I am so excited to introduce you to one of my friends and strength trainer, Blaze Shipley. She is beautiful inside and out, and has a passion for helping others achieve their fitness and nutrition goals.
Blaze and I met in Arizona when our husbands were teammates on the Cardinals and have kept in touch ever since. In addition to being a wonderful wife and mother, she started Blaze Shipley Fitness and became a wellness trainer. How awesome is that?! She trains clients by providing them an online wellness/fitness plan, including supplement recommendations, nutrition suggestions, and a step-by-step workout regimen! And she stays by your side every step of the way 🙂
Without further ado, here are some of Blaze’s tips & tricks!
Q: IF SOMEONE IS TRYING TO LOSE WEIGHT OR GET TONED, HOW MANY DAYS A WEEK SHOULD THEY WORK OUT?
A: One thing I try stressing to my clients is that everyone is different. It’s important to remember that we are all beautifully unique in our own way. What works for you may not work for someone else. However, for those trying to tone or lose weight, I would recommend working out at least 3-4 days a week. It all just depends on what their goals are and how their body responds to certain training.
Q: WHAT IF SOMEONE IS HAPPY WITH WHERE THEIR BODY IS AT. HOW MANY DAYS A WEEK SHOULD THEY WORK FOR MAINTENANCE?
A: I believe that to maintain a healthy and happy weight, consistency is key. You would want to make sure that you’re not making any drastic changes in your diet or exercise regimen.
“STRONG IS THE NEW SKINNY”
Q: DO YOU BELIEVE IN THE 80% DIET 20% EXERCISE? IF NOT, WHAT % WOULD YOU GIVE?
A: I’m a firm believer that diet should be your main priority. If you’re working out excessively but not fueling your body correctly, that will show. It will not only show physically but it will also be evident in the way that you feel. It’s extremely challenging to maintain good energy, balanced hormones and optimal health if you aren’t eating enough proper nutrition. They say that abs are made in the kitchen and I truly believe that to be true.
Q: HOW IMPORTANT ARE VITAMINS & SUPPLEMENTS TO GET THE RESULTS YOU WANT TO SEE?
A: A lot of people believe that you can receive your daily nutrition by solely taking vitamins and supplements. However, the best and most efficient way to get in vitamins and minerals is by the food you eat. Yes, it is beneficial to take vitamins/supplements, but it is not wise to depend on them independently. I personally take pre-workout because let’s be honest, momma’s have to sustain their energy not only through their workout but also before and after. A little caffeine never hurt anyone! 😉 I also take BCAA’s to help with muscle soreness. Aside from that, I don’t believe it necessary to take supplements such as fat burners, etc. to get the results you want. Eating clean, training hard, and getting a healthy amount of sleep are the three big factors to looking good and feeling good.
Q: FAVORITE QUOTE THAT WILL GET YOU MOTIVATED TO GO TO THE GYM?
A: My favorite motivational quotes would have to be:
“It all begins and ends in your mind. What you give power to, has power over you if you allow it.”
“The one who falls and gets up is so much stronger that the one who never will.”
Q: TOP 3 SONGS THAT WILL GET YOU PUMPED TO START YOUR SET.
A: This is a hard one for me! The music I choose while working out usually depends on what mood I’m in. I love Hailee Steinfeld, Bruno Mars and NeedtoBreathe. They are all really different from each other but they make great Pandora stations.
“STOP BEING AFRAID TO LIFT”
Q: WILL YOU OFFICIALLY DEBUNK THE MYTH THAT WOMEN CAN’T LIFT WEIGHTS OR ELSE THEY WILL BE TOO BULKY?
A: Says who?!?! This is my pet peeve! I have had more girls than I can count come to me and say “I don’t want to lift because I am afraid of getting bulky.” LADIES. First of all, strong is the new skinny. Am I right or am I right? What women don’t understand is how much heavy lifting/eating it takes for our estrogen filled bodies to get to that physical state. You cannot and will not reach your goals (even if you are just wanting to lose weight) without incorporating at least some weight training into your workout regimen. Fun fact: You actually burn more calories weight training than you do performing cardio. This is because you only burn calories WHILE running, not afterwards. After weight training, your body can burn calories for UP TO 38 HOURS! Moral of the story, stop being afraid to lift. You will thank me later.
Q: WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE MOVES FOR RESULTS?
A: Squats, squats, and more squats! I am also a sucker for different types of bicep curls. Sounds so cliché but they both really do wonders without getting too complicated.
“WHAT YOU GIVE POWER TO HAS POWER OVER YOU, IF YOU ALLOW IT”
Q: HOW LONG BEFORE & AFTER WORKOUTS IS IT IDEAL TO EAT? WHAT ARE YOUR GO-TO PRE & POST WORKOUT SNACKS?
A: You should eat within 30-45 minutes after your workout. Sometimes it’s difficult to work up an appetite after leaving the gym, but it’s so important feed your muscles as soon as you can after they’ve been depleted. For a pre-workout snack, you’ll want to include a simple carb and protein. For example: bananas/rice cake and nut butter or greek yogurt with fruit. Post-workout snacks should include complex carbs and protein. For example: grilled chicken and brown rice or a hearty protein shake.
Q: WHAT DOES LIVING A FIT LIFE MEAN TO YOU?
A: If you would have asked me this question 5 years ago, I would have had a completely different answer than I do now. I believe that living a fit life doesn’t mean you have to have rock hard abs, the smallest waist or the best booty. To me, it means living a healthy lifestyle. It’s easy to compare yourselves to other fitness junkies or even just other people in general because of the way social media has a hold of our minds. We think we have to look a certain way or be someone we’re not in order to find happiness, but that’s not and shouldn’t be the case. Like I said before, what you give power to has power over you, if you allow it!
If you’d like to reach out to Blaze, e-mail her at blazeshipleyfitness@gmail.com
[…] Blaze said in our Healthy Lifestyle Q&A, strong is the new skinny. It felt empowering going to the weight room and lifting. Don’t be […]