Recently, I had the great pleasure of interviewing one of my esteemed colleagues, Amy Hibbits. What’s her background and how does it relate to the content of Pulse and Signal? I’m glad you asked – Amy is a Certified Group Fitness Instructor! Among other things regarding fitness, Amy excels in motivating groups of people to get moving and get into shape, something I am a proponent of, obviously.
I’ve been recently trying to get myself back into shape (getting up at 5am to do grueling workouts really does take getting used to…) and immediately thought that Amy would be able to answer some questions that we all think about when it comes to fitness. So after catching up with the fitness guru, check out how the interview went:
» Andre: Have you always been pretty health conscious?
» Amy: No, not at all. My dad is a chef, and I grew up in the restaurant business. I had terrible eating habits and was an overweight kid. When my parents divorced and sold the restaurant, my mom and I did a 180 and developed very healthy habits – we both lost about 30-40 pounds each with diet changes and exercise.
» Andre: What urged you to begin helping others stay in shape and remain healthy?
» Amy: I remember how amazing it felt to get in shape. I felt strong and powerful – and mirrors were no longer an enemy. I want to share what I know about fitness because there is a lot of diet hype out there – pills and plans – and I’ve seen so many people spinning their wheels with plans that just doesn’t work – and they get frustrated. All in all, it’s about calories consumed and calories burned. BUT – this is a lot easier said then done. Cutting calories is tough in our society because so many of our social activities center around food. And, finding time to cook healthy meals and squeeze in exercise is hard with our busy lifestyles. Over the years, I’ve picked up a lot of tips and tools for staying in shape. I’ve learned what works and what doesn’t. I feel very lucky that I was able to turn my bad habits around. I hope that I can help others make the same changes in their lives. (Check back for future posts that discuss these healthy eating tips in detail).
» Andre: You mention exercise is important to stay healthy – what tips would you suggest to incorporate exercise into our busy lives?
» Amy: Schedule it. Put it in your planner or in your outlook calendar and your chances of making it to your workout improve dramatically. If your gym offers classes, sign up. Seeing “Cardio Kickbox” in your planner instead of “Gym” looks much more exciting. If scheduling it still isn’t enough, schedule it with someone else. If you know Joe or Mary is waiting for you – you won’t be as likely to blow it off.
Also, sneak in exercise in subtle ways. If you have specific shows that you watch, vow to always do sit ups during the commercials. If you are a book worm, read while walking on a treadmill instead of reading on your couch or bed. Taking the sedentary activities in your life and adding an element of activity doesn’t require any added time carved out of your schedule, just added effort.
» Andre: What piece of info would you like individuals to know before they start working out at the gym?
» Amy: When signing up, look for a gym that offers a one or two free personal training sessions when you join. If you can’t find one, ask how much an introductory session will be. The gym can be an intimidating place. The treadmills are easy enough to figure out, but a lot of the weight machines aren’t as straight forward.
Having a trainer by your side when using the machinery will a) ensure you get the most out of your work out b) ensure you use the machines correctly and don’t strain or tear your muscles and c) help you establish a comfort level with the gym which will increase your odds of getting there and getting in a full workout.
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Thank you so much for sharing your fitness knowledge with us, Amy! I really think that personal experience is the best resource when it comes to lifestyle changes and for those that demand change for themselves and in turn inspire others to do so, it’s a huge benefit. After speaking with Amy, I have decided that she would be a great addition to Pulse and Signal to give health living tips. Stay tuned for the official announcement!
Amy teaches a group fitness class at Verve Health & Fitness located in Arlington, Va.
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For those glued to their computer – here is a really great online FREE exercise video library. Everything demonstrated by personal trainers. You’ll of course have to get out of the chair to get any benefit!
http://www.physicalfitnet.com/exercise_video_library/browse_exercises.aspx
Hi ‘Shaping Youth.’ I’m at my desk all day too, so I know exactly what you mean. Here are a few things I’ve started to do to help burn some extra calories and keep the blood flowing from 9 to 5 (or 6 or 7!)
Circulation: If you can, try to elevate your feet on a chair or small cube ottoman under your desk for part of the day. It prevents swollen ankles and keeps the blood flowing.
Strength: If you have cabinets above your desk with doors that lift and slide, lift the doors up and down with the base of your palm until your arms tire. It’s great for your shoulders and triceps. If you don’t have these style cabinets, leave some 5 or 8 lb free weights under your desk and sneak in bicep curls or tricep extensions during the day. This type of mini strength workout wont make you break a sweat, but it will give you a burst of energy that will keep your body burning calories. If you do the exercise consistently (say, everyday at 10am) you will notice a difference in that body part in no time.
Calorie burn: We’ve all heard “take the stairs.” It’s a great tip, but you can even take it to the next level by hitting the stairs at lunch just for exercise. Go up and down a few times until the “jelly legs” set in. This is especially good if you have a back set of stairs where you have a better shot of being able to huff and puff in private.
Experiment with different things and pick what works for you. Once you decide, stick to it, and make it a regular part of your day.
So does Amy have any tips for those of us with our backsides glued to the blogger chair too long, other than the obvious ‘take a break get outside?’
My circulation and ‘secretary spread’ is making me feel unfit, and as you know that’s counter-intuitive to my work here, so I’ve gotta make some lifestyle changes pronto to put self care at the top of the list! sigh.
As she says, ‘easier said than done.’
Especially for passionistas who LOVE what they’re doing!
Any ‘desk exercise’ circulation tips?
Great interview.
Fitness is extremely important in our stressful society, for both mind and body.