Fitty Smallz

With over thirty-years of experience in the fitness industry and a strong desire to bring an inspirational message of health direct to the people – Fitty Smallz has been making a difference in lives of millions of people through education and music. America’s only fitness rap star; he’s co-founder of one of the world’s fastest growing fitness organizations and an accomplished author whose advice, perspective and opinion has been highly valued and sought after by many, including Time Magazine, the New York Times, Crain’s New York Business, Entertainment News and many others for his ability to connect people to his inspirational message. Known as a wildly dynamic speaker, motivator, entertainer and extreme educator, Fitty Smallz combined his intense knowledge and love of fitness with his other passion – music. Writing, producing, rhyming and recording, he launched his own record label, Notorious F.I.T. Productions, and immediately began to bring his message into the music with vibrant beats that carried both hooks and thought-provoking lyrics. In less than a year he released 4 original singles, including Hamburger Fries & Shake, Muffin Top, Sweet Tooth Superstars and Gluteus Maximus that quickly climbed Internet and online charts as people found the music and began to support the message through joining the ever-growing Fitty Smallz social media fan-base. An established authority on health and well-being and a true ambassador to fitness, Fitty Smallz is committed to his quest to deliver exciting thought provoking music and humorous music videos. New, intense beats, in-depth lyrics and video story boards are being created, refined and recorded right at this very moment for upcoming 2015 releases along with mind blowing live performances. Inspired by the fast growing support from his fan base and the visible impact he’s made on the lives of millions - the upcoming music of Fitty Smallz is certain to include the wild lyrics, over the top videos, relatable context, signature-style and precision-flow that have made him an all-around captivating entertainer and passionate educator.

[fittysmallz]

Alright HUSH! Seriously can't wait for you to see this sick music vid #ThundaThighs @missdanimathers @lindseypelas @viewbility #throwdown @producerjennyb @bricedeplace @gabyacostaart @prellmakeup @momeinhart @shakystiletto @shannonldsouza @ladyveesays @Mariah_ac @bmfehir @manifestanthony @keelya @nattirosewhite @abbywillem @kkjans #lindseypelas #danimathers #playboy #playmateoftheyear #fittysmallz

[fittysmallz]

Phat shot for #ThundaThighs from Jib with #blackmagic @viewbility @bricedeplace @lindseypelas @missdanimathers #lindseypelas #danimathers #playmateoftheyear #playboy #rockstar #throwdown

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When ur performing with 2 gorgeous models, ur not paying attention to where ur hands at. I swear @lindseypelas 😂😘 @missdanimathers #goodgirls #playboy #playmateoftheyear #goodsports #lindseypelas #danimathers #fittysmallz #ThundaThighs #throwdown

[fittysmallz]

I tried to keep a "hands on" approach to the #ThundaThighs production with @lindseypelas @missdanimathers #lindseypelas #danimathers #playmateoftheyear #playboy #playmate #goodgirls #fittysmallz #throwdown @viewbility @bricedeplace

[fittysmallz]

#classicbeauty @missdanimathers on set for #ThundaThighs music video. #fittysmallz www.FittySmallz.com #danimathers shot by @bricedeplace #throwdown #awesome @viewbility

[fittysmallz]

Cool moment preping for opening scene of #ThundaThighs with rockstar Director & AD @viewbility @manifestanthony #throwdown #fittysmallz #danimathers #lindseypelas @bricedeplace

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More Fitty press from team @iampragency. Find out who & what inspires me to do this insane music. http://bit.ly/1zMM55O #FittySmallz

[fittysmallz]

What does Rap Music have to do with Pilates?

I started my fitness career in 1981 as a personal trainer.  Back then, you didn't need to hold a national certification and training people consisted mostly of showing them how to use the Nautilus circuit and teaching calisthenic classes that other trainers showed you how to teach. Over the years, I participated in all of the typical gym activities such as circuit training and free weights.   In those days the measure of results for a young guy in a gym was strength.  To increase strength, I trained in ways that put excessive strain on my joints and connective tissue.  To compound the problem, I participated in body building contests for several years and really over did it.   The end result of my training experience was 4 knee surgeries on my left knee (which will ultimately require a knee replacement), a two level artificial disk replacement (ADR) and surgery on my right shoulder to remove arthritic bone.  

I'm not saying that all forms of weight training are dangerous and harmful to your body.   What I am saying is simply that any form of exercise that places stress on your joints and connective tissue must be done with extreme caution, proper supervision and with moderation.

For many years I had a full gym in my house with commercial equipment. At first I loved it and used it often, but as the injuries crept up on me, I found it difficult to use most strength training equipment and lifting free weights was out of the question.  I started to get disenchanted with exercise in general because it caused me so much pain and discomfort.  As a Rap artist that promotes fitness, there is no way that I couldn’t be in awesome shape. Injuries or no, I had to figure out a way to stay in top physical condition. Not only do I strive to be a role model, but I also have to process the physical ability to excel at what I do. You might not think it, but producing music videos and live performances take a lot out of you, so being fit is critical.

Finally I decided to look into replacing my tired old equipment with some new equipment. As a fitness professional, I get to attend the big fitness industry conventions where all of the top manufacturers show off their latest and greatest equipment. The biggest challenge I had was space.   It’s not like I had enough space to get a full circuit of 8 to 10 pieces of equipment to work the entire body.  I also considered some of the space saving pulley units but I just felt like it was the same old thing I had been doing for years that I had grown bored with.  So during one of the industry’s biggest conventions, I went in search of my new equipment.  Naturally I have known about Pilates for years but what I have come to learn is that even some of the industry’s most experienced operators are far less knowledgeable about Pilates than you might think.  It’s one thing to know about something and maybe try it once or twice and quite another thing to immerse yourself into something and really learn it.  You would be surprised by how many “industry professionals” don’t even know what a Reformer is or how it works or how many people think that Pilates means exercising on a mat with some bands.

Fast forward to the convention and my quest for new equipment, I happened to stumble on the Balanced Body booth where they had quite a few Reformers, Wunda Chairs and a variety of other apparatus set up for demonstrations.  I found myself wandering into the booth and I remember thinking to myself; I really don’t think this is for me but I like the idea of having one piece of equipment to save space, so I might as well check it out.  I was fortunate enough to meet with one of Balanced Body representatives, Portia Page.  If not for her energy and eagerness to show me how Pilates could work for me, I probably would have been outta there in a few minutes.  Still, we only had about 20 minutes for the demonstration, which is funny to me now knowing the full extent of what you can do with a Reformer.  But that time with Portia was just enough to peak my interest. I decided to learn more about the Reformer and about how Pilates could help me.  After all, it was invented by this tough German guy who had the physique of a Greek God until the day he died at the age of 87.  So off home I went with a Balanced Body Brochure and the desire to learn more.  When I got home I found a local studio and I set an appointment and took a series of three introductory sessions.

You might think that right there I was hooked. Wrong. You have to remember that I grew up with traditional weight training and I worked out with heavy weights, did a lot of squats, bench presses and there was a lot of grunting and groaning and this Pilates stuff felt a bit too fluffy for me.  I mean here I was trying to get a workout in and the instructor was talking about “tucking in my tail if I had one”, “closing my bird cage”, “feeling a string pulling from my belly button into my pelvic floor” and “elongating my spine”.  What the hell? I’m in a room filled with women, most of whom were a lot stronger than I was at this stuff and I felt a bit like an uncoordinated idiot.

Then I spotted the queen bee of the studio, Vicki Sullivan off in the corner working out on a Reformer. There she was doing each movement with such incredible skill and grace with a body that said; yeah, I’ve been doing this my whole life. Well, I decided that I had to talk things out with her and get to the bottom of this Pilates thing.  I went over to her after class and introduced myself.  I told her about my background and experiences leading up to my introductory classes in her studio.  I remember telling her; “This is interesting stuff, but I just don’t think this is going to do it for me”. She asked me why and I told her that I just didn’t feel like I was getting a workout.  She just smiled and talked to me with a very calming and reassuring voice about the background of Pilates and the discipline of “the work”. Then she told me to just forget everything I had learned my entire career and open my mind and “commit to the journey”.  The journey….that’s what got me.  So this is really a learning experience, perhaps one that can change my life and I decided to take the journey. No more trying to come up with the reasons that it won’t work for me, just open my mind and learn.

It’s simply amazing what you can achieve with an open mind and a willingness to learn new things.  It reminded me of the very first time I decided to rap in a studio. I felt like a complete fool, but when I was done, the producer told me I sounded better than half the rappers that he knew that had been doing it for years. It only takes a spark to change the way you think.

So what have I learned? Pilates is by far the most complete full body exercise on the planet.  I feel as if I have been reborn in the fitness industry and I’m just learning how to exercise for the first time.  But that’s not all. I am actually learning how to breathe. I’ve been telling people to breath for years, but I only realize recently that I didn’t actually know how to do it myself.  I can’t even tell you how much that’s helped with my rapping and singing. Learning how to breath properly has really helped with my performance, especially live performances where you are moving and expending lot of energy. If you don’t know how to control your breathing, you just can’t get the lyrics out.

And stretching? I have been telling people about the benefits of stretching forever, but only now do I realize that I wasn’t actually doing anything significant that would impact real flexibility and the elongation of my muscle tissue.

What’s the result of my journey so far? I’m in better shape than I have been in years. I am stronger, more flexible and I have more energy.  I not only feel better, but I can see a significant transformation with my body.  Joseph Pilates once said; "You will feel better in 10 sessions, look better in 20 sessions and have a completely new body in 30 sessions." He wasn’t lying.

What did I do next? The only thing any self-respecting, intelligent fitness professional would do…I converted my little home gym into a Pilates studio, I completed 600 hours of certification and I am now a fully certified Pilates Instructor. I challenge you to show me one other rapper in the world who is a fully certified Pilates instructor?  Pilates has not only helped me get into the best shape of my life, but it also helped me to become America’s only fitness rap star, and it feels great.

Fitty Smallz- Top Videos

Gluteus Maximus

Muffin Top

Hamburger Fries & Shake

First Coast Living

Jacksonville Landing Live Performance

[fittysmallz]

The Universal Truth – Love and Accept Yourself Exactly the Way you are!

The other day, I was doing some research about reality shows that focus on the lives of fat people. At first glance, these shows don’t look too promising because the format itself isn’t that captivating or attention-grabbing. Let’s face it – at the end of the day it is back to the old school technique of competing with others. But as the layers are peeled away, we are treated to the raw truth – battling fellow contestants is a trivial detail; it is more about struggling with body image issues and overcoming their own obstacles that have held them back throughout their lives.

If you consider The Biggest Loser, where “ The More You Lose, The More You Win”, contestants have to tackle obstacle courses, face challenges, and resist temptation to eat fattening stuff to emerge as a winner and get a slim, toned body, you actually start rooting for them after a few episodes. We unknowingly cross the barrier of “our” and “their” and devotedly follow the show. We cheer when they demolish hurdles, we cry when someone is eliminated, and we jump up to clap loudly when the winner is declared.

Yet another show called Flab to Fab delves deep into the psyches of women and tries to work through problems by starting right at the source. The format is definitely worth a mention – women tailor their fitness regimen according to those followed by music stars. In my opinion, it tackles obesity with a different approach and pushes participants to lose as much weight as possible.

And how can we forget My 600 Pound Life? Featured in a documentary style, the camera records the journey of individuals, each weighing over 600 pounds, who are trying to lose weight and become slim. Their diet and exercise routines are rigidly structured so they can successfully get rid of troubles that have been constantly plaguing them.

And the winner is…

But among this bunch of reality shows, what really stands out due to its strong connect with its audience and mind-blowing content, is the TLC show called My Big Fat Fabulous Life that catapulted Whitney Way Thore to the pinnacle of fame. Okay, I know I partnered with Whitney Thore on my top two music videos Muffin Top and Gluteus Maximus and yes, she also performed with me live on First Coast Living and at the Beautiful bodies Competition at Jacksonville Landing. But if you ask me, My Big Fat Fabulous Life is the best because it is unique and has remarkable appeal. This show steers clear from the concept of losing weight and shedding excess fat as the primary goal – in fact it is the exact opposite.

People should never belittle themselves because they are obese. Whitney had always been conscious about being fat and not enjoying life like others were doing, but she has traveled far from that place. She steadfastly believes you don’t need to be stick thin in order to accomplish your dreams and goals in life, by citing herself as a perfect example. Reacting to skepticism, she firmly maintains that this show is not to promote obesity but to experience and appreciate who you are.

A Fat Girl Dancing and No Body Shame

I applaud Whitney for her bravery and determination after watching this video - A Fat Girl Dancing, which had instantly gone viral and garnered over a million views within a short span of time. It takes courage to stand up for what you believe in and fight against others who bombarded her with negative comments and harsh criticism.

She held her own and defended the idea behind creating the video – The No Body Shame campaign. Her dance moves have been specifically targeted towards making people loving themselves and not getting overly obsessed with the idea of losing weight. In addition, she expressed her desire to shed extra pounds as obesity is associated with several health problems, but without compromising on her happiness. Whitney loves to dance and be active at all times and this is exactly what she wishes to share with the viewers on her show and via this video. In fact, she hopes to inspire people all over the world to experience joy and freedom through dance moves and not regret missing out on life.

The No Body Shame campaign drew inspiration from Whitney’s own struggles with body image, an issue she had faced since childhood. After dealing with polycystic ovarian syndrome, depression, eating disorders, and fluctuating weight for years, she decided “enough is enough” and put an end to the efforts of slimming down.

Whitney’s resolve of accepting who she is and loving herself has remained undeterred – she has refused to bow down to “what society thinks and accepts” and has stuck to her dancing career with a grit rivaling that of several fitness experts and dancers. The A Fat Girl Dancing video was her stepping-stone to success and I was able to help her take it to the next level with Muffin Top and Gluteus Maximus. Our videos are not yet “viral” as thousands of videos are uploaded to YouTube each second, but everyday they continue to grow and build a fan base.

It is no longer merely a video – it has developed into a worldwide movement with many joining in to publicize overall wellness and self-love by eliminating body shame from their lives. Some believe it is a long overdue approach and I totally agree. You shouldn’t be judged on your appearance or how much you weigh. It is about letting go of inhibitions and loving yourself unashamedly – no one has the right to dictate how you life your life….Atta Girl Whitney!

[fittysmallz]

Old school #Porsche sweet. (at Omni Resorts At Amelia Island Plantation)

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Don't make cars like this no more. #coolcars (at Omni Amelia Island Plantation)

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Sponsor @dotfit came out to #GluteusMaximus with @dotfitdiva and served shakes & bars for 12 hours. WOW! And I didn't get in this shape eating cake. I eat the bars and drink the shakes everyday. Ain't no BS Multi Level sell to ur family and friends. It's just awesome nutrition that werks. @katbarefield (at The Club at OakBranch Greensboro)

[fittysmallz]

One of the big reason I do this. People. 😘 @waywhitney @lnonmytoes1

[fittysmallz]

#GluteusMaximus will be awesome but let's stay on #MuffinTop http://bit.ly/ViewMuffinTop

[fittysmallz]

My man @kylepacek came out in full form to support #GluteusMaximus with my girl Lisa. http://bit.ly/ViewMuffinTop

[fittysmallz]

Due to a circumstance to painful to relive, #MuffinTop had to be RELOADED. http://bit.ly/ViewMuffinTop Lost 40k Views. Help us get it back. SHARE NOW! @waywhitney

[fittysmallz]

Preliminary wardrobe for #GluteusMaximus this weekend. Don't wait. Watch #MuffinTop & SHARE THAT MUFFIN! http://bit.ly/1CnlXt6