Elliot Rivera talks to Supplement Judge

For this interview we get to talk to Elliot Rivera, a strength and conditioning personal trainer and founder of www.HealtHaven.com

Could you tell us a bit about yourself and your background?

I’m born and raised in the Lower East Side of Manhattan, New York. I consider this one of the most diverse cultural melting pots in all of the world. This has been integral in shaping my mindset and perception. It has forced me to be social and gregarious, but also to be thick skinned and mentally tough. I’m married to my high school sweetheart and soul mate, and I’m lucky enough to have 3 wonderful,handsome,intelligent and respectful young boys.

How did you get started in training?

My oldest brother forced me into exercising, (yes, I hated it at first) at the age of 24. He forced me to focus and taught me how to mentally attack the weights. I went from dreading the phone call which would be my brother telling me to get dressed for the gym, to being addicted to my sanctuary that most call “the gym”. It’s been more than a 10 year love affair.

Who got you motivated to start training?

Again, all props goes out to my oldest brother Eric. The guy was a beast every time he touched the weights, which forced me to try and match that intensity.

What are your short and long term fitness goals?

Short term goals are just to get better daily. This means having intense workouts, focusing on the muscle contractions, practising proper breathing techniques and having the will power to eat clean before and after. I like to challenge myself every time I enter “church” (aka the gym).
My long term goals are a little more extensive. I recently began my own business and the first phase is my website www.HealtHaven.com. This website is a health and fitness online magazine which incorporates a couple of different facets. It is a search engine in which anyone across the United States can find Health Experts such as a Personal Trainer, a Yoga Instructor, a Nutritionist, a Physical Therapist, a MMA Instructor, a Cross Trainer, Healthy Food Locations in their area, Life Coaches, Health & Fitness Locations in their area or Health Equipment Locations. This can simply be done by typing in your zip code, or state, or Health Expert in a keyword search. Just press enter and connect with thousands of these Health Experts from around the world!
That is a great tool for the user to continue their health and fitness journey by finding any level of Health Expert at the push of a button, but the benefits are two fold! You see I also noticed that these Health Experts I just mentioned, the Personal Trainers, MMA Instructors, Nutritionist, Yoga Instructors,etc…, have not been shown the proper attention and given the recognition that they deserve for using their career to spread health and well- being . For too long they haven’t had a real way to be located so that they can render their invaluable services. But now that has changed! By simply filing out a profile in which they can add their Contact Information, Profile Picture, Cell Phone, Blog, Website, Facebook, Twitter, Up Coming Events and even load their own Videos, they add themselves to the largest data base of Health Experts in the United States! And the best part of this all..? It’s all FREE. All of it. @ElliotTheTrainr (if you follow me on Twitter you know what’s up!) wouldn’t have it any other way!
Other facets of the site are Diet & Nutritional HealtHaven Blogs, HealtHaven Health & Fitness Videos and HealtHaven Interviews in which I personally interview fitness industry leaders. I’ve personally interviewed NFL players, Maxim models, pro bodybuilders, celebrity personal trainers and even fitness companies to name a few. This website is the first step to creating a health and fitness brand that will expand into fitness facilities, health food stores and fitness products! But one step at a time.

What workout routine has worked best for you?

Personally I love to challenge myself by staying in the 85-90% 1RM range. I’m a strength trainer at heart and I get the greatest satisfaction benching 430 pounds, or knocking out 800 pushups. This type of training has led to my greatest results.

Could you outline your basic daily diet?

Typical day:
8am– 4 hard boiled eggs, 50 grams whey protein shake mixed with 16 ounces low fat milk
11:30 am– 3 cups of oatmeal, banana
1pm– 50 grams whey protein shake, BCAAs, creatine
2:45pm– 50 grams whey protein shake, BCAAs, creatine, 32ounce Gatorade, 3 cups white rice, 8ounce turkey
5pm– chicken wrap, grilled chicken
8pm– grilled chicken, 2 cups brown rice, 2 cups of mixed vegetables
11pm– Greek yoghurt

Do you use supplements? If so, what do you recommend?

I highly recommend always having whey protein available for muscle synthesis. I use BCAAs, creatine and glutamine as well but I believe ever individual had distinct genetic needs, and with that being said I would feel uncomfortable recommending a standard baseline for individuals.

How do you deal with things such as hunger and cravings?

Will power. Mental toughness. This is also known as, “how bad do you want it?”. Diet makes up about 80% of bodybuilding, maybe even more.

Do you have any cheat meals?

My wife’s cooking is a like God incarnated in my kitchen and prepared me a meal. She makes me porkchops and white rice, or bacon wrapped shrimp or whatever she creates.

What is your biggest motivation to get you back in the gym?

I have a saying, ( if you follow me on Twitter @ElliotTheTrainR, you know I have alot of sayings) and it’s “You can rest when you’re dead.” This is my mindset. I also believe you can live on your knees or die on your feet, and I refuse to kneel…to anything, a human, a situation or weight on the bench. I refuse.

If you could go back in time, what would you change in your training?

Great question… I think I would have eaten cleaner years ago. I would have had a much more restricted daily diet, which would have increased my earlier gains.

Any advice for beginners or anyone looking to get back into fitness?

You could have all the sets, reps, diets, personal trainers or equipment in the world. If you lack the focus, the desire, the determination…you won’t succeed.

What advice do you to anyone looking to lose weight in time for summer?

Cut your calories by 20-25% a day. Lower your carb intake by 30-40%. Cardio every other day at 75% of your target heart rate for 30-45 minutes. Buy a nice bikini.

Anything else you’d like to add?

Check out my site: www.HealtHaven.com
Twitter handle is @ElliotTheTrainR
Facebook is www.Facebook.com/HealtHaven.Page
Instagram handle is @ElliotTheTrainR.