It is February, and love is in the air! What a better way to start the month with some inspiration from one of our favorite fit-couples, the Hartzogs.
Ever wondered how couples manage living healthy? How do they exercise? How do they meal prep? How to convince your partner to workout with you?
We sat down with the Hartzogs to get the inside scoop.
We absolutely love how Anthony and Jhanilka keep each other accountable and motivated. Their journey will not only inspire you to embrace a healthy lifestyle, it will also remind you that it is perfectly ok to move at your own pace!
I know you will find this piece really helpful as you enter the new year!
Let’s get started.
Tell us a little bit about yourselves!
Hi We are the Hartzogs,
I am Anthony Hartzog and I am Jhanilka.
We are newlyweds. We’ve been married about 8 months. We just got married May 21st, 2016. Currently residing in Dallas, Texas, born and raised in Brooklyn, NY.
We’ve known each other for a long time. Since junior high school.
Anthony: I am 30 she is 28.
We’ve known each other over 15 years, grew up in the same building in Brooklyn, Glenwood Projects. Dated in high school, separated when Anthony went to college. Then, we got back together after Jhanilka graduated from college. And here we are in Dallas!
We got married in May, and I [Jhanilka] came to Dallas in June and got a puppy in September, and now we are here.
How did health and wellness enter your relationship?
One of my [Anthony] boys did p90x, and he was a big guy and lost a lot of weight. I don’t know if you are familiar with p90x, Tony Horton?
Anyways,
He put me on to it and I started putting my friends onto the videos. You can say, I got into health and fitness in 2009. So, a couple years now.
Jhanilka: I gained probably the freshman 30 in college. It did not bother me. We started I guess talking in the fall of 2012, and I started working out spring 2011. At first, I started off with $1 DVDs.
I did not want to go to the gym because I knew I would just walk around, and not know what I was doing. So, I started off with that. And I lost a lot of weight from that.
30 minutes – 1 hour a day for 4 -5 weeks.
Then I decided to go the gym, and I got a trainer at the gym so that I could learn about the machines, and know what I was doing. I also took classes. After that I started to work out more.
So, I guess I started working out because of him.
Anthony: Pretty much!
Let’s talk about cooking? & Meal prepping?
We usually cook decently healthy. We don’t always meal prep and all that stuff, we have our salads and keep our greens around. We meal prep sparingly.
Most of the time is decent eating, but on weekends we are pigging out regardless so we don’t stress it.
Jhanilka: We go off and on with the meal prep. Sometimes we are meal prepping, and going hard, other times we just throw something on the stove.
Anthony: It depends on our motivation levels for the week. If one of us is into it then both of us will get into it. Other times if one of us falls off the other person might fall off. So, we keep each other motivated like that.
Jhanilka: Yea the weekend is pretty much whatever.
What I noticed in terms of eating right, I do not eat vegetables, and people ask how are you eating right? I watch how much I eat.
I am Panamanian and there is a lot of rice always involved.
Anthony: Always eating rice!
Jhanilka: I cut back on the amount [rice] that I am eating. I also eat salads. I tell people I am not on a diet, and I still eat some of the same things. If I am working out 4 – 5 times per week I can afford to eat ok.
Anthony: It is about portion control.
Three Tips from the Hartzogs!
Using class pass was very helpful to keep things interesting.”
— Jhanilka Hartzog
- Workout as a couple
- Set realistic goals. Start small.
- Document your progress
Make sure you watch the entire video!
The Hartzogs also talked about motivation, healthy eating, the importance of new workout clothes, and how you can use class pass to keep things interesting.
In a relationship, you want to balance things out, and it becomes a part of your life. Competition and new workout gear are two good motivators. At the beginning results keep you motivated, but over time you need more.”
Anthony has used social media as a motivator, by checking on his friends to make sure they stay motivated.
Can’t thank Anthony and Jhanilka enough for sharing their awesome tips and letting us in on their secrets to love healthier and happier.
Follow them on Instagram: @TheHARTrimony
If you enjoyed this piece do not forget to share it with your friends and family!
Great article! Also one of my favorite couples. I know Anthony from college. This young couple is destined for greatness!