We are finishing our Week of Fitness off STRONG with Mae of MaeD Fit.
I have had the opportunity to work with Mae and I love how much she has done to customize a routine that works with my schedule, tones where I need toning AND I actually enjoy doing it. For those of you that want to start making some changes towards an active and fit lifestyle, Mae is a fantastic place to start. She will work with you to determine your goals and customize a plan to achieve them.
Mae took the time to answer some questions for us…
What is your fitness philosophy?
My fitness philosophy is simple, enjoy health through fitness. I encourage clients, friends, and family to view fitness as an amazing opportunity to explore what our bodies are capable of, to live every day to it’s full potential through good health and happiness. I strongly believe that taking care of your body through fitness makes that possible.
What is the biggest challenge you see with clients looking to start a new fitness routine?
The biggest challenge clients commonly encounter is aligning their nutrition and fitness goals. Too frequently exercise is used to compensate for poor nutrition. In reality, no matter what your fitness goals are, proper nutrition will determine 80-85% of your success.
What are the benefits to hiring a personal trainer?
It is my philosophy that even personal trainers can benefit from having a personal trainer. On our own, and without direction, the great majority of exercisers do what they like to do and what know how to do the best-repeatedly, not what they need to be doing in order to achieve their desired results. Personal trainers offer a unbiased analysis of client’s exercise routine (if one exists) and lifestyle. Designing exercise programs focused on each individual’s goals, rather than being limited to what individuals are comfortable with. More clearly, in order to achieve results, clients must work beyond their comfort zone-challenging their bodies in different ways. In most instances, a personal trainer has the ability to teach clients the most efficient and effective way to do just that. Whether working to drop 20lbs+, train for a ultra marathon, loose the last stubborn 5lbs, or simply feel more confident and comfortable, everyone can benefit from knowing how to achieve these goals in the most efficient and effective way.
It is my belief that personal training should always be customized. For the sake of organization, I categorize training into the following: Personal training, Bootcamp, Nutrition/Lifestyle Coaching. From here, depending on your specific goals and preferred (need/want/ability) training frequency. The actual sessions MUST be customized for the simple scientific reason of bio-individuality. No two people will experience identical results despite identical environmental and physical conditioning-this is explained further in the next question.
Tell us more about customizing a workout.
Program customization is heavily influenced by client lifestyle, injury history, and muscular imbalance (often seen in posture analysis). It’s this customization and client individuality that makes my job so enjoyable and diverse! I hear far too often disappointed clients saying “I’ve been following this workout from Women’s Health/P90X/Etc. and I’m not seeing the results I want.” Although, I believe any form of physical activity is better than none, pre-designed workouts should, if at all, only serve as a start. Customization is vital because each individual has a fantastically unique 1.Body (frequently complicated by minor muscular imbalances/past injuries/etc.), 2.Timeline for achieving results (this includes lifestyle and schedule), and 3. Level of commitment/ determination. A common example of the importance of customization can be seen when two friends embark on a diet and exercise program together, and despite identical plans, one may experience fantastic results while the other sees none.
What do you suggest for people that really just don’t like the gym?
Fortunately, there are a great number of alternatives to the gym! Everything from hiking, endurance sports training, to in-home circuit work can be done without any gym time required. Measurable progress is extremely important for the success of any fitness program and luckily can be accomplished outside the gym as well. With the help of any of the following: -a Bio-impedance bathroom scale: measures not only weight, but estimates body fat too -tape measure: good indication of body composition changes -your performance: time/distance/percieved difficulty/lifting weight/repetitions/etc. -your favorite clothes and how they fit you: Use your “Skinny Jeans” -when they fit better, know you’ve made progress!
Do you advice for a client looking to start with a trainer?
First, determine what your fitness goals are and answer the following questions:
Why now are you looking for a personal trainer?
How often would you like to train 2x/wk, 3x/wk?
Do you enjoy group fitness settings (ie buddy/small group/bootcamp style training) or prefer one-on-one sessions?
What are your fitness goals (be specific) and why are they important?
Second, find the right trainer. Every trainer will have specific areas of specialty, find one that specializes in what you’d like to achieve. Take advantage of the common “Free consultation,” it’s great way to make sure you and your potential new trainer will get along well, after all, you will be spending a bit of time with them! Ask you friends for recommendations-word of mouth is a great way to connect with personal trainers who have good reputations in your community. Last, get committed. Now that you’ve decided to invest in your health, set yourself up for success. Establish and know your support system (ie family, friends, co-workers). Tell them about your fitness goals and what you will achieve. This creates a network of accountability beyond you and your personal trainer-it will help keep you accountable and committed to your goals.
What got you started in the industry?
I grew-up very physically active, playing high school sports (volleyball, softball, tennis, basketball, soccer, and tennis), and through-out my College career I enjoyed adapting to a gym routine. Although studying nutrition kept my drive for physical activity alive, I didn’t pursue a career in the fitness industry until a year after I graduated. Living in Colorado at the time, I was working a desk job (research and development)-when I decided to put my nutrition background to good use and help a close friend train for the 2010 St. George Iron-Man Triathlon. I was able to go to the competition and see him through the entire process, it was then that I realized I LOVED coaching, training, and enabling people to achieve their goals! I left my research job and after studying for my personal training exams and passing, moved out to San Diego. Although my background in nutrition, sports and physical activity definitely helped get me to where I am now, it is my passion for bringing enjoyable and effective fitness into people’s lives that keeps me loving my job every day.
What type of training/accreditation’s do you have?
Certifications: ACSM -American Council on Sports Medicine: Certified Personal Trainer NASM -National Academy of Sports Medicine: Corrective Exercise Specialist ACE -American College of Exercise: Lifestyle and Weight Management Coach Education/Specialties: BS from California Polytechnic State University Corepower Yoga Power 1 Teacher Certification Iron-Man, Sprint Triathlon, Marathon training TRX Suspension training, Road biking, and Tennis
Is there a common mistake that you see with your clients looking to get into shape?
Assuming cardio is the key to fat burning. For example: If a client spends 30minutes on the treadmill they will burn 30minutes of calories from fat, carbs, and muscle tissue-any and all fuel sources that the body can provide. Although clients shed weight, they are loosing lbs of both fat and lean muscle, resulting in a potential raise in % Body fat (not good)! In contrast, if a client lifts weights (does resistance work) for 30minutes, they will burn 30 minutes of calories from fat, not lean muscle. This occurs because when clients lift weights they are utilizing muscles, stimulating lean muscle growth, and reminding the body that we need to keep these muscles around; therefore, the body is forced to burn fat as its primary fuel. Resistance training for this reason is the most effective way to burn body fat (decrease %Body Fat) and change body composition, not cardio.
Contact MaeD Fit to set up your complimentary consultation!
Thanks Mae!
