Los Angeles Personal Trainer

After many requests, we are pleased to announce the Online Coaching program by Lalo Fuentes, starting April 1st, 2010.

This program is the perfect way to achieve a healthier body. You will have direct contact with Lalo no matter where you live. For what it would cost you to buy one Latte a day, you can get a healthier, hotter you. Lalo’s goal is to make it affordable enough so that anybody with the desire to become fit inside and out can join.

Because of the personalized nature of Lalo’s Online Coaching service, we will only be considering 15 people at a time. On March 20th, we will be selecting the first 15 candidates. If you would like to be considered, send us an email telling us why in 200 words or less. If you don’t get selected, don’t worry - your name will be placed on the waiting list and we will contact you as soon as there’s a space available.

Send us an e-mail to: OnlineCoaching@LaloFitness.com

Hi Lalo,

I have a busy schedule so I prefer to work out first thing in the morning when I get up. I usually just have a glass of water and then start my workout -- it's too early in the morning for me to eat anything. And getting up a 1/2 hour in advance just to eat something and digest doesn't work for me.

I find that I'm more energetic for the rest of the day after my workout in the morning. My goal is weight loss.

I've heard that working out on an empty stomach is like running on an empty gas tank so there will be no fat burn. However, I've also heard the contrary -- that it's good to work out on an empty stomach because your body would use the "fat reserves" and more fat will be burned. Though my body feels more toned, I have not seen any changes in my weight. I've also been eating well and keeping to the right caloric intake for my weight and height.

Am I doing something wrong?

Lisa
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Hi Lisa,

Both quotes are wrong to a point. Your body needs fuel to operate and if you operate without fuel it will use fat reserves but it will also use muscle, “protein”, so there will be little gain. It also depends on how long your workouts are.

Before your workouts your body needs fuel. Fruits are a great choice since they digest quickly and are easy to eat right after you get out of bed. Start by eating a bite and try one that you really love, you’ll have a lot more energy to burn a lot more calories. If that doesn’t work, try to have few sips of a light protein shake. Muscle Milk has a light version of their original protein shake that is easy to drink; the chocolate one is my favorite.

During or right after your workouts your body needs protein so make sure you eat something well balanced right after your workouts with emphasis on protein.

I don’t really know what are you doing for your workouts; the length, how often or what are you really eating. But, if you have a balanced diet and you’re mixing strength training, cardio and nutrition you should be getting results. Also, try to change your workouts once in a while and make sure you’re not concentrating on the weight you’re lifting but on the intensity of the workouts.

Also, it is very important that you don’t concentrate only on your weight. Muscle weights more than fat and I usually tell my clients they will gain 2 or 3 pounds the first two weeks but then all that weight will drop. What I’m guessing is that you have gained muscle by doing strength training, which is great, but at the same time you have burned fat making your weight a bit even. Nothing to worry about, after all, you said you’re getting more toned right? I have also seen people loose a few sizes but haven’t dropped much weight. All that muscle will eventually burn the fat and you’ll start loosing weight.

In the meantime, enjoy the journey!

Lalo Fuentes, CSSC
Personal Trainer & Lifestyle Coach
Los Angeles, California

Dear Lalo,

I have been using the LaloFit V.1 workout 3 times a week for the last 5 weeks and my body has become more toned - THANK YOU! But I also feel that my body has gotten used to the exercises and it is now easier to work through each movement.

My goal is weight loss. How long should I stay on a workout program before changing it up?
Thanks,
Lay

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Dear Lay,

Each person responds a little different to each training program. If you workout three times per week and also do cardio and eat healthy you should be ready to change your workout regimen after eight weeks. The body (muscles & bones) needs this amount of time to adapt to certain movements and get results. While in a fitness program, not only your muscles will benefit from it, but also your bones.

When you start a new exercise program you muscles as well as your bones need to adapt to the new challenges or stress your body is experiencing. Your muscles will become more developed and your bones will gain density. The trick is that, not your whole body will get these benefits, only the muscles and bones where the stress is being applied repetitively for a certain period of time, which is about 8 weeks. That’s why I included a full body workout mixed with cardio in my fitness DVD’s, so you can get the most amount of muscles worked within one hour.

It is very important to always change your workouts. You can have a few different workouts you do for these eight weeks and put them on rotation. After those eight weeks, you should change it around and do something different for another 8 weeks. You can either try the same technique with an advanced and new set of moves or change the technique and style of workout all together for something completely different. You can always come back to your original workouts but this time around you will be adding more intensity to it and still expect results.

If you’re thinking about increasing the amount of weight because your workouts are getting easy, concentrate on your posture and technique before you do that.

Have fun!

Lalo Fuentes, CSCS
Personal Trainer & Lifestyle Coach
Los Angeles, California

Hi Lalo,

I use the LaloFit V.1 DVD 3 times a week in combination with cardio workouts. I really enjoy the exercises on your DVD and feel like I've accomplished something at the end of the day. And I love how my body feels the next day.

I would love to work out to your DVD everyday. However, I've heard that I should allow my muscles to rest between "aero/tone" exercises. Would it be unsafe and ineffective if I were to do the Lalofit workout everyday?

Thanks,
Lisa
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Great question Lisa!

The way you’re using the video by working out 3 times per week is the correct way of doing it. Since both LaloFit workout videos are full body workouts, it is important that you let your body rest for one day in between the workouts.

When you workout the same muscles every day you get what is called the Overtraining Syndrome, which could be also defined as excessive frequency, volume or intensity of your training. Overtraining can but doesn’t always include plateau or decrease in performance.

Lets suppose you do the LaloFit workout video on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Then Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays you could do cardio exercises such as running, hiking, biking or elliptical just to name a few and also depending on your fitness level. You also want to give your body a rest on the seventh day and do nothing. One of the three days of cardio could also be used for an active rest. On that day, you could choose an activity that is fitness related but relatively easy like a hike or a leisure bike ride.

On the cardio days, make sure you include cardio workouts that are just that, only cardio. You want to make sure not to workout the same muscles two days in a row.

Have fun!

Lalo Fuentes, CSCS
Fitness Trainer & Lifestyle Coach
Los Angeles, California

Hi Lalo,

I always thought in order to keep your body challenged, you have to vary your weight loads to continually receive results. You specifically state in volume 2 that 3 to 5 lbs is what's recommended. Is this the standard as I really didn't feel my back muscles using 5lbs?

Also, I think you should have a before and after picture section on your site for the average person using the LaloFit system.
Thanks
Dianne

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Hi Dianne,

Before increasing any weight, make sure you have great posture, full range of motion and that you are able to “Freeze” at each point of the exercise. Those are the key ingredients for fast results. Once you can achieve that, go ahead and start adding small amounts of weight progressively.

Follow this table to match you fitness goals. If you want to achieve:

Power single-effort
1 to 2 repetitions at 80-90% of your 1RM (Repetition Max)
Power multiple-effort
3 to 5 repetitions at 70-85% of your 1RM
Strength
6 or fewer repetitions at 85% of your 1RM
Hypertrophy
6 to 12 repetitions at 65-85% of your 1RM
Muscular endurance/ tone (used in LaloFit workout videos)
15 to 20 repetitions at 67% of your 1RM

Both LaloFit workout videos are design to burn fat and get you lean and toned without getting you bulky by doing high amounts of repetitions while using light weights. If you master the “Freeze” technique, you should be able to feel the burn and get fast results. If you’re a beginner, start by using 3 lb weights. Once you are able to do the whole video with good posture using 3 lb weights, I would recommend increasing the load to 5 or even 7 lbs but not more than that.
You can make your workouts more challenging while using either of my workout videos by increasing the intensity of the workout and not the weight. You can do so by mastering your posture, technique and by decreasing the rest time. I shot both workout videos almost in real time and didn’t have an easy time. Even though I exercise several times per week I find these workouts pretty challenging, specially V.2.

LaloFit V.1 and 2 are full body workouts. On both videos, you are working your back muscles on the eccentric part of various moves. Your back muscles are keeping your body from being accelerated downward by gravity (i.e. push up to bridge), or upward by velocity, (i.e shadow boxing). Even though is not so obvious, by pausing at each point of the exercise, you’re activating and connecting with those muscles and making them work. Of course it won’t be exactly the same as doing pull-ups, which is a concentric back move, but you’ll still make your back muscles work.

Thank you suggesting us to post before and after pictures for people using the LaloFit system on our website, I think it’s a great idea! We’ll start working on that. If you or anybody else has before and after pictures that would like to share, please let us know.

Have a great day!

Lalo Fuentes, CSCS
Fitness trainer & Lifestyle Coach
Los Angeles, California

I would like to share with you the trailer for the second LaloFit workout DVD. The LaloFit V.2 DVD will come with a Timer, counter, behind the scenes, a quick 15 minute workout and much more!

Stay tuned!

Lalo Fuentes, CSCS
Fitness Trainer & Lifestyle Coach
Los Angeles, California