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Shape Up With Ever Mainard: Tips from Professionals and Real People

I took a Zumba class and I loved it! So salsa! Much fun! I love dancing so this class was right up my alley. I had heard about this Zumba thing but was skeptical about it since Zumba sounds like the name of a puppet on a children’s show or a bad rice dish.

I always feel like a dumb-dumb walking into a class: You go in, you grab a towel, you stand there.. You wait for the class to start.. You start comparing yourself to others, you wonder what the others are thinking about you. Oh God, what do the others know that I don’t?! Should I just leave? I should just leave.

Then the music starts and a very cheerful person on the microphone makes you start dancing and suddenly you don’t care what other people are thinking because all you can think about is how much fun your having! Ladies! My hips where shaking, my knees were up, and I was reaching for the stars! Zumba is my jam! I bossed that class like a boss! Are you looking for a new Zumba boss? Because its me-Ever Mainard, Zumba boss.

This was a great introductory class for people who are hesitant about group exercise. I never felt judged and got a workout in without realizing I was working out. The class was predominately ladies with different body types and different ages. It was cool to see a 75-year-old woman kicking ass next to a 23-year-old with the body of a fitness model.

Overall I had a pretty good week. Could it have been better? Of course! Things could always be better, but at least they aren’t worse! (OK, seriously, even as I typed that I was like “Who am I?!”)

I lost two pounds and am starting to discover (lets be honest-re-discover) new muscles in my legs. My legs are starting to tone up with all of the kettle bell swings, lunges and incline runs I have been doing. Gettin’ taut, baby! I first noticed this as I was staring at myself in the mirror when I was running on the treadmill. Oh, what? Like you don’t do that? Sure, I could run outside, but then how would I know how many calories I’ve burned? MYFITNESSPAL DEMANDS CALORIE COUNTS! Sorry about that-Myfitnesspal has taken over my life.

I’ve also started to form my own virtual reality fitness team. It’s encouraging to hear messages from other people as I work towards my goals, and it’s even more fun encouraging others. I’ve never been much of a competitive person, but I’ve found that with this app I am challenging myself to stay on course with my friends.

I noticed that my friend Brittany was doing some serious calorie burns and weight loss. Since starting in December she has lost 30 pounds! I had to reach out and see what her secret was. Surely, with this amount of weight loss she had to be a wizard. Turns out that she isn’t a wizard, but just a really dedicated person. BUMMER! Brittany was kind enough to share some of her day-to-day habits and tips. One of the coolest things that Brittany told me about was her list of promises that she made to herself after reading Choose More to Loose More by Chris Powell.

AfterEllen: What does your typical day-to-day look like?

Brittany: Every morning I wake up and do 15 push ups, 15 sit ups, and 30 squats (15 normal and then 15 inner thigh.) Then I get on TRX bands and do some arm workouts. That’s my typical morning exercises. I take a multivitamin everyday, drink water before every meal, and if I can’t make lunch to take to work I bring protein powder.

AE: How do you track your fitness? And what type of workouts do you do?

Brittany: I use a Fitbit and sync it to MyFitnessPal. When I’m at home, I mainly do cardio on 15 incline because I feel like my legs will look better and also give me more of a challenge. I try to do cardio at least 45 minutes but sometimes that just doesn’t happen!

AE: Has it been hard staying away from junk food? Do you weigh yourself?

Brittany: I try not to eat after seven at the latest. I do eat shit food at work from time to time, so I think that pushes me to stay on the treadmill longer! Stupid Hershey bar eyeing me! I only weigh myself on Saturday mornings right after I wake up.

AE: I’ve heard that some people take a photo of themselves every week to track their performance- do you do that?

Brittany: I haven’t really taken any pictures during the process of my body because I think I want to be shocked when I do, so I take a picture of the scale so I can compare numbers. I’ve been losing at least two pounds a week.

AE: Do you have a cheat day?

Brittany: Saturdays are my cheat day! If I want something I have it, but I still try not to go too overboard… If I think I’ll be drinking or eating something high in calories I try to workout before hand.

It’s been really inspiring to “workout” with Brittany on MyFitnessPal. Sure, we don’t live in the same state, but its great to have someone that helps you push just a little bit more! I know that if I don’t workout I’ll be kicking myself when I see Brittany’s workout numbers later.

Thanks to your tips and tweets I also got to talk to some really rad queer personal trainers: Kristin Vallacher and Cari G.! These gals are kicking ass and taking names. (For clients, duh! Man, am I clever or what?)

Kristin Vallacher works in West Hollywood and is personal trainer, boot camp instructor and program designer, and occasionally a stand-up comedian. (Which is so weird because I’m a stand-up comedian and I occasionally work out!)

AfterEllen.com: What inspired you to train?

Kristin Vallacher: I danced competitively throughout my childhood and adolescence. I loved it, but was bullied for being gay relentlessly and mercilessly. The experienced turned me off from physical activity for years, until my early 20s when I realized I had a slew of medical problems: acid reflux, chronic pain in my lower back and knees, anxiety, and recurring strep throat. My girlfriend at the time, a personal trainer (and now my fiancĂ©!), paid for me to work with another trainer (Steve-I’ll never in a million years forget him) to help reduce my pain. Throughout our sessions I felt like I was getting an entirely new, strong body, and I knew I wanted to pay it forward every day of my life. So, here I am!

AE: Have you ever felt uncomfortable at a gym?

KV: Oh man, I used to hate gyms and refused to attend a group fitness class ever because I felt so uncomfortable! I just assumed everyone but me knew what they were doing (whereas, in reality, very few do), and I actually felt that way until I became a trainer. Since then, the gym has become my favorite social outlet.

AE: How did you overcome that?

KV: I never felt very comfortable in my own body, and at the gym. You have to face that discomfort head on-at least if you’re going to do something about it. Taking positive steps towards working on myself, and feeling myself get stronger helped me get over that.

AE: Have you ever felt discriminated against for being a queer woman in the fitness world?

KV: Um, yes. My very first day as a trainer included listening to a fellow trainer refer to Jackie Warner and Jillian Michaels, arguably the most influential queer women in the history of fitness, as “dykes.” I would say, though, that the majority of the discrimination I encounter has more to do with my sex than my sexuality. Today’s society-to an ever-decreasing extent, thankfully-encourages women to become small, not strong, and I’m no stranger to being evaluated as “less than” as a strength coach because I happen to be a woman. Even at a gym I’ve managed, male patrons have spoken to me as though I don’t even know what fitness is. I just focus on proving everyone wrong by being the greatest I can be. Every mean look or derogatory remark fuels me to become a better athlete, coach, and human being.

AE: What’s the best advice for people trying to live a healthy lifestyle?

KV: Be nice to yourself. You’re not going to do things perfectly every day, and that’s OK. The point is that you’re focusing on realistic, sustainable, and gradual change, and that you celebrate your progress. Take photos of yourself, record your workouts, try new recipes, and just use this time to really invest in yourself. Think of living a healthy lifestyle as a perpetual state of “Treat Yo’Self.”

AE: What’s the biggest challenge your clients face while training and how do you help them move through it?

KV: Across the board, the biggest challenge my clients face in their training has to do with understanding that, even though we’re adults, we’re not done growing, learning, and changing. Just because you couldn’t do a handstand last week doesn’t mean we can’t work together to have you do 10 by the end of the month; just because you aren’t happy at your job right now doesn’t mean you have to stay there. Fitness is a metaphor for personal development and expanding your competency and skill sets; it just happens to yield tangible, desirable consequences. Once this breakthrough takes place, we can really unlock their potential, and attack all of your goals-both in and out of the gym.

AE: What’s your favorite workout?

KV: It changes. I love designing workouts-for my clients, for Nike Training Club events, for the group fitness studio I coach at (The Phoenix Effect), and for myself. It’s such a wonderful creative outlet. My favorite workout these days, though, is a Crossfit Benchmark WOD called “Fran.” It consists of three rounds for time of barbell thrusters and pull-up’s (21, then 15, then nine repetitions each). It’s just straight-up nasty, and I love to do it once in a while to check in on my progress. The first time I attempted it, I couldn’t do the recommended weight for the thruster, and I couldn’t perform unassisted pull-ups, so the workout was a real ego bruiser. I also love to create barbell complexes: one of my favorites is called “The Thigh Gap Complex” and includes high-hang snatches, gladiator lunges, and sumo-deadlift high pulls.

AE: What is your favorite food?

KV: Depends on the day. If it’s a low-carb day, sashimi! If it’s a high-carb day, I’ll go anywhere with the word “tapas” on its menu.

You can find Kristin on Instagram as @Kristinvthe1st, and while her personal training website is under construction, the Phoenix Effect site has all of her pertinent info. She’ll also be featured on Nike soon as one of the NTC trainers on this year’s global tour.

I also got to chat with Cari G. a nature photographer, the author of Carries Characters and After All I’m Just a Ball, and a tennis professional with over 30 years of experience. Cari works in Newport Beach, CA. as well as Paris France! Ooh lalala!

AfterEllen: What inspired you to coach?

Cari G.: My love of tennis, children, and love of nature and animals.

AE: What advice do you have for people trying to live a healthy lifestyle?

CG: They need to just keep thinking they’re adding years to their lives and they will be here longer for the people that love them.

AE: Do you have any memorable moments?

CG: I have many great moments. I coached wheelchair tennis players for 20 years. One of my players became number one in the world, 10-time world champion and won 12 Olympic gold-medals. She was from the Netherlands she was just inducted into the tennis Hall of Fame. She is the first female inductee in a wheelchair. I went to Rhode Island to watch the induction it took three days it was amazing!

AE: Favorite workout?

CG: Tennis, baseball, and polo.

AE: What is the biggest challenge your clients face when training? How do you help them move through it?

CG: All about positive reinforcement and setting goals!

AE: Favorite food?

CG: Salad and Frozen Yogurt

You can find Cari on Twitter @carigarfieldmac and online at Cartgalleryonline.com

THIS IS WHAT I DID THIS WEEK!

Ladies, I am going to be real with y’all: I didn’t not do my kettle bell swings everyday. I am sorry, but that shit got real boring and I think you understand.

MONDAY

500 Kettle bell Swings

Treadmill Sprints 45 mins @ alternating speeds

TUESDAY

ZZZZZZ

WEDNESDAY

500 Kettle bell swings

5X20 Squat Jumps

Treadmill Sprints 25 mins @ alternating speeds and inclines

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

Treadmill Sprints 60 mins @ alternating speeds and inclines

SATURDAY

500 Kettle bell swings

5X20 shoulder presses

5X20 bicep curls

SUNDAY

2-hour hike

Lesbian Apparel and Accessories Gay All Day sweatshirt -- AE exclusive

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