Each month, Legacy Life Fitness will feature an active participant on their journey to building their own legacy.
I am a Registered Nurse Supervisor at the University of Missouri Hospital.
I have been working out with LLF for a little over one year, but I have been working out intermittently over the last 9 years since college.
I work on Friday, Saturday, and Sundays at the hospital, so I have time during the week to work out and the workouts improve my energy and help me focus on my work when I return to take care of patients.
I like Bryce’s coaching style and motivation. I really enjoy working out with someone who is knowledgeable about the importance of whole life wellness as well as the proper form for lifting.
Improved energy, self-confidence, increased strength for my job.
I like big weight Olympic style lifts as well as whole-body HIIT training.
Each month, Legacy Life Fitness will feature an active participant on their journey to building their own legacy.
I am a freshman government teacher Hickman High School - going on for 19 years!
21 years.
For me, the motivation is providing myself “me” time. I have always worked out before school because I know how easy it is for the day/energy to get away from you. My workouts really help set the tone for my day and my attitude. Even though I am human and there are many mornings
I wake up tired and don’t want to go, I am ALWAYS glad I did. Workouts give me energy that I need for the day. One reason I have maintained this lifestyle is that I love my body, not hate it. I am in competition with myself and do it as a lifestyle not "for a trip, bathing suit, or a life event" I found doing it for isolated reasons only gets isolated, not long term results!
Because I have been working out for so long it is easy to get into a rut. One of my dear friends had me come to boot camp with her. Even though I did similar classes at my gym it was nice to have the comradery and differing workouts. It is here that I met Bryce and really enjoyed his style and training and wealth of knowledge that you just can’t get from a website or a book. This is such a personal journey and he has structured my workouts/foods to what my needs are…not the “masses” that they gear the internet articles to.
Working out has always made me feel good….now I feel strong! But the greatest benefit is overall health! Working in school it can be a challenge with all the germs (smiles) but working out helps not only my immune system but mental health as well!
I love to run (but I am not a fast runner) …it is easy to get lost in my own thoughts and music. But I am finding as my body is responding to the weights I enjoy seeing my body become more sculpted and defined, something I have always wanted and I knew my body needed especially as
I am quickly approaching 50!
Each month, Legacy Life Fitness will feature an active participant on their journey to building their own legacy.
I am an educator of young minds (a.k.a. first grade teacher.) I have been teaching at Rock Bridge Elementary for 10 years and counting.
I have been working out for 8 years on a regular basis after more than 10 years of starting and stopping too many workout routines.
Working out is my social time with adults after long days at school with busy little people. I plan my week of family time and dinners around my Monday and Wednesday evening boot camp. Also, I know that I will be missed by the other Legacy Life Fitness (LLF) regulars if I don’t hold to my workout commitments. That accountability helps me set myself up for success. In the end, I know that I feel better working out rather than if I don’t. The most important thing for me to do is just show up. Everything else takes care of itself if I do that one simple thing.
I have found a group of people at LLF that I fit in with and can be myself. I don’t have to pretend to be someone I’m not. I can modify when I have to and push where I can and continue on my own physical fitness journey alongside others working on their own goals. I like knowing that I am part of something as unique as LLF is because everyone who wants to be there is important. I would miss not being a part of the LLF community and that is enough to keep me constantly coming back for more. Being a part of such a community has a built=in accountability factor that keeps me focused on my fitness goals.
My health has become an important focus in my life over the past few years. I know the best way to take care of myself is adopting a lifestyle of healthy eating and exercise. I always feel better after a workout and that helps me make better eating choices in between my workout times. By working out on a regular basis it helps me focus on feeling good making healthy choices, which lead to more healthy choices. It is important for me to be proactive about my physical and mental health
I love the strength I feel with lifting. That is my favorite type of workout without a doubt. At LLF I have stepped out of my comfort zone by trying new things at
We get it! “New year, new you!” is just another well-intentioned slogan to motivate you to make a big change this year. But, before we get into some of the depressing stats about New Year’s resolutions, I’m going to ask: Do you really need to create a new version of yourself, or just improve upon your already wonderful self?
According to Forbes.com “...Some estimates say more than 40% of Americans—make New Year's resolutions. But for all the good intentions, only a tiny fraction of us keep our resolutions; University of Scranton research suggests that just 8% of people achieve their New Year's goals.” Despite your good intentions, failure rates suggest “About 22% of resolutions fail after about a week, 40% after a month…” and you don’t want to hear the rest, because I’m not here to bum you out.
At the beginning of 2018, I shared my view of putting a more positive spin on making “resolutions” by focusing on getting the wheels turning, get started moving, and find new ways to improve. There were examples of both qualitative and quantitative fitness goals to help give you a little direction. This year, I want to provide a few additional tips on how you can ensure you stick to your revolutions all year long!
Most people fail because they bite off more than they can handle. Setting too many goals or trying to make too many changes all at once can feel overwhelming and discouraging - to the point of giving up. To keep your goals simple, choose only one or two things to focus on at a time. You can’t change your life all at once, so don’t try too. Recognize that each day of success if a step towards accomplishing your overall goal.
For example: Instead of setting a goal of trying to lose 25 pounds this year, set your sights on trying to lose 1-2 pounds each week.
Having big goals is great, especially when you’re looking at the big picture of creating your legacy. However, large goals can be hard to sustain if they’re not specific enough. Being specific helps make the goal more concrete. Plus, you know exactly what you are going to do every day to help you achieve that lofty goal.
For example: Instead of resolving to “visit the gym 4 days each week,” refine it to setting goals of attending Bootcamp every Tuesday and Thursday, participating in one group fitness class, and going outside for a long walk or light run.
Awareness is one of the most critical components for success in any goal. Don’t assume you’re going to remember your revolution two months from now. Write it down on a sticky note for you to see every morning as you’re getting ready for the day. Put a note on your calendar to check-in with yourself once a week to review the goal and track progress. Maybe even share your goal with a like-minded friend who can help keep you engaged - especially when you’re ready to quit. Having awareness of your goal will help to keep motivating you to successfully achieve your resolution.
Did you meet last year’s goal… or did you forget about it by Spring?
You may remember I had created a fitness goal for myself to lift 5,000,000 total pounds by the end of the year. Which, I’m proud to say that I did accomplish! It seemed lofty to begin with, however, I broke it down into simple manageable goals and keep track of it every day, week, and month.
Here are my goals for 2019:
Fitness Goal: Lift 7,000,000 total pound by the end of 2019. I enjoyed the 5 million goal so much last year, that I choose to do it again. I’m upping the intensity of it this time and feel very confident that I will achieve it.
Personal goal: To continue the personal, daily hard work that it has taken me to get to a point of better happiness. Often times I reach a comfort level, in several areas of my life, and then I go on cruise control and don’t continue to do the daily work that got me to that point. I realize this causes me to relapse and thus go through the struggle all over again. Not this year. This is my year to thrive and push harder at creating the best life I can.
There you have it. My 2019 goals to continue growing and achieving bigger and better things. To help hold each other accountable, I want you to share what your goals, or New Year’s Revolutions, are going to be for 2019. And, how do you plan on achieving them? Give me a shout and let’s make 2019 our best year yet!
This is a guest post from Legacy Life Fitness client, Erica Martin
In terms of practically everything except weight, “gaining” is considered to be a positive event! Someone who’s exclaiming “I’ve gained experience!” is excited to be growing professionally, while someone who has lost their job feels like they’re missing out on that same experience.
Gaining is good. And here’s everything I’ve gained (so far) in 2018:
I gained my love for being a mom. This past February, I gave myself permission to start taking antidepressants. After my son was born in 2013, my bright personality was dimmed by hereditary depression and anxiety which I thought I was capable of managing. Throughout 2017 I felt entirely detached for my family and knew I needed to make a change for all of us to thrive. Seeing a professional and asking for medication allowed me to love being a mom!
I gained a new business. On June 1, I launched my very own web development and illustration business, Pixel Jam Digital. This was a terrifying step to take in my career, especially since I was forming my own LLC, hiring outside professionals, and representing my (very) small business in the Columbia Chamber of Commerce - but I did it!
I gained new friends. Becoming an entrepreneur has opened up new connections and allowed me to form new friendships. From work colleagues to clients, I’ve gotten to know some really cool people!
I gained strength. I thoroughly enjoy lifting heavy weights, but the barbell bench press has continued to be my weakest lift. With Bryce’s help, I was finally able to break my own personal record (PR) and press over 100 pounds!
I gained perspective… and a new car. In mid-September, my son and I were in a car accident, made worse because I was at fault. Sadness developed into embarrassment, which snowballed into shame. It took me one full month to gain perspective on the situation, realizing the situation could have been much worse, and I purchased a new car which, I’ll admit, I like even better than the last!
Oh, and I gained 25 pounds. In the hustle-and-bustle of everything else going on, I temporarily let go of my focused nutrition mindset. While this amount of weight is not ideal for my petite 5’2” frame, I’ll admit it’s helped me gain a better relationship with my body, grow stronger fingernails, thicker hair and get more sleep each night. I may have given in more than I intended, but I’m not giving up on my health or my wellness.
2018 has been a busy year. While most of my gains have been celebrated, they have also contributed their fair share of stress. With the support from my family, friends, medication, exercise, and a positive attitude I have been able to keep moving forward - and that’s what health and wellness should be about.
Here’s to gaining and building our legacies this year!
November is the month of not only giving thanks - obviously - but it's an even better time to focus on giving PLANKS! Actually, it's great to do both, which is why the November Challenge is 30 Days of Thanks/Planks Giving! You are welcome to join us in November for a 30 day Plank Challenge. While you’re down in said Plank is a great time to reflect on the many things you have to be thankful for in your life. The time is going to pass quickly so you might as well go ahead and make the most of it.
This group challenge starts on Thursday, November 1 with a 10-second plank. Then day-by-day, you'll work on building your strength as you hold your plank for a little longer each time using the chart below:
To join in, just start planking! I'll be doing my planks around 7:00 am each day and plan on sharing them via Facebook Live. You are invited to join me in the morning or save the video for later so you don't feel like you're doing them alone. You are also welcome to share your success and your gratitude on the Legacy Life Fitness Facebook page! Now only will this help strengthen your core, but it will also strengthen your positive attitude about life! We all experience life's struggles, but there is also a lot we can be thankful for... sometimes we just need to look a little harder.
This three-week challenge has been designed to keep you focused on building a better you before the holidays. Continuing any “diet” or “cut” for too long can slow your rate of progress, which is why this challenge will be short-and-sweet!
What’s included:
Contact Bryce Atkins to sign up for your initial consultation by October 31 to participate!
*Individual results are not guaranteed. Any results achieved are based on individual factors and commitment to the program. Bryce Atkins is a Certified Personal Trainer and Sports Nutritionist, not a doctor or dietician. Each individual assumes all risk by participating in this challenge.
They’re coming: the holidays!
Touted to be the most wonderful time of the year, yet we often end up dreading the rush and stress it brings. Plus, with all the extra food-related celebrations we attend, it’s no wonder some of us gain an annoying 5-10 pounds by the time the clock strikes midnight on the New Year!
Instead of waiting for the major magazines to publish “5 Healthy Holiday Eating Strategies” for you to read an hour before Thanksgiving dinner, shift your mindset to developing those healthy eating strategies now before the holidays hit!
Now, the go-to here would be eggs and bacon, but there are so many more options available! Try replacing your milky cereal or breakfast bar with veggies and protein, like pan-seared broccoli, spinach, eggs topped with nutritional yeast. Or, egg “muffins” filled with peppers, mushrooms and sprinkled with cheese.
This savory breakfast will likely keep your hunger at bay a little longer. Plus, this ensures you get at least two large servings of veggies - setting you up for success for the rest of the day.
Yes, this one gets repeated a lot, because most of us still don’t drink enough water throughout our day. Plus, cooler weather tricks us into thinking we aren’t thirsty and we end up drinking much less than we need. There are so many overlooked benefits of drinking water regularly we don’t think about. Plus with flu season on the way in, we could all use a boost to our immune systems!
In addition to improving your mood, your skin complexion, your energy levels… drinking more water will help flush out the built-up toxins in your body after events when you opt to drink a little more than you normally would.
It’s so easy to get caught up in thinking about weight loss instead of health gains when trying to improve nutrition and exercise. The number of the scale doesn’t provide the full context of how your body is feeling and operating on a daily basis. Keep moving and following your body’s natural queues of what makes you feel good, versus what slows you down or causes aches. While it’s easier said than done, try focusing on the way you’re feeling rather than your weight.
Focus on positive thoughts and enjoying the journey. Be kind to yourself and try not to beat yourself up. We all have bad days and setbacks but don’t let one bad day or even one overindulgence derail your whole mentality and game plan.
When it comes to the celebration itself, enjoy! Take a bite (or two, or five) of your grandmother’s apple pie because you know how hard she worked to make the crust from scratch. Eat your child’s homemade holiday cookies - baked with a lot of love of course - so you can witness the gigantic smile on their face guilt-free. It doesn’t need to be an all-or-nothing affair; you can enjoy the foods you want to in celebration with your friends and family without overindulging.
Take it one step, one holiday at a time!
There's so much excitement happening in September that it's been hard to keep quiet.
I'm a big believer and supporter of fitness for all ages and excited to be hosting another Legacy Kids Bootcamp! Bring your young ones (ages eight and under) out for a fun morning of fitness-focused games and activities starting at 8:00 am.
After several months of upgrades, paint, sweat and hard work, the Legacy Life Fitness Studio Gym is officially complete and open for business! I couldn't have accomplished this dream without the fabulous support I've received from my family, friends and loyal clients which is why I invite all of you to please join me on Sept. 30 from 1:00 - 3:00 pm for a casual open house. Enjoy "healthy" treats, try out some equipment you may not be familiar with, then stay for a 30-minute Legacy Bootcamp training session at 2:00 pm!
Back for its second year, our annual Bootcamp 'n' BBQ will serve a smokin' good workout followed by delicious, smoked barbeque. Regular bootcamp class fees will apply, plus an additional $5 per person if you're interested in staying for the festivities. Please RSVP to the event on Facebook so I can be sure to serve enough food for everyone in attendance, and leave a comment with the side dish you plan to share.
Labor Day recognizes “...the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country” which many of us celebrate over a long weekend spent outside with friends, family and barbecue… which may or may not be accompanied by high-calorie foods and snacks you tend to gravitate towards.
Do not fret, friend! And definitely don’t turn down an invitation to an informal affair just because you’re concerned about sitting around high-calorie dishes and beverages which are perpetually tempting your taste buds. Remember those healthy burger and taco recipes I shared a while back? It’s completely possible to grill a delicious dinner your guests will devour while keeping your nutrition in check.
First, let’s start with the go-to grillables for your end of summer soiree:
Kabobs are a simple way to combine your favorite flavors together for a quick grill meal. One take on this could be Hawaiian Chicken Kabobs! Start with boneless skinless chicken breast, add green pepper to your skewer, then douse with a little salt, lime and paprika before searing.
Similar to a salad bar, each person can add the ingredients and dressings of their choosing to make it fit their own flavor profile. Or, you can prep a foil pack in advance if you’re traveling to another party (more on that below) so you can know exactly what you’ll be feasting on.
Downshiftology has a recipe too good not to share! Check out their gluten-free/paleo pulled pork street tacos for a different take on a classic bbq dish.
If you’ll be attending someone else’s party instead of hosting your own, here are a few healthy side dishes you could prep ahead of time and share with the group:
Similar to tacos, salsa is not inherently “unhealthy” either especially when you’re combining fresh ingredients. To make a cowboy salsa - which I guarantee will be just as filling as any pile of nachos - combine unsalted canned black beans, cherub tomatoes, grilled corn kernels, onion and fresh avocado.
Missouri tomatoes are ripe for the picking! Just chop a few heirlooms, slice some fresh mozzarella and basil, then top it all with balsamic vinegar.
While the easiest go-to might be a salad, you could also serve more traditional “fall” dishes - like green bean almondine - tailored for the summer heat. Instead of serving this warm or hot, you’ll end up blanching the green beans immediately after they’re removed from the stovetop, then moving them to the refrigerator to cool off before preparing them for your picnic.
And for all of us with a sweet tooth, here are two more recipes to give you your sugar fix without the sugar rush:
Watermelon, berries, banana, apples, pineapple… you name it, you can mix it together to satisfy everyone’s sweet tooth!
Speaking of pineapple, Recipes to Nourish has a wonderful recipe combining it and coconut milk to create a cold-and-creamy treat.
Now if you’re looking for a more decadent Labor Day dessert, then I recommend the banana boat. (Think s’mores, only using a banana as your base instead!) Slice open the concave portion of your banana, making sure to split the peel without completely splitting the fruit. Fill the insides with the toppings of your choosing, such as Lily’s stevia-sweetened premium dark chocolate, strawberries, granola, and/or nut butter of your choice (like roasted almond butter). Then wrap the banana loosely in foil and toss on the grill for a very short time, mainly to be sure the chocolate melts!
Pick and choose, mix and match, or tweak to your own liking - the options are endless! Do you plan on recreating one of these recipes for Labor Day, or do you have another idea you can’t wait to cook-up? Share your favorite healthy Labor Day dishes with us and find out what others are cooking up this Labor Day Celebration!
© 2023 Legacy Life Fitness
Website design and development by Pixel Jam Digital
© 2023 Legacy Life Fitness
Website design and development by Pixel Jam Digital