Meet Sima....

Sima Sorensen was born and raised in Tel Aviv, Israel. The oldest of six children, Sima left home at the age of 11 to live in a kibbutz, a collective community where she could live and help out on the farm to relieve some of the financial strain off of her family. At 16 she left the kibbutz to finish high school, and at 18 she joined the Israeli Army as a fitness sergeant. Two years later in 1991 she moved to Los Angeles and immediately fell in love with the health and fitness industry. A year later she was a certified personal trainer and instructor, teaching classes such as aerobics, kickboxing, step aerobics and tae-bo. She has worked at some of the top gyms in the U.S. including Bally and L.A. Fitness. Sima has competed in numerous fitness competitions around the country and has won many titles including, Ms.Venice Beach and Ms .Fitness Palm Springs. It is her goal to assist her clients in achieving a more balanced life through fitness, nutrition and overall healthy living. She has worked with people who have had cancer, eating disorders, depression and alcoholism. Sima takes great passion in helping the people she works with. She is not only a dedicated trainer, food and life coach, but a loving mother and community volunteer. Sima is currently living happily in Sherman Oaks, CA. She stays busy training clients at her Sherman Oaks studio and all over southern California, raising her daughter and building her GPS (Get Phit w/ Sima) Approach empire.

The Workouts

Sima likes to kick my butt, and today she did. I thought I was going to pass out. She combines a mixture of cardio, yoga and strength training. The yoga is probably my favorite part- but she doesn't make it easy- its the kind of yoga that makes you sweat. When I'm not training with Sima at her studio, its easy to get my workout in at home- all I need is my 5lb. weights, yoga requires no equipment, and cardio (speed walking or biking)- no excuses!

Another yummy, healthy LA restaurant....

The other day I found Natura on third street- pan Mediterranean food- organic, fresh and preservative free!! I had the hummus salad- check out the full menu at http://naturaeats.com

La Grande Orange Santa Monica

I stopped into La Grande Orange for breakfast the other day before hitting the beach, and was happy to find I could eat there and still stick to my new healthy regimen. I had the "Venice Beach Burrito"- whole wheat tortilla, egg whites, spinach, corn, tofu "chorizo" w/ fire roasted salsa on the side- super yum! It was quite large, so I only had half. La Grande Orange is located on the corner of Main and Bicknell in Santa Monica. http://lagrandeorangesm.com.

Dinner

Have a small dinner composed of protein and veggies, like a grilled chicken salad....

Afternoon Snack

Choose something healthy, such as an apple- Sima says this is the best choice!

Lunch- The Biggest Meal of the Day!

Lunch is to be the largest meal of the day- composed of carbs and protein. I love Tacos- Filled with chicken beans, salsa- cheese on the side.