Stephanie Sanzo said she stopped taking protein powder and pre-workout supplements after she developed digestion issues

• Stephanie Sanzo is a Sweat app fitness trainer with 2.2 million Instagram followers.
• She used to take protein powder and pre-workout supplements, but she believes they irritated her IBS.

Many fitness influencers promote workout supplements and protein powder, but Stephanie Sanzo doesn't.

In fact, the Australian Sweat app trainer, 34 hasn't taken protein powder or pre-workout supplements for over a year because she said they interfere with her digestion.

Sanzo told Insider she has irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and the supplements contributed to her stomach issues.

"I struggle with irritable bowel syndrome and find that many supplements tend to cause stomach upset (for me personally)," Sanzo said. "For those who are incorporating supplements into their diet, my biggest advice is to always prioritize your nutrition as no supplements can ever make up for a bad diet."

Sanzo now tries to get her protein through foods like meat, fish, and eggs, and drinks a short black coffee before her workouts.

"Above all, it is so important to always listen to your body, prioritize eating a nutritious and balanced diet, drink plenty of water, and get sufficient sleep," she said.

Sanzo works out 5-6 times a week

Sanzo is a specialist in strength-training, and she recently launched a new program, Strength & Resistance with Stephanie, on the Sweat app founded (and recently sold) by Kayla Itsines.

The workouts in both Sanzo's Sweat programs and her own personal training are structured around three components:

1. Strength
2. Hypertrophy (muscle gain)
3. Assistance

"I typically have a theme for each workout which is the main lift or muscle group for the session (this is the strength component) and then follow that with some accessory work (which is the hypertrophy and assistance component)," Sanzo said.

A post shared by STEPHANIE SANZO (@stephaniesanzo)

She splits her workouts into different body parts, which can help maximize muscle gains, as Insider's Gabby Landsverk reported.

Sanzo's current workout split is:

• Monday: squats, quads, and hamstrings
• Tuesday: bench press, shoulders, and triceps
• Wednesday: glutes
• Thursday: rest or light home workout
• Friday: deadlifts and back
• Saturday: shoulders and biceps
• Sunday: rest

If you don't know where to start with lifting weights, Sanzo recommends getting an expert to help build your confidence.

"Don't try and do it alone," she said. "Find a trainer that you admire or a program that you feel inspired by and get to work. Be a student in the gym and outside of the gym by seeking knowledge around training, technique and nutrition to further your own understanding."

Be careful when comparing yourself to fitness influencers, Sanzo said

Sanzo has 2.2 million Instagram followers but urges people to be mindful of who they follow on the platform.

"People often make the mistake of comparing themselves with others on social media and assuming that their results are equally obtainable for themselves," she said.

Genetics play a big role in a person's physique, and Sanzo says it's important to focus on your own strengths.

"Your circumstances may also be totally different to someone else's, so the only fair comparison that you can ever make is the comparison of who you were yesterday," she said.