It’s hard to make food sexy, but it’s easy when I know first hand this keeps me in my bikini all year round. On Maui, we live in our bathing suits and as a fitness trainer, athlete and model I need to eat lean, eat for energy so I can look good and perform.
This is what I reach for before any serious long distance paddling, or before a big workout. I need low calorie, low fat energy food that will not make me bloated or feel sluggish. I love that in one cup with the combination of quality Greek yogurt, such Fage 0%One cup of this yogurt has zero fat, 130 calories, 9g of carbs and 23 grams of quality protein! Then I combine this with a 1/2- 1 cup of GO Lean Crunchthis gives me an additional source of more protein, fiber, potassium and a touch of honey to make it a little sweet. The additional 80 calories I can afford and need.
What a winning combination that sustains and fills me. I never feel hungry and I won’t crash when I enjoy this for a meal or pick me up. You can also add a bit a fruit too.
Remember to keep food and nutrition simple. Calories, fat content and sugar in your foods does matter. I also suggest to my clients who want help with counting their calories for shedding weight or maintaining weight, the highly rated, easy and fun to use, food diary smart phone application, called My FitnessPal. It’s free! click here to learn more: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/
Thanks for stopping by. Please feel free to share or leave a comment. We’d love to hear from you.
Mahalo, Suzie Cooney, CPT Owner of Suzie Trains Maui, LLC
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The topic of shedding or losing weight is nothing new. So why then does everyone search for the quick fix or the one diet, magic shake , new trend, or little pill to solve this to do this for them ? That alone is a huge case study on the psychology of human behavior.
People assume that if you’re fit and healthy that it’s easy as I hear a barrage of reasons of why someone can’t lose weight. It’s simple, the bottom line, deep deep truth is, they’re not ready or don’t want to. I realize I’m putting myself out on a limb when I make a statement like this, but you’re still reading and you might be thinking, wow, how awful of me to say this.
I’ve heard it all, about the “why’s” the “yeah buts” and “if onlys” to last me a life time. Just like I’m probably shocking you with my direct writing of my opinion here, as I normally am quite conservative in my blog entries. Now I am a compassionate and caring fitness professional and I do know first hand from my own experiences with illness and medical conditions, that sometimes medications or other real health matters offer a true layer of challenge that needs to be treated and approached in a different manner.
My daily dose of health! My reminder that my health is golden. View from my lanai on Maui
There is a pot of gold at the end of this rainbow and the pot of gold is your health. But the clients I help and train are truly successful and will do anything and everything I suggest 100%, not half way, because they know I’ve been there. I walk the talk and I know what it’s like to be down and not as fit as I’m supposed to be.
If you didn’t know this about me, I’m the trainer who broke her legs in April of 2009 only to be in a wheelchair for three months, completely atrophied from the waist down, and still train from my wheelchair. My body changed, turned to mush, but the inside of my heart and brain did not. I did not give up and I was committed to myself and my clients more than ever. I had the fire.
What is your fire?
We often need a jolt to really shock us out of unhealthy habits or help us make that mind shift. What can sometimes happen is an unexpected health event, such as a heart attack, or blood clot or maybe a diabetic episode, or like me a stumble that ends up badly.
Your health matters and so do you as a person. I’m not saying this will happen to you, and I’m not saying you should wait until something of this nature happens. Please avoid these health events. There is a lot of life to live so please start right now!
Take the reigns, and take charge of your life. Think of the possibilities of how your life would look and feel in so many ways when you decide to do just that. Notice I didn’t use the word “if.” ? Toss the Kleenex and wipe your tears of frustration and keep reading.
Shedding weight is more than just dieting, one has to be really ready so the results can be real and for life. And by the way, dieting doesn’t work. It’s a word that causes us to fail. So starting today, please take the word “diet” out of your vocabulary and replace it with simply “better food choices.”
Support in your corner is usually your own team of health professionals, loving friends and family; there to cheer you on and hold you up when you hit a bump in the road or feel you can’t go on. No one expects you to do it alone, so reach out and ask for help. So here are my tips to help you get started:
Ten Tips To Help You Start Shedding Weight for Good
You can waste a great deal of time trying to find your waist line if you’ve tried without success. Are you on track after you’ve made countless New Year’s Resolutions year after year? Having a pro in your corner can make all the difference and save you lots of money, calories and improve your overall “life” performance.
Let’s face it shedding weight and getting toned, in either order can be difficult, frustrating and take a really long time if you don’t know how or where to start. We all need a cheerleader, a person to hold us accountable besides our boss or spouse; someone that can find a “fun” way to make it all happen.
If you’re ready to really get real, I’m real serious about helping you. It takes two and I can’t do it alone, so if you’re ready to hold yourself up, look in the mirror and start loving what you see, how you feel, you’re halfway there. You’re amazing!
I’m available via SKYPE world-wide or in person while you’re on Maui, or if you live local even better. Your health matters, how you feel about yourself matters. You don’t have to be a pro surfer, just the pro of yourself to be ”pro self.” Make the time, make the investment and your life will change.
Suzie Cooney,CPT
Owner of Suzie Trains Maui, LLC
Questions? Feel free to contact me through our website.
…Dark chocolate that is! Welcome to the Suzie Trains Maui Blog. I’d love to share what’s delicious and healthy especially with Valentines Day coming up this week.
My dear friend and fellow trainer Jon Ham, owner of Fitness On the Run, has been featured here before and I just could not resist sharing this with you! He has put together this spicy little video showing how easy and fun it can be to make this special treat. This is so great and sure to make your loved one very happy and maybe even a little frisky!
Hey, if it’s healthy, it’s all good. Learn the benefits of dark chocolate and other interesting facts.
Enjoy everyone and be kind to your own heart first and make this recipe. Share the love and share the health!
What a way to surf into the New Year or as they call it SUPsquatching.
photo by Erik Aeder
This photo was sent my way via Matthew Murasko as he said I could share the mayhem with you all. This crew is absolutely nuts and they are definitely having the most fun here! My crazy friends Matthew Murakso and famous waterman Archie Kalepa are doing all they can to keep this “thing” on the face of this big wave here on Maui’s N. shore and Matthew is trying to make sure it doesn’t pearl! And the REAL crazy thing about this photo, Archie IS the fin. He is steering with his leg I think. ( C4 gets credit for the craft )
You can meet Archie and learn more about his history and his legendary life as a Hawaiian Waterman at Maui’s TedEx Maui event, this Sunday January 13th, 2013. Here’s more about Archie and the event:
Well, it’s all in fun and sometimes you gotta let loose! The guys are a bunch of great and inspiring ones. They will always have your back and will always be wearing the biggest smiles.
Mahalo Matthew and see you all at TedEx Maui.
Suzie Cooney, CPT
Owner of Suzie Trains Maui, LLC
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Aloha everyone! Here is my list of some of my “favorite things” that are sure to excite and motivate the fitness fanatics or those who are re-entering fitness, or simply want to change up their routine. Tune in here and listen to my radio segment from my weekly health and fitness radio segment on the Maui Breakfast Club, December 10, 2012 and find the perfect healthy gift.
Click Here to Hear Suzie Live
The training equipment I suggest here is appropriate for all ages and all levels of fitness. I like to keep things simple and functional as not to overwhelm people but to allow them to get the results they desire in a very easy and efficient way so they don’t get bored nor does there body. Click here to listen now.
My Favorite Health & Fitness Gifts:
Gift Certificate for a Personal Trainer: Having someone in your corner is so helpful. Whether your trying to shed 5 or few more pounds, prepare for an event or race, or simply want to have a personal program designed to keep you on track and mix it up, a well qualified personal trainer can help. Check for certification such as NASM, make sure they are insured and have a good reputation in the community.
Indo Board Balance Trainer:FREE SHIPPING UNTIL DEC 17thOrder here Everyone knows that I am a huge fan of this equipment. It not only helps the surfers and standup paddlers in your life, but if your’e just coming off a knee, ankle or hip injury this functional training equipment can do wonders and help strengthen the weakest core muscles, improve your balance and leg, hip and knee strength.
In my line of work, I meet so many people who leave a lasting positive impression on my life. But when I learn that I’ve done the same for them, it makes what I do even that much more meaningful!
“Sometimes fate seems to send a subtle message in ordinary observations. This time it came from a name and the resulting initials – Suzie Cooney, SC. Ed and I are in week 8 of our “Eddie Will Go on the Olukai Ho’olaule’a” race – comeback from extensive shoulder surgery. Week 8 is the best one yet. We are actually in Maui and are SUP surfing and doing sweet down-winders every day on our Naish 14? Glide GX. Last night we had dinner with our trainer-from-a-distance, Suzie Cooney, CPT of Suzie Trains Maui.
There’s nothing like a face-to-face conversation over ono burgers at the Fish Market Restaurant in Paia, especially after all the support we’ve gained from Suzie over the past months. How did two 63 year olds from Oregon come to be trained by Suzie Cooney on Maui? That’s quite a story.
We were casually playing at down-wind riding while on vacation in Maui in May 2011. Hearing that the Olukai Ho’olaule’a offered a “fun race” of just 4 miles we grabbed our rental surfboards and registered. The day of the race we were all butterflies and doubt. Ed was having shoulder surgery 4 days later and we were second-guessing everything. Then the announcer gathered us all for a pre-race warm-up, and we met Suzie.
With a warm smile and ultimate encouragement she talked and moved the nervous group through breathing, stretching and a warm-up. Surprisingly, by the time we were done the group had a relaxed and solidified feel. Then we were off for one of the most exhilarating fun-runs ever. We decided that when Ed was able to train after his surgery, just seven weeks ago, we would start training with Suzie. We set a goal to do the 8-mile run from Maliko Gulch to Kanaha. Suzie’s regimine has been just what Ed needed.
Meeting up with Suzie last night confirmed it, she has the absolute best initials for her spirit and talent:
1. SC – Sincere compassion: Ed is coming back from an injury and Suzie’s compassion for the struggle is obvious. It takes quite a bit of digging to gain the information that might attribute to that. Suzie is no stranger to injury, rehab, set-backs and the value of dedication and solid training. She has walked the talk, and then some.
2. SC – Social commitment: Much like Olukai, the sponsor of the Ho’olaule’a, Suzie has always had a strong commitment to her community and sharing her expertise and talent. We love that and it sets the same tone that we go for at Elder SUP
3. SC – Strategic communication: Suzie is about the busiest person I know. There is no place for the luxury of time wasted. When we use SKYPE or e-mail to gain insights and training strategies Suzie is always ready to communicate, but to the point and with Continue reading Eddie from Oregon SUP Training Continues To Stroke & Stoke on Maui
Stand up paddlers of all skill levels gathered on the serene grounds of Lumeria Maui on November 3rd for the SUP Pro Talk Workshop with Suzie Cooney. The educational (and fun!) land-based event touched on many important topics for paddlers, including the health benefits of SUP, water safety and ocean preparedness, SUP fitness techniques and training demos, and equipment reviews.
Clay Everline, M.D., co-author of the Surf Survival Health Hand Book, was on hand with a valuable lecture on First Aid, and pro paddler, Jeremy Riggs, heated the afternoon up with his tips on downwind paddling. Suzie Cooney, as charming as ever, kept the crowd entertained and engaged with her informative and “hands on” teaching style.
The big winner of the day was the organization Bring Change 2 Mind, as 90% of the event’s proceeds went to supporting the group’s fight to erase the stigma and discrimination of mental illness. The organization, founded by actress Glenn Close, provides educational material and a meeting place for a broad coalition of organizations that provide service, screening, information, support and treatment of mental illness.
Suzie shares:
“We were thrilled to sell out three months in advance. That really confirmed to me that people are eager to learn and support the sport. I’m a big advocate of those dealing with mental illness, so I wanted to spread the word about the organization I support, Bring Change 2 Mind.org.
Clay Everline, M.D. was very informative and entertaining, as was Jeremy Riggs, our local downwind pro who shared some of his helpful tips. The participants had great questions, which was helpful for the entire audience!
If you’ve not tried the Indo Board Balance Trainer’s full line of training gear, it is the most “functional” fun you’ll ever have. Whether it’s a gift for you or someone you know, no matter what level of fitness or goals in your training you may have, this gear will deliver!
I’ve written so many articles about the benefits training with the Indo Board Balance Training equipment on how anyone can build their total body strength, no matter what level of fitness. Here’s one on leg strength. My clients and pro athletes range in so many arenas and levels of performance to the person returning to fitness. This is also excellent for cross training for any athlete or sport.
Your legs, hips, abs, and even your upper body will benefit from all of the exercise you can perform on this training gear. You advance or progress accordingly to your currently level of strength and it’s so fun and easy. You can perform endless exercises and make your training program totally efficient. When you order your Indo Board Balance Training gear, it also comes with a helpful DVD.
Pro SUP paddlers Kody Kerbox and Casper Steinfaith showing off their strong leg training
My background is working directly with orthopedic sports surgeons, the patients and then myself. I broke both legs several years ago and the Indo Board Balance Trainer Gigante Cushion coupled with the Kicktail board was my main source of rehab. Granted I check in with my doc, but wow I was back to surfing amazingly and SUP and windsurfing with new found strength.
You hear of the “core”. What is the true definition of the “core” ? It is everything in your body excluding your extremities. It’s not just your abs as many mistakenly thing. Your butt muscles, or “glutes” need to fire in addition your brain needs to send signals to the deep pelvic floor muscles and then to the main joint to stabilize the appendage you may be stressing. See this article on more on the core. Here I am with Indo Board’s founder and amazing surfer, Hunter Joslin:
Hunter Joslin and Suzie Cooney
Now THIS is core training:
I’m a believer in what is called “brain training” and this also allows you to incorporate the neuromuscular uses of all the finite muscles around the major joints, such as the hips, knees and ankles, to fire in the necessary pattern to help develop one’s sense of reaction to a platform that is always moving. This is also referred to as reaction training; the ultimate level of training that recruits the muscles that tend to be under-active to join in on the challenge.
Here Suzie is on the IndoBoard Gigante Flo Cushion and the Kicktail board
Bottom line, it’s SO fun you don’t even know you’re training. The sports that really notice the immediate cross-over affect are surfing, windsurfing, kiting and stand up paddling;- all sports that have the common element of water that is changing underneath you.
However, you do not need to do any of these sports to enjoy the benefits.
Hop aboard and order yours today! If you need help deciding on what you may need for your health and training needs or for someone else on your list, please feel free to contact me through this website. I’m happy to help.
These are my quick tips I’ve shared today on my weekly health and fitness and all about SUP radio show, on how to enjoy this holiday’s feast and not have a guilty conscious. I was thinking of something different to offer the public, and maybe create a pre-thanksgiving help line, but not for how to cook a turkey but to help counsel those who are already stressing about gaining weight. I think I could be on to something!
According to online surveys the average person will eat over 4,000 and 229 grams of fat, the Thanksgiving Day Holiday. Yikes. Not to mention the additional increase in sodium intake may leave you feeling bloated and miserable. Do you know how hard you’ll have to work to burn that off? Very!
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I’m available via SKYPE world-wide or in person while you’re on Maui, or if you live local even better. Your health matters, how you feel about yourself matters. You don’t have to be a pro surfer, just the pro of yourself to be ”pro self.” Make the time, make the investment and your life will change.
…Dark chocolate that is! Welcome to the Suzie Trains Maui Blog. I’d love to share what’s delicious and healthy especially with Valentines Day coming up this week.
For more information about Bring Change 2 Mind, visit: 
