And in someways I do really love Zuzka.
That woman motivates me to try things like pistol squats, one arm push-ups, hanging leg raises, and all sorts of other exercises on a regular basis. I really love that about her.
On the other hand, sometime she thoroughly annoys me. She is genetically gifted and extremely athletic in ways many of us can only imagine. ( She's a bit ignorant in that aspect - IMO - and it can drive me nuts, but then again she wouldn't be successful without her talents).
I'll tell you that I have to work three times as hard to be half as athletic as she is.
Ugh! It can be so frustrating to watch, and other times I just find her so motivating.
Zuzka looks the way she does because of four important factors: 1. genetics, 2. her food choices, 3. her workouts, and 4. her every day movements.
In that order if you ask me. Actually most of us look like we do because of those 4 factors (yes, there are obviously others, but to get to the point I am minimalizing it).
Do you know why you look the way you do? I put genetics as number one for Z because clearly they are on her side. No, we don't have to be victims to our genetics, but this is not her problem!
Z also has a crazy clean diet and very small food portions that drastically affect the way her body looks, so that's a close second.
This is another place that can annoy me. I don't know how one can sustain on eating so little, and not to mention she eats hardly any vegetables! And she promotes this as a healthy life style? True it is probably far better than many folks out there are eating, and she has some interesting recipes.
Also, I recently read that your every day movements have a significant affect on how much you weigh, even more than your workouts. For instance, even if you work out for an hour a day, but you're very sedentary the rest of your day, you may weigh more than someone who only works out for 20 minutes, but is very active throughout the rest of the day.
I for one never ever ever sit still.
I think this is one of the reasons I easily stay thin. This is not one of the reasons I stay in shape however. That takes a hell of a lot more work. Lots and lots of work.
I also really appreciate the fact that Z does not use a lot of equipment to get into shape at home. If she was doing gym workouts that would be one thing, but at home she does a fantastic job with just a few pieces of equipment. I like that.
Ok, next topic- here is an interesting article for you guys to read about this woman's opinion on why people are fat:
https://www.t-nation.com/blogs/the-real-reason-everyones-fat?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=article4779
It is by Dani Shugart and I often love her stuff. Give it a read and let me know what you think. I think she hits the nail on the head.
It's funny, I also have somewhat of a love/hate relationship with Zuzka. I have really profited from her workouts, they really have whipped me into the best shape of my life. But I must confess that I don't especially like her personality. It doesn't help that she recently gave me the snarkiest, most sarcastic response to a comment I posted one of her vlogs, where I dared offer a differing opinion to the product she was telling people about. Within hours, several other posters rushed to her defense, calling me mean-spirited, aggressive, a bully, and whatnot. This is the kind of community she wants to foster? Zuzka herself basically told me what a lousy person I am. I don't usually care about internet insults, but I care in this case because I have been a paying customer for years, and it turns out Zuzka is actually not the sweet, open-minded person she makes herself out to be.
ReplyDeleteI have noticed that too. She might be her own boss, but that does not automatically make her a great customer servant. Sometimes her lack of professional customer service amazes me... I used to work with customers, and NEVER EVER, even though the customer would have been a total as*****e, I did not response to that person with "an attitude" like Z sometimes does... I´m sorry that you had to go through that.
DeleteI do love Z, but I don´t always agree with her, and that is not hating. (Like some people begin to claim immediately.)
Cheers!! Love and light anyway!
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DeleteThank you for saying that! I am also baffled by her treatment of her customers. It's clear that she does not appreciate or encourage open discussion on certain topics. I like about this site that all opinions are accepted, and no one takes it so damn personally. Irene, I really appreciate you writing this! I'm not thin-skinned, but when 10 different people tell you that you are a monster for not liking Zuzka's stupid sunscreen, you start to wonder!
DeleteWow M, I just saw the comments. I was going to comment that post, but then I forgot about it. That DeVita sunscreen is a total scam. I have got burned using it. I even tried UV bands and they respond to the Devita suncreen the same as having nothing at all. Bad for her, she is getting a lot of sun exposure and not protecting properly.
DeleteSorry you guys have had that experience with Z, but you're right, I have seen many of her responses and wow! Customer service is not her strong suit at all. She should take the high road IMO and I don't know why she doesn't. Defending yourself is one thing, but being rude is another.
DeleteAs a mesomorph myself, I have to agree that genetics plays a huge role in staying in shape. When my diet is super clean like Zuzka's, I don't have to exercise that much and I maintain my muscle tone. But I love sugar and carbs too much, and so my weight can fluctuate back and forth. She's probably aware of that, and that's why she's been low carb for so long. She's mentioned it, but I wish she would talk about it more, since many people who buy her products think that they'll look like her if they do their workouts. My whole family is made up of endomorphs who have to watch pretty much everything they eat, and it's still hard for them to lose weight. I spent most of my time sitting down and studying; I'm trying to stop that, but i'm not as active outside my workouts. As for her personality, I think she's oversensitive, and a lot of her followers have the WarriorZ philosophy and believe everything she says is golden, including that one guy who defends her all over the internet, which makes her lash out like this. She really needs to learn to handle criticism. Jillian Michael, FitnessBlender, Rumi, Julia, etc... all handle criticism quite well and have incredible programs, but BR and Z are really sensitive to criticism. I need to stop eating as much rice as I do, but it's a huge staple of my diet.
ReplyDeleteWow, I like that Dani Shugart article. We, as a society, have really have gone down the 'victim' path and no one wants to take responsibility. I completely agree with what she is saying. Thanks for sharing, Gina.
ReplyDeleteAlso, re: Zuzka, I, like AMinnow, am also a mesomorph, and was crazy lean like Zuzka for many years, but it came at a cost. I had to be incredibly strict with my diet, as Z is now. It sure was tough to 'have a life' though. I'm still working on a happy medium :-)
CJ
I'm an ectomorph so retaining muscle and being athletic is sooooo much work where being thin is not. The grass is always greener as they say! And yes both Z and BR do not handle criticism well at all, even constructive criticism.
ReplyDeleteI think Z is lying about her food, how much she eats. It's business. She needs to make money. That's all.
ReplyDeleteP.S. I love Zuzka. And sometimes I feel the same feelings like you about her body, food and workouts.))
Hey Lisa - why is it that you think she lies? I'm curious! I mean why would it drum up business?
DeleteHi, i am new to posting to this blog (i enjoy it!). I am member at Zuzka's site, but i only post on her workouts because i think it helps to let her know what we like to see. I do not post happy birthdays or praise or participate when she gets definsive, etc. As far as workouts. I am 48 and have always workouted. My latest before the hiit style, was Tracy Anderson. I did that for 4 years waiting for those promises. My goodness, she got into my head. I found Zuzka after that and got hooked. This type of training works for me. It makes me feel great and i like how my looks and feels. As far as weight training, i get so bored, but I really like Jade Teta, Metabolic Effects style of training and use his program regularly. I find it really fun and like to follow Tara most, probably because she has a body type more like mine. Their wokrouts are 20 minute range and different types. They do chains, density(2 exercises back to back for 5 reps each for 5 minutes or 10 with heavy weight or pull ups etc) and rounds, etc. I like Tati from Loving Fit, but sometimes her workouts can get long and i feel like i will start pacing instead of putting my all into. Their is Sara Moneymaker from Cyclone Fit. I adore her personality and she is fun. I need to go back and revisit her again. Her workouts can get long also though. I do like to workout an hour or so but not all high intensity work as my adrenals would shoot crap. I like to combine Classical Stretch/Essenrics and feel that is what has kept me from any aches or pains. Just this week I decided to try BodyRock Bootcamp Advanced because of this blog actually. Wow, those are kicking my tush! I don't know if it is how Lisa is putting together the exercises or the addition of my 10 lb vest. I got a vest years ago from play it again sports and it fits great but never used it. I have been doing these workouts this week and adding Ladder style combos from Zuzka or Tati to the end as a buy out or focus such as pull ups. I would love advice and if you have ever heard of Metabolic Effect. Sorry this got so long! lol
ReplyDeleteI Want to tell the world about a great man called DR EZIZA of EZIZA OGUN TEMPLE for bringing joy into my marriage after 2years of divorce from my husband and my 4kids, i have don everything to bring them back to my life because i love them so much so a friend introduced me to a spell caster last month who did every thing spiritually and bring them back within 48hours, now we are together and happy even more than we where before. You can contact this great spell caster to solve your own relationship problems via email like i did on: ezizaoguntemple@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteWhatever happened is now in the past. You’re ok now.
ReplyDeleteYou can’t learn from it though if you keep RE-LIVING it. But you CAN get a piece of wisdom from anything in the past if you learn how to REVIEW it without becoming emotional and caught up in the drama.
#zuzkalight #livestressfree #zgym #holistichealth