The Fit List with Holly Perkins
Welcome back to The Fit List, where we ask leading health industry experts and professional personal trainers what they do to stay in shape. This week we spoke to Holly Perkins, established health and fitness expert who has been featured in several national publications including Women’s Health,SELF, and Fitness. Perkins also has her own line of fitness DVD’s including Fitness 360, 20 Minute Sweat, Celebrity Shed, and The Pink Ribbon Workouts. Here’s what she had to say about his healthy routine.
You have only ten minutes to exercise today, what do you do?
Strength Training has changed my life in incredible ways. I always prioritize my strength workouts over everything else – even showering! I would complete as many sets for a given body part as possible allowing 45 seconds of rest between each set. I could probably crank out 8 sets of varied movements!
If you could only recommend one fitness move what would it be?
The one move that you will do! Any exercise is better than none so do the one thing that you like! But if I were stranded on a desert island and only allowed one, it would be walking lunges for sure.
What time of day do you exercise?
I have a deep, deep love for morning workouts. The rest of my day is magical when I’m able to workout first thing before my clients.
Who’s your fitness idol and why?
This might sound a bit strange coming from me, but Arnold Schwarzenegger did amazing things in the world of body building. I study what he did back in the 70′s and am constantly inspired. Bruce Lee took his physical ability, discipline and mental strength to places that I cannot comprehend. When it comes to achieving fitness goals that seem impossible, I am inspired daily by the myriad of folks with physical limitations who fight against all odds and succeed.
What do you tell yourself when you don’t feel like working out?
Start slow and easy…but start. If I can’t find my motivation once I get moving, then I’ll allow myself to go home. When I do this, I nearly always have exceptional workouts.
My fitness mantra is:
“Slow and steady wins the race”
Cardio or weights?
Big, fat, heavy weights please! Move over boys!
Fave piece of fitness equipment:
That’s impossible! That’s like asking a mother which child is her favorite! Every piece of fitness equipment is special, talented and brilliant.
My fave healthy snack is:
I’m obsessed with Promax Vanilla Marshmallow Fit ‘n Crisp.
Biggest indulgence:
Massages!
How often do you exercise?
7 days per week, often twice per day. Simply because I love it so much. I wish someone would pay me to workout all day long. I could be an exercise surrogate!
The fitness app I can’t live without is:
I’m really loving MyFitnessPal because of the diet integration. But Jawbone Up is a close second!
Biggest fitness/health accomplishment:
I was terrified to turn 40, so I spent the year prior making radical changes to my health and fitness habits. I called it my 40 Body Project and when I arrived at my birthday I was in better shape than I had been in my 20′s or 30′s. I was stronger, more energetic, and leaner. It was really important for me to disprove the belief that getting older means your body deteriorates. In every single way my health and fitness were the best they had ever been.
My definition of “health” is…
Waking up feeling supremely charged, bounding through the day with vigor and excitement, and ending the day exhausted because you spent your energy inspiring the world with your spirit.
I feel passionate about health and fitness because….
It will change your life. It is all we have. Health, by your own definition, and a strong, capable body will carry you through life so that you can be your best self. By being the best version of yourself you’re able to inspire and help others and therefore contribute to the world.
Source: Parade.com