Be Careful with Taking Pharmaceutical Supplements from Personal Trainers & Coaches

 

Pills my newest client asked me if they were fat-burners that she got from her last personal trainer.

First, no one should be taking pharmaceutical products from anyone who is not a pharmacist or Dr. most of these people have not done enough or any research on what they are giving you and how it will affect your body. It is ALSO ILLEGAL for anyone other than a Dr. or pharmacist to prescribe any of these medications for you. 

Oxarox Pill Form Steroid for Weight Gain & Bone Pain

I got this new client a little over a month ago from a very well-known personal trainer in my local area and yesterday, she asked me about some "fat-burners" the past trainer had given her. Right away I was suspicious because this female trainer is known for being on sports performance pharmaceutical drugs. I was not familiar with this brand name and asked my pharmacist friend. He confirmed it was a STEROID for weight gain and for bone pain. He also gave me the run-down of the side effects. I will never understand why anyone would take any of this stuff just to gain muscle when you can't keep it without repeatedly being on a cycle and destroying your organs, voice, enlarging your genitalia and facial features. What amazes the most is how you keep the deep voice, huge face and enlarged female genitalia, but not the MUSCLE when you quit juicing. 

Pharmacist Will Casey & Oxarox Side Effects

To me it is not worth it. I personally stayed completely natural because BODYBUILDING saved me from a life of drug-abuse, alcoholism, depression, anger issues and an eating disorder that I suffered from since I was 12 years old. It hurts my heart when I hear people tell me how bodybuilding did the complete opposite for them and ruined their lives. A lot of this starts with trainers, coaches and supplement stores illegally selling pharmaceutical drugs and persuading individuals that the ONLY WAY they can GAIN MUSCLE and LOSE FAT is with these drugs. This is FAR FROM THE TRUTH! The body is a machine! It can lose fat and gain muscle completely on its own NO MATTER THE AGE. Granted, depending on age determines how strong your hormones are, but it DOES NOT MEAN you CAN'T GAIN MUSCLE!!!

Huge Acne Scars Side Effect of Deca-Durobolin Steroids on a NPC Bikini Competitor

 

In addition, let people DECIDE FOR THEMSELVES whether they want to take pharmaceutical drugs to assist in their fitness goals. One of the worst situations that I have been in repeatedly is telling a potential competitor that they cannot compete naturally because they took illegal substances without knowing it. Some of the strictest shows that I competed in with the WNBF (World Natural Bodybuilding Federation) require an athlete to take a lie detector test prior to being accepted to compete in the show. If they place in the top 3 or 5, they are immediately tested after they leave the stage. Athletes who have taken steroids or any type of other pharmaceutical drugs cannot compete in this federation and many others for more than 2 to 7 years depending on how long they actively took the drugs. 

2019 WNBF World Championships 7th Place Pro Fit Body

So, make sure that when you are making the decision to play with illegal substances that you will not be able to go and compete in strict natural bodybuilding shows with the NGA, INBF, NFF, OCB and other natural federations that require a lie detector test. Also make sure you talk to a professional with a medical background to monitor your vitals. Most of these people giving you all these medications are not monitoring their clients' vitals and it seems like they are just throwing as much as they can on a wall to see what sticks. They never consider their client's health and well-being. 

2018 Mr. Olympia Shawn Rhoden

IFBB Pro Alena Hatvani

Ever since I got into competing back in 2011 with the INBF (International Natural Bodybuilding Federation), it was common knowledge that an average of 10 - 15 athletes with the NPC/IFBB were dying each year because of substance abuse. It has only gotten public scrutiny lately because of the deaths of some high-ranking competitors like, 2018 Mr. Olympia Shawn Rhoden, IFBB Pro Cedric McMillan, IFBB Pro Alena Hatvani and many others in 2019 - 2022. Before, they would just lie and tell everyone that people like this died of eating bad foods to fast or too soon. Never would they admit it was substance abuse until recently. IFBB Pro athletes like Mr. Olympia Classic Physique Chris Bumstead are finally publicly admitting they take sports performance drugs. Before, they would lie to the public and say it was genetics. There are many who still say they are natural, but the public is starting to realize that there is no way for many of these athletes to gain so much weight, muscle and get so dry naturally. In addition, a well-known IFBB Pro Coach, Shelby Starnes, has been linked to many deaths and permanently medical damaged female bodybuilders. There were a few ladies in my local area of the Rio Grande Valley coached by this guy and one of them ended up in the hospital after her prep. Check out this wild YouTube podcast that goes into the depth of how dangerous his coaching is to athletes. 

 

IFBB Pro & Coach Shelby Starnes

 In conclusion, this blog post is just to inform people of the risks of not being aware of what your trainer, coach or friend might suggest for you to take to enhance your fitness goals. Make sure you investigate everything you take prior. Even legal supplements can have disastrous side effects on people who have heart issues, high blood pressure and diabetes.

 

Keep safe out there, keep active and train smart!

Candace Foxx

Sources:

• Heartwise.com
  
• Leo and Longevity Podcast
  

 

 

Chicken with Mushroom and Lentils Soup

Chicken with Mushroom and Lentil Soup

2 boneless chicken breast, diced

2 oz. onions, sliced

4 carrots, sliced

5 cloves of garlic, minced

1/2 head of cabbage, diced

1 cup of lentils

2 cups of chicken broth

2 tsp of thyme

olive oil

Directions:

Step 1: Heat some olive oil in a pan and cook the diced chicken for 10 minutes. Then remove and set aside.

Step 2: Add all of the veggies and a 1 cup of broth to the pan. Cook for another 10 minutes.

Step 3: Stir in the remainder broth, lentils and thyme. Cover and cook on low for 15 minutes or until the lentils are soft. Return the chicken to the pan and heat through for 5 minutes.

Nutrition Facts Chicken with Mushroom and Lentil Soup Serving Size 1 bowl Amount Per Serving Calories 317.95 Calories from Fat  50 % Daily Value Total Fat 5.3g 8%    Saturated Fat 0.96g 5%    Trans Fat 0g   Cholesterol 87.75mg 29% Sodium 343.7mg  14% Total Carbohydrate 28.41g 9%    Dietary Fiber 10.26g 41%    Sugars 8.76g   Protein 41.02g  82% Vitamin A (IU) 452.93 9% Vitamin C 92.16mg 154% Calcium 129.4mg 13% Iron 4.5mg 25%

South Texas Eggs Scramble Recipe

South Texas Eggs Scramble

2 eggs

8 egg whites

2 red potatoes

2 yellow peppers

3 green onions

2 Roma tomatoes

5 cloves of garlic

spray bottle of olive oil

sea salt and all purpose seasoning

Directions:

Step 1: Chop up all the ingredients and put them in separate piles. Put some olive oil in a pan and allow to get hot.

Step 2: Put the chopped potatoes in the pan and saute for 5 minutes. Add the green onions and allow to cook for 2 minutes. Next, add the chopped garlic and saute for another minute. Then, add the rest of the veggies and cook for 2 minutes. By this time, your potatoes should be soft.

Step 3: Add the 2 whole eggs and egg whites in a bowl and mix. You can save the egg yolks in a different container for baking purposes. Pour the egg mixture in the pan and mix together with the veggies. Put the heat on medium low so that you do not burn the eggs. Cook and stir until ready.

Nutrition Facts South Texas Eggs Scramble Serving Size 1 bowl
Amount Per Serving
Calories 262.75 Calories from Fat  60
% Daily Value
Total Fat 6.48g	10%
Saturated Fat 1.62g	8%
Trans Fat 0.25g
Cholesterol 112.65mg	38%
Sodium 330.78mg	14%
Total Carbohydrate 34.55g	12%
Dietary Fiber 4.28g	17%
Sugars 8.69g
Protein 18.02g	36%
Vitamin A (IU) 1299.72	26%
Vitamin C 265.92mg	443%
Calcium 93.16mg	9%
Iron 2.44mg	14%

Bicep Workout With Balance

Bosu Barbell Curls

Barbell Curl is the standard exercise for building strength and mass in the biceps. Adding a bosu makes it also include core and balance strengthening. It also helps avoid using your upper body to lift the weight making the exercise a lot more difficult than the standard. Make sure to keep your core tight as you balance on the bosu and lift the barbell up and down.

Swiss Ball One Arm Preacher Curl

One arm preacher curls is great to target the brachialis, which is the lower part of your bicep. However, adding a Swiss ball will make the exercise more difficult and add some core stabilization which will burn more calories. Make sure when executing this exercise you keep your core tight at all times so that you don't lose control of the ball. Place one of your arms on the ball with the back of the arm against the Swiss ball with dumbbell. Use the other arm as support or place around the front of the Swiss ball. Slowly, lower your arm with the dumbbell to about 90 degrees and curl it back to starting position. You don't want to go beyond this because you can hyper extend your shoulder which can lead to future injury. Repeat on the other arm.

Swiss Ball Dumbbell Lateral Side Curls

Great way to train the long head of the biceps with stabilization. Sit on the Swiss ball and keep your core engaged at all times. Grab your dumbbells and place your arms outside of your thighs with hands facing up. Lift the dumbbells up towards your the side of your shoulders and slowly bring them back to starting position.

Side Ups

A great way to train your obliques and strengthen your core. Keeping the reps to 15 will ensure that you will have a small waist instead of wide. Keep core training to only 3 times a week. Training your core everyday and adding too much weight to your obliques will only keep your waist wide because you won't allow it to rest and will make you oblique muscles grow. Each muscle ground needs at least 24 hours of rest.

Keeping Up with Contest Preparation While Traveling on the Road

Today, I am traveling to Houston, Texas. I'm a part of a book that's coming out called Latinas Rising" Volume 1. I am one of the authors and luckily I was chosen out of four women from the RGV and the state of Texas to share my story. Tonight I'll be one of the panelists reliving my past once again to help so many people who are lost. I think it will be easier this time because this is already my second time being a panelist.

I am in competition prep so I got to make sure I'm eating right even on the road. So I made myself some tofu stir-fry with spinach, red bell and orange pepper, and mushrooms. It was delicious!

Experimenting with tofu has so far been an interesting adventure! Adding it to different types of meals has been great! Before, I had only used it with my flourless protein brownies. I never really used it to replace protein in my normal meals but, I definitely see myself eating more tofu as I keep on living a healthy lifestyle which will be forever!

The key with any type of healthy cooking is to make it taste good. Healthy cooking does not have to taste bland. It doesn't have to be without seasoning. All you have to do is just monitor your sodium levels and fats depending on what your fitness goals are. In addition, you don't want synthetic types of dats to be used in your food the more natural you can have it the best!

Keeping Track and Responsible for Your Actions to Reach Your Fitness Goals

Being in the fitness business for about 10 going on 11 years now, I have noticed the some of the biggest problems for people to lose weight or meet any fitness goal is to make a plan (journal), stay on track (meal prep), and be responsible for your own actions. Losing weight or any type of fitness goal is not something that you can wish off. Maybe when you were younger the pounds would just come off, but now that you are older your hormones are not as strong and it is harder to lose the weight. 

Make a Journal for your Food Intake, Resistance and Cardio Training

Image Credits: Make Over Fitness

Eating mindlessly will not help. I have met so many people over the years that tell me, "Oh, I eat healthy". "I don't need any help with that part". However, I always wonder do they eat too much healthy food because most of them fall into the obese or morbidly obese category. It is a great to eat healthy, but still eat too much were you will not lose weight and maintain your current weight or gain. It is like the old saying goes, "You can eat 100 lbs. of lettuce and still gain fat". It is all about portion control! I have gone out to eat with some of these people and they can easily eat an entire plate at a restaurant not realizing that they are eating 3 - 4 servings. In order to lose weight, you have to make a deficit, but how would you know if you are not tracking what and the amounts you are eating? Writing down what you eat per day will open your eyes on whether you are eating too much are not enough depending on your goals. 

The same thing goes for working out. I have met so many people that tell me they workout, but I look at them everyday for years and they always look the same or are getting bigger. I have watched these people around in the gym and most of the time it looks like they are lost or messing around. Some do workout, but are not doing the exercises correctly. It pretty much looks like those videos of people doing all the machines in the wrong way. None of them are writing down what they do per day or change up their routines. So how do you know if you are making gains or loses when you are not writing anything down? 

Just like when you went to college or worked up towards your career you had to study for it, right? You had to know what to do and how to do it write everything down. Then, you would get tested to see if you know what you are talking about in order to receive your degree, associates or gain that promotion, correct? Well, just like you had to be tedious with you studies for your career it is the same for fitness. If you do not know what you are doing and you need a plan then, ask for help. That is what I am here for. I have tips here on my blog, but if you know that you are not able to make a plan for yourself I can help you online for a fee. With my training, I have made some impressive physiques. However, these people listened to what I said and practiced what I preached. 

How to Eat Out When You are Focused on a Fitness Goal

During contest prep or just losing weight, your business interactions don't stop just because you cannot eat outside of your macros.

I was at a BOD meeting with the Hispanic Women's Networking of Texas-RGV women organizing our upcoming events for the rest of this year and the new year coming up. The meeting was set up at a local Mexican restaurant called the Palanque Grill.

I didn't want to be a prude and bring my own food, scaring them away from living a healthy lifestyle because competition prep is way different than regular weight-loss. So instead, I had their Ensalada Palanque. I cut the chicken serving in half, ate all the veggies, only had 2 slices of avocado and enjoyed 2 tablespoons of the cilantro dressing. I put the rest of the chicken and avocado in a doggy bag. To drink, I had a Topachico club soda with a little bit of lime juice to taste almost like a sprite. I'm so used to not drinking soda that this tastes great for me.

Just because you are focused on certain fitness goals doesn't mean socializing and networking has to stop or be dull. Learn how to eat strategically and life will be so much better for you without feeling bad for eating the wrong way.

Best to Take Your Prepped Food Where Ever You Go!

Meal prep is essential when trying to reach a fitness goal whether it is losing weight or getting ready for a competition. I am currently prepping for the WNBF World Championships in Boston on November 18th. So, I have to make sure I am meeting my macros, losing the body fat and maintaining as much muscle as possible. Eating very low carb you tend to get hungry right on the dot of every 3 - 4 hours. You do not want to be caught without your food because then you are more prone to indulging on food that isn't on your program.

The picture included in this post was taken at my friend and my hair color specialist, Rose Gonzalez, Crossway Salon & Spa!