Ask An LA Expert: 5 Tips and Exercise Products For Fitness Enthusiasts

Finding the right fit in a fitness class and the right products with which to exercise can be an arduous task. Enter Velocity Boot Camp, a well-rounded program located at the Hyperion Arts Complex on the border of Silver Lake and Los Feliz. This unique program not only helps with a highly thought out exercise routine, but one that is health oriented as well. With that said, meet its leader, Matt Alimena.

As owner of Velocity Boot Camp at Hyperion Arts Complex, Matt Alimena has "set up a very effective fitness program that not only provides impressive results, but builds a very supportive fitness community." Being in the health and fitness industry, this expert has been at it for over a decade now, having "designed a fitness program that anyone can do regardless of fitness level." Matt says he has "provided a fun and effective fitness experience for everybody; from first timers to athletes. Not only is it my mission to help others reach their health and fitness goals they didn't think were possible anymore, but to also teach them how to live a healthy and happy lifestyle. I firmly believe that after practicing good nutrition and fitness habits, the end result is a body you're happy with."

In Balance

Matt contends that "a lot of people believe in only resistance training or cardio to hit their goals, such as weight loss or strength gains." He begs to differ. "Without resistance training, too much cardio can actually burn away muscle causing your metabolism to drop. Without doing cardio, your muscles can burn out faster, making it more difficult to push yourself further during your resistance training," says this expert. He then adds, "if you're looking for the best results, it is important that you add both to your regimen. You can do this by separating these [tasks], such as running before and/or after resistance training, doing interval training or during circuit training. It is important to have a strong cardiovascular system as well as having lean muscle mass. When added together, your improvements will increase dramatically."

Reach Your Goals

After establishing your specific goals, Matt stresses that it's important to use specific equipment that will help you reach those goals. He says, "doing body weight exercises are an excellent way for you (beginner or experienced) to test your limits while increasing strength and cardiovascular levels. If you are having trouble doing exercises such as pull ups or dips then you can use resistance bands as a stepping stone to the next level. They are a great tool to build yourself up to those exercises and can be used with almost any muscle group. If you're looking to increase core strength and stability, medicine and stability balls are a great way to go in order to speed up progress." This expert emphasizes that "all this equipment is very inexpensive" and that you can purchase these items "from any sporting goods store such as Sports Chalet or Sports Authority." He points out, "Best of all, you can use these pieces of equipment anywhere!"

Never Give Up

"If you've ever started a New Year's fitness resolution, you might have noticed that your progress may have slowed down or even stopped completely," this exercise honcho points out. Then adding, "your body adapts to exercises in only three or four weeks causing progress to plateau." He then goes on to say, "This makes it very easy to give up. When this happens it's important to mix things up a bit." He points to activities like swimming instead of jogging "using new resistance exercises or even adjusting your nutrition plan. The shock to the body will cause you to get out of that pesky plateau and continue toward that beach body you want. Changing your regimen a little is an excellent way to keep those results coming while making sure you don't get bored." Then this cheerleader for fitness adds, "Just make sure you NEVER give up on reaching the goals you deserve."

Team Up!

Matt Alimena proclaims, "it's easy to begin a program on your own, but can eventually become difficult to stay highly motivated. To help out with this problem, this expert says to immediately find a workout buddy who has goals similar to your own. "They should keep your motivation up and continue to push you when on the days you're feeling lazy. People are naturally competitive and when it comes to sharing a fitness plan, you'll want to make faster progress then your workout partner. You should make sure you don't let each other skip workouts and to stay strict on your nutritional plan. A workout partner will make it easy to get outside your comfort zone and push you closer to those goals quickly."

You Are What You Eat

"As important as working out is for your goals, it's just as important to make sure you are eating the right foods to keep you healthy enough to work hard and maintain a high level of energy," points out Matt, who says that more than 80 percent of what you look like "comes down to nutritional choices. He then adds that, "this makes a healthy diet absolutely necessary to look and feel your best. After all, you want to be able to show off what you're working so hard to achieve, right? Do your best to stay away from processed foods, such as baked goods and simple sugars. Have a lean protein source with every meal, eat healthy fats (monounsaturated and polyunsaturated) and make sure you are eating lots of nutrient rich veggies. Lastly, make sure you are drinking lot's of water every day to help increase you metabolic rate and burn more calories at rest!" Talk about great advice!