BodyRock.TV

This is great! family reunion is the best there is ! :D
mom’s food is always the best….. :)

Thanks for sharing that! :)

its verry simular to croatia! But here is much nicer because we have great sea and the most beautifull beaches in teh world! Come and visit us!

Ahoj,
na jak dlouho jste se vrátili do Prahy a kam pak budete pokračovat?

PS: Také bydlím tam co tvoje maminka a je to podle mého názoru nejhezčí část Prahy.

Aww..it’s so nice of you to share your old house with us. I agree with you how everyone nowadays do not appreciate anything anymore. Everything is just being taken for granted.

You should come to the US. I’m sure you and Frederick will like it here.

ohhhhh…memories :) They`re all coming back while I am watching this video… Thanks a lot for you sincere account about what life really looked like those days back then.
I come from Poland so as you know our way of life in the 90`s was so alike to what the Czech people was coming through.
Anyways, now I am 27 yrs old young woman, still living in Poland but since so many has changed in our life comfort, I`ve nearly forgotten about all those paradox of comunism that you`ve shown ..for ex. those ridiculous buildings with cropper decoration.. and so on ;)

THX a lot again, keep up the good work with your workouts
cheers !! Bless you guys

Aleksandra

This is an intimate view of a whole different growing up experience compared to mine in California! Thank you so much for sharing this with us. I think when we are young we do not think much about other possibilities, we just accept things as they are, much as you describe everyone living in the communist apartment buildings, so you assume that is the way of the world. When you see other lifestyles it can be a real shock! So when you revisit those old, familiar places suddenly you see them in a whole new light as the perspective one brings to an experience can color it completely. If I had’ve been yanked from outdoorsy California into your world I would’ve had a very hard time being in such a small space in a high rise because I was never indoors!

Hi Zuzana, your home town, is so so nice, i felt like i at home :) In Lithuania, is the same, looking, flats, and even that little cup :)

I saw this video, and really want to visit my family… These all thing are so lovely :)

Thank you Frederick and Zuzana for sharing such a personal trip with us. I’ve been doing your (Zuzana’s) workouts for two weeks now, and am already seeing major results. I’m a long distance runner, so to incorporate your core and leg routines have been priceless. Going back to this video, it is pretty amazing to see what you take for granted when you grow up in a wealthier, democratic country like the United States. I was raised to be appreciative of my surroundings, but it is still human nature to forget how others live. I think the two of you provide a great balance for each other, regarding this, and that shows through your teamwork. Thanks for letting us be a part of your past, and keep up the phenominal fitness work!

Best,
Ashley

This is really cool and personal. Thank you Zuzanna!

Chucks! I wanted to see your Mom. Really loved this video guys. Zuzana I grew up pretty much the same way you did and today I am very fortunate to have all the luxuries one can think of. But honestly I wouldn’t change a thing because I have such fond memories and the one thing I can truly remember is just always laughing, having fun and being carefree. I think there is a lot of advantages growing up the way we did. You certainly do appreciate things a lot more and I think you learn to realize at a young age that material things don’t bring you happiness. Kudos to your Mom. Seems like she did a great job raising you.

I’m really appreciate how you are so open to sharing your life with all of us! I never would have had the opportunity to know what it is like to grow up in a communist society. I always wondered how that was; now I know, thanks to you! Thank you Zuzana & Frederick <3

And please thank your mother for sharing her home with us!! The meal looked fabulous!

Nise flat))) So reminder about my country………
I live at flat too..
I was wondering – what are your birthday?
Just day and month – if its a secret =)))))))))))))

Thank you Zuzanna and frederick for this little slice of Czech life. It reminds me so much of the flats in Ukraine…also often a cluster of buildings….and the elevator smells…I believe often the pranks of local kids or maybe puppies who could not hold it in until the got outside.

The toilet and the water closet are also the same as most Soviet era buildings in Ukraine. With the washing machine in the bathroom. Hahahaha the sounds come right through the door. That is probably why they started putting the sink in the toilet…so they could run the water and drown out the sounds!!! hahaha!

The flats are small and humble…and yes everyone had the same, so no one judged anyone else. That was normal.

The lobby in your Prague flat does look like better condition (more maintained) than Ukraine. Some apartments look so old outside, but nice and clean and pretty inside.

I totally get it about how you saved the cans of Coca cola from Germany. Which if I remember said Trink (drinnk) :-)

Your mama’s cooking looks yummy. I don’t eat meat now, but dumplings and cabbage oyoyoy! :-D

I am glad she was a strong Czech woman that took the dog from the abuser!!! :-)

Thank you for this tour…I was SO wanting to see some Prague footage!
:-)

Love,

hipretty

My eyes started to fill up with tears as I watched & listened…(Thank you for allowing us to see where you grew up and your journey)…I thought about me growing up in Vietnam, my grandmother & my grandfather. I miss them all very much! Its good to be able to go home.

Zuzana and Frederick thank you
That was very sweet, seeing where Zuzana grew up. I have been to a place like that outside of Prague, a long time ago. I have a really good friend who is Czech and I had the oportunity to try that same exact dish at her mom’s house, those dumplings are super delicious.

Your mom’s dog is so adorable.

PS PLEASE please…keep them coming, it would be awesome to to see the architecture as well. the Main square…the bridge where the INXS video was filmed.

I don’t know if you are staying or not….but good health and blessings there!

Ahooooooj …… from CZ

It was really kind of you to share a bit of history about yourself and your country. I believe we are close in age (I will be 30 this year) and the political history of Eastern Europe seems so distant from my reality! I love learning about cultural differences and I am looking forward to researching more about Prague and the Czech republic. My goal is to visit croatia before I turn 32 so maybe I will add prague to the list!

Thanks again
H.

Just like in Poland. These houses and everything…

:) I love that you shared this with us. I stay in a small place myself and because it is my home it does not seem small at all. Im guessing Fred is not used to anything like it haha;) Thank you for the tour.
By the way how much of that mean did you eat?

Wow! You had glass doors! We had wooden doors AND STILL someone would manage to break them.:) The elevator in your mom’s house is actually quite nice! It is almost twice as big as what I had in my old building back in Ukraine (moved to Canada a decade ago) and yours has a mirror!!! Your mom’s elevator rocks!!! :) In our elevator you’d often find pee on the floor as well. All the buttons would be melted (kids played with lighters often) and sometimes you didn’t know which floor was which. We’d have ENGLISH swear words written all over the walls (as well as some “local” swears) and things such as X-name + Y-name = LOVE :). Also, I think every country in the former USSR had their bathroom and toilet-room separate :) Did you guys have a little peak window from your kitchen into your toilet room? :) From the video it looks like you didn’t, well a lot of apartments did, wasn’t that convenient? :)

Anyway, home will always be home with all of its imperfections :) When I left Ukraine we didn’t have any supermarkets or anything and you could only buy things from over-the-counter (literally). When I came here and went to a supermarket for the first time, it took me some time to realize that I don’t have to wait for some clerk to HAND STUFF OVER to me, that I could just pick whatever I wanted and pay at the checkout by the exit. I felt embarrased. :) Anyway, i think almost everybody who came from the former USSR can have a few memories of their own of what it was like “back home” compared to what it is like where they live now.

Love your videos guys! Keep them comming! And a question to Frederick – is it your first time visiting Zuzana’s homeland? Everything is very familiar to Zuzana and, I think it’s safe to say, normal. Did you have a cultural shock when you stepped out from the airplane? I’m just curious what you, as a (I assume) Canadian-born citizen, think of the way people live in other countries. Thanks and enjoy your stay guys!

hey Zuzana,
it is amazing to see that your apartment looks just like mine in russia, very similar cultures, it is also very tiny but i still miss it, people’s mentality is so different from where i am now, in New Zealand
shame we couldnt see your mum, i bet you look like her ;)

thanks for sharing this video!!!

I so much enjoy your website. The thing that makes it so interesting is the personal touch. Not only is the exercise top notch and professional, but the way that you share your thoughts and lives make it unique and keep me coming back.

I would love for you to do a piece where you talk a bit about where you met and how you got to this point in life. What you are dong is working, keep doing it.

Hi Zuzana.
This is so weird. I always imagined Praqa loking all European and you have the same appartments and furniture and all that plates and cups as we do in Russia. And the same elevators with something written on them etc. I don’t know why but this is very strange. I’ve been watching your videos for a while and I pictured you being better than me. But now it is like you are just like one of my girlfriends here in Moscow.

Zuzana and Frederic i realy enjoy this video.It’s makes me feel so close to you guys,like i know you for a long time ago!!:)Anyway, i am going to come to Prague for o while and i am wondering if you can tell me some good hotels to stay!!(silly question but i want your opinion beaucause i never been to Prague before:p)Thanks guys.:)

Hi Zuzana,

I think growing up with not having a lot of money, moulds you to be a better person. Like you said, you appreciate everything, your perspective on life is different than people who grew up with everything they wanted. I think people who grow up without alot of things, have better character, and when they grow up to have nice things, they don’t take things for granted. People who grow up with wealth and riches usually think they’re better than others, are arrogant and look down on people who have/had less. The wealthiest man in the world would love to have you as his wife, your smart, beautiful, humble, strong, dedicated and you have GREAT character. The value of your heart is priceless. I wish there were more women like you in the world.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AscPOozwYA8

Have a good time :) Little romantic for Zuzana and Frederick

Zuzana,

Your great attitude and my own selfishness made me tear up. We are so spoiled here in the U.S. I spent a year in the Middle East after college and swore I would never again take for granted the little things that I have…i.e. toilets. Alas, I’m as spoiled as ever.

Thanks for the wake up call.

“Home is place you grow up wanting to leave, and grow old wanting to get back to”

enjoy your mother, enjoy your memories, enjoy your time!

Thank you for sharing your childhood home with us. Growing up in the states, I did not understand how abundant EVERYTHING is. I traveled various cities in Asia when I was 19, and I came home just blown away by how spoiled I am. In the states, my family is just a average middle class family, even that in comparison to some villages I saw was just incredibly humbling. It made me very aware of just how ungrateful I was. I looked up to the people I met and their happiness. I found myself looking to material things for happiness, which we all know is a complete dead end. I made it a personal goal to humble myself and be more aware how spoiled I am and to be grateful, and focus on service to others.

Thank you so much for showing us your hometown. I absolutely love the diversity this world has to offer, it’s such a beautiful thing. Thank you for taking the time to share your beautiful story with us.

Next personal video…I’d LOVE to hear how you and Freddy met..ect. Everyone loves a good love story :)
oooh, and wedding pictures.

Thanks Doll :)

I was wondering… what do you do for living? It’s so cool that you are able to live whenever you wanna live.

I think that when there is not a lot of differences between people you live happier, here, in Mexico, we are like 100 million people and more than 50 million live extremely poor and maeby that’s why there is such a vilent place to live, there’s a lot of kidnappins, robbery, assassinations… it’s so sad :(

Thanks for sharing – You are pure heart, Z!

Ahoj Zuzanko,
sledujem tvoju stranku uz nejaku dobu ale az toto video ma prinutilo reagovat. Dojalo ma, s akou otvorenostou a uprimnostou si sa podelila o to ako vacsina z nas v CS vyrastala. Paci sa mi ako si stojis za tym kym si a co robis.
Prajem vela stastia a prosim pokracuj v tom co robis. Si inspiraciou pre mnoho ludi, vratane mna.
Mirka

Hey Zuzana,
you look very emotional in this video! I like the fact that you include (in some way) all of us in your life by making videos like this one! We feel like knowing you better…
I just have a question, just out of curiosity… How can you travel so much and make so many videos? I mean, you don’t have jobs?
I don’t want to be indiscreet of curse…
Waiting your new workout! Kisses!

hey Zuzana, I’m from Lithuania, and I grew up in small flat like your mom’s too (: and I do understand what u were saying about appreciation. it’s too bad when people from western europe and USA don’t understand how hard was to live in communistic times and after USSR collapsed how hard was to recreate the new life.

I just wanted to congratulate you for you reached goals in life, for happy marriage and opportunity to see the world. nice job (:

Ahoj, moc si mě inspirovala!!!Cvičím něco už přes 3 roky,ale tvé cvičení se nikomu nemůže vyrovnat!! Asi před 2 měsíci jsem objevila tento web a od té doby si každý den udělám 30 min. čas a pustím si nějaká videa a cvičím. Jen tak dál…tvůj věrný český fanoušek:)

brings back memories, every time I go home I feel it’s unreal and when I go back to us it seams it was kind of a dream and it’s gone.
I was wondering when you are guys out there , can you see if they still have old jump ropes( svihadlo) ? that rope with 2 wooden sticks , in my memories it seams it work so good and those jump r. -plactic ones – I can’t make them work well. I can ask my mom , but they will think I’m crazy wanting a jump rope. Enjoy it and have some has^lerky- candy, and eat some dumplings for me ( chlupate a bramborove , nam nam)

Hey Zuzana,

It was great seeing this video and learning about where you grew up! I’m sure your mom has missed you! How long do you think you will be in Prague?
I’ve also been curious as to how you and Freddy met?
I love your workouts and your vlogs as well!
You are definitely an inspiration and role model to me!

Keep up the awesomeness!!! :)

Hey guys! Thanks for showing us where you grew up Zuzana. It’s very rare to see what life is like there these days. My family left the Ukraine in the beginning of the revolution before the communist rein. I bet it is kind of scary with the things that have been going on with Russia and the previous situation with Georgia. Especially since it hasn’t been communist for quiet some time.

Hi Zuzana and Frederick,

It was great to catch a little glimpse of how your life was in the not-too-distant past. You are so right about how people tended to appreciate and value the little things in those days in Communist Europe. During the early ’90s, so many families came over here from over there to start a new life. You could really notice how they cherished so many things that we over here clearly take for granted. Although I feel that some of them got a little too carried away with their newly founded material freedoms, I strongly believe that most Eastern European immigrants have added so much that is good to the fabric and strength of America. Have a great time and enjoy:)

your town is so like my Belgrade..
:)
that is probably charm of east europe

Wow, excellent video guys. I love your passion and the way you are concerned with everyone living their best life! You look amazing and you are quite an inspiration. Do you ever cheat on your diet? Keep up the great work, where can I buy some materials from you guys to help fund this endeavor? A.

The same thing happens to me when I go visit family in Ottawa. I get flooded with memories of things I did and used to do growing up. I agree that nothing beats mom’s cooking, and I usually pig out when I get the chance to eat her food. I wonder how you were able to control/restraint yourself from eating too much. ALso, is it Fredrick’s first time in Prague?

It feels like I was watching one of Polish sites. I also grew up in a similar block of flats (on the 7th floor), but we moved out to a house when I was 9. I think it’s really sad that people had to live like this and that they still do. After watching your film I feel we are metes :) You are really lucky, Zuzana, that your life now is what it is…if you know what I mean :)
All the best,
M.

Hi you two!
I’m from Latvia,also post soviet country. I can really relate to all of this stuff…
Great job you both are doing! I absolutely love your site!
Keep up the good work!!!

You are so lucky you have a place to come back,the place you grew up at. I can never do that again. I haven’t been home for 6 years now and my parents sold their flat and build a house. Though I cannot wait to see the house, I wish I could come back to that old apartment where all my memories were left. By the way, my best friend also lived next door. And I am from Belarus, live in USA now.. 6 long years. I am loving it, but miss my family a lot as well.

Zuzana, ths is really nice video. I enjoyed it cuz this reminded me of my childhood since I havent been home for so long. Some things are very similar in Euoperan countries like Czech, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia(where I come from). Especially those big houses with many similar flats one by one where everyone’s having the same furniture. I belive it seems a bit vierd for Frederick how we live here in Europe, its completley different world comparing to Canada or America.
Thanks Z&F! Have a nice time back home!

That was really cool, I can really connect to the things you are saying and showing in the video as I grew up in Bulgaria but live in England now, and my fiancee is English.

Hope you are both having a wonderful time, maybe for the next few months Freddie will be able to brush on his Czech language skills? ;-)

Looking forward to more videos from Prague, take care x

That flat looks adorable. I have the same situation with me and my boyfriend and the differences in the way we grew up. I lived in a small trailer (still very nice, I think, because my mom and dad fixed it up real nice) and my boyfriend, Chris, grew up in this huge, rich, brick house. I feel like I can relate to you more, Zuzana, when you say you used to save the coke cans because I was the same way with a lot of things when I was younger. My family only went out to eat on very special occasions so when I met Chris and saw how him and his family went out whenever they wanted (sometimes every night) I thought that was just crazy. I love how I grew up though because I can still appreciate the little things that most people ignore and have fun with simple things.

Great video! Thanks for showing us about your life!

I got the same appartment in Russia )))) I think all ex-communist countries are mostly the same.
It’s good to come back home…

Zuzana,

I am so honoured and humbled by your openness and honesty in this video.

Thank your mother for letting us into her lovely home. Her place reminds me of my grandmother’s home (also a small two bedroom apartment) -where she collected so many little nick knacks that all had an interesting story behind them.

Life is so much about enjoying the small everyday things as they are not as we may want them to be. It wasn’t until I got older that I truly appreciated how much my grandmother gave to myself, my brother and sisters and anyone she came in contact with. Even though she didn’t have much money she always would send cards to us on our birthdays and to all her friends- sometimes slipping in a five dollar bill. She was a very generous and thoughtful person who always took time out of her day to write letters to her friends and family.

The story about your mother and her dog warms my heart; kindness and compassion towards all living things are qualities the world needs more of.

The food looks so good- true home cooking made with love. Yum!

I feel you Zuzana:) when I look at your flat and the block of flats it’s just like here in Poland!
I think people who grew up in the west/western Europe will never be able to get that how it was in the comunist countries.

Once I tried to describe it to my boyfriend but for him these things like the coca cola can histroy are just ridiculous.

It’s always touching to come back home:)

F&Z,
Thanks very much for the tour of house that Z grew up in. Her dog looks to be a very spoiled and loved member of the family. You can see him laugh and smile. Way cool.

Hi,
it´s great that you are in Czech.
I am from Czech Rep. as well. I really like you website.
Can you give me some tips about the food what I can get in Czech what is good for each meal (like breakfast, lunch etc.)

Hezký den :)

Dear Zuzana and Frederick.

Is it time to get sentimental ;).

I just watched a danish movie called “black balls”, but hey no, it’s not dirty, it’s kind of a comedy and the real life, and now watching your videoclip, it makes me think.

Think how wonderful life really is, ofcourse if you want it to be, it’s your decision, every second counts, nomather what YOU choose.

And since you wonderful guys deside to share some of your wonderful and valuable time with us, i will reply it with some of my valuable time with you guys.

Always be thankful for what you have otherwise get rid of it, hold tight to the good things and junk the bad things.

When you guys mowed from Gozo, first i was sad and think why are you guys mowing from such a beautiful place, but now i am happy that you did, course it brought you back to your mom and friends that you havn’t seen for 1 1/2 years.

Since the 27 of january, your guys have been an important part of my life every single day, the first thing i am doing when i get up, is to turn on my pc, then i am getting some breakfast while i am watching whats new from your guys, it’s waluable time for me.

You bring quality time to me, before i could drink a cup of coffee once a week, but now i do it every time before i start my workout 1 to 2 times a day, THANKS ZUZANA, but i enjoy it, it’s quality time for me, and i stick to that.

And if my reply brings quality time to your guys i will be happy, if not i will still be happy.

Take care and i wish your guys the best.

Hm..yes, Anya is right!
My roots are in my grandparents village. They start to disapear as the family grew up and moved to large cities.
The village has less and less young people, they just go there in August… perhaps the younger ones don’t even come back in the summer.

Hi Zuzana and Freddy,

OMG, this reminded me so much of home I started to cry! The apartment I grew up in looked very much like the one in your video, just the building itself was smaller. I love most of my memories from that place, and even though I would never go back to living in an apartment, I’d hate it if my mom sold the place.
The meal your mom prepared looked amazing!!!!!!
May we dare ask for the recipe?

p.s. Zuzana, I love the outfit you’re wearing, it’s super cute!!!!

Mihaela

I was recently researching the internet for ways to mix up my workout when I came across your website. I have tried some of your routines and they have really helped me crank up my metabolism. Thanks for the motivation!

I really enjoyed this piece on your home. Thanks for sharing! Keep up the great workouts!

Hey guys… I was always wondering how you both met? Since he is from Canada and you from Czech. How was bodyrock.tv born? Whos idea? You should make a video on a little biography of bodyrock.tv and you guys. That would be really interesting to see how this all became. Thanks so much for sharing. I love your videos!

Hey Zuzana,

We have alot of things in common. I grew up the exact same way you did and I’m soo happy that you turned out to be a great person. I’m sure it wasn’t always easy but you made it! Look how far you’ve come. Your mom must be happy for you.

Enjoy the power and beauty of your life!

I really enjoyed seeing where you grew up. I just wished we could have seen your mother. I bet she is really proud of you. Listening to you talk about your childhood and the way you were raised really touched me. I never realized that you grew up in a communist country (Czechoslovakia). Thank you so much for sharing that part of your life with us. I hope you had a great day with your mother..

Zuzana,

Oh, my goodness – it is so very kind of you to open up your childhood home to us! It is very interesting, especially for someone from the U.S. You can just see the memories flood back through you…so heartwarming. Frederick, you are so kind and sweet as you ‘interview’ your wife.

I can understand your Mom not wanting to be filmed, but pass my thanks to her too for opening up her home. Her meal looked delicious!

You guys are the best. Keep it up.

Oh, and I have to admit…I had 2 cookies. My first “cheat” on the 30 day challenge. Not going to beat myself up about it, I just really wanted something sweet! Haven’t had a drop of alcohol though!

wow thats cool….i can always go back to the first place where i grew up..because i lived with my great-grand mom and gmom…my mom,aunt,uncle, sister and sometimes my mom…but my mom me ans my sister moved around a lot..from pennsylvania to virgina then back!…but i would be scared to live in a communist place because dont they like command on what to do…my teacher told me yesterday but i forgot!

Thanks so much for such a nice comment Robin.

It so reminds me of our old apartment :-) But parents finally got a house two years ago, so they are enjoying more privacy now:-)

I miss the Czech food! I love the sweet dumplings with fruits in it (boruvkove knedliky:)

I completely agree with you that ppl appreciated things back then that they do not value as such now anymore. I remember the bananas lol But thankfully parents had time to devote to their kids and many families were really close. The little apartments helped that a lot as well :-)

Hi Zusana and Fredrick.

This video was awesome. For some reason, I was quite moved watching you guys in that tiny flat. My mum had a lovely house (eventually) but when I left home, I like in an apartment block in London and can totally understand about the filthy conditions in the lifts! When I first moved in, I just cried because it was so awful.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE the DOG! You need to ship him to England so he can live with me! ;-) Thanks again

Man, this reminds me of Angola and its Soviet buildings. BIG cement masses that were supposed to accommodate the comrades of the proletariat and the farmers.

The curtains and the furniture and the stuff on it. Like my mother’s house! I could be going home I swear! The difference being that I did not live in one of those flats. My family lived (es) in an old colonial vivenda.

Zuzana did you also grow up with “Zayed Nu Pagadi!!!”? I used to love it as a kid! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POFeNwqpmb8

Oh and I was a pioneer. I went to a museum in eastern Germany last year and I swear I felt like I was home. Amazing how we had similar lives in such different countries.

You know what we appreciated? Coca Cola indeed! and chocolates! And my aunt brought me once a Tom and Jerry tape and my brother and I watched it every day until the poor thing died of age :) hahahaha

It wasn’t easy living in a communist country, but you know, in those days people did not starve in Angola. Now they are supposedly Democratic and have implemented the capitalist system. The sad thing is, they do not have the same social security they have in many European countries. Many people are now starving in Angola. The inequality is so big and crime rate has just increased. People are desperate. So much for that dream.

oh Greek girl,

you just sang my whole life with your song :)
That sums me up pretty much.

oh and one more thing. If I could go back, I would not change a thing in my childhood. I think certain hardships and the simplicity of communist life (if it makes sense) made me a strong character.

I believe, it prepared me to take serious bumps in life and not be afraid. Maybe that was the driving force that made me leave my country alone at the age of 19 exploring different countries.

I am glad I did, I am a strong headed bull and I am all the better for it.

My husband is Dutch and at times I still marvel at his life as a child :)

What a lovely comment Robin. I soooo second that.
This website is my start page :) I admit it! I am a nerd! hahaha

:) bozeee :) ten byt mi upplne ale uplnee pripada ako byt mojej babky :)…a etse o tom ako hovoris ako sa ti zdal Frederikov dom obrovsky a krásny a jemu to pritom nebolo nic ako cudne ze mu to bolo normálne ze vyrastal v takom dome a teraz ked uvidel kde si vyrastala ty a musim uznat za pravdu ze je to asi obrovitáánsky rozdiel nie? :))….VELMI TI PRAJEM NICH SI DOMOV UZIJES :) BOZE KED SI TAM TOLKO NEBOLA KLOBUK DOLE ZE SI VYDRZALA :) MAS ASI UZASNU POVAHU CO?? :)) TESIM SA NA WORKOUI AHOJ…PS:nikdy som si nemyslela ze clovek ktoreho absolutne nepoznam by mohol natolko ovplyvnit moj zivot :) Dakujem!! :)

Oh I loved seeing where you grew up Zuzana that was very kind of you to share that with everyone:)

Ps. I loved your mom’s little doggie!!!! How cute is that dog, he’s like walking sunshine!!! Zuzana I think you have a friend for life young lady, he just adores you! Fun!

Thank you so much for sharing! I was really struck by the difference in how your Mom lives and how you live now, Z. She has been in the same house for forever and you travel and move around a lot, at least in comparison.

What an excellent idea!

Hi Zazu – I’ve been to Prague a bunch of times :)

It’s nice to see you share your childhood home with everyone. I’m interested in learning more about Prague, so I think you both realize that we also find these little tour excursions you do interesting as well! I’ll bet your mum is amazed by your nice apartment Zuzana.

I have been to Prague at least a dozen times and for months and months at a time in some cases. It was a bit of a culture shock initially, but I was just blown away by how beautiful the Czech Republic is as a whole.

This is officially one of my favorite videos on your site. Thanks a ton for sharing! The differences in how people live their lives around the world is so extraordinary.

And you can never have too many videos with playful little dogs :) I’m glad your mom stepped up for him.

Cool video!

Yeah flats in london aint that big either, but it feels normal.

I can imagine how small it may appear to americans, because from what I can see their houses have a lot more space than houses in uk and other places. Lucky them!

I really enjoyed that video I used to save cans of pringles lol yeah life has change but home made food still the same I just hope I could visit my family someday soon, I’m so glad you did it, Thanks for sharing that brought so many memories

Hi Zuzana and Frederick!
Thank you for sharing this video with us! It was so-o-o honest and touching! It felt like saying “hello” from my Kazachstan childhood memories, didn’t realized that so many people from different countries can have this USSR kind of memories. Now I live in Poland (we are almost neighbors :)) and here is the same situation.
I agree that people back then had absolutly another values in their lives and it is really cool, grewing up this way made us more sensitive to the world.
Ohh, sorry for my nostalgia :)
Zuzana just try to catch only good memories to remember for the whole your live and may be learn from the bad ones.
P.S: Laughed like crazy about the toilet and coke – have very similar memories.
Hold on guys!

Forgot to add:
Zuzana thank you for your workouts! I am new at bodyrock. tv and they are kicking my ass now :)
Thanks a lot!Mockrát děkuji!Wielkie dzięki! Спасибо!

That was so lovely to see Zuzanna. I’m from Ireland & know very little about what it would have been like living in a communist country.Although there is alot of polish people here,,they all seem quite mysterious.
I love the way your Mother decorated the flat.The pictures on the back of the doors were so cute. Maybe a portable fan in the kitchen would blow away the cooking smells for her.
Lighting some candles can help too. Also spider plants and ivy clean the air.
It was so interesting to see where you once lived. Like polish people you come across as a very mature, hard-working,’wholesome’ kind of person. Someone who’s really got their life together & their feet on the ground at all times, without being frivolous in any way. I’m inspired. :D
You and Frederick should come to Ireland too.I think you’d love it for a holiday anyways especially Co.Kerry, Donegal..all around the western coastline. :)

This reminds me of all the buildings in Zagreb (the capital of Croatia). Many, many, many people still live like that.

My boyfriend for example lives with his mother in such an apartment. I on the other hand live in a house. And I’m thankful for that, every day.

Thank you so much for letting us into your lovely home. This video is full of emotions and memories. It’s really, really wonderful! You have achieved so much in life and I admire you!

Thank you once again for putting this video on your website :).

Love from Croatia!

These flats remind pee of the ones in Poland known as “bloki” I love visiting my country because it brings back so much memories like you said. Im planning on going to Poland for a whole month and it will be very difficult not to overindulge. Also, I am pretty sure I wont have too much space to exercise. So I was wondering if you can give me some exercise ideas for small spaces?

Thank you Frederick and Zuzana for letting us follow you home Z! I am an American and have no experiences in any foreign country…this was educational and fun to watch. It was nice to hear about your childhood, as ours all are so individual and different. I have heard that the Czech Republic is beautiful…is it more the land or the architecture I wonder? Or the people? :) I thought that meal looked soooo good! I love cabbage…mmm. Your apt. in Prague looks so clean and modern compared to your home apt. Do you prefer more the western culture still or your own? Just curious…

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This reminds me of my Georgia(not the state guys), it was a part of soviet union too, I’ve been away for a year and a half to, I;m in US now and I miss it so much,the same buildings, apartments, traditions,I;ve been away from my country for the first time and I wonder how it will feel like when I will get back this summer, and I can’t wait to have some nice organic, delisous dishes and see all my friends and my grandparents. Just three months left, yeees. But I’m kinda scared too:)

Oh Z, I am from Mongolia and it is used to be a communist country and when I look at those buildings in your video, it reminds me my home too. My parents still live in similar flat of yours. It is sooo true what the first commenter said, people who grew up cannot quite understand how it was back then. I would say although we never had enough material things, the community was very close and had full of incredible memories. When you talk about chatting with your best friend on the balcony, that is so true. Kids used to jump between balconies, we would through balloon of water to the people walking below… I used to live on 9th floor of the apartment. Mommy used to hang washed clothes on the balcony… my friends used to play in the playground near by school or kindergarden… we had so much freedom… I do not think kinds in the US can go without older people’s supervision…Oh good old days!!!

hello.i m from portugal and im personal trainer.i d like to exchange ideas to different type of trainings.God job,nice tecnics.see you

Awww guys,

What a great video!!!! The apartment building is very similar to what I grew up in too in Moscow. We had a TINY place, smaller than yours for 4 people, but it seemed so nice and big to me when I was little. BTW, we saved coke cans too :)

You’re so lucky you can go back to your house and revisit your life as a child. When I went back to Moscow for the first time since we left, it had been 12 years since and my house was no longer there, they tore it down and built more modern stuff. Man, it was so sad, but I still saw my school and the corner store and where I went to kindergarten. It was really special.

Isn’t it amazing to have lived in two completely different worlds and we’re just in our late 20s? Man, now I’m so nostalgic.

Do more vids!! =D Tell your mom we say hiii!!!

greetings…thax for sharing ur mother’s apartment with us. it may be small but nothing beats a home built with love and care.
thax for sharing ur life with us too. we all appreciate it very much and always looking forward to ur next video.

thanx again

this video made me cry =)))) I want to go home =)) to my mom =)))

I wholeheartedly second that thought! Since I started combing through the website I have wondered how it all began!

Zuzana,

Thanks for sharing! I grew up in a communist country as well. So I know exactly what it feels like.
Btw, you truely are an inspiration!
I love your workouts. I stumbled upon your website around some time when I was getting bored with my lenghty cario workouts. I’ve been doing your workouts for about 4 months already and I’m starting to see results. I am also on a 30 day challenge. My abs are getting more visible (since that’s the area where I gain it first), but I’m also starting to lose weight on my legs, and I’m not too happy about that!:( Any suggestions how to gain muscle weight without putting on any fat. Is that even possible?
I’m 5’8 and 117lbs and would like to gain another 5lbs of muscle weight. Thanks!

Thank you for sharing and giving us a tour of your childhood home and thank you to your mom for rescuing that sweet, sweet dog from the abusive person. He is such a loving dog, it’s difficult to believe someone could be cruel to him.

Thanks for sharing the house with us, it so nice, last October, i visited Prague, i’m so in love with the place, i didn’t wanna leave.. :) btw.. the doggie is so cute

Dear Zuzana,
Thank you for sharing your childhood home with us. This video really touched me. Memories of my own childhood came flooding back to me even though I grew up on the other side of the world. You mom’s little dog is so adorable. What is the little dog’s name? God bless your mom for rescuing him.

Blessings,
Sandra

I enjoy your videos. My uncle was Czech. It was great to see where you grew up. Terrific video.

You guys are AMAZING. Just so you know. :)

You are always welcome Zuzana.

So when or if you guys are planning to visit Denmark, let me know and i will be happy to be your guide.

We got beautiful places here to.

Thanks for your reply Carla and thanks for the link, Zayed Nu Pagadi, funny.

Thank you thank you thank you!!! I love all the videos about your life!! Your old house tour, this tour and talk, thank you thank you!! You two are a great combination!! Thank you, and keep showing your normal life, please. Also, the workouts too. Thank you thank you thank you!!!!!

Dear Zuzana,

I really have felt like giving up lately in the past few days and low, I am older than you and its harder to stay fit and I have to watch what I eat so much if I want to look good..even natural sodium makes me puffy in my face and I dont add salt. But when I see you like today you inspire me to fight it and not give in. I say to myself..”I have to fight this everyday”? Yes. But you are a fighter and you remind me that its not suppose to be easy and it takes work and that may be more or less for some of us. I am glad you showed where you lived..I understand too since we had little as well. But seeing you in this show any one that those things dont matter but what sort of person you are and become is so much more in greatness. Your moms dog is mild and sweet. You are a wonderful hearted person..God bless your mother.

PS..maybe one day more to the story…how you left prague and how you met your future husband-Frederick!

Hi Zusana,

I thinking all the time when I watching your video where in the world can be so beautifl women with that body???

Now I know it is simple when I see the video “Grew up”

You are POLISH WOMEN the most beautilful women on the planet !!!! Am I wright?

I,m so proud from you and what you do it!!!

Sorry for my english.
Odpisz mi na mój email, jeśli mam racje!

Thank you! I really liked that video and I don’t have much to add, because many people have already said things I agree with.

I come from Nordic country, but I have never known a single Czech nor do I know much about Czech Rep. But that doesn’t mean that wouldn’t be interested in other cultures and other people’s backgrounds, but this gave me a chance to see something new.

This might sound funny thing to say, but watching that video remind me how tired I am watching american tv-series (No offense for americans).

Zuzana, You are the goddess of small things. Your blog make me realize how rich life is :)

Zuzana you have a strange effect on animals……..haha…..i love it!!!……..ps.-i ALWAYS loooove going home and seeing the same dishes year after year…..AAALLLLLLLLLL the memories from childhood come back and its always so cozy at mom’s…..no matter if you live in a fairytale or not…….
xoxo.
rose.

wonderful thoughts to think about:)

Every bit of your story reminds me of my childhood and teen years. Same huge apartment building with tiny flats hardly suitable to comfortably accommodate a big family, but back then having 3 rooms was really cool. Only I think we’ve lived even worse than you or Poland or Hungary or Bulgaria or other ‘communist’ countries. At least, that was the impression. We were the big brother, but poor and ill-managed brother. No much in shops, long lines to get anything in ‘supermarkets’ (other then bread and some very basic things), dull clothes and ugly foowear.
It’s totally different now, but somehow I miss those times anyway. It was a life a enjoyed as I didn’t know any other, but people seemed to be more friendly, more compassionate, more open, not like now.

this was really fascinating thanks guys. Being an englishman I would be really interested in hearing more about life growing up in communist czechoslovakia…and perhaps how it has changed from then to now…
Im really interested in your workouts because I dont want to spend my life in the gym but still be in shape and healthy. Unfortunately its a bit of a pipe dream at the moment as I have a health condition called ME or Chronic Fatigue – but I did manage to do some of the Absolute beginner workout recently! So please keep this site going for when I recover and can get back in shape!

Ahoj Jitka

I noticed that Zuzka’s meal menu is based on ‘clean eating’. You can find out more from her website in section ‘Diet’ or on eatcleandiet.com website. The whole idea is to eat natural, non-processed meals, balanced (protein, carbs, and healthy fats) small portion 5-6 times per day.

I do simple and quick meals, for example.

Breakfast: oatmeal, kefir (you can put it in the microwave for 2 mins) banana, sprinkle of nuts on top (it’s delicious)
Snack: apple or rice cake with cheese and tomato

Lunch: chicken, brown rice, salad (you can try one of her recipes kura na paprice)

Snack: Musle bar (made by myself: oats, water (or milk) honey, Peanut butter, nuts, dried fruit (mixed all together and put in the fridge)or just veggies like carrots, peppers, cherry tomatoes or a boiled egg

Dinner: fish/vergetable burgers (made of lentils, carrots), potato, some veggies

You don’t have to spend fortune on healthy food.

Hope this helps.

Thank you for sharing your childhood home :) It was very interesting to see a slice of real life Czech Republic, and your Mom’s food looked delicious :)

There’s no difference between what you showed us here and Romania – that’s where I’m from.
However, I’ve traveled to West many times (UK, Germany, Austria, etc) and I truly believe we Eastern Europeans are warmer and friendlier than wealthier nations. And I don’t see owning a big house like a desirable thing – we can live happy with little and still enjoy life better than rich folks do.
Your honesty and openness is highly apreciated!
Cheers from Romania!

Oh also, I would love to see some more videos of Prague whilst you are there, please :)

u both rock the world
god bless u

I don’t get it…once again I posted a really heartfelt message to you guys for this touching video. For several hours there were no posts visible at all, it said awaiting moderation for hours …and now it’s not even posted! :-(

To by me zajimalo jestli Ti maminka rekla u obeda “jez, vzdyt jsi tak hubena!” Mne to vzdycky rikaji kdyz prijedu z LA do Cech na navstevu… V nasi rodine by nechapali ze jsi “in shape,” mysleli by si ze hladovis…

oh please disregard…I am so confused yesterday the post was no visible now it is there with the older comments! sorry!

holy crap I love that dog so much

It’s nice coming back home, isn’t it? I am so used to this kind of view because I live in an ax-communist country too, so I see this type of big (usually 8-floor and higher) blocks of flats every day… it’s funny :D ;) At least your blocks have been renovated, while ours here look just old! Anyway, enjoy being back home in Prague! =)

Thank YOu both for sharing this video…..:)

wow guys! this video was the best of all the ‘life’ videos! I grew up in canada, my heritage is Polish, so it is incredible to see Prague, and how my family would likely be living if we were still in Poland. I think it would be similar.
I grew up in a house that would seem huge to many in the rest of the world (though by canadian standards, it was average). But I had friends here who had many family members living in a very small apartment. I realize that in most places of the world space is a commodity and that a small apartment for many people would be normal.
I have lived in other countries and small places, too. I once lived in a storage closet (literally- not enough room for a small mattress and my things on the floor at the same time- but I was lucky to have a mattress) it was on an old plantation. I lived with people who were really really poor- and trapped in that poverty.
I am not anti-capitalist, but I don’t agree with it in the form it has taken- it’s not even really capitalism in my mind- it is so far from what is capitalism as described by adam smith. I loathe the disparity, and in fact, my work is directly related to the political economy, so I am always working for change from an economy based on consumption driven economics. But forgoing the ideal of a resource based economy (ala Jacque Fresco), a good middle ground realignment could take the form of local currencies (supplemental to national currency).
I have been to many reserves here in Canada, and some have living standard worse than that of a third world country- and many people blame the victims of systematic disparity in order to justify doing nothing about it. The capitalist system is discriminatory, and based on identity politics, even though a few of the ‘minorities’ win sometimes…it is hard if you are in that minority to get out of the poverty.
I really identify with what Carla said about Angola- capitalism in China has also left millions of people without the basic securities they had guarenteed under full a communist system, while some people have become astronomically wealthy, so which is more humanitarian? I am not sure.

I agree, an excellent idea!!

Hi Zuzana,
Thank you for sharing. I loved seeing this video. I just came back from Colombia, where I grew up, and it’s always amazing coming back to the house (or in my case too, apartment) where I grew up, all these memories come back, and everything seems the same. My grandma still has all this stuff that was there while I was growing up. It was really hard for me to come back to the US this time. I think I want to go back to live in Colombia for a while, just like you’ve come back to Prague. For now, I enjoy sharing in your experience.

Yes, that is exactly like I grew up in a small town in Moravia. The seventh floor of a huge block of apartments. My grandparents on the sixth floor of another one… My mom as well as my grandparents still live there. My Prague husband can never understand how we (my brother and I when we were kids) could grow up so high and not fall out of the windows. :-)

Hi,
Houses – “super unit”- similar in poland…..
Excellent internet part!!!
Pozdrawiam z Polski.

That is so funny, I too have this as my homepage! and I feel like if we all lived in the same place we would ALL be the closest of friends. My coffee time with Zuzana is as immportant and my coffee time with my mother over the phone every morning 10 hours a way. I feel such a part of something here. I’m wimmpy, I just feel so happy to know how similar we all are about so many things.

Piotr, Zuzana is Czech not Polish :)

you are so genuine and down to earth..

This too reminds me of were I spent most of my time growing up at my great grandmothers. I was wondering Zuzana, what gave you incentive to move away? Where did you and Freddy meet?

I want to thank you so much Zuzana for this video. Thanks, that you show to the whole World how people from postcomunsist countries live.
I live in POland in smilar flat now and my toilet is also always stinky;)
I’m afraid that people from western countries look at us, people from East part of Europe in worst way, as a less smart, less happy or sth like this.
I hope that they have no doubts that we are as valuable and smart as them.
If comunism didn’t come, our countries, our life would look much much different.

greetings!

Could you show a little bit of center of Prague (som video I mean). I’ve heard that it is beautfiul place.
I was in Prague once but only passed by this city when I came back from Moravia and we unfortunately didn’t stop and visit.

you guys are probably overwhelmed by all the comments.
I would like to ask for the recipe to those dumplings.
do you have it Zuzana?

I like to see how differenmt cultures lived, but nowadays everyone is becoming the same. the Same Old McDonalds Burger King and Pizza Hut all over the world, I would like to try Czech Cabbage, is it just Sauerkraut like the Germans eat?

Ahoj,
kdysi jsem na tvoje video narazil na youtube a od prvních vět jsem si myslel, že pocházíš z Čech, je ti dobře rozumět. Mamka podle tebe cvičí, ale chybí tam pořádná vůle :) A já si procvičím angličtinu, když překládám co říkáš. Určitě by se líbilo další video z Čech
Přeju hodně štěstí :)

Oh my God, here in Lithuania we also have similar huge, old and borring appartment biuldings. Probably all countries that were in soviet union have such houses. I grew up even in a smaller flat, now I live in a bigger one but it is still big soviet type of appartment biulding. And I agree that we appreciate some things in a different way than people who lived outside soviet union.

Thank you for trusting us with a tour of your childhood home. It was very nice to learn a bit more about you and see some of your roots. It was very clear in your face that memories were flooding back- very touching:)

Now this is totally random and not heartfelt at all lol but where do you get your basic black tank top that you are wearing in the beginning here?

thanks,

Lauren

Zuzana,
i really know what you mean when you talk about the life in your country. But we love this places, don’t we.
Take care.
Pozdrowienia z Polski:)

I had the same childhood:)))))))))it is really funny now:) my father is still happy that he can buy coca cola every time when he wants…only comunist regime people can understand……..

This is exactly like in Poland i grew up too.Czech is very close to poland so we all know how it is.Thank you for sharing i wish i could go back there still have the apartment like that and the big bubble on the door.Now that i have two kids i am scared to go on the plains.I just wounder if you (Zuzana) look the same after giving birth,maybe you will encourage me more to get fit like you.

Wow. Thanks so much for letting us in your life. I really love your workouts, but it’s great getting to know you. You are so beautiful on the inside. It’s so special to see you you grew up. I forget how lucky I am sometimes. I think my kitchen would fit in your mothers flat. But, it’s not about what you have…it’s about who you have. I hope we get to meet your mother. She must be so proud of who your are. She must be a great lady.

it’s like the projects, but in Prague, i grew up in the projects and lived in an apartment building

Thank you for posting this; the similarity to Budapest is striking, it is almost identical in so many ways…

Ahoj Zuzka,

to je super! Nahodou som objavila tvoje video a hned som suspicious ci si Slovenka alebo Ceska:) Tipla som si spravne. Gratulujem Ti, vyzeras super a zda sa, ze sa Ti dobre dari. Ja byvam v New Yorku a tvoje video domova mi velmi potesilo srdce. Cesko alebo Slovensko – nieco mame do seba! Dakujem a nech sa Ti dari!!!
Mala som pocit,akoby som bola doma. Ahoj!

Reni

Hi Zuzano,

I grew up in Ostrava at almost the same building as yours on the 12th floor. The elevators stunk and were always broken. The stairs were even worse but we had so much fun there. All my friends lived on different floors and we grew up playing outside. The flats were the same and as you said, nobody was rich. I agree with everything you said and appreciate it a lot. I shared it with my friends so they can see what I keep talking about. :)
I currently live in Atlanta, GA and have 1BR apartment that is larger than my brother’s flat he shares with a wife and two kids.
Thank you for sharing. I am a big fan of yours!!!!

this is just lovely–thanks for sharing your life–i have friends who grew up in Warsaw and they explain the same type of life…so glad you can go home and still be happy.

I really loved watching your video.
It gave me a chance to see and imagine what life in Czech Republic must have been like under the soviet rule.
Growing up I remember watching Dívka na kosteti (the french CBC would run it constantly) and I remember being fascinated by both the characters and your beautiful country. It reminded me that I have yet to visit Czech republic!
Thank you for letting us in!

This is so similar to what we have here in Moscow. All the 5-16 floor twins around, so little space inside. But I’m sure the place we grew up is always the best.
Greetings from Russia, we love u guys.

Thats a really special think to share with us :) I love this video.
Its nice to see where you come from Zuzana. And i do think when you grow up in poor conditions you learn to appriciate things more.. just like you said.
Thats a really beautiful thing,cus so many takes their “stuff” for granted.
And i think you just work harder for your goals,cus thats the only way to get it.

Youre a real inspiration!

[...] W&#1211&#1077r&#1077 I grew up. | Fitness Advice, Workout Videos, Health & Fitness | Bodyrock.tv [...]

It’s different architecture and different inside comfort but don’t forget that our parents lived in much worse comfort. Kids need love and basic space they don’t care about stinky elevator or ancient furniture. Maybe it’s a bit of ZOO for some outside people but there are also people in the world who would envy such a housing.

Wow, you’re mom is so cool. “You don’t deserve that dog, give it to me!” Haha! Sounds like something my mother would do.

This is so great of you to share your personal history with all of us. I hope someday we will get to see where and how Freddy grew up too.

Thank you for sharing. Great video!!!!

I really enjoyed watching this video from your home and learning a little more about you. It was very sweet and sincere. Thanks so much for sharing. Your website is awesome! I share it with everyone!

Cau Zuzi,
myslim ze neni co dodat k tem vsem komentarum tady,asi bych se jen opakovala,ale je pravda,ze stejne jako par lidi tady s Tebou vstavam a s nedockavosti cekam na nove videa….:)))
A jak zoubek??uz jsi byla na trhani??
Love you guys!!

Thank you for such an honest account of how you grew up; it was heart-felt, sincere and beautiful to see how much you appreciate where you came from.

I hate to even ask, but I would love to ‘meet’ your mom. When she came in, you stopped filming – or stopped showing us. It would be fun to see Frederick ‘interview’ her, even if you had to translate.

I love the dog… he is like totally into you, watching you with adoration as you go on about your home and the lifestyle… he is just like loving being there on his back… he does not care about the home, the camera, or whatever…he just wants to be loved… I love it. Great “interview”!
Keep up the great motivational work… Zuzana, your body rocks! I admire your determination!

My God! This is so Russian. I mean, we are living in these tiny flats. And the whole insides are the same. Horrible looking furniture and wallpaper and all…
The only good thing that I see, is how strongly this kind of living stimulates one for doing a lot of work in order to get out it.

I mean, guys, you were affected by the communists no boubt. But, we are kind of living in the epicentre of this freeking mind flatting regime. Well, on the remains of it apparently.
I’m glad it’s over.

Thanks everyone!
Lots of love.

hello, i’m not new to ur sait, but couldn’t not reply.. i’m from Kazakhstan , live in the US, so I know what you are talking about firsthand! hate living in Brooklyn now because the buildings are old here and it’s just the same projects unless u’ve got ton of money to spent on a luxury apt, other then that – i love NYC!
Kazakhstan, and Russia for that matter and all the other 14 countries of former USSR look identical – the same apt buildings were built everywhere, so it’s all looks the same nomatter what country of communism you are in..
it seems like it’s time for you Zuzana and Fred tell us a bit how you met, what were the first impressions , and how Z even turned out in Canada first of all!! I’m dying to know! so do lots of your fans!! :)
best of everything, Olga K.

i was born in russia, anyways i just wanted to say wow your body is amazing, i don’t know how you do it but wow!!!

hey Constantin de unde din ROMANIA esti?

Ahoj Zuzko,
vítej zpět v Praze, jsem Tvůj velkej fanda :-) a těší mě že jsi taky z Prahy. Podle toho výhledu z okna usuzuju na Bohnice…. Denně sleduju Tvoje videa. Moc podle nich necvičím, já spíš běhám a plavu, ale i tak mě skvěle motivuješ. Vždycky když už nemůžu si vzpomenu na tebe a jedu dál. Díky moc

You are angels. Your work and all the nice comments from your fans gave me hope for humanity.
Thank you.

Hi,

I was born and still live in Prague, I love it here, and I knew from the beginning that Zuzana is from Czech repubic too, it is cool:) Love your videos, thanx.

I want to see pics of Zuzana when she was a little girl! And I want to meet her mom!

wow that was really neat to see the differece between the way you grew up and they way it is here in America…it is kind of wierd how everything is so different

wow. thank you for sharing. im happy to see your video.^^

Diky :) Na trhani se teprve chystam. Mama slibila ze me objedna k zubnimu chirurgovi protoze ja bych se tam sama asi nedokopala.

Hello from Paris ;)
Hey ! i see in your mum’s house, on the toilet door! it’s write in french! “12 rue de la paix…” but i don’t see the last word, it look like a fault ^^
Do you have visit France?

Hi Zuzana this video brings back soooo many memories I grew up in Louny Czechoslovakia. In a apartment building just like yours. I left when I was 5 and have not returned for a visit I live in the Los Angeles now. Most of my family still live there brings back some vivid memories. I remember when santa would bring by the devil and an angel and I was so scared that i hid under my couch and pissed myself lol good times good times. I left in ’79. Hope to go back for a visit and BTW that food looked sweet my mom makes it and maybe some omachku (not sure if I spelled it right) cant really read or write Czech anymore) Well your site looks great good luck with it ill have to vivit is and get some good workouts from you. Bye

Jiri

I live in Sofia. It is the capital of Bulgaria. I used to live in more or less the same block of flats :) It has 9 floors and 5 enters and 3 apartments on each floor. I was born right after the end of the Socialism Time in my country. I don’t remember it. But I have seen exactly the same pieces of furniture at my friends’ homes and the same coverings for the sofa. It was small. But to me it was my place and I was really happy. Now we live in a different neighborhood and my grand parents live in the old apartment. And because they have rearranged the furniture in the room which was mine and my sister’s, we can’t really feel home. :)

I am very happy for you – going back in some many months. It must feel great! :)

Thanks for letting us into your life Zuzana! :) Your mom is awesome for taking that dog away from the cruel man! I can see he’s a very happy doggy !

Thanks for sharing with us. My parents are from Macedonia I have travelled to a few countires in Europe and met many people that say that life under communisim was much better than now post communism.

hi,
Zuzana i know how it is as i grew up in Romania in the period of communism like you.It is a verry big diference but at the same time we are soooo lucky as we know how to apreciate things and we know how to enjoy..
Thank you guys!!!!!

hi! I completely understand how you feel when you visit Chech , i grew up in Hungary, now I live in New York . I got the chance to go back to Hungary and visit my parents after 7 years! annamaria

Your flat looks much like mine about 5 years ago. American people may not understand it but the less you have the more you appreciate it!

Greetings from Poland.

How cute your apartment was! I love it!

Hi kayla,

I suspect if we were brought up in “the projects” in the inner city (say Chicago) it won’t be that differen from Zuzana’s home.

But, as contrast the house I grew up in was as big as maybe four of those apartments. And my best friends live just across the street and next door in houses exactly like mine. Our houses were built in 1942 in Bremerton Washington to accommodate all the Navy Yard workers, sailors and their families.

–Chris

Hi Zuzana and Fredrick. Im from Mexico and enjoy each of your videos. I grew up in some similar way of you Zuzana and get the same feeling of having more than before and how I can appreciate more tiny things than other people. I continuosly go for sales and save money (no matter if I can spend more). I also have two dogs (one of them adopted) and also Im Taurus, haha. I just not have a perfect body like yours :P but I’m trying hard from one year ago to be in shape and appears that I am achieving it! And thanks to your workouts can try new things that really work.

European are really interesting and nice people (canadian too :P). I had a boyfriend from Croatia, went with him some weeks to meet his parents. Then go visit other countries like Scotland, Paris and just love that kind of old air with refreshing culture differences.

I really enjoy the two of you and your videos. Luck in this and all other of your projects. And if someday you want to come to Mexico City, you have doors open in my house.

Sorry for my bad english… I hope you understand my words :P

XOXO best wishes

Wow Zuzana, watching this brings back my own trip to Eastern Europe (my family is Hungarian) and much of the design is the same (not to mention the food :P) Isn’t it odd to see how things are so different and yet the people there are still so thankful for what they have? In North America (and a lot of Western Europe now) people just squander what they have and want more and more. What about the simple pleasures in life? Thanks for showing us!

wow, hey girl, you inspire everybody. My problem is the time, can you recommend us some kind of work out to do in the job in little time spaces??

Thank you so much Zuzana for giving us some insight into your childhood. It’s amazing how each country differs. I grew up travelling a lot because of my Dads work, but we were lucky enough to live in large houses.

I never lived in an apartment till I moved to the city and that’s all I’ve lived in for years. In fact I’m moving next week into my boyfriends apartment. And with all the packing I’ve been doing, it makes me realise how materialistic we have become. I have so much stuff I really don’t need!

Your Mums apartment may be small but it looks very comfortable and homey. Just the way a home should be! And it’s always nice to go home!

Great video Frederick!

Any chance you can make a video on how to make the Dumplings and Cabbage dish? It looks like a wonderful wintery meal!

Dee

Aussie Aussie Aussie, Oy Oy Oy!!!!

Thanks for sharing Zuzana, its always good to be reminded how far youve come by going back to where you come from. By going home you saw how much youve grown.
Well done and may you always remember where you come from.

:)

Zuzana,

Thank you for sharing this video with us. It’s truly inspiring to see how growing up with all the limitations of socialism you can blossom as a beautiful person both inside and out.

Please continue to share more of your days in the Czech Republic.

Best regards.

Great video, thanks for sharing! My husband is Albanian and his stories of life under communism sound very similar to yours, he even kept a can of Coke as a souvenir from someone who had been to Italy.

From what my husband tells me, it sounds like the communist regime in Albania was much tougher than that in the Czech Republic. Also, his family was against the government and so many of his family members spent decades in prison as political prisoners, plus they were forced to live in a remote village. It’s amazing how much things have changed in the last 20 years.

This looks like my hometown in Poland :)

I don’t know if anyone has ever asked this, but how did you two meet? You both make the cutest couple=)

Same I totaly agree whith you I feel you it’s like when you leave for a coupel of days and it’s still the same that’s what it seems like eh! ;)

I love it that you care about animals, it always warms my hart.

Hi,Zuzana..I hope you will get better soon. I wish u a quick recovery as spring is unequivocally not the time to catch cold. Always stay fir n healthy)

Oh, one melody keeps playing in ma head about ur name. In Russia we hv a song about a girl whose name is Zuzana or sth like this)
Thanks a lot for all ur videos and articles,tips and so on and so forth. I just bumped into ur fitness video on youtube a couple of hours ago and was totally amazed by ur workouts. The mere existence of people like you makes the world keep going. You are a real example of a determined person who is able to set goals and then achieve them. You r an idol, a tremendous inspiration for everyone around you. I definitely gonna try to perform ur workouts as soon as I hv some spare time. You make everyone believe that impossible is nothing )) Thx..U r doing it way better than David Beckham.

I am confident that I’m gonna visit ur website again so that to find a lot of useful,captivating,exciting info. You r just like a sun which never stops shining. It is awesome that u keep smiling all the time creating a real friendly, easy-going atmosphere.

It was highly interesting for me to watch this video as the house you grew up in, is just like a variety of houses that we have in Moscow and Russia. Btw, ma grandma lives in a house like this. If I am not mistaken, it has 17 floors,but the exterior side is so much alike. Maybe this is indeed a trace of our common communist past and history. Anyway this kind of architecture doesn’t appeal to me at all. Personally I think, it is a bit boring,grey and grave. On the contrary, I do find houses with different colours or of various shapes more appealing n beatiful.At least, they make me smile when I pass them.

As far as the interior is concerned, these wallpapers…I’ve seen smth like this before. I think, ma grandmas had had pretty much the same wallpapers before they renovated their flats. These wallpapers also remind me of those that we have in our countryside cottage near Moscow. In fact, ma parents bought it from one senior woman, but we didn’t decorate the 2d floor yet.

And the thing about pee..Yeah..We used to hv the same problem for a while not only in the old but also in the modern houses both of which have steel or ferric doors with alarm systems and codes installed. In the video,if I am not mistaken, there is the main entrance door made of glass and u didn’t even use any key or code to open it. In Moscow even the most ancient building have doors made of steel and have code-systems installed.But the problem remained with such disgraceful ppl unsolved only until there was no concierge or a person who would track everyone entering the building. Usually it is an aged woman who thus keeps earning her living,but not always. In my new house built a couple of years ago there is also a guard. Thats why we dont have any problems with security anymore.

Ur meal seemed so delicious and at the same time so familiar to me. At celebrations my mum or grandma usually makes such round-shaped potatoes with pork or any other kind of meat.It smells great, though this junk food is too fatty and oily,unfortunately.If only one could burn all those calories with a click of a mouse…

The toilet thing is hilarious.
As for the kitchen, I can’t but agree that its too inconvenient when there’s no window.Smells like a tiny disaster) Nevertehless,I’ve never seen kitchens without windows in our old constructions.
The furniture and tea cups also remind me of the style I’ve seen lotsa times.

Coca-cola…Yeah,my dad who’s 45 now,says he drank cola in his youth. But it wasn’t so wide-spread as nowadays. The funny thing is that when he first tried it,he didn’t like it at all as it reminded him a mixture. Not the most pleasant taste u ever experience in ur life.

P.s.I really like Czech ppl as I was partying with a guy of Prague n his friends while on a summer holiday on Crete. We ve had a really great time together.

Interesting video! How old were you when communism fell? I take it you were no more than 7 or so. You at least you didn’t have to experience years 19 years of it- like my girlfriend, who is also from Czech (small town- Polevsko, near Liberec. She’s a super dedicated follower of you exercise programs…and, I should say, her body is looking HOT!). A lot of what you say sounds SO familiar to things I’ve from her regarding life under the communists.

And the paradox, however, is that she really appreciates all sorts of things that I, and all others who grew up on the other side of the “Iron Curtain,” tend to take for granted.

Zuzi, mas krasnej ceskej prizvuk, jsi sva, moc se mi to libi. Dobra prace, jen tak dale.

Hi Zuzana, i’m a bit shy to I’ll die if not ask you. :)
All of your fotos has so good quality! Please, share – whith foto camera do you use? And what lences? Kit or more professional? I would be SO grateful fot you! Tatiana.

Hi – we use a Nikon D5000 with a standard lens.

Thank you so much! You two are so cute ))

Sorry I’m mixed again ((( Is your kit lens are 18-105 VR or 18-55 VR? Camera presented in two variants on a market…

hi zuzana and frederick,
zuzana, I follow your workout routines, you are very inspiring and in great condition. I didnt realize you are Czech. My wife is from Plzen and her mom’s apt. is the same for the last 30 years. I lived in Hluboka nad Vltavou for 3 years so I got to see the country and culture. Love czech food. Watching your trip home was well, just like going home to see my wifes family. I never take the lift, always the stairs. HA

Hey Zuzana, thanks for the interesting video. I had a couple of questions, which would be nice if you could answer,

You were talking about you mom constantly, has your Dad passed away if so (bless his soul), or is your mom divorced, did you grow up with the presence of a father figure in you life?

Is your husband/boyfriend Canadian, I overheard him saying aye a couple of times, but I wasn’t sure?

Did Fred (I am assuming this is the name of your husband/boyfriend I apologize if I am wrong) get enough sleep before the filming of this video, or does he suffer from sinus congestion, since his voice sounded somewhat sleepy?

Did Fred’s parents have a happy marriage, since you only mentioned his mother as well, and not his father?

Also, since you grew in the Communist system, and a lot of material things were missing, also the philosophy of life under such a system is different from the western one, does money and wealth mean more to you than say honor and self-respect?

Alright, that’s all.

Take care.

Jason Grand

Panečku, je zajímavý se o proslavenym našincovi dozvědět z Americkejch médií a přitom nemit šajnu, že by to mohl bejt Čech.
První mě to napadlo podle přízvuku, pak jméno Zuzana, to už bylo joo podezřelý, a pak tohle video:-)
Nechtěla bys udělat díl pro našince v češtině:-)? Znám totiž spoustu lidí tady u nás, co Tě sledujou a ani netušej, že jsi Češka… Vyrazila bys jim dech a myslim, že i těch shlídnutí na youtube by bylo o mrtě víc…
Olahoj Tvůj velkej fanda

Hi Jason,
How long have you been with the Bureau? haha

18-105 :)

Diky Simco,, ale tak strasny to zase nebylo v tom panelaku :) tim ovsem nechci rict, ze bych neuvitala krasnej dum v jakym vyrustal Freddy. Diky za komentare.

Ne to mi mama rikala jen kdyz jsem byla mala, protoze jsem byla fakt hubeny dite. Myslim ze kdyby videla, ze tloustnu tak by me na to upozornila, jelikoz si je vedoma toho, ze to neni zdrave. Ona sama se snazi jizt zdrave.

I have and I would like to visit France again. It is a beautiful country.

I just saw one of your videos on youtube and came here and I was so excited to find out you are Czech!! I’m from Canada but I lived in the Czech Republic for a year a few years ago and it’s just exciting to see everything again.. your flat looks exactly how mine did. I lived in Brno. Is this in Praha?

yeah so as i posted before but it seemed as it never was :/, i also grew up like you in the projects, just different geographic area! :)

wow. thank you so much for sharing this video, and your childhood home, with us. it is very humbling to see how those living under communism had things. i have been to lithuania and poland, etc., and it is very similar there as well. people in the west have no idea, and are so ignorant about so many things in life, and have no appreciation for all that we have, are extremely wasteful, and i think more westerners (americans) should definitely experience life in such a place as this, so that it would hopefully open up their eyes . . .

this is soo cool how u can talk about your life and stuff.. i been following your videos i first saw them on youtube i was just going through them and i actually started doing some of your work outs and i say some because i can’t do a lot of them lol they are too hard for me but the ones i been doing have been just incredible amazing i mean there is results in my body and im very glad that u share this with all of us. Thank u sooo much =)

Great video, It shows to me that you did not forgot about your roots in that is very important for us all.

Love your workout so keep it up.

You see my little Zuzana, all this life style made you what you are now………. For sure the over indulgence as we have in US is not getting our kids anywhere other than obesity. I hate to see my two kids get so unappreciative about easily achieved stuff that they have.

First of all Zuzana I love your workouts and I think you’re a beautiful person inside and outside.

I checked this site because I follow your workouts and this video kinda touched me. I’m a girl from Eastern Europe but I live in the West and after living here for many years I realised how I miss the softness of voice and intimacy of real friends back home. The way you talk and your humbleness remind me so much of friends I grew up with and the way I am, it’s amazing.

Just want to say that it’s a gift to see beyond all the ‘materialist stuff’ and afterwards I feel truely lucky to have experienced a life without coca-cola and starbucks, usually we made those little comunist homes cosy with human warmth and not necessarily with plasma tv’s and wii’s hehe;) Nothing wrong with these things I love them too but still, you know.

Thank you for sharing and all the luck with everything in the future.

Is it a small world or not… Zuzana, I swear ive met you a few years ago. Email me or add me to facebook me and you tell me.

Zuzana:
Greetings from Virginia, United States. Just want to say you are awesome and beautiful. I am a 40 year old mother and wife and my husband is 45. I am a latina and he is a gringo and we both work out as much as we can. Hopefully you can advise us what we should eat to stay as lean as possible. I do not get off 144 pounds as much as I do.

You are incredible! I can not wait to start working out with your exercises from here from your site.

Regards,
Carla Knox

I loved this :)

It’s the same style like in Romania…poor but happy.We must always remember where we started.
Keep strong ;)

But I would have liked to hear some words in native language…

Hi Jiri,

what a piece of luck, I´m from Louny too! I don´t know why, but I had to write it :)

eh.. funny how u guys think that everything is sooo much better in the West..
I used to live in Chicago, now I live in UK and sometimes, from what I saw it really surprised me, how can ppl live like animals, and the houses look very similar.. U can’t judge from one video. There are nice and not that nice looking parts in every city all over the world! Have you ever been to Prague? Have you seen how gorgeous Prague is? If you have you wouldn’t say such things..

This video was shot in Prague….

Yes I know. That’s what I mean. People see one building in that video and they judge the whole city/country.. Prague is my hometown and I know (as many other people) how gorgeous this city is, so that’s why it annoys me when someone sees one house and says “i think more westerners (americans) should definitely experience life in such a place as this, so that it would hopefully open up their eyes . . .” like if we were living in the jungle..

Hi,

What can I say! The bloke with you sounded either American or Canadian, I suspect American due to the incorrect English….The Americans are so ungrateful! Eastern Europe is an excellent place to visit, with lots of culture! And how can I put this politely… Americans don’t even speak correct English – they call a toilet room a bathroom – don’t pay any attention to what they say! Next time, visit home with someone from the UK! You will have a better experience!

Zuzana and Freddy,

Love the workout videos, and the other insights into your lives. This Prague visit was just fascinating.

Please consider a few comments on how the two of you met. Freddy, you are one VERY lucky man.

Continued good luck and happiness to you both.

All i can say is whao!!!You know what i really envy you for not forgetting where you come from.Thanks for sharing this with your fans.We now know at least how far you have come from.I come from the so called Third World,but despite of all the poverty that there is and potrayed by the media,there is HAPPINESS and LOVE in abundace.
You are a true person and open and letting all the people queen,there is a tale all about you and your roots.Behind every queen,ther is a tale to tell.
On your trainig tips,keep up the good work.You are one amazing person,not to mention your heartful beauty.Keep up the good work and God bless you Zussana.

I am from Hungary and we have the same buildings, the same life, I sooo know where you are coming from! And you are right, we did appreciate things much more, which I miss nowadays…it isn’t that bad to live in these appartments, but when you get used to something better or bigger, it is damn hard to go back to that…Hmm I think everyone in Eastern Europe knows this background you are coming from Zuzana…And westerners really cannot even imagine it…

Wow, thanks for sharing with us, you are really an amazing athlete.

Carry on sweetie :D

First, that was a great, personal glimpse at your beginnings. Excellent. A perfect example of the fact that money doesn’t buy you happiness. Zussana seems extremely content and most likely, very low-maintenance.

I saw that you are looking for comments on your website and ways to improve. My advice would be to stick to your existing format, keeping it very personal. The filming should continue to be shot in humble surroundings. That is a big part of the intrigue in the videos. Like seeing the space heater in the room – or the dogs coming into the shot. Great stuff. The audience can connect with that.

I’m a guy that competes in endurance motorcycle races and have never seen anyone, especially a girl, workout this hard. Very inspiring and great workout suggestions.

I wish you both continued success.

ou, czech and slovak estates forever :D:D i am from Slovakia, so i know the 100 000 years old blocks of flats:)
i finde this webside today and i am realy surprised :) is realy nice and good idea create website like this…. and Zuzana looks fantastic – so glamour conected to one person :D..great :) so pretty women come only from CZE or SVK :)
PS: hmm.what a delicious national meal – “knedlo, vepřo, zelí” :D

Coca-cola makes people fat.

Oh my god, Zuzana seems like the sweetest person ever. Love you, your mom’s dog, and the work outs! This video was too cute. Thanks for the insight into your life and Prague.

I think that it was very sweet of you for sharing somethig tath personal like the house were you grow up I personaly find that very interesting , because it teach people especially here in america how diferet life can be and the other side of the world, I grow up in MEXICO and even do we were very poor it was just very diferent. I don`t know if I haven`t read enough of you or you don`t say it but I would like to Know were you from and were do you live right now . tanks for the nice view of the place.

Thank you for sharing Zuzana. I enjoyed seeing where you grew up.

Thanks for filming Frederick.

You look as a great girl. The way you lova and honor your family show a lovely face of you. Thabks for sharing your origins.

You are an amazing person. I am so grateful of finding your website. You are just wonderful and genuine.
Take care.
Love from Canada

You are amazing! Thank you for sharing where you live! You are such a sweetheart! I am addicted to your videos – look forward to them every night when I work out.

Best,
John
Florida, USA

Ahoj Zuzi,

it makes me laugh:)) I know exactly,where you come from…I am from the same..ehm…let’s not published that word:) Still happy and love my memories of old times and coming back to my mum’s too. Anyway, love your workouts and you look fantastic. Keep going guys!!! More and more people love your website and I am spreading the word too.

DRZIM PALCE….

Czech girl from London:)

Hi Zuzana! It’s very nice video! Thanks for sharing some part of your life’s history :)

Interessante

P.S. Do you know that this site doesn’t open in Opera browser (version 10.53)?

I was stationed outside of Czech at Vilseck, Germany. The housing structures there remind me of the ones in Hersbruck. I visited a friend in different areas like Kassel and got used to the space of Central Europe. Most of my background is lost within the former Yugoslav area of Bosnia. Somewhere in the Serbo-Croat culture. Only recently found your site but it’s very helpful. Very inspirational. Congradulations for not cheating your body:) Keep Going.

Hi Zuzana!
I’m from Poland, I’m the same age as you and know similar reality, especially from the childhood. I totally know pee smell in an elavator, blocks, small apartments and so on. Sharing it can show people from western countries that life can be much more different that they used to have.
Love video, it’s so true! We all should remember as you where we come from :)

I loved your explanation of the communist era. It’s true, fronty na maso, na banany, na vsechno. It’s great you shared it so openly with the rest of us. I mean, it’s not easy as some people still treat us as ‘girls from the eastern block’ with all its misconceptions.

You are a very down-to-earth and beautiful inside out and I am sure all people see it and that’s why you have so much fans out there (and because of your great fitness videos, of course). I wish I wasn’t such a lazy bum and do more…ohhh

Good luck to you guys.
(I have just found your website recently but didn’t get where you guys are located permanently..also, I was wondering if you have any ‘normal’ job or if you do the videos for a living..you should!)
Cheers guys,
Kat

You guys seem like such warm genuine people….it’s nice to feel like we know you guys…lol….I have to check out the site everyday to see the new workouts you post. I have been training for a competition and I thought I was in pretty decent shape, well there is always room for improvement :) THANK YOU for sharing your workouts…and not charging for them…I have told my friend’s about your site but they don’t get it until they watch how intense your workouts are! Also, thanks for posting that video with the doctor about diet….makes me think twice about what I’m eating and what i’m feeding my daughter!!

brings back memory’s of BiH/Serbia.
those buildings…. mass produced to house the masses to mass produce for ‘the great country’/union’ sort of thing.
pff those days..

Hi, I’m from the Czech republiky,too.I thought that you’re from the Czech Republic but I did not know for sure.I like your pages.I start do your exercises.and i want to be skinny like you.:-*
Bára
Czech Republic,Prague

Ahoj Zuzko,

moc pěkné a upřímné video. Člověk si uvědomí rozdíly, které jsou. Jak rozdílně lidé žijí a vyrůstají. Mě naštěstí komunismus tolik nezastihnul:-) Moc Ti fandím a držím pěsti. Díky za workouty, které mi pomáhají, když se učím na zkoušky a musím sedět celý den. Pohyb mě baví a v Tvém podání o to víc. Věřím, že Tě někdy potkám – třeba v Praze :-) Těším se na další cvičení s Tebou. Mějte se rádi a prožívejte život jak nejlépe se dá.
Zdraví Karolína.

Hi Zuzka,
Love you and love your videos. My family is from the east, and my parents and grandparents apartment looked just like this. The communist era really was something.

Your mom must be proud of you – you are beautiful, smart and motivated.

Z

Wow!!! so humble…I just found your videos\website you are amazing. Thank You for beeing you…dont change. You have true beauty.

Maria

a ja som myslela, ze si Slovenka :))

You guys need to shop your videos to the U.S. markets.

Enter Zuzana in fitness model contests in the U.S. to impulse her image, and I have no doubt she’ll hit fitness magazine covers all over the U.S., which will build her portfolio and project her in the U.S.

Her story and personality would be a major hit IMHO.

Americans love this stuff.

just wanted to say i really like this video !;-)

I really like the video it brings back memories to me