I was born + (slightly) raised in San Francisco, California on July 6, 1993, making me 20 years old. I will later reveal my home address so you can send presents when appropriate (KIDDING, totally kidding!). I moved to New Jersey with my dad, Nicholas, and my older sister, Domenica, at the age of 5 (hence the ‘slightly’). We hopped around and ended up in a teeny town called Hawthorne, about 20 minutes from New York City (only plus side of living in Jersey). It was nice while it lasted but I wanted something different. I had convinced my then, recently retired father, we needed to get the fuck outta here. And just two days after my seventeenth birthday, we were out. We ended up on a little tiny rock in the middle of the Pacific Ocean better known as Maui, Hawaii. Aka paradise. Best.Decision.Ever. Here I graduated high school and met the love of my life, Jonathan, so cliché I know. It wasn’t until I moved to this gorgeous state that I realized, I really hadn’t been living at all. Maui changed me, for the better. I left my whole heart in Jersey; My huge, loud, loving Italian family + some really great close friends, but here, I found myself. I realized I could do and be so much more than I had ever pushed myself to be. Bikini season ALL YEAR ROUND with toned booties barely covered dancing all over the beach, it’s hard not to be a little self-conscious. And one day I thought to myself “I want to be one of those girls people look at and think ‘wow, she definitely works out.'” And I never looked back. What really kept me going, was thinking of the future. I could never be a fun, hot mom if I wasn’t active and in shape. And it would be a HELL of a lot harder to get in shape as the time goes on so start now. The sooner you change your LIFESTYLE, because that’s what it is — not a diet or a fad but a total commitment for life, the more natural it will come. I still struggle with it everyday, I’m human. But every time I make a healthy choice, I feel myself getting stronger, mentally and physically. Surrounding myself with encouraging + inspiring people has kept me afloat. The single biggest reason I started working out: my boyfriend. His love for outdoor fitness sports and being active in general is truly admirable and definitely what keeps me inspired. I have plenty of free time, so it’s sometimes hard to be productive. I’m currently in the LONG process of becoming a certified personal trainer (I am not a school type of person, unfortunately) and I also have big plans of opening up an affordable health conscious business on this teeny rock one day! I really believe more people would make healthier decisions if it were more readily available and not so damn costly. I’m here (on this blog) for you, so I want less of my blabbing and more incite from you! I want to hear everyone’s journey whether you’re just getting started or you’re far passed me, what you want to see more of, what you want to see less of; anything! I want to be that person you’re not afraid to talk to. Keep pushing for your goals lovers!
Xx
Ps. I would totally put a variety of different pictures but I retardedly reset my phone and lost EVERYTHING:(
pineapple girl 
Yay your a 90’s baby! I follow you on instagram and am absolutely inspired by you and how you live 🙂
I have been on the health kick since july 2013, best decision of my life!
You literally do live in paradise! Definately the dream life
Love to read more about you & what YOU do to stay fit and healthy!
keep doing what your doing xx
Thanks babe! You are so so sweet + I’m so glad you’re loving your new lifestyle! Keep up the hard work, it’ll all pay off in the end. I’ll definitely be posting more fitness routines in the future! Just waiting for my ankle to heal. Much love! Xx
Heyy girl! First off, I loove your instagram! Youre such a beauty inside and out! I’m going to maui with my sister this summer and since you are kind of a local there, is there anything you would recomend (places to see, beaches, places to get food etc) and things to avoid?
Hope to hear from you soon,
Helen
Hi love thanks so much! What side of the island are you staying on? I live on the west side. Get out and explore! That’s all there is to do here hehe definitely check out Choice Health Bar for great raw/vegan foods, Sansei Kapalua for amazing sushi, Longhis on Front Street for awesome Italian food, Aloha Mixed Plate for local dishes. There’s so many beaches all of them great but my favorites are all north of Ka’anapali 🙂
Thank you so much for all your suggestions! I’ll be staying in Kihei, i think it’s the west side too 🙂
Xo
Aw kihei is actually a little ways away! It’s the south side, but awesome nonetheless. You’ll have a great time!
Your story is amazing and so incredible! From your big move from jersey to Hawaii to your healthy lifestyle, I am in aww. I’ve been trying to slim down and become significantly more healthy but I feel so stuck.. From not seeing results and losing motivation quickly to not know what I want to do fresh out of high school.. Can you give me any tips that would lead me into a brighter direction?
xx thank you for being so inspiring
Thank you! I totally understand how you feel. I was the girl that would do 50 sit ups and then wake up the next morning and wonder where my abs were. Being consistent is the most important factor, for me, while trying to transition to a healthy lifestyle. Diet is KEY to seeing results, so if you would your booty off but don’t eat fairy clean, results won’t follow. So I always suggest getting your eating pattern on a good and healthy track, and slowing start incorporating exercise to daily life!
Thank you so much! How fast did you lose weight and what does your daily routine look like each day?
Wow, your story is so inspirational!! My dream is to move to Hawaii someday! It just seems like absolute paradise on earth. I have a question, have you always been on the thinner side and by working out daily just focuses on toning up? Or did you lose an amount of weight? I used to be really skinny in high school since I was in sports year round, now that I’m in college (2nd yr) I’ve put on an unwanted amount of weight from lack of exercise (those dreaded freshman 15). I’m finally getting back to working out daily, however I realize that the main problem is my diet. I used to eat very little compared to how I eat now, and I find it very challenging to eat in small portions where as before small portions is all I ate. Would you possibly have any tips on how to get back to my old habits? I’ve got the active part of it down so far I just need more self control when it comes to eating. Sorry I rambled so much, but you’re such a huge inspiration to me! I hope someday I can achieve my goals like you did and never look back 🙂
Xx, Daisy
Thank you! Hawaii is the place to be, get out here! I’ve always been “thin” according to society but I was always out of shape, in my eyes. I had super skinny chicken legs, a nice lower belly pooch, and no butt whatsoever! I never kept track of my weight, and still don’t so I’m not exactly sure the poundage I’ve lost from my ‘heaviest’ but I do know that I’ve gained that weight +, but it’s muscle– not fat, so it’s good weight. Oh boy, the dreadful freshman 15, I avoided college 😛 so I never had to deal with it, but I can imagine how frustrating it must be. Eating a lot isn’t a bad thing, you just need to be eating the right foods. In college it’s hard of course, you’re budgeting and you’re limited equipment wise, usually, but you can make super simple protein balls to always have stashed + fruits that don’t require refrigeration instead. Eat breakfast within 10 minutes of waking up to get your metabolism working nice and early then have small energy packed snacks between your meals to keep you full and your metabolism going strong, since you aren’t as active as you used to be. As long as you start changing your foods, portion size shouldn’t be as big of an issue! I eat WHENEVER I’m hungry:) Xx
I’m so glad you replied! I can’t wait till you start posting more recipes, I made your hummus last night and I’m having it for lunch today 🙂 The way you described your old self, THAT’S me right now! 😥 I have, and always had, chicken legs. I also have a lower belly pouch that I DREAD. Could you possible post a before&after post? Could you also give an estimate of how long it took you to lose the fatty weight and examples of your workout routine and what you eat in a day? Sorry if I’m asking for too much! You don’t have to, I just think it would be nice to know!
Mahalo! (:
If I can find a good before picture that depicts my old self, I will absolutely post and before and after! It took me about two years to get me to where I am today. If you’re patient, I will be using this blog to show exactly what exercises I do and what I eat daily, so stay tuned 🙂 Thanks for your support!
You are so inspiring. I was hoping you can tell us your opinion on calorie counting? Or workouts you do? Or how your eating schedule works 🙂 you’re my biggest inspiration right now. I’m 21 and want to feel alive 😊 please & I’m so grateful for your humbleness stay true lovely!! Thank you!
Thank you! You’re so sweet 🙂 I’ve personally never bothered with counting calories, I feel like it makes healthy eating feel more like dieting, and that’s not what I’m about. No diets here. Just lifestyle changes. If you’re eating all the right foods, you shouldn’t be bothered with the numbers behind them. I will be posting fitness routines I do in the future, I’m just waiting on my ankle to heal before I can do anything. The only eating schedule I follow, my body! It tells me when I’m hungry and what I need. I eat three main meals and snacks throughout the day to keep my metabolism up. Don’t skip meals! If you start ridding your diet of processed sugars and trans fats, you’ll feel alive in no time! Xx
Ciao Giovanna 🙂 I follow u on instagram and i love it. U have a perfect life and i’m so gelous 😀 I started my healthy journey in April 2013 and I can’t live without clean eating and working out anymore. U really inspire me a lot and ur photos always look sooooo cool. U r really beautiful. Sorry for my bad english. Mille Baci 🙂
Ciao Mille! Thank you so so much, it’s girls like you that keep me determined! So happy to hear you’ve changed your lifestyle, it will all pay off! Keep it up 🙂 Xx
Omg yay I love your Instagram I’m so happy you made a blog!! You’re a huge inspiration and very motivational. I would love to see a post on a typical grocery list for you and what sort of things you eat when you’re in a hurry or don’t have much time!
Thank you babe! That’s a really great idea, i’ll definitely post a picture of a typical grocery list! When I don’t have much time, I try to always keep Lara bars, dehydrated/fresh fruit, or baked veggie chips on hand. I usually almost always have left overs from the day before (roasted/steamed veggies, quinoa, proteins) so when I’m in a crunch I’ll just go to those! Xx
hi do you sell and e-book for recipes ?
Hi! I don’t as of right now. Possibly in the future, you’ll be the first to know 🙂 Xx
You’re story is so inspiring and makes me want to do what you did, especially since I have no found who I am and I feel like I need to just get away from the small town I live in in Connecticut. I was wondering how expensive it is to live in Hawaii and how you are able to afford all the expensive foods, clothes, rent, etc (since you always have the best foods and CUTEST clothes) since I heard Hawaii is pretty expensive. I can’t wait to follow you on your blog and learn more about you and your life along with your Instagram posts and be able to talk to you on here an ask questions 🙂
Aw girl! You should definitely venture out of your small town, even if you don’t go very far! It really is the best way to find yourself and what you want out of life. Hawaii is definitely expensive but in my personal opinion, worth every penny. I had help when I moved out here, I actually came with my dad so I didn’t have to pay rent + he bought me a car, I totally wouldn’t have been able to do it on my own. I also have a boyfriend that was born and raised here so he helped me out a lot too. But just because I had help, doesn’t mean you can’t do it yourself. You’d be surprised how many people come to Maui with a backpack and that’s it, seriously. Finding jobs here is considerably easy, but you’ll definitely have to like working in the tourist industry. Housing can be affordable depending on your location and your open-mindedness. Maui is GHETTO, don’t let anyone tell you differently, so you’ll see a lot of run down houses but there are a lot of gems too. There are fortunately lots of houses that are always renting out rooms. I’m babbling haha! Hope that helps out a bit! Xx
Giovanna! I found your instagram a while back and you are my inspiration to eat healthy every day! I live in a tiny town in PA and i’m heading west in the fall, sound familiar?! lol but I am in LOVE with your hamsa tattoo on your ribs! I’ve had the idea to get a hamsa added onto the cresant moon I have their now. I was really curious as to if there is any meaning behind it?! Thank you so much for everything ❤ xx
Thank you babe! Hamsas represent protection against evil 🙂
I know Hamsas protect against evil and bring good luck, is there any meaning behind yours besides that?! The flower or anything?
I was wondering if you had any advice about binge eating? I have such a problem with it. I’ll eat so healthy for a week and then eat every piece of bad food in my kitchen and ruin it, i feel so out of control 😦 any advice?
Hey girl! I was wondering if you have an email I could reach you at, I wanted to get some advice from you and tell you about my struggles of starting my healthy life style. Thanks xx ❤
giovannatonzillo@outlook.com Xx
Haha my bad! I had one last question and then i’ll stop bothering you :p do you have any names of cute shops for clothes, bikini, etc like local boutiques.. I’d like to come back with stuff that I know no one else will have in my city and I love your bikinis on IG!! Where are they from?
Cannot wait for hawaiii and to think you get to live there, ahh you lucky babe!
Sorry for such a late response! Pink by Nature in Makawao, IMIRE in Paia, Hale Zen in Lahaina, Otaheite in Wailea 🙂 95% of my bikinis are Acacia Swimwear!
Do U have an email to ask you some questions or this is the only way? 😉
giovannatonzillo@outlook.com Xx
Giovanna you’re seriously my inspiration!! I was wonderig if you would mind telling me how tall you are and how much you weigh? I know they say muscle weighs more than fat. I’m having such a hard time losing weight because all I’m doing is gaining a little muscle
Hi lovely! Thank you so much:) I am 5’4″ and a half and I honestly can’t tell you how much I weigh, because I never weigh myself! If you want to lose weight to look better, then by all means burn that fat girl, but otherwise, appearance is a lot more meaningful than the number in the scale. If you like the way you look, the numbers won’t matter 😘
Hey girl! Like many people have already posted, you are SUCH an inspiration to me! I really do respect the fact that you do everything so naturally. It’s kind of hard to come by girls who do that nowadays.
You are beautiful, inside and out. I was wondering – are you full Italian? You look like you’re mixed! If it weren’t for your last name, I probably would not have guessed that you were Italian at all! Keep up the awesome hard work, you really help in making me get up and be active and make healthy choices every day! Xo
Thank you love! I am not full blooded Italian, you’re spot on! I’m actually a fifty/fifty split, half Korean and half Italian. Thanks so much for your kind words Xx
You are absolutely an inspiration! I was wondering if the recipes you post Here are only of healthy foods or not entirely?
Only healthy foods, it’s all I eat! 🙂