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Ask a Trainer Part 1: FITaspire
Ask a Trainer Part 1: FITaspire
Welcome to our Ask A Trainer series! In this series you will find tips, tricks and ideas to keep you on your goal of getting/staying healthy in 2016. We’re going behind the scenes with trainers, nutritionists and more!
We all know one of the most, if not the most popular New Years resolution is to “lose weight”. I cannot tell you how many times I wrote down this goal as if writing down this thing that I’d always wanted to do, but never actually gotten the guts to commit to would magically give me the motivation and knowledge to make it happen. One of the biggest challenges for people looking to lose weight and get fit is that they just don’t have all of the information. I remember when I began my weight loss journey, I just didn’t have any idea what to eat or, more importantly, why to eat those things. I knew a lot of healthy people chose chicken over red meat, but I had no idea why or what that meant in the scheme of things. Every time I would set out to diet, I would get in this mindset of “OMG EVERYTHING IS BAD FOR ME! I GIVE UP!” Well, we don’t want you to give up! So let’s get some advice from a professional, shall we?
Today we’re talking to Heather from FITaspire. Heather is the coach and owner of FITaspire.com. She is a running and triathlon coach, working with athletes to help them reach their goals faster and with less injuries. She loves helping people improve their fitness, so they can have energy and confidence for life! She also works with other endurance coaches to help their grow their coaching businesses. She is based in Colorado and holds certifications from NASM, USA Triathlon, and USA Track & Field.
What does a typical week look like for you fitness-wise?
My training changes throughout the year based on my goals & what phase of training I’m in. Currently, it includes 4 days of strength training and 3 days of running, as I’m currently training for a half marathon and continuing to maintain (and build) muscle. As we get further into the year, I’ll start to add cycling to my schedule, as well.
What is your favorite workout?
This is a tough question! In the gym, my favorite is typically a good arm workout, because it always makes me feel strong. Similarly, I love running or cycling intervals, because they are tough while you are going, but you finish with such an amazing sense of accomplishment.
What would be your biggest piece of advice for someone just beginning their journey?
Take it slow and enjoy the process. Choose a goal that is just beyond your abilities & find a great plan (or coach) who can help you to training effectively to reach that goal. You don’t have to be the fastest or strongest, focus on being YOUR best and improving yourself over time. That’s a big key to long-term success, in my opinion!
Have you always been interested in health and fitness?
Yes, but it has taken different forms throughout my life. Growing up, I was a dancer – that was my main form of fitness year-round. It wasn’t until after college that I decided to start running, as a way to stay healthy and be able to eat more! Then I expanded into triathlon for more variety in my training. For me, health and fitness is a way to have the energy and confidence for life – allowing me to go backpacking, hiking, snowboarding, or whatever new activity sounds fun!
What struggles did you have to overcome to get to where you are now?
Nutrition was the hardest for me to figure out. I really like to eat! It took me years to really learn how to make healthy nutrition a lifestyle – a true balance of eating foods that fuel me, in the right proportions, with room for flexibility as well.
What’s your go-to healthy meal?
Breakfast is the meal I repeat over and over, because I want something easy and low effort. Most days I make a protein waffle and top with maple syrup or nut butter. Or I’ll make 2-3 eggs (poached or fried), a slice of Ezekiel Cinnamon Raisin toast, and steamed spinach.
What’s your favorite splurge?
A good cocktail. This is one of favorite pairings to a splurge meal on the weekend. I do believe that alcohol in moderation can be part of a healthy lifestyle!
What would you recommend for someone who wants to get fit, but doesn’t have time to commit to a time consuming training schedule?
Make lifting weights a priority, as the high impact will help prevent metabolic decline that happens with age. Add in short HIIT sessions to improve your cardiovascular health. All you need is 5 hours a week – that’s less than 3% of your week – to make a big impact!
Have you ever reached the dreaded plateau? If so, how did you break through it?
In training for running, I hit a definitely plateau twice in my training. The first time, I hired my first coach to help create a training plan that was created specifically for me, to reach my goals. With that plan and consistent training, I broke through that plateau! The second time, we adjusted my training to a high mileage approach, which worked to reach a big marathon PR!
Fitness is about more than losing weight or achieving a goal. It gives you the confidence and energy to live a full life! Find something that you enjoy that keeps you active – whether that is running, hiking, triathlon, walking – find a way to move that you enjoy and keep moving throughout your life!
Thanks so much, Heather, for sharing with us! For more from Heather, follow her blog, or catch her on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and Twitter.
Got a question for Heather? Leave it in the comments!
Ari Ziskin is our resident expert in all things fitness, dance and flooring trends. After five years of blogging at Ari’s Menu, where she was featured on sites like The Huffington Post and Buzzfeed, Ari decided to pursue writing full-time. Nothing makes her happier than sharing her knowledge to help people create their gyms and begin their fitness journey.
