challenges that made you question your path, this one is for you. Sorry for being gone so long but we are back baby!
I am going to make blogging a daily thing from here on out. Since pre covid I have been inattentive to this blog and my own passions for helping people become the best version of themselves. And that is partially due to the fact I wasn't being the best version of myself. I was in a bad place after a bad relationship and a bad breakup and multiple unhealthy competition preps.
I am making 2024 my mission to find myself again and get in control over everything in my life:
Personal
Professional
Passions
Bodybuilding
Blogging
Vloggng
Podcasting
Re-building my brand
I wan to show up as the best version of myself. But not just for me but for others.
What does that mean for this blog?
It means content in blogs, reviews, news and all things health and fitness. I love it - even if no one is reading this or seeing my content this platform, YouTube and my podcast are more like journals/documentation of things I love and enjoy. And if I can positively impact anyone while sharing then that brings me joy.
This post is to keep me accountable. So thank you to those who made it this far.
Alicia
Who is Alicia Bell? She is a Toronto based Social Media Influencer, Kinesiologist, Strength Coach and Track and Field Coach who has devoted her life to helping people reach their goals in fitness and sport. She is a nationally recognized track and field coach who coached team Canada at the Maccabi games in Israel in July of 2013. She lead the team to 13 medals. Alicia has over 10 years of practical and educational experience and is a published Fitness model for Zenzation with her pictures gracing their equipment and she leads their product DVD instruction.
Alicia has experience working with many types of clientele. She has worked as a Kinesiologist and an Exercise Rehabilitation Specialist. She is also experienced at weight loss, strength training, toning and athletic conditioning. She has worked with clients such as Dwight Howard (NBA), Rashad McCants (Former NBA), Geoff Harris (Olympic 800m runner), Lil Jon (Rapper/Dj), Karla Moy aka HustleGrl, Hill Harper (actor, author) and even the mother of the Toronto rapper Drake.
Alicia Bell and Telus Present - Living Better With Samsung S6
I have such a busy schedule! Not only am I a personal trainer in busy downtown Toronto, Canada, but I also work for a water company (GP8 Sportwater) and I am also an athlete who trains to compete in the Ontario Physique Association (OPA) bikini category.
My life is filled with fitness, nutrition, travelling and social interactions. Sometimes it is hard to keep track of not only my own goals and activities but also my clients and other business adventures. I have to keep a very tight schedule, so for me timing is everything.
Since getting the new Samsung S6 from Telus I have been living better! I love to take pictures and video of my clients training, my own workouts, the food I eat and the day to day activities and events that I attend. I have found that the Samsung S6 really captures these moments. Its dynamic, ultra-responsive camera captures the true-to-life brilliance of any moment throughout my day. It also has a quick launch camera so that I can pull out my phone and quickly (under a second) launch the camera to take an in the moment photo.
Another convenient feature for me is the quick unlock finger print option. Instead of keying in a password (which you can also do) you can use your very own finger print to quickly unlock your phone. It was very easy to set up and when I need to open my phone fast to read a message it only takes a quick second to unlock from being secure.
Another one of my favourite features is that it has a super charger. What does this mean? It means that because I am always on the go I can plug the S6 in for just 10 minutes and get up to 4 hours of battery life!!!! When you take as much photos as I do and you are constantly travelling from one place to another and listening to music this is crucial. I don't have the time to leave my phone plugged in for hours at a time.
The apps that I have found useful on the Samsung for my busy and active lifestyle are:
S- Health: This app you can personalize and sync your health data with your Samsung account. You can choose your personal units of measurements and receive notifications of events in the status bar. Within the app you can download extra things. I use the Workout Trainer (if I need a quick workout for myself), Recipes & Nutrition(for finding healthy recipes) and the Hydro Coach (for recording my water intake). There are so many useful apps to help with staying on track and these three are just a few. You can completely personalize the S Health and the apps that you use within it for whatever your goals are.
The phone can also counts your daily step count and allows you to adjust your goals for the count. I have it at 10, 000 steps per day. The only downfall is that if you don't have the watch to go with the phone you have to have the phone in your hand or in your pocket for it to keep track.
The sleep tracker is also key. As an athlete and trainer I cannot express how important sleep can be. If you don't get enough sleep your body will be high in cortisol. A stress released hormone that can trigger your body to store fat. Keeping track of your sleep will help you with your fitness goals.
Another awesome feature with the phone is that it actually has a heart rate sensor that allows you to instantly measure your heart rate and record it. This is great when training because it allows you to check if you are working in the right zone for your goals when you are doing an intense training or cardio session.
I also use the food recording within the S Health application. This can let you see what you are eating and how many calories are in it. Its great to achieve your goals. Whats also really cool is that if you haven't recorded anything for the day it will ask you if you feel like tracking your food? It will also remind you. Which is great if you are as busy as I am and often forget.
Check out the phone for yourself in this video from Samsung:
GIVEAWAY CONTEST AND ENTRY INFORMATION
Two ways to enter:
1) Tweeting a contest-specific entry:
If I win a Samsung Galaxy S6 from @trainitright & @TELUS, I'll USE IT TO HELP ME REACH MY GOAL OF_____ #TELUSS6
2) Either sharing or commenting on my Facebook post for this contest on the Facebook page. www.facebook.com/trainitright
The contest is Canadian only, no Quebec entries, 18+
A random winner will be selected
Check out my fellow bloggers perspectives on how they use their Samsung phones as well. The phone is so versatile for whatever your life may bring. You can completely personalize the Samsung S6 and for me that is what makes it such a great phone.
Recently Alicia Bell of Train It Right was casted in a campaign/commercial for New Balance (she is not affiliated with New Balance) however was chosen to be in the ad. Her track and field athletes are also featured in the commercial. Check it out below.
You can also enter to win a trip for two to a North American concert, 1000$ of New Balance gear and download Alicia's playlist from Spotify. http://www.freshfoamzante.ca/en-sc Good luck!
Why do you get sore the day after your workout? What causes you to feel stiff and and unable to walk up the stairs? No, you are not injured. The soreness that you are feeling is called DOMS and stands for delayed onset muscle soreness. It can be mild to severe and everyone can be effected by it. Do not be afraid to exercise when you feel it because the more you move the quicker it will go away. Muscle soreness is most commonly felt when you begin a new workout program, change your current routine, or increase the intensityof your workouts. DOMS is caused by microscopic tears in the muscle which creates build up of lactic acid in the muscles causing them to become stiff and tight.
There are lots of methods that you can use to reduce the discomfortof DOMS. People often use static stretching, massage, cardio, epsom salts, or ice baths. You can prevent DOMS from being so severe by doing a proper dynamic warm-up rather than jumping into your workout cold. Make sure to always start with light cardio for 5-10 minutes before your workout. Prior to exercise use a foam roller to roll out your muscles. It is also recommended to cool down with light cardio followed by static stretching. A stretch should be held for a minimum of 30 seconds. Make sure to alter workout intensities each day in order to allow for proper recovery.
It doesn’t matter if you are a man or a woman, young or old you can have problems with your sex drive. This can seriously affect your personal relationships and/or marriage with your spouse. It has lead to separation or divorce in many cases. In men a reduced sex drive is often linked to erectile dysfunction.
Some Ways to Boost your sex drive include:
Libido Enhancers
Technology and medicine have advanced so that you can pop a little blue pill and get the desires that you were seeking in many circumstances. This pill does not solve the problem it is only a quick fix. Basically like just patching a tire instead of changing it. However, this does not always work. When some people take these medicines they have minimal to know effects.
Some people prefer natural libido enhancers. There are products out there from a lot of different companies that have pills that advertise themselves as being “natural.” Oftentimes these products can be packed with random substances that aren’t scientifically proven. This is where the consumer should be careful.
There are some that are packed with herbs and other natural ingredients that can increase your sex drive with all natural ingredients that have been scientifically proven.
Dietary Changes
Also some studies have shown that by taking supplements that include tribulus terrestris, tongat ali, acai berry, chaste berry, ginseng and ginkgo biloba, muira pauma have been shown to be effective. Also Zinc has been proven important in testosterone production. It is found in a lot of meets.
Also taking protein supplements. If one increases their protein intake It helps give you better recovery, more power and stamina and can also aid in naturally boosting testosterone production. Again I recommend Rivals products because I know they have been scientifically tested and proven. http://www.rivalus.net/online-shop/products/promasil-milk-chocolate-2-33-lb
A low carbohydrate diet and low sugar diet. This is because carbs and sugar affect your body’s insulin level in the blood and that directly affects testosterone. The result of this is a decreased libido.
Make sure that you are eating Essential Fats such as Omega 3s. Again they help naturally boost the body’s testosterone level, and blood flow. Examples are fish oils, olive oils, nuts and flaxseed.
Lifestyle Changes
In today’s society more and more people are becoming sedentary and not physically active. This is why in today’s world more and more people are overweight or obese. Obesity has been linked to you guessed it, A low sex drive as well as, poor blood circulation which again effects your libido. This can also lead to erectile dysfunction. So get off the couch and stop being a couch potato and get active. Start out small and gradually increase your activity levels. It is important not to do to much too fast. Grab a friend to keep you motivated and as you shed the pounds watch your libido come back!
Smoking and alcohol can also result in a poor sex drive. Smoking can cause breathing problems, is linked to cancer and can affect your circulation which in turn can affect your sex drive. Also Alcohol can cause a reduced sex drive due to mood swings, depression and again blood flow. So stay away from these two addictive substances if you are having problems with a low sex drive.
Try and stay happy and stress free. Increases stress causes a substance in your body called cortisol to increase and again that will affect your natural testosterone levels. Try and stay calm and relax. Try meditation, pilates, yoga or tai chi to reduce your stress levels.
Overall my advice is don’t abuse your body, stay active, stress free and try and stay away from things that are toxic for your system. This will keep your sex drive active, healthy and hopefully active for many years to come.
Different Styles Of Sports Bra's For Your Training
There are a lot of options for sports bras from fashion sports bras, sport specific and even general. We all like a different fit, feel and style. I have narrowed down a few of my favourites from this season made by the well known brands; Under armour, Nike and Adidas. Check them out below and find out which bra would work best for you.
UNDER ARMOUR
“Gotta Have It Bra”
According to Underarmour this bra has “Super-smooth, double-layer HeatGear fabric delivers superior next-to-skin feel and lasting comfort.” It has mid-impact support, an under armour moisture transport system that will keep you dry, its light weight and is available in sizes Ato C.
“High Impact Bra”
This UA bra is made specifically to eliminate rubbing and chafing and has comfortable straps with stretch technology so it will eliminate digging into your skin. It is also made out of soft fabric and has a power sling for support. The great thing about this bra is it is available all the way up to a DD size.
NIKE
“Shape 2.0″
This Nike bra is made out of their Dri-FIT fabric to wick sweat and keep you dry. It is a padded bra with molds that give you shape and support. This bra also has a mesh lining for ventilation and is a racer back design.
“Pro Core Stacked Elastic Sports Bra”
According to Nike this bra is made with sweat-wicking stretch fabric. It also has reinforced elastic straps that has internal nylon stabilizers for less stretch and enhanced support during your workouts. The elastic is doubled around the chest for more support. It also has an open back . It is made out of Nike’s Dri-FIT fabric to keep you dry.
ADIDAS
“Supernova Racer Bra”
This Adidas bra has CLIMACOOL to keep you dry. It is also very supportive because of its mesh inserts on the front and back. Because of the elastic chest band there is even more support. It also has racerback straps. This bra has good ventilation and has reflective material for late night workouts. Be careful with sizing because Adidas tends to be a little on the smaller side.
“Techfit Bra”
This Adidas Techfit Bra is made with CLIMACOOL ventilation that is designed to remove heat and sweat. It is a has great support and is also a racerback design. Be careful with sizing because Adidas tends to be a little on the smaller side.
BurnThis Mobile App - Community - Photo Sharing - @burnthis
Hey Everyone! I just wanted to let you know that I am now a member of the BurnThis Community. I am also an ambassador! That's right! You can create and share fitness photos with the app on your smart phone. This app isn't specifically for for personal trainers, fitness instructors or fitness lovers, but it is for everyone. You can be motivated by like minded people who all love fitness and want to be the best that they can be. You can also check out the blog here: http://sweat.burnthis.com where they share awesome recipes, workout tips and fitness related articles!
As a BurnThis Ambassador I am actively involved int he community and I am also currently running a challenge. The #trainitright Challenge. Make sure that you download the app. Once it is downloaded hit the challenge button and pick the #trainitright Challenge. Post a photo of a workout that you are particularly proud of, a fitness quote, or an image that drives you to accomplish your fitness goals. Make sure to use the hashtag #trainitright and you could win a whole months supply of Quest Bars! Each post counts as a separate chance to win! The winner will be announced February 2nd 2015. If you don't know about Quest Bars they are a healthy way to have a snack, high in protein and they taste great!
So go check out the blog and also download the app! You can download it directly here: bit.ly/burnthis_socialfitnessapp It will keep you motivated and on track. I hope you meet some great new fitness friends that will help you along your journey! #trainitright
The U.K.’s ‘This Girl Can’ PSA shows how real women look when they exercise—and that it’s nothing to be ashamed of.
The U.K.’s ‘This Girl Can’ PSA - Must Watch - Train It Right
I love the message that this video sends! No matter your age, shape or size you can #trainitright Don't be ashamed. Be proud that you are being active and healthy! What are your thoughts?
Check out the newly released shoe from Reebok. I love the colour choice. I am glad to see Reebok going back to their cardio roots. This would be a great shoe for cardio workouts. I would love to give it a try. What do you think?
