MSI Press Blog

  Today's book back story is about Brittany Renz's book, Girl, You Got This ! From the publisher --  Brittany (author) was my (publisher) trainer. I was working on a book, Grandma's Ninja Training Diary (still am and someday it will see the world on a printed page). As we worked month by month, Brittany and her husband decided to expand their family of one son to two children (ultimately, Brittany delivered a daughter). As she became more and more pregnant, Brittany continued working with her fitness clients -- and maintained her own fitness routine. One thing we both noticed: no other pregnant women were working out in the gym. Brittany figured it might be because they did not think that they could or did not know how to. Hence, the origin of the book, Girl, You Got This!, which has caught the eye of doctors and women's magazines with its unusual content. Yes, you can be pregnant and also be in the best shape of your life. (And the whole family can work out together;

  excerpt from Girl, You've Got Thi s by Brittany Renz -  Introduction   I have a 24-hour cancellation policy.   When I first started my work as a personal trainer, I was single and had two clients I would meet up with at a local park because I didn’t have a studio space. Cancellations at that point weren’t such a big deal. “Oh, you can’t make it today? What about tomorrow around 3? Great, see you then!”   In the past four years, that’s changed. I am married with one kid and another on the way, and I am booked. When I say ‘booked,’ I mean I am still a one-person team (unless you count my two-year-old daughter as my assistant), and I have 76 clients. I work seven days a week from 6 a.m. to as late as 9 p.m. Now when someone cancels last minute, it means:   1) It isn’t easy to reschedule, and 2) Another client could have filled that spot, and        now I won’t make that money.   So, what do I do when I get that last-minute text or call?   Nothing. I do

  San Juan Books is the hybrid division of MSI Press LLC. It allows first-time writers to become published in a traditional way through the reduction of risk by sharing publication costs. All other publishing features are traditional in nature, and most SJB authors go on to be offered traditional contracts for their subsequent books. SJB publications are available as paperback, hard cover, and e-book versions. SJB authors' books very much hold their own against their contemporaries in the traditional publishing division. Indeed, a number of them have outsold their traditional compatriots. Today, San Juan Books presents author Brittany Renz. Brittany Renz is a successful personal trainer and mother in Hollister, California. A popular trainer with a very large, stable clientele, she trains together with her family, as well as coaching others. After years of people asking her how she does it all, she finally decided to take her experience and share it with the world. To see more posts

  Excerpt from Girl, You Got This! Food Dieting is talked about a lot in our culture. Every couple of months there is a new trendy diet: Atkins, Keto, the potato diet. The problem with most fad diets, though, is they are restrictive. There are too many hard rules. In order to change your eating habits long term, you need balance .   Everyone has heard the phrase, “balanced diet.” In fact, it is such a common thing to hear that most people don’t really stop to think about what it means. It just goes in one ear and out the other. What makes a diet balanced?   A balanced diet is a diet that includes variety. You eat multiple foods from multiple food groups in order to fuel your body with the most nutrients possible.   The Standard American Diet (SAD) is full of “food” that isn’t really food. It is more like packaged food-science experiments. The results might taste great, but it is no longer natural. The best way to get the most out of what you put in your body is to keep i

                                                                                       (photo by Frank Perez) It is Tuesday. Time to tall turkey. Monday's madness is over, and Wednesday will take us over the hump, so Tuesday it is--for some serious discussion with authors. Tuesday talks mean to address authors in waiting and self-published authors who would like to go a more traditional route or who would at least like to take their steps with a publisher by their side. Ever wonder how books get to be accepted for publication? There is often more to any author's story than non-authors and not-yet-published authors would image.  Yes, of course, every publisher has the normal channel of proposal reading and acceptance based on the quality of the proposal, the "fit" of the book, the quality of the writing, and the perceived marketability, typically based on the author's platform. But...some books come into being in some other ways. Here are a few from the MSI Press e

  Brittany Renz is a successful personal trainer and mother in Hollister, California. A popular trainer with a very large, stable clientele, she trains together with her family, as well as coaching others. After years of people asking her how she does it all, she finally decided to take her experience and share it with the world. Her book,  Girl, You Got This ,  that focuses on fitness for pregnant mothers-to be, has piqued the interest of fitness fans and sports doctors.  Brittany's first book includes pictures of the whole family participating in fitness efforts. Now, she is working on a new book for mothers--and, for sure, it will include, again, the whole family. Watch for it. For more information about Brittany and her book(s), click HERE .

from chapter, Before You Conceive: Every person has a different body with different needs, but whether you are young or old, fit or not, pregnancy puts the body through a lot. I want you to keep in mind that health and fitness aren’t one-size-fits all. What works for one person won’t always work for another. Life—and health—are all about finding something that works for you. Taking stock is a powerful first step if you want to set yourself up for success. When is the last time you touched base with yourself and your health? Questionnaire  1 . How do you feel about your body as it is right now? Try to be as nice as possible . 2 . What role has health played in your life? Has it been an adversary? Has it always been on the backburner? Is it something you have poked fun at? 3 . Do you have any medical conditions you need to take into account when exercising? Chronic pain? Migraines? Old injuries? 4 . Do you have any dietary restrictions (or personal taste restrictions for th

Happy Mother's Day! It is always important and gratifying to find a reason for joy in the midst of troubled times! And, if you have some reading time, here are some books written especially for mothers: 108 Yoga and Self-Care Practices for Busy Mama s by Julie Gentile Mama, do you find yourself too busy to take good care of yourself? Whatever your situation, you deserve spectacular health and wellness. With Julie M. Gentile as your personal wellness mentor, this book coaches you along your own authentic self-care path. Using 108 writing prompts and self-care practices, including yoga poses, meditations, and breathing exercises, Julie shows you practical ways to live well that only a mama modern would understand. Become the self-care goddess you truly want to be—you’re worth it! How to Be a Good Mother When You're Sick: A Guide to Motherhood with Chronic Illness by Dr. Emily Graves Soon after receiving her Bachelor’s Degree, Emily Graves was diagnosed w

We now have a podcast site! Please check it out at www.msipress.com/podcasts . We will be posting podcasts on the 10th and 20th of each month. The first one we have posted is an interview of Brittany Renz, author of Girl, You Got This!, together with her husband about family fitness.

Just wanted to share two important pieces of information: (1) My trainer wrote a book about training while pregnant. (2) I changed my diary from ninja warrior to ninja training -- you have to be in training before you can be a warrior! For posts about my trainers's book, click HERE .

From MidWest Book Review: Synopsis: "Girl, You Got This!: A Fitness Trainer's Personal Strategies for Success Transitioning into Motherhood" by Brittany Renz is a complete guide to setting yourself up for success while transitioning to motherhood. The 'real world practical' and experience based advice comes from an expert as Brittany is a wife, mother of one and a half kids (a three-year-old girl and soon-to-be born baby boy), entrepreneur, and personal trainer. In "Girl, You Got This!, Brittany deftly and accessibly shares her knowledge and experience to walk her readers through all of the phases of pregnancy, from before conception to delivery -- and ways to stay fit during each phase. Critique: A perfect gift book for expectant mothers, "Girl, You Got This!: A Fitness Trainer's Personal Strategies for Success Transitioning into Motherhood" features color photograph illustrations and is unreservedly endorsed and recommended for pers

On Septem ber 25, 2019, Brittany Renz, author of Girl, You Got This! , was featured by SportsMD in an article, titled " Motherhood and Self-Care: Staying Fit before and after Childbirth ." Very, very interesting article, chock full of good information and medically sound advice for women about to become new mothers. Read the article HERE . Read more posts about Brittany and her book HERE .

Anne Laforge interviews Brittany and her husband Holden for National Women's Health and Fitness Day 2019. Listen to the podcast here .

Author of Girl, You Got This! , Brittany and her book were featured today in Atlanta Latinos Digital Magazine. The magazine features interesting and useful topics in English and Spanish. Most compelling about this magazine is its beautiful and artistic design. A must-see, must-read! Take a look: Atlanta Latinos Magazine

Brittany Renz, author of Girl, You Got This! , had a great book signing last Saturday at Barnes & Noble in Gilroy. Here are some fun pictures from the event, including the participation of her husband HOlden and daughter Sophie.

Released yesterday. Mothers everywhere struggle with finding a comfortable balance between their own needs and their children’s needs. “Self-care, what’s that?” many moms joke, but believe it or not, you can be a super mom while still taking care of your home and yourself. Girl, You Got This! is a complete guide to setting yourself up for success while transitioning to motherhood, and the advice comes from an expert. Brittany Renz is a wife, mother of one and a half kids (a three-year-old girl and soon-to-be born baby boy), entrepreneur, and personal trainer. In this book, she uses her knowledge and experience to walk readers through all of the phases of pregnancy, from before conception to delivery. For each phase of pregnancy, this book offers readers advice not only on fitness and dieting, but also: ·         Money: budgeting for a growing family, ·         Medical Concerns: finding an OBGYN and pediatrician, ·         Housekeeping: establishing cleaning routine