10 Of Austin’s Fittest
In Austin, competition is fierce. When we asked you, the reader, to show us the fittest people, you rose to the challenge. This year’s nominees are a unique collection of dedicated individuals who prove that staying fit is more than just exercise. Each person earned a spot due to their passion for a healthy lifestyle and how they inspire others. Some of the Fittest are quickly becoming fearless leaders in the world of sports and fitness, and the rest aren’t far behind. With their positive outlooks on life and words of encouragement, it’s obvious that with perseverance, spirit and discipline, any of us can be one of Austin’s 10 Fittest.
Being a role model has a long list of qualifications, like constantly being under the microscope. To also be a 25-year-old professional quarterback, you must have discipline, drive, enthusiasm, composure and confidence, as well as critical thinking skills and excellent time management. Even though Colt McCoy has all these characteristics, he’s a pretty humble guy.
Avoiding the limelight is a common theme with McCoy. Though he may see himself as a role model, McCoy makes sure to everyone that helps him along the way. Of course that list includes his father and high school coach, Brad McCoy, his University of Texas coach of five years, Mack Brown, and absolutely his teammates. McCoy appreciates camaraderie and knows it is an essential factor for team success. This is one of many important lessons he learned from watching his father in action at Tuscola High School.
Exuding Character
Like he learned from his father, McCoy wanted to mentor future generations of football players. That’s when he started Colt McCoy Football Camp (CMFC). The first camp was July 8 and 9 at Westlake High School.
He wanted attendees to get as personal an experience as possible to maximize their results, so a lot of incredible help was needed. The CMFC staff included a few Cleveland Browns teammates and mentors from his childhood football career, like his high school coaches and a handful of former Longhorn teammates. Approximately half of the 150 campers attended free of charge because McCoy worked with the Boys and Girls Club and other organizations so everyone was given the opportunity to attend. His final camper to coach ratio was six to one — meaning kids from all walks of life were free to soak in as much knowledge as possible.
“If I have my name on a football camp then I really want to give as much back as I can to those kids,” McCoy says. “I want to show them what I’ve done to get where I am. I want to make sure they can be great young men besides being great football players.”
Besides conditioning them with fundamentals of the game, McCoy wanted to instill in them the importance of integrity and respect. He believes those are equally important principles in football and life. His father used football as a vehicle to prepare him for a lifetime of character. McCoy followed that same concept to educate future leaders in Austin’s football community.
In a nutshell, that’s what Colt and Brad McCoy’s new book Growing Up Colt: A Father, A Son, A Life in Football is about. Colt says it isn’t an autobiography;Growing Up is a story about how far balancing important childhood lessons and intangible qualities like faith, humility and selflessness can take you.
Another example of his stellar character is that McCoy is an avid philanthropist. He visited nursing homes in grade school and Dell Children’s Hospital while attending UT. Eventually, once his Longhorn teammates saw what took precedence with their quarterback, they accompanied his trips to the children’s cancer ward.
“My teammates saw that visiting sick children was a priority for me,” McCoy wrote in Growing Up. “I had seen firsthand the impact a children’s hospital can have on surrounding families such as (mine).”
Now McCoy is a spokesperson for Scott & White Healthcare, which just opened a children’s hospital on the Interstate 35 corridor in Temple. Devotion runs in the McCoy blood. His father purposefully chose to coach in smaller schools to have more time with his sons. Brad McCoy believes that children flourish in “an atmosphere of genuine love, undergirded by reasonable, consistent discipline,” he wrote in Growing Up.
Doors to Open and Close
An equally important characteristic in a leader is having foresight. In college, McCoy had self-mandated rules of not drinking going to bed early. He says these habits helped focus his leadership on the field, and when you are prepared to take charge, people notice. Eventually, those same skills landed McCoy a position on the Browns. He started eight games for them last year, which is unusual for a rookie.
“Nobody is going to work harder than me or be more prepared going into a game than I am.” McCoy said in an interview with Atlanta’s 790 The Zone.
McCoy will tell you about his dedication, but he doesn’t speak much about his diet. Perhaps that’s because it isn’t much of an issue for him. He discovered early on that what you consume directly affects your performance. In Growing Up, McCoy recalls the moment he made the decision to take better care of his body by his diet. When he was 12, a nutritionist talked to his football team about what drinking sodas can do to your body. The results were not a risk he was willing to take.
“I wanted the chance to make split-second decisions,” McCoy wrote. “I wanted to be the player responsible for leading my team to victory.”
McCoy hasn’t had a soda since that moment, and it’s a choice he doesn’t regret. He also avoids sweets and desserts because that supports the best version of himself. To truly be “fit,” according to McCoy, is a lifestyle.
“It’s a choice,” he says. “To me, it’s very important. I try to eat right and take care of my body. I have to treat my body right. If I’m not in tip-top shape, I’m not going to be as good as I want to be.”
More Fuel for the Fire
Above all, McCoy credits his career to his faith. It’s his motivation, inspiration and he says it’s the only thing he trusts in. His father wrote in Growing Up that he taught McCoy to view times of adversity as an opportunity to improve as a leader.
That’s exactly what McCoy did when the National Football League announced a “lockout.” McCoy took that time of uncertainty and organized lockout camps for his teammates. Three out of the four lockout camps were hosted in Austin, and one of those three at Travaasa, where our photo shoot took place. Those camps improved the teams camaraderie while the Browns were able to practice and stay in shape.
In Austin Monthly, his wife, Rachel, attributed McCoy’s success to focusing on the next challenge and not dwelling on the past. That drive directly contributed to the camps he orchestrated for the Browns.
What if you don’t have the same motivation as McCoy to pick yourself back up? He believes the individual must make the decision to live a positive, healthy life.
“People have a choice to be fit and active,” McCoy says. “The advice I would give to others is it makes you feel better. It is hard; it is dedication. Someone people are naturally fit, but others really have to work at it. Everyone is different; don’t get discouraged.”
McCoy sets an example for both athletes and the public eye. Through everything he does, he wants to live up to his name, while creating a better future for football and families everywhere.
Hollie Kenney
38, USA Triathlon Level 1 Certified coach
head Masters coach at Red Giants Masters Swimming
head running coach at Wild Basin Fitness
Ask anyone who trains with Hollie Kenney and there’s a similar theme. Her clients have described her as caring, having everyone’s best interests at heart and incredibly dedicated to her client’s goals. She coaches athletes of all levels online as well as in person.
Meet Kenney, and it’s obvious why there is so much praise. She’s vibrant and patient. These are important qualities in a mother to a 13-month-old daughter, especially one with a packed daily schedule. Her daughter, Montannah, accompanies Kenney to all her training, which starts at 5 A.M. To add to her resume, Kenney’s also an active member of the Texas Beef Council’s BEEF Running Team, and she started a volunteer program that provides volunteer opportunities at various local races.
Q&A
How do you balance such a busy work and fitness schedule?
The old adage “The more things you do, the more you can do” holds true for me. The more that’s on my plate, the more focused and disciplined I have to be. Training has always be a priority to me. I treat it like a meeting on my calendar.
What’s something important you learned that you share with your clients?
As an athlete, I learned early on that there are going to be good days and there are going bad days. The bad days simply make the good days all the better. Your body isn’t going to perform the way you want it to every day and that’s OK. I share this with my athletes on a regular basis.
What’s your diet like, and what’s your favorite cheat meal?
I like to eat healthy and stick to fresh fruits, veggies and lean beef. When I grocery shop, I try to keep to the outer edges of the store where all the fresh foods are. My favorite cheat meal is Margarita Pizza. And I love licorice.
You haven’t introduced Montannah to sugar. What about her diet?
She is my role model for eating! She loves fresh veggies, fruits and lean meats. I only feed her organic foods and try to stay away from anything processed. I don’t want her eating refined sugar since there is nothing good about it.
How was working out pregnant compared to working out not pregnant?
Pregnant women should consult their doctors before exercising. As an athlete, I knew I could push my body to higher intensity levels than average pregnant women. I enjoyed low intensity levels, racing and I swam until the day before I gave birth to Montannah. Exercising while pregnant helps you bounce back quickly, and in my case, I was racing three months after delivery. Then I placed third overall at the Austin Sprint Triathlon, despite a nagging calf injury.
What’s your favorite Austin activity?
I love SUP! I’m in the market to get a board and paddle. Austin offers so many great activities, and that is why I moved here from Maryland. I love that you can train outside year-round and that the city is so exercise friendly.
Who is your fitness role model and why?
Truthfully, my hat always goes off to the everyday amateur who amazingly strikes a balance between full-time jobs, family and their sport. They are my true heroes.
Diana Pickler
27, female winner, Gladiator Games
private personal trainer
Although only 27, Diana Pickler is a retired Olympic runner, experienced gymnast and placed in heptathlons throughout high school and college.
After graduating, Pickler moved to Austin to pursue personal training. She wanted a one-on-one connection with clients. In her free time, she’s busy practicing yoga and winning Gladiator Games.
Q&A
How did you get involved with Camp Gladiator?
I did Gladiator Games the first weekend I moved here. It was a perfect start. After that, I started interning with them to be a trainer and took a lot of their boot camps.
It has a really fun dynamic. They understand what it takes to get people excited about exercise: social support, activities outside of camp and making workouts fun. The social support aspect is huge. They hold each other accountable.
What helps you stay motivated to live a healthy lifestyle?
It’s not easy; I try to balance. That’s how I eat, workout and train people. If you don’t have a balance, you’re going to get out of whack and you can’t be successful. I crave being healthy, and I couldn’t imagine my life without it. OK, here’s my philosophy. Sometimes when you eat you crave carbs or meat. It’s like body’s asking you for it. I crave workouts. I go off how I feel and I give myself variety.
Tell me about your diet.
Lots of fruits, vegetables and lean meats. I’ve tried a lot of different diets. I’ve done Paleo, vegetarian and vegan. I do them all just to see how I’ll respond, but I settle back in the middle every time.
What are your short and long-term fitness goals?
Down the road I want to do triathalons. I don’t quite have the itch yet, but I know that I will. Also yoga. I’m hoping to get certified soon.
What does “fit” mean to you?
It’s the total package. It’s the mind, the body and the fuel.
What’s your favorite Austin activity?
I love my twin sister and my tradition of doing our Saturday morning workout, going to Daily Juice and then to Whole Foods for brunch. The first Saturday we came here we called it our ritual. We’ve been doing it every Saturday since.
How is fitness in your family?
After my sister and I went to college, my parents started physical activity because it was all about us doing sports in high school. My step-dad has been in two Iron Man competitions. My mom — at the age of 50 — started doing marathons. I remember my mom calling me and saying, “I ran two laps around the track without stopping!” That’s 800 meters. She’s been running marathons ever since. Now her short runs are 6 to 8 miles.
Megan Parsons
30, coach, CrossFit Central
managing director, Relentless Boot Camp
Megan Parsons was ready to try something new. In 2009 she quit her corporate job to join CrossFit and pursue her dream: a career in fitness. She likes to inspire people with her own success story. After joining CrossFit, Parsons improved her strength, speed and lost 30 pounds.
With a Masters in exercise physiology, a passion for healthy food and a positive attitude, Parsons specializes in nutrition, weight loss and strength training.
Q&A
What is your favorite exercise?
I love back-squats and power planks. I also love going to a high school track once a week to do sprints and bleachers. Westlake High School is my place. It’s kind of a getaway. I’m all by myself, put on the ipod and go.
What’s your diet like?
It’s called paleo-nutrition. I eat lots of protein like red meat, chicken and fish. I also eat tons of green, leafy vegetables — that’s the staple of my diet from a carbohydrate standpoint. I cook with coconut oil, olive oil and walnut oil. I eat a lot of avocados, olives and I love protein shakes. I drink two weigh protein shakes a day.
What do you do for workout recovery?
I usually do a protein shake immediately after I get done working out. If its really hot and I’m sweating a ton, I’ll drink coconut water. I typically work out three or four days in a row then take a day off. I know how my body works. I need two full rest days. If I’m not getting enough sleep, you can immediately tell.
I also do trigger point therapy. It’s faster release on your muscles. I’m also big on ART therapy. I go to Next Level Chiropractor like once a week.
What does “fit” mean to you?
It’s taking care of your body, which encompasses nutrition, how you work out and your balance of everyday activities. My biggest thing is balance. Work your butt off, train hard, push yourself, but also have some down time.
Who has impacted your life and why?
Steve Parsons — my dad! He was my high school coach. I learned how to lift weights and go from being an average athlete to a great athlete from him. I fell in love with sports from simply being around him. My dad is a no-nonsense, no-excuses, goal-oriented, make-it-happen kind of guy. He shares unconditional love and the belief that I can do anything I set my mind to. I am who I am today because of my dad.
If you could do one form of exercise for the rest of your life, what would it be?
CrossFit because it encompasses everything. That means being fit across all domains: strength, endurance, agility and balance.
Dave Appel
38, co-founder, Austin Cycle Camp
USA cycling coach
Dave Appel has been a coach for over 15 years, and on a bike for most of his life. He knew there were limited resources when teaching people how to be more safe and confident on the road. This passion helped Appel start Austin Cycle Camp (ACC) with his co-founder, Trey Steele.
Road cycling can be intimidating. ACC’s coaches aim to challenge their clients with a variety of drills, sprints and hilly roadways while still having a good time. Appel knows cycling is a social sport, and maybe that’s why they have over 50 clients ranging from age 12 to 73, with an impressive 98 percent retention rate.
Q&A
What’s your fitness routine like besides biking?
Since I started riding I’ve changed my weight routine to focus more on lean muscle mass over bulk, as well as my core. I also use heart rate a lot more while on the bike to help me not over-train.
If you’re spending a long day in the saddle, what’s your diet like?
Lots of water, a gel every 45 minutes during the ride and tacos at the end.
What keeps you motivated, or what inspires you?
To watch my clients achieve their goals and build their confidence is my motivation. Cycling can be a very intimidating activity. It keeps me motivated to work even harder to get more people comfortable riding, whether that is a mountain bike or road bike.
Who had a major impact on your life and why?
My mom, because all of the pearls of wisdom she gave me have all been spot on.
Also, Beth Kirkpatrick taught me that the desire from within is all that really matters, and to not hear the word “no.”
How important are goals?
Goals are very important — writing them down and telling someone is even more important. When you have a goal, write it down, tell your coach and all of your friends so you have a support group and motivators to help you reach that goal.
Why were you nominated for Austin’s 10 Fittest?
I believe that with my friends, family and clients, I am always doing what I can to stay fit. I feel that living this way will inspire them to push a little harder to achieve and succeed at what they want in life. Fitness is as much mental as it is physical, and if you ask my client’s about the “no negative zone,” they would attest to that.
Omar Garza
31, 6th & 7th grade science teacher
after-school coach, mentor
MMA fighter | Ju Jitsu/strength conditioning coach
Omar Garza is a man of many talents. Splitting his time between teaching middle school science, coaching track, wrestling and UIL science competitions, mentoring an after-school program or training with fellow MMA fighters, he puts busy schedules to shame. Garza accredits his drive to excellent training partners, having a flexible schedule and living up to his father’s example. Having a background in science doesn’t hurt, though.
If you can’t find him at Fit & Fearless, you’ll probably find him at Hays County’s after-school program, “One Cougar at a Time.” It allows responsible members of the community to spend time with lower-income children to set a good example. They prove that goals can be achieved — it just depends on how far you reach.
Q&A
What sparked your interest in combat sports?
I played a lot of sports in high school, but at UT, I wasn’t big enough to play any Division one-caliber sports. That’s when I tried Krav Maga, a cool hand-to-hand combat system. I continued with wrestling, boxing and Ju-Jitsu. The love for mixed martial arts built a fire in me. Contrary to popular belief, Ju-Jitsu isn’t a “meat-head” sport. It’s very tactical. Like chess, you have to go in with a game plan. The more rules and techniques you know, the better.
What inspires you?
My dad is a hard-working guy. As a boy, I saw the definition of what a man should be: having a good job, working hard and never complaining. He didn’t push me, but he always encouraged me. When I’m tired and unmotivated, I remember that my dad never complained and always persevered. I try to take these things that were given to me and use it to help kids reach their goals — whether academic or athletic.
How do you incorporate science in your coaching and training?
It helps a lot when it comes to diet. For a lot of these combat athletes, they need to understand how your body metabolically operates, how enzymes breaks down certain proteins and carbohydrates as well as how to recover faster. I can teach them train smarter so they can be better. Understanding science helps me understand how to get the neuromuscular system to that breaking limit, albeit making you stronger next time.
How do you keep your students and clients motivated?
You’ve got to have pace-changers to keep the kids occupied. It’s the same idea in training, as well as making things it relevant to your clients.
What do you do for workout recovery?
I like going to Barton Springs. The cold water constricts your blood vessels and pushes all that lactic acid out of your muscles and into your blood stream. It’s like an ice bath.
What does the word “fit” mean to you?
Being fit is being 70 or 80 and still being able to touch your toes, or walking a flight of stairs and not losing your breath. You don’t have to have a Greek Adonis body. To be fit, you have to understand how to eat correctly and take care of yourself. The food you eat isn’t sugary or high in cholesterol. You also need to understand that physical exercise, even for 30 or 45 minutes, benefits your body.
Jessica Tranchina
34, owner, PRIMO Performance & Rehabilitation
competitive runner and triathlete
Jessica Tranchina has a doctorate in physical therapy and has been a PT for 13 years.
She says she loves her job because she is simultaneously helping and instilling happiness in her clients.
Tranchina does everything with a smile. She’s the kind of person you want to be your personal trainer.
Q&A
What is your favorite exercise?
Trail running. I love that you’re out in the woods; that you don’t know where the next turn is or where you’re going. You have to be agile and have speed. It adds that little aspect of technicality and difficulty.
Least favorite exercise?
Well, I love challenges. If someone says, “We’re going to do this today,” I actually get more excited because it’s not in my routine. I hate boring, monotonous routines. I can’t say I dislike an exercise because I love to exercise.
How do you stay motivated?
It’s may be cliché, but exercise makes me feel good. It’s invigorating. It’s energizing. It’s like my happy pill. I’m down if I don’t exercise. I need it to stay motivated to do other things in life.
How was exercising pregnant versus exercising not pregnant? What was more challenging?
I knew immediately when I was pregnant because I was short of breath. I knew I shouldn’t be running as fast — that I should be taking it down a notch. My husband saved my message on his phone: “I think we’re growing a baby.” At that point I was only two weeks pregnant.
After Domenico was born, I had to get my pelvic musculature back. I immediately got my breath back. It’s amazing how the body will take what it needs to grow this life. Four days after I gave birth I was back running again. I also started P-90x a week after I delivered. It is a butt kicker, especially after you’ve had a baby. I always tell people, “Listen to your body, that’s key.” People were telling me, “Jessica, you’re crazy. You just had a baby, everything’s loose.” In early December I started serious triathalon training. When he was 5 months old, I did a half Iron Man in 5:04.
It’s interesting because I didn’t have any athletic friends that were recent parents. Now, like five of my athlete friends are pregnant. I just had to feel it out. I guess I paved the way for my friends.
What’s one of your most memorable fitness achievements?
I won my age group in an XTERRA Trail Run Series 10K while 5 months pregnant.
Name someone who has had a major impact on your life and why.
My parents, who instilled in me the importance of having a strong work ethic and to stay motivated and driven in any challenge I tackle.
Dave Goodin
52, veteran natural bodybuilder and power lifter
trainer at Hyde Park Gym
owner, Texas Shredder Classic Natural Bodybuilding, Figure and Fitness Championships
Dave Goodin is a household name in bodybuilding. Being known as “The Texas Shredder,” because of being “shredded” at contests, doesn’t come without expectations. With over 50 awards, 27 years judging and 19 years competing — all in the name of natural bodybuilding — Goodin delivers. He even started a contest bearing the same moniker as his nickname.
Goodin is an advocate for natural bodybuilding, and being a drug enhancement-free bodybuilder doesn’t come easy. But he wouldn’t have it any other way. He believes drugs are a shortcut, one that sacrifices your health. This 52-year-old role model’s time is divided between clients, yearly competitions and running Texas Shredder Classic with his girlfriend and one of two daughters.
Q&A
How do you keep your clients motivated?
I encourage them; I’m not the kind of trainer that yells at people during their workouts. I have people that mess up on their diets or miss a workout and get down on themselves. My job is reminding them consistency is important and that I’m here for them. I haven’t had a vacation in nine years.
What do you do for workout recovery?
As soon as I get done with my workout, I mix a protein drink with creatine and drink that right away. A drink hits my system faster. There’s a window of opportunity thirty minutes after your workout when your muscles are taking in nutrients at a much faster rate. I also have something I’m drinking during my workout. What it depends on is if I’m trying to get leaner or if I’m trying to get ready for a show.
What’s your most memorable fitness achievement?
If I had to choose one, it would be winning the over 50 division of the International Federation of BodyBuilders (IFBB) World Championships in Poland in 2009. When I won, the IFBB president and the judges committee from Spain stood on either side of me, and the United States National Anthem started playing.
Earlier that year I competed in the Europa middleweight division and a younger guy who was also a fan of mine beat me. When they announced me at second place, he realized that he won and he started crying like a baby. I was thinking, “Come on dude, that doesn’t look good at all.” So when the national anthem played at IFBB, I got choked up and thought, “Come on, you don’t want to look like that guy.”
What motivates or inspires you?
There are a couple of things that inspire me now. One thing is competition. When you’re on stage in a pair of posing trunks and you’re going to be standing next to some of the best bodybuilders in the world, you can’t screw around. When you have the nickname the Texas Shredder, you can’t go to a show not in shape. I get emails from people that are inspired by me. “Keep doing it for the old guys. I didn’t think anybody could be in that good of shape at your age. Now I look at you and think that I can do it.” That motivates me to keep going.
What’s the most important message as an advocate of natural bodybuilding?
Drugs are a shortcut. True, steroids work. People wouldn’t take them if they didn’t. But you pay the price of your health. There are a number of people I knew — my age or younger — took steroids in their youth. They were strong, looked great and felt invincible. Some of those people are dead now. I doubt that I would still be doing this at my age if I had gone that route. Certainly, doing it drug-free is harder. You have to train harder, have to pay more attention to your diet and nutrition. The gains don’t come as fast, but I still look better at 52 than I did at 22.
Shirley Domicoli
46, general manager, Pure Austin
There is a reason people flock to Shirley Domicoli for inspiration and guidance. There’s no room for excuses with her. She has the swagger of a teenager and teaches the self-proclaimed “hardest fitness class in Austin” called Slash.
Domicoli believes being fit is balancing the physical, spiritual, intellectual and social aspects of your life. It’s hard to not be influenced by her energy.
Q&A
Tell me about your fitness background.
In high school I did gymnastics, volleyball and track. I snuck athletics from my parents. They wanted me to be a pianist and play at Carnegie. My friends in track encouraged me to start, and I’m the kind of person that doesn’t back down from a challenge. Everything else came later. Gymnastics was the hardest to hide because of the away meets. I was able to hide athletics from my parents until I dislocated my toe my junior year. Before then, they had no clue.
Are your kids involved in any sports?
Julia will be 18 in February. Jessie is 15. She’s a gymnast turned diver. Julia is as active as she can be. She was diagnosed with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis when she was 3. She goes to physical therapy, and there are certain exercises she will do such as restorative yoga. Our family has changed how we operate because of the disease. I think it’s been a blessing in disguise because it has made such a strong, positive impact on all of us.
What’s fitness like in your family?
Everybody has his or her own passion for fitness. It’s not something that’s forced. It’s something that’s enjoyed.
The other day, a trainer told me, “You’re the only person I know that the older you get, the more fit you become.” And I feel like, when I look back, yes, I was passionate about a lot of different things when I was younger. That’s what fitness should be. If I can have my family find what they’re really passionate about and always be open to change, and take that leap.
How is your family’s diet?
My girls grew up with fitness and good eating habits. I really didn’t. It’s interesting to see what they grab for a snack because that’s not the snack I would have reached for as a kid. I remember in high school it was going to McDonalds. Chinese food was healthy. New England Clam Chowder was part of my “diet” in college. My girls aren’t like that at all. They evaluate and read labels. They make a spinach salad. They choose fruit.
What’s you diet like?
It’s healthy and very plant-based. There’s no processed food or whites. There are more veggies that fruits. My biggest problem is that I love food and I love eating. I love to go back for seconds. It’s very clean, but I have to be very careful of my caloric intake. I don’t necessarily listen to my body when it’s full like I see my family doing.
How do you balance such a busy work and fitness schedule?
Compromise, and because I love what fitness does for me. It’s my time for getting creative. It’s my time for devotion. It’s my time to be a better mom and a better wife. Also, I’ve learned that there’s no “I’m gonna go run 5:30 to 6:30 every morning.” It’s getting fitness whenever I can and making the best of it. Meaning: If I can only get 20 minutes (of exercise) in on one day, I’m okay with that.
How do you keep your clients motivated?
I push them. I give them variety. If you go to a class and keep doing the same thing over and over again — you’re bored. I try to make workouts you can look forward to. As soon as you leave, you can’t wait until next week. You have that sense of “Wow! I can’t believe I did that!”
One of my favorite moves is the burpee. I have changed it so many different ways. That’s how I like to operate. I’m definitely goofy. Keeping it fun is a huge factor in fitness.
What do you recommend for someone who is older and doesn’t have a fitness regimen? Get involved in something that makes you feel really good. I recommend getting with a personal trainer. I love my group fitness classes. It’s about baby steps and creating goals. I do so much better when I have a goal — which is why I’m doing a triathalon. If you have a small goal that you know you can accomplish, then you can create your strategy. What’s that saying, “Fail to plan, plan to fail?”
