Run, don’t walk into the final week of the challenge. This week we caught up with MHRC Coach, Matt Meyer. Find out how he stays motivated to be in his best shape.

This week we caught up with Orangetheory Fitness coach, Trevor. We got to hear a little more on how he spends his time outside of the studio and how he is getting ready for the warmer weather!

What’s your biggest motivation to get into shape?

For me, it has always been about self-confidence. I have seen it both in myself and in clients. When self-confidence is increased, the human mind and body can accomplish incredible things. It brings out this energy in people that I can’t describe. It’s like the feeling of being able to accomplish whatever challenges are thrown our way in our day to day life.

How do you create new routines so your clients are always trying something new?

I like to establish benchmarks with my clients. By that I mean every two to three months I will have a specific challenge for them to see if they’re ready to progress to a more intense style of training. For example, I had a male client that was seeing great strength increases in his pressing movements. So, I had a day where we went both heavy weight with low repetitions and light weight with high repetitions to test both his muscular strength and endurance. Once we established his weak and strong points I programmed a new structure tailored to him.

What’s your favorite part about the warmer weather?

I love the fact that I don’t have to wear 10 layers of clothes! Also being able to run outdoors and try to get a killer tan.

How did you figure out you wanted to become a trainer at OTF?

When I got my first certification at the age of 21 I applied to a bunch of local gyms in my Texas hometown. Orangetheory was the first place to give me an opportunity. It was honestly a huge blessing and I haven’t looked back since.

What is your favorite thing to do on your day off?

On my days off I enjoy playing basketball, volleyball, virtually any sport or napping.

If you had the choice, what would your go-to meal be?

Dominos hand tossed large pepperoni pineapple pizza for sure!

What’s the most rewarding part of working out for you?

I enjoy both the mental clarity and the self-confidence. When I finish a workout and achieve that endorphin high is when I typically become the most productive.

Follow Trevor on instagram at @twfrank111

It’s finally starting to feel like SPRING! A new season means that it’s time to get out of our winter slump and form some new habits, like trying out a new fitness studio or trying a new meal service (because it’s just as important to push yourself in the gym as it is in the kitchen!) As we launch our May Corporate Challenge, we wanted to catch up with some of our favorite studios and find out how they’re celebrating the warm weather! This week we had the chance to catch up with EPIC’s NYC trainer Sarah Gawron.

How do you motivate yourself to stick with making healthy choices or get back on track when you splurge?
Through high school and into my first year of college, I wasn’t into fitness at all—I didn’t exercise or think too much about what I ate. As a result, I had a lot of extra weight and never truly felt my best. When I got to college, I started thinking about it more, and I managed to lose more than 20 pounds in my first semester at Notre Dame. My main motivation for healthy choices comes from thinking about the way I used to look and feel, coupled with the way I feel now when I eat healthily and maintain an active lifestyle. It is amazing to feel fit and truly be aware of how fitness literally shapes the body and impacts each moment of your life. I carry myself differently and know I am so much stronger than I used to be. That’s a feeling I never want to let go, so I work hard to keep it in my grasp. Now, anyone who knows me knows I do still have a sweet tooth—I LOVE to bake, which is not an easy hobby for health nuts! To balance my splurges, I try to be even more aware of my workouts as well as what I eat for the rest of the day. Luckily, I also love to cook, so cooking veggies and proteins is not too much of a challenge besides finding the time!

Did you do a LIFT private or group class, a Calm session or both? Had you ever used an online platform before fitness or stress management?
I completed both a LIFT class and the Calm seven-day intro challenge. I’ve actually used Calm before so it was not completely foreign to me, but enough time had passed that the intro sessions were quite useful for helping me settle back into it. I’ve also listened to meditation podcasts and used other mindfulness apps to help me ground myself before I start each day. Completing a live fitness class online was totally new to me—I’ve definitely taken advantage of the many YouTube fitness channels like BeFit, Boho Beautiful and Yoga with Adrienne, but I’d never had the experience of an instructor coaching me through my computer! It was so different but honestly pretty amazing to see the other class members in their homes, and I liked that the instructor was able to correct my posture or movement in a way that a YouTube video obviously can’t.

How did you feel after your full day of meals from Sakara? How did it compare to other meal delivery services you’ve tried?
I felt full and content after my day of meals from Sakara! I was totally stress-free, first of all, because I didn’t have to think about cooking for myself and scheduling that time-intensive task into my day. It was a relief to know all three meals, plus a little chocolate for dessert, minerals for water and tea for fun, were ready and waiting when meal time rolled around. The food was so obviously fresh and nutritious, and the expert packing definitely made me feel like someone had personally prepared this for me—not like it came from a factory assembly line. Combined with the notes, explanations and encouragement from the Sakara team, the whole experience felt incredibly personal in a way other meal delivery services never have. I’ve only tried other services that require you to do some cooking, which I enjoy, but the fact of the matter is I don’t always have time. This was much simpler and still left me feeling very full and very satisfied.

What was your favorite meal that you received from Sakara? Would you order again?
I truly enjoyed every dish I tried—something unique stood out in each one. In the Strawberry Maca Shortcake breakfast, I couldn’t believe how light and delicious the “cream” tasted even though it was vegan and much healthier than whipped cream! It was like having dessert for breakfast, so I definitely enjoyed that. For lunch, the Spicy Harissa Chard Abundance Bowl had these amazing winter veggies in a green sauce that was so light and fresh—but what stood out to me the most was that the bowl came on top of a bed of fresh spinach. The spinach wasn’t wilted or old in the slightest—it looked like it came straight from the grocery store. This gave me even more confidence in the healthiness of the food. Finally, the dinner of Revitalizing Risotto with Citrus-Glazed Squash and Balsamic Tomatoes definitely stood out for the clever combination of a cashew “cheese” and quinoa in place of risotto’s typical dairy and rice combination. The whole dish was delicious and so filling that I was able to save some for the next day! I would definitely order any of the meals again and recommend them to friends.

What made you decide to become a trainer?

I had some excellent trainers throughout different stages of my active life, and I loved the feeling they inspired in me just by giving me their positive energy and commitment. I realized I get that same feeling from helping others with their own health and fitness, and that calling was a lot stronger than any desire to sit behind a desk for a living!

Does your fitness routine change once it (finally) starts to get warmer outside?

This week we caught up with Yusuf Jeffers to find out how his basketball career at Rutgers University led him to became a Tone House instructor.

What made you decide to become a trainer?

I’m an accidental tourist in the fitness field. After many years of working as a research assistant in cancer therapies and diagnostics I became a bit bored and became certified to personal train part time. When my company went through a round of layoffs,  I picked some more clients and began teaching more. Haven’t looked back since.

Does your fitness routine change once it (finally) starts to get warmer outside?

Yes. I do tend to enjoy outdoors workouts a little bit more in the warmer weather as well as playing more sports outside.

After being active for so many years, how do you continue to challenge yourself in the gym?

Maybe it was Aristotle who said “The more you know, the more you know you don’t know.“  It’s the same with fitness. There’s always some aspect to improve upon or learn. When you stop trying to improve is when you’re no longer motivated to face the challenge.

Whether they knew it or not, do your trainees ever help you learn something new during a session?

Absolutely. I’m certainly not the same trainer now that I was when I first began. That’s most directly because of what my trainees have taught me about human movement and maybe more importantly, how crucial mindset and psychology is to improving your physical condition.

What is your favorite workout you to do to switch up your routine?

HealthKick Ambassador Francesca Gentile gave plant-based meal delivery service Sakara Life a try and dishes on her experience.

How do you motivate yourself to stick with making healthy choices, or get back on track when you splurge? 

I motivate myself to make healthy choices based on how I feel and look when I eat healthy. I have more energy and glowing skin when I cut out sugar and white carbs. I also try my hardest to not bring it into the house so I am not tempted!

How did you feel after your full day of meals from Sakara? How did it compare to other meal delivery services you’ve tried?