Boost your strength, grip, and joint stability with isometric deadlift holds!
This exercise involves holding the top portion of a deadlift for a set time without moving. It's a great way to build muscle endurance and reduce the risk of injury. 

1. ​Deadlift holds involve holding the top portion of a deadlift for a set period of time without moving. The benefits of doing this include:
2. Increased strength: Isometric deadlift holds can improve strength in the muscles used during the deadlift exercise, including the glutes, hamstrings, and lower back.
3. Improved grip strength: Holding onto heavy weights during isometric deadlift holds can help to improve grip strength, which can be beneficial for other exercises that require a strong grip.
4. Improved joint stability: Isometric exercises can help to improve joint stability by increasing the activation of stabilizer muscles, which can help to reduce the risk of injury.
5. Increased muscle endurance: Holding a heavy weight for an extended period of time can help to improve muscle endurance, which can be beneficial for athletes who need to maintain strength and power over a long period of time.
6. Reduced risk of injury: Isometric exercises can help improve joint mobility and stability, reducing the risk of injury during other exercises or daily activities.

Overall, isometric holds with your deadlifts can be useful to a strength training program, particularly for individuals looking to improve strength, grip strength, joint stability, and muscle endurance. Remember to use proper form and gradually increase the weight and duration.

Ashwagandha is an ancient medicinal herb with numerous physiological benefits. Also known as Withania somnifera, it is a small shrub native to India, the Middle East, and parts of Africa. Ashwagandha has been used for centuries in Ayurvedic medicine for its adaptogenic properties that help the body cope with stress and anxiety.

The herb is grown and cultivated through sustainable farming practices, as it requires specific growing conditions, including dry and arid environments with sandy soil. The roots and leaves of the plant are the most commonly used parts for medicinal purposes, and they are harvested by hand and processed into various forms, including powder, capsules, and liquid extracts.

Research has shown that ashwagandha has several benefits for the body, including:

• Reducing stress and anxiety
• Improving cognitive function
• Reducing inflammation
• Boost endurance
• Increase muscle strength
• Improve body composition by reducing body fat and increasing muscle mass.

Ashwagandha can be consumed in various forms, including supplements, teas, and powders, and the recommended dosage varies based on the form of consumption and individual needs. It is generally safe to consume, but it is always recommended to consult a healthcare provider before starting any new supplement or herb.

In conclusion, ashwagandha is a powerful herb with a long history of use in Ayurvedic medicine. Its numerous physiological benefits make it a popular choice for those looking to improve their overall health and well-being.

References:
​​Kumar, Nitesh, and Renu Yadav. “Therapeutic Potential of Ashwagandha in Neurodegenerative Disorders.” Journal of Herbal Medicine, vol. 24, 2021, pp. 100406., doi: 10.1016/j.hermed.2021.100406.

Chandrasekhar, K., et al. “A Prospective, Randomized Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study of Safety and Efficacy of a High-Concentration Full-Spectrum Extract of Ashwagandha Root in Reducing Stress and Anxiety in Adults.” Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine, vol. 34, no. 3, 2012, p. 255., doi: 10.4103/0253-7176.106022.

Wankhede, Sachin et al. “Examining the effect of Withania somnifera supplementation on muscle strength and recovery: a randomized controlled trial.” Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition vol. 12,1 (2015): 43. doi:10.1186/s12970-015-0104-9.

Proper nutrition is essential for the overall health and well-being of individuals of all ages and fitness levels. Whether you are an athlete striving for peak performance or an average person looking to improve your overall health, proper nutrition coaching can help you reach your goals.

Benefits of Proper Nutrition Coaching:

1. Improved Athletic Performance: Proper nutrition is crucial for athletes looking to improve their performance. A well-rounded diet that includes adequate amounts of carbohydrates, protein, and healthy fats can provide the energy and nutrients necessary for optimal athletic performance.
2. Weight Management: Nutrition coaching can help individuals achieve and maintain a healthy weight by teaching them about portion control, nutrient-dense foods, and mindful eating.
3. Reduced Risk of Chronic Diseases: A diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein can reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and certain types of cancer.
4. Increased Energy Levels: Proper nutrition can increase energy levels, allowing individuals to feel more alert and productive throughout the day.
5. Improved Mental Health: Studies have shown that a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and omega-3 fatty acids can improve mental health and reduce the risk of depression and anxiety.

Proper nutrition coaching is essential for the overall health and well-being of individuals of all ages and fitness levels. Whether you are an athlete striving for peak performance or an average person looking to improve your overall health, proper nutrition coaching can help you reach your goals. Our experienced nutrition coaches will work with you to create a customized plan tailored to your specific needs and goals.

A performance and wellness protocol is constructed and fortified by proactive health and wellness-driven behavioral choices. The impact is seen physiologically by way of which respond to our external environment through our lifestyle.
The benefits of getting wellness coaching include:

• Physical health improvement
• ​Mental health management
• Reduction of sick days
• Achieving higher productivity
• Reduces chances of  injuries
• Improving Spirit - Confidence, and Optimism

Being a high-performance individual gets happens through behavioral coaching and environment adjustments. Factors that play a massive part in making this happen are understanding how to structure a holistic healthy lifestyle in a way  that supports and improve overall health.

When done right, health promotion can not only improve your health, reduce healthcare costs, increase productivity, and produce a positive return on investment. In a Harvard business review study, doctors found that every dollar invested in a wellness program yielded $6 in healthcare savings.

It's essential nowadays, more than ever. Your personal productivity will leak over to your professional productivity. According to the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, participating in a wellness program showed significant productivity increases, saving an average of $353/person of lost work time each year.

Many people are interested in implementing a workplace health promotion, but you should not let fear of commitment prevent taking action on something that will yield many benefits.

​

Understanding basic rules and guidelines on diet and nutrition are essential to everyone, especially those that are partaking on a health and wellness journey and climbing to Be Exceptional. Proper Nutrition Coaching is vital for the average person in general pop and all athlete's peak performance and a certified Nutrition Coach better guide you about that . It is most important to understand that most death and disease causes are linked to poor diet and a lack of physical activity. Several chronic diseases, including heart disease, certain cancers, hypertension, Type II diabetes, and osteoporosis, all fall into a nasty lifestyle choice of unhealthy eating. 

A Diet is a term used to describe the types of food and drink a person or animal consumes. Nutrients are substances used by an organism to survive, grow and reproduce. The requirement for dietary nutrient intake applies to animals, plants, fungi, and protists. Nutrients can be incorporated into cells for metabolic purposes or excreted by cells to create non-cellular structures, such as hair, scales, feathers, or exoskeletons. There are Essential Nutrients and Non Essential Nutrients found in food. Essential Nutrients must be obtained through the diet and cannot be made by the body. Lastly, the term macronutrient is used to describe nutrients needed in large amounts such as carbohydrates, protein, and fats, whereas Vitamins and minerals are considered micronutrients because they are required in smaller quantities.

The top causes of death in America can be attributed to a poor nutrition, which often results in excessive calorie intake, paired with a lack of physical activity - habits detrimental to one's health.

Making wise food choices includes consuming a wide variety of nutrient-dense foods such as whole grains, fruits, vegetables, legumes, and lean protein; however, with that being said, Saturated and Trans fats, salt, cholesterol, sugar, and alcohol should all be limited. Your calorie intake should be equal to calories expended to prevent unwanted weight gain. Lifestyle choices that result in adopting eating patterns established by the Food Guide Pyramid or Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet are always a great starting point. Both plans have a wide range of caloric recommendations that meet almost everyone's needs regardless of their associated demographic.

An alternative approach to the USDA’s food guide pyramid is the Healthy Eating Pyramid. This pyramid addresses most of the Food Guide Pyramid shortcomings by distinguishing between whole grains and refined, processed foods, separating red meat from other protein sources, and emphasizing healthy fats. The Healthy Eating Pyramid is grounded in daily exercise in conjunction with weight control and incorporates alcohol in moderation. The Healthy Eating pyramid recognizes a daily multivitamin's value to make up for dietary shortcomings and vitamin D/calcium supplements, as most Americans lack those mentioned above due to cultural food preferences, poor food choices, or intolerances.

 What is even more appalling is that the top five consumed foods among Americans include:

1.  1 = Sugared beverages
2. 2 = Cake and sweet rolls
3. 3 = Hamburger
4. 4 = Pizza
5. 5 = Potato and corn chips

These items are high in added sugars, fat, salt, and calories, all of which should be consumed in limited amounts. It is important to recognize that eating these foods frequently are associated with a poor diet, and often lead to excessive calorie intake, inadequate nutrient intake, unwanted weight gain, and related health problems.
​
 There are six classes of nutrients:

•  1 = Carbohydrates
• 2 = Proteins
• 3 = Lipids – fats and oils
• 4 = Vitamins
• 5 = Minerals
• 6 = Water

Essential nutrients are needed by the body, but can not be produced by the body and thus must be consumed. To get the best food according to your body you need a certified Nutrition Coaching Service. Average growth, development, and optimal functioning of the human body require 45 essential nutrients supplied by the diet. A low intake of any essential nutrients increases the risk of developing a deficiency or adverse health changes. If you are looking to better grasp your health through nutrition, click here to get connected with one of our fitness coaches or get set up with a plan now !
​We can help guide you in food choices as well as products like a Food Scale or Food Tracking Journal to help the process.

A lot of people have been looking into healthier alternatives to losing the tummy, as a result many of us are now realizing how important it is to consume less and move a lot more.

One of the biggest trends in vanity fitness is having nice ripped six-pack abs, and people are willing to do absurd and often mundane things to achieve it. Interest soon diminishes, and the result is a reversion back to the old self.

Before you feel you have tried everything, I suggest fasting. It's something that I preach about always, and there are many ways that it can get accomplished. I have long mornings and need extended amounts of natural energy without relying heavily on food consumption. I not only set an eating window for myself, but I also structure my eating based on the low carbohydrate fast that activates Ketogenesis. The principles behind it make your body eat away at unwanted fat and uses it as energy. This habit gives us a considerable advantage when the goals of staying lean year-round are wanted. Believe it or not, this is a practice already used by many elite endurance athletes who need sustainable energy during competition.

With Ketogenesis and Ketogenic style dieting paired with fasting, it is a simple principle of reducing carbohydrates. BUT WAIT THAT'S NOT ALL! The thought of lowering your carbohydrates may seem cliche, and it is unhealthy if done improperly, however with the ketogenic diet, you replace the calories lost from carb reduction with additional consumption of proteins and fats, which can both get converted into energy, to replenish the lost calories. The trade-off should be 1:1 calorie-wise, meaning that for every gram of carb taken away, replace it with either a gram of protein or about .4g of fats or a combination of both.

The Ketogenic diet refers to a way of eating that promotes the absorption of ketones for energy. These Ketones get created when your body uses fat to produce energy instead of doing that same process with sugar. Typically, when we eat foods high in carbohydrates, two things happen :
Food gets broken down into usable energy called glucose.
Insulin gets released to direct the glucose to be either immediately used for energy or stored for future use.
Since most of us eat a high carbohydrate diet, our body will get glucose from our foods, leaving no means to dig into our fat reserves. When you over-consume, any excess carbs that do not get used get added to our protruding belly's problem.

Reducing your carbohydrate intake can force your body to use your reserve. When this happens, we start to produce ketones, a kick-starter for ketosis, where usable energy derives from the breakdown of our body fat.
Our bodies are incredibly adaptive to the things we put in it, and with the principles of a ketogenic diet, our bodies will begin to break down body fat stores into a new primary source of energy.
Some benefits in taking on a ketogenic diet may include:

1. Increase in brain function by way of memory and learning
2. A larger portion of abdominal fat usage and breakdown
3. Decrease heart disease risk factor
4. Increase levels of good cholesterol
5. Can lose 2-3 times more fat in comparison to reducing the intake of fats or proteins
6. Can help reduce your appetite

Even though this process does not starve you of overall calories, it does starve you of carbohydrates, so those that suffer from blood sugar aliment should look into this. I advise you to please consult with your primary physician whenever starting a new wellness program. With anything new, always remember it takes practice.
If you need help with weight loss or are looking for a healthy lifestyle shift, please book your consultation. 

Why does your juice have to be green? Yes, your healthy "green juice" should no longer be just green. After my travels internationally, I have voluntarily change the color of my juice to red!

It was not even on my radar until my last adventure to Israel. Street vendors everywhere were selling pomegranate juice to the masses and were squeezing the red fruit directly in front of us. After taking my first sip, I instantly did my due diligence with research and prayed in the holiest land that my fall for pomegranate was justified. I got lucky, as I found more added benefits than an overpriced multivitamin.
​Here are the five benefits that I found the most interesting. Let me know what you think!

Antioxidants
Pomegranate juice contains the flavonoids anthocyanins and anthoxanthins in large concentrations. To compare, it even sits at a more substantial capacity of antioxidants than green or black tea. These antioxidants also make it a great tool in reducing inflammation throughout the body and prevent oxidative stress and damage - think aiding against psoriasis and arthritis.

Diabetes
Pomegranate has been used traditionally as a remedy for diabetes in the Middle East. Much is still unknown about pomegranate's effects on diabetes, but it may help decrease insulin resistance and lower blood sugar.

Brain Function
The high concentration of antioxidants stalls the progress of Alzheimer's disease. Occasionally drinking 8 ounces of pomegranate juice is said to improve learning and memory.

Sports Performance
​The juice may reduce soreness and improve strength recovery. It also decreases oxidative damage caused by exercise.

Sexual Performance
Drinking pomegranate juice is said to increase testosterone levels in men and women, one of the main hormones behind sex drive.

Now you know, your healthy green juice isn't the only healthy option out there for nutrient-dense drinks. Performing at life and looking lean is the game that I love playing every single day. The fact that pomegranate may reduce inflammation and promote muscle recovery is good enough to get me to add it to my repertoire. Hopes this can help you as well!

Be Exceptional Fitness is obsessed with improving global health with proven techniques and the latest in science in order to best serve our clients . We have decided to launch ‘Be Exceptional Business Boost,’ highlighting Health and Wellness businesses and their founders. Be Exceptional provides health and wellness consulting services for consumers as well as professionals.

​There are several paths that one can take to enter the health and wellness industry. Anthony Rosado, the owner of Pro Strength & Recovery LLC, a unique studio in Long Island, was recently shared his story with us on how he got interested in health and wellness, and how he started his business. 

Who is Anthony Rosado?
Anthony Rosado’s story shows that you can enter an industry and scale your services successfully. Rosado carved out a niche for himself, rebranded and tailored services for his demographic. Robert Palmer describes him as “a good person and a good small business owner.” He is the owner of Pro Strength & Recovery LLC. This studio is the number one and only studio in Long Island that focuses completely on assisted stretching and recovery. 

The Reason Anthony Rosado Joined the Health and Wellness Industry
Rosado’s entry to the health and wellness industry flowed from a personal desire to become healthier. He eventually got certified as a personal trainer, got into the industry, and then sought to figure out how he could offer valuable service and achieve success in the industry. 

The love for sports was always a part of Anthony Rosado’s life. He was an athlete growing up. He then went away to college and started to drift away from athletics. He actually gained a lot of weight. At college, he studied physical therapy and was on a path to become a physical therapist. 
He did not have a very clear plan for how he would operate in the health and wellness industry. His approach to the industry was experimental. He thought to himself that he would give it a try. He would combine his passion and education and try to help others while making a living.

The Birth of Pro Strength & Recovery LLC
Pro Strength & Recovery was started back in January 2018. It started as a Limited liability company, but was later converted to a corporation. His journey to establish this business started back in 2015. 
He left the company he was working with and moved back to Long Island while completing his master’s degree in Exercise Science. 

In long Island, he got a position as a trainer at the UFC gym. While at this gym, a member of the Stretch to Win Institute had shared with him the benefits of a new certification, Fascial Stretch Therapy. This certification would cost Anthony around $2,000 and would require that he travel to Canada or Arizona to complete it. While everybody else at his gym passed on the opportunity, Rosado decided to invest in himself and set himself apart from the competition.

After completing the first level of the certification, Rosado immediately started to see results. He started to get a lot of clients that were interested in his new skills. The certification would later make way for Rosado to work with the NBA. He worked with the Brooklyn Nets for almost two years. According to Rosado, he got the job “mostly because the head guy in charge had the same certification I did and the stretching.” 
After completing all the levels of the program, Anthony decided to drop all his training clients and move into stretching completely. He now mainly does assisted stretching. He also teaches stretch techniques that individuals can do on the floor. 

COVID-19’s Impact on Stretch to Win Institute
During the height of the pandemic, Anthony Rosado moved his services online. Going online gave him “an opportunity to interact with people on a different level. I was doing a lot of virtual sessions with clients and it allowed me to work on that part of my business that I previously wasn't working on.” 
One of the challenges he faced was learning to handle the schedule of his virtual services. It was initially overwhelming as he was doing back to back sessions. He started to limit the number of sessions he would do daily to around 5 per day and scheduled a day off for himself. He is also intentional about scheduling time to work on himself and build his skill set so that he can deliver more value.

Golden Advice from Anthony Rosado
Anthony Rosado believes that individuals who are just starting to offer services in the industry should focus on their strengths. “Double down on your strengths, don't focus on your weakness because you're not going to have enough time in a day, in a month, in a year to ever improve it to the level of your strength.” He shared that this even applies to an individual working at a fast-food restaurant. “Whatever service thing that you're doing, make it unique, but make it the best, whatever it is.”
To individuals operating a brick and mortar, an LLC, S Corps, or DBAs, it is important that you have a desire to offer superior service. In addition to offering great service, Rosado believes that it is important to create a system of support around your operation. 

Things were difficult for Rosado when he just started his business because he was trying to do everything for himself. From this experience, he learned the importance of working with others. As a business owner, “the most important word you can come to be best friends with is delegation,” shared Rosado.
​
We have heard from Anthony Rosado the importance of having a solid support system and sound business principles as you grow your product. Pro Strength & Recovery is certainly making waves in the industry and so can you.

If you would like to get in touch with Anthony Rosado, you can reach him at ProStrengthRecovery.com. His Instagram is @RecoverwithRosado. His office is located in Franklin Square, New York. His telephone number is 516-587-1974.

The Business Boost Community is simply a place that you can come for advice, resources, and inspirational stories such as Anthony’s. This is helpful to everybody involved in the health and wellness space.
​
If you’d like to be featured on ‘Be Exceptional Business Boost’, please visit our website.
You are also invited to become a member of our community. Joining the Be Exceptional Fitness family will give you access to resources that will help increase your business's efficiency and build more brand awareness. 
If you are a Health And Wellness Business visit our website today, and let’s take your business to the next level. 
-Be exceptional!

I'm always looking for ways to make my life more enjoyable through experiences and experiments.
I was given a fresh bottle of Lavender oil while in France. I didn't know much about it outside that I was all-natural. I soon realized that I had received liquid gold once I started to research.

Some of the fantastic benefits of this essential oil:

1. Reduces Anxiety and Emotional Stress
2. Heals Burns and Wounds
3. Improves Sleep
4. resorts Skin Complexions and Reduces Acne
5. Slows Aging with Powerful Antioxidants
6. Improves Eczema and Psoriasis

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) warn people to be cautious when combining lavender with drugs that induce sleepiness as well as Medications to reduce blood pressure. If you are already taking the above mentioned, seek medical advice before adding lavender to your regimen—It is not confirmed if taking lavender during pregnancy or while breastfeeding is safe. Discuss any use of essential oils, herbs, or supplements with your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
​
As lavender is thought to slow down the central nervous system, doctors advise patients to stop using lavender at least two weeks before surgery. I only say this to reinforce always do personal research and make sure you are in the clear. Be adventurous and learn something new. 

Today I want to lend my professional opinion and advice.
Let's tackle the topic of training - not just working out.
At first glance, most will see them as identical, but a closer look, we can see a big difference and why a distinction is necessary. My definition, teaching a person a particular fitness skill or related behavior through practice and instruction over a while constitutes training.

These skills do not have to be solely focused on aesthetics. For example, daily self-care that leads to the improvement in the efficiency of life fall under this umbrella of skills. Lifestyle changes are necessary for training to be effective. These skills should be continuously habituated and practiced, similar to when many of us learn in school. In school, when it came to midterms and finals, some would wait to study at the last minute and typically would not yield the same results or house the same confidence that the prepared student got. Thus, learning skills to prepare your body for the examination of life is important. This is true even when your life revolves around winning championships or merely winning the day - it is crucial.

Those that have a particular end goal , such as weight gain or weight loss at hand, are the perfect candidate for programmed fitness training. I've seen many people, and every individual is unique, yet it is vital to know that we all can benefit from intently working out. Most think that the top trainee goals is to "lose weight"; however, this is a big misconception as some of the best athletes in the world can care less about how their bodies look as long as it does not affect play. Goals sometimes are very vague; however, being able to channel the real reason for training will determine if it is something a person can benefit from in the long run. Other common goals/benefits are as follows:

-Improving the quality of life
-Increase memory capacity
-Gain muscle
-Increase cardiovascular output
-Decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease
-Improve performance

An effective program typically starts from the inside and works its way out. What exactly does this mean? When we take the step to change habits, behaviors, and skills, first, we must change mentally. We must recognize that if we are not mentally prepared for the journey, we are about to endure, we will inherently prolong our process. If you do this, many changes will occur, but surprisingly, the mirrors' looks are only a by-product of the harder behavioral changes. We at least know one person who kills workouts, or at least say they do, but find it also equally hard to lose the weight. To help, scenarios such as this, training correctly with a plan is the accountability necessary to link the rest of the pillars of fitness together - food/diet, working out, supplementation (in regards to switching out lower nutrient-rich sources for those higher).

Often most people combine fitness into a big disfunction. By not wanting to live a healthy, wholesome lifestyle - maintaining mobility/locomotion and achieving hormonal homeostasis, your habits will become costly that you will pay for with your wallet and body. Do the right thing and #BeExceptional.

​I love working out just as much as my clients, So when thinking about my ab routine or what I may give to my clients, I sometimes get caught between the decision to break it down the exercise selection base on how dynamic vs. isometric focused it is. What's the difference? Dynamic represents any ab exercises that you physically move through a full range of motion to execute the activity. Isometric exercises typically represent any position that held without changing the muscles or joints' length while contracted.

The one in the video above is a variation of an oldie, Ab Roll Outs. About the category of core exercises that it falls into, this is a dynamic one. Most of you might have seen this demonstration on my social media feed. This movement is fantastic and had me sore for two days. Believe it, when done correctly, it will rip up your midsection in minutes!

Here's how to do the Ab Rollouts.
Note that you can complete this version of the exercise with an ab-dolly, Val slides, suspension trainer, or a stability ball.

1. Place forearms on the platform of choice. (ab-dolly, Val slides, suspension trainer, or a stability ball)
2. While still in a quadruped position, engage glutes, draw in the midsection, and brace your abdominals as hard as possible.
3. While maintaining proper engagement from step '2', slowly get into a prone plank position.
4. ​Keep stiff and extend both arms away from the body then back towards your body's proximity.

Depending on how strong your core is will determine how far away you will extend your arms. Keep working, and in a couple of weeks, you will be able to do a ton of reps and extend your arms straight, but most of all, you will be able to wash your workout gear on your washboard abs.

​Good Luck!

Be Exceptional Fitness is obsessed with improving global health with proven techniques and the latest in science in order to best serve our clients . We have decided to launch ‘Be Exceptional Business Boost,’ highlighting. Health and Wellness. businesses and their founders. Be Exceptional provides health and wellness consulting services for consumers as well as professionals.

​Our CEO and founder, Robert L. Palmer, got the chance to virtually sit with doula, fashion expert, and fitness coach, Wasidah. She shared her experience and journey in becoming more health-conscious and helping others to achieve health. 

Meet Wasidah: A Doula, Fashion Expert, and Fitness Coach
Wasidah is a full-spectrum doula who focuses on postpartum and fertility. She is a native of Philadelphia. She is certified with credible organizations such as Mama Glow, the National Black Doula Association, and The NAFSA Project School (TNPS). Wasidah is also a certified personal trainer and has a professional background in fashion, including a B.A. in Fashion Design and working as a stylist with Barneys, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Bloomingdale’s. She enjoys helping women and encouraging them to get healthy and stay healthy during pregnancy. 

Wasidah started training when she was 20. Her initial desire was simply to have abs and a smaller waist. On her way to achieving this goal, she fell in love with fitness. Her commitment to wellness further strengthened when she started to think about how many of her relatives had diabetes. She later got involved with training others because she loved fitness and wanted a more flexible life with a decent salary. She started out her journey as a cycling instructor.

Wasidah’s First Year as a Trainer
Many people believe that being a personal trainer is a bed of roses. Wasidah shared that when she just started, she did not consider that clients go on vacation. This was a challenge for her as she needed money to cover her expenses. The gym she was working required her to be exclusive and prohibited her from working for any other gym or Health and Wellness club. She felt boxed in. “I wound up renting out my apartment with Airbnb to cover the rent, which was awesome, just for that summer. I also decided to become more independent and do teaching” shared Wasidah. This experience led her to see the value of being an independent trainer. One of the main benefits of going independent was that Wasidah is had the freedom to select clients that perfectly match her skillset and offerings. 

Wasidah’s Experience with Bodybuilding
Wasidah was once an award-winning bodybuilder. After tons of people suggested that she get involved with bodybuilding, Wasidah finally gave in. Meanwhile, she found that she did not really like how she looked and the lifestyle that came with it. She was on the verge of quitting when she attended her first show. She thought it was a waste of time and that she would lose. Ironically, she ended up winning the competition. 

After a while, Wasidah decided to leave bodybuilding because she did not find it to be compatible with the life she wanted. She was about to get married and wanted to have children. She also shared that she wanted to look more natural and show people what a woman actually looks like in her 30s. She also shared that the supplements that she had to take were not very pleasant. 

How Wasidah Has Been Navigating COVID-19 Challenges 
The current pandemic affects all industries. The fact that children are staying home during this time makes it challenging for some clients to make sessions. This is even true of virtual sessions. Wasidah had to get creative to ensure that her client’s stayed on track. She decided to create personal training videos for her clients so that they can workout at their convenience. Her clients have really been enjoying this and have shared that they feel special because of her extra extended effort. 
Wasidah prefers a boot camp style of training, and this is even present in her virtual training sessions and her personal training videos. She likes to use resistance bands and tubing for several reasons. According to Wasidah, they prevent injury, which is a major concern since she is not there with her client to ensure that they do not misuse equipment. 

Ironically, Wasidah shared that her business has been much better since the pandemic and the social unrest. While some clients must attend to their children, most have more time on their hands due to the pandemic. 

Initially, Wasidah was reluctant to go virtual with her clients. When the pandemic became a major issue, she decided to train her clients in the park. She later decided to give virtual workouts a try and found that it was much better. She made the complete switch to virtual after realizing that she could achieve a lot more. Virtual has also proven to be much more convenient for Wasidah as she no longer needs to drag equipment to the park.

COVID-19 Opened the Way for Wasidah to Train Outside of America
As previously mentioned, the pandemic drove Wasidah to get involved in virtual training. Going virtual has also made it possible for Wasidah to train clients outside of America. She shared that it started with one client that she had always had great respect for. When this person asked to be one of her clients, Wasidah couldn’t say no. After training this individual for some time, she started to introduce Wasidah to her friends. These friends eventually became clients and continue to refer Wasidah to others. Wasidah is now developing an online program where her clients can benefit from her expertise without communicating directly with them.

Wasidah’s journey and her work are very inspiring. If you’d like to get in touch with her, you can visit her website, www.wasidah.com. You can also find her on Instagram with the handle @wasidah or email her at [email protected]. 

If you’d like to be featured on ‘Be Exceptional Business Boost’, please visit our website.
You are also invited to become a member of our community. Joining the Be Exceptional Fitness family will give you access to resources that will help increase your business's efficiency and build more brand awareness. 
If you are a Health And Wellness Business visit our website today, and let’s take your business to the next level. 
-Be exceptional!

Don't Deprive Yourself!
Most of us worry about our output and the number of calories that we burn, and as a result, more people are actively working out. We must also remember that if we are running a machine with too little oil, missing pieces, and exhibits unsatisfactory mechanical movements, we will have problems. For most, sleep is one of those components that most hard workers are missing. There is nothing like getting a great night of sleep. The feeling of waking in the morning, feeling energized, is a feeling that we should all enjoy. Millions suffer from deprivation by way of quantity and quality of sleep. Chronic sleep deprivation and the effects are not pretty, and they can be wild and loose.
Key Reminders of Poor Sleep:

• Lack of sleep can affect your immune system. Studies show that under slept individuals are more likely to get sick after being exposed to a virus like the Covid-19. Lack of sleep can also affect how fast you recover if you do get sick.
• Curbs the ability to burn fat by 50%. It is already a slow and steady process; why make it any slower?
• The body could become susceptible to resisting hormonal activity. In the case of insulin, if insulin secretion is met with resistance, that will force the endocrine system, by way of the pancreas, to trigger a surplus. Eventually, this excess ends up storing fat and metabolized calories in all the wrong places, such as around abdominal organs like the liver or more extremely lead to diabetes.
• Food cravings will go through the roof and your ability to make good food choices plummets. Sleeping less than six hours triggers the need for food. It depresses the chemical Leptin, which is responsible for giving a feeling of fullness. It inversely increases Ghrelin, which offers the sensation of emptiness, being unsatisfied, and hungry.
• Scientists have found that sleep debt impairs the ability to make muscle. Sleep deprivation destroys muscle tissue; however, muscle is the enemy of fat. Additionally, the probability of an increased incidence of injuries can also be applied when the body is not physically healthy.
• In the morning, grogginess, moodiness, irregular heartbeats, low sex drive, and libido, early wrinkles, and slow recovery/prolonged muscle soreness are also all many adverse side effects to consider.

Ways To Increase Sleep Quality And Quantity

• Have a caffeine curfew. Pretty self-explanatory.
• Avoid "blue light" before bed. 1-2 hours before sleeping, try to avoid artificial light emitted from computers, phones, and tablet screens. Most modern devices have a blue light filter that can get turned on through the user interface of the device you are using.
• Try taking a multi-vitamin with or a singular dose of a good quality Magnesium. It is an anti-stress mineral. It helps optimize circulation, relax tense muscles, reduce pain, and calm the nervous system. It serves many purposes, which depletes this mineral relatively fast, so get it infrequently.
• Have sex! An orgasm is like a full-on sedative for most people. A flood of relaxing hormones and endorphins get released when this happens, and it might just be the thing to set a great night's sleep. 
• A quick change can happen through your food selection. Certain foods can promote deep and restful sleep. Below you will find a list of critical nutrients and minerals that help improve sleep. Search for these essential food vitamins and minerals in the foods you choose to eat, and you will be good to go: Melatonin, GABA, Vitamin B6, Zinc, Magnesium.

With the proper strategy and mindset, we can create an environment, internally and externally, to enjoy the health and wellness benefits of sleep. While there is no hard number that applies to everyone, a good rule of thumb is to get set for bed with relatively 9 hours of space. Aim to get 6-8 hours of quality sleep per night. Also, make sure that one miserable night of sleep does not get followed by a few more. It might not seem like much, but try it, and let us know if you notice the benefits.
Article by Robert L. Palmer, Fitness Entrepreneur & Fitness Brand Consultant | Founder Be Exceptional. Be Exceptional is dedicated to creating a 360 approach to health, wellness, fitness, and athletics.

Weight Weight Fluctuating daily due to the amount of fluid we retain. Foods high in sodium, menstrual cycles, medications, and lack of bowel movements can all increase fluid retention and skew your weight. The good thing about working out is that with consistency over time, the real story gets revealed. If your weight creeps up after two or three weeks, you have been eating more calories than burning, and of course, this comes with the small exception where real medical attention might be needed.

When measuring progress, I like going about it by measuring the inches lost, expressed energy levels, fitting clothing, or body fat measurements if proper tools happen to be available.

Gaining lean muscle through strength training is another way to gauge progress. For example, if you have gained a pound of lean muscle, this is far different from gaining a pound of fat. Gaining muscle is beneficial to both your metabolism and overall strength. By consistently burning more calories than you consume, muscle gain will eventually taper off; however, fat loss will continue, and that scale will ultimately capture the results.

Weighing yourself at least once a week will help keep you in check to make proper adjustments. To minimize Weight Fluctuating follow these few tips:

1. Wear similar clothing before each weigh-in
2. Stay consistent with the scale that you use
3. Maintain the same eating and drinking habits before weigh-in
4. Be aware of relying heavily on Monday weigh-ins, as they tend to get offset because of poor eating habits and lack of tracking ​​over the weekends

Weight Fluctuating can happen due to many factors such as lack of sleep, dehydration, inconsistent eating, high sodium foods, and let's not forget losing the fight against self and will power. Keeping your eye on the prize will always help you stay away from any distractions during the process.
If you are having trouble with your weight loss program.
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The Wall Street Journal released an article some time ago that brought light concerns surrounding the supplement industry. I advocate the use of supplements in conjunction with a balanced, wholesome diet and fitness program/regime. I have found particular supplements to be of vital aid in my client's success. And as a responsible professional, I always try to play an active role in keeping my clients educated on the effects and uses of supplements. Truth in labeling is expected; however, it is not required of any supplement company to provide evidence until it becomes an issue for the FDA.
​
The article highlighted a study that found two illegal and two unknown substances in commercially available products. Thankfully, I had never recommended, nevertheless heard of, any of these products, which was a huge relief. The question, how as a consumer/non-fitness professional, do you choose the right supplements? This concern is an issue for all supplements, even for those that stamp, all-natural, or organic on the label.

Supplements in fact can effectively fill nutritional gaps, so here are three tips that can help you eliminate chances of problems from negligent supplement companies:​

1. Understand that quality and freshness of product matters
2. Confirm any ingredients listed on the container.
3. Demand and expect product accountability
4. Stay away from companies that promise miracles on their website, in catalogs, in commercials or advertisements, or in‐store promotions. Examples of this would be promises to make you smarter or thinner, to keep you young, to increase or decrease the size of various body parts, and so forth, should raise a red flag. Manipulation of statistics or intentionally distorting research findings to mislead you is purely unethical and powered by marketing and typically not backed by real science.
5. Look for the misspelling of terms; confusion of milligrams, grams, and micrograms; and omission on labels of essential or required information are clear indicators of the ignorance and negligence of the manufacturer.
6. Use resources that analyze and confirm supplement content, dose, and purity. ConsumerLab is one such service. Pharmaceutical researchers also report findings on supplement label accuracy; a PubMed can lead you to this information.
7. Look for the U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP) logo (USP verification mark) on supplement labels. The mark certifies that the USP has found ingredients consistent with those stated on the label. It also indicates the supplement to be manufactured in a safe, sanitary, controlled facility and that the product dissolves or disintegrates to release nutrients in the body. (However, the USP does not test the supplement efficacy.)
8. Look for a phone number on the label to call with questions or report side effects. On websites, look for a domestic address and phone number, in addition to email contact. What type of response do you get from a knowledgeable company, or is the only person available to read a scripted response?

If you are shopping online but are uncertain the supplement is right for you, check the Web retailer's return policy. A web retailer that also has a brick‐and‐mortar outlet near your locale may be preferable.

Having access to a professional so that important questions can get asked about supplements is always an excellent tool to support your nutritional journey. If you have any questions or are ready to start a new health journey that separates yourself from the average doer and consumer, Book your fitness consultation now!

Original Referenced Story :by Alexis Benveniste, CNN Business
Updated 12:14 PM ET, Wed April 1, 2020
URL: https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/01/business/fitness-studios-coronavirus/index.html

I always stress how important it is to be on top of your industry trends when advising fitness professionals. It is not enough to gaze at the major players', but equally important to ask why emerging brands choose to take alternative routes in their business models. Alexis Benveniste published an article on CNN Business that explored this $94 billion industry-related shift. By understanding how to tie business decisions to data instead of intuition, you will make informed decisions, allowing exposure for growth or to prevent your demise. For the +400k personal trainers in the USA, if the mark was missed, get caught up by doing the following:
1). Go digital while keeping a similar value proposition and offering.
2). Restrain from putting all eggs in one basket, by thinking brick and mortar site equals success and end goal.
3). Learn to scale your business by offering in-person, live-streamed, and pre-recorded options for customers.
It is essential to understand that you can never 100% accurately predict the industry, but you can stay on top of growing trends by continuously equipping yourself with the tools so that when a pivot is needed, you can drop step and dunk.