She’s no ‘new kid on the block’. Ashley is a Fitness Mag cover girl, WBFF Pro and respected fitfluencer. We really love her approach to social media, where she shares a lot of healthy VS fit content using her own physique! Which goes to show that; STRONG is most definitely the new SKINNY! Live Fit!
Her training
What do you do on the tough days, when motivation levels are low?
For me my lifestyle is all about how my training and nutrition makes me feel from the inside. So even when my motivation levels are low or I’m struggling mentally I focus more on the feeling of how I will feel after I get through a workout, and I don’t dwell on the “Man I don’t feel like it today” emotions. And guaranteed, every time I feel a million times better afterwards.
Do you change your approach to training from time to time?
Yes I do! I like to change things up now and then because I get bored easily. In general I keep the format similar , ie legs on a Monday and a Friday and 2 full body sessions a week, but within those guidelines I switch modalities up. I go on how I feel and what I feel my body is going to enjoy most when I walk into the gym.
What are you loving right now?
Right now I’m absolutely loving high intensity full body focused training. I’ve been incorporating a lot of plyometrics and stretching and I just love the fitness levels that have come with it. I love to challenge myself against the clock and get my heart rate up and work up a nice little glow!
How she eats
Do you get help from a nutrition coach?
I don’t. I was diagnosed with hypoglycaemia at the age of 14, so for more than half my life I’ve had to learn how to eat nutritious foods that feed my body for what it needs and keep my blood sugar levels stable. It was more of a health issue than a reason to try drop weight or anything. I eat intuitively and I listen to my body’s hunger signals. As a general rule of thumb I stick to the basics of getting a good protein, carbohydrate and fat source in my 3 main meals and I stay away from dairy, simple carbohydrates and refined sugars as far as possible.
Do you eat the same food on the days you don’t train as in the day days you do?
I typically train 6 days a week and take Sunday as a rest day and usually that would be a “cheat” meal, so I actually would eat a higher calorie cheat meal on my rest day. But that said, I don’t track calories or stick to a set meal plan at all. If I want something a little “naughty” then I have it but I have it in moderation.
What have you found has been the easiest way to stick to a diet, other than sheer will power?
My ultimate goal is to eat balanced and still enjoy my food without allowing any restrictions or goals to consume me. The biggest take-away for me is that your nutrition should be a lifestyle and if you are eating foods that make you feel bloated and lethargic, puffy and sleepy then why are you eating it?
I can very easily bypass something that I know tastes amazing purely based off of how I know it’s going to affect my stomach or energy levels afterwards. It’s just not worth it for me. This has taken a long time of listening to my body and of course having will power to stay away from foods. After not having bad foods for a while, then eating them again, I picked up on how terrible I felt so I choose to stay away instead. Also, importantly, because my daily “diet” is very well balanced and contains a wide variety of all the needed macro and micronutrients, I don’t easily fall off the wagon by binging because my body is not craving bad stuff.
Yay or nay – her thoughts on…
Long steady rate cardio: nay
Oats in the morning. Yay
Training in a crop top: Yay
Burpees: Yay
Gym selfies. Yay
Pre-workout nutrition: Yay
Intra-workout nutrition: Nay
Post-workout nutrition: Yay
Grilled hake: Yay
Fat burners: Nay
Deadlifts: YAY YAY! A must-do in your routine!
Crossfit: Yay – I did crossfit for a while last year and if you are doing it right and with the right guidance your results will be amazing!
Sports massage: Yay
Cheat meals: YAY!
Early morning training time: Yay
Training partner: Yay
Running: Yay and nay – I love it but I suffer terrible shin splints, so I struggle.
Social media: Yay
Active rest: Yay
EMS, tried it? Yes, and a yay!
Final thoughts?
There is no right or wrong way to get fit and healthy. Stick to the basics of nutrition, listen to your body and do it for you! Cut out the everyday naughty things like the carbonated drinks, the sweet snacks and overdosing on caffeine in the form of coffee (keep it to 2 a day), and you will see small changes.
Don’t ever tell yourself you can’t have something , just tell yourself you can have it right now, then plan it for your cheat meal. Learning how to balance out your treats or cheats take time, but you will get there if you’re consistent.
It’s the small changes you make that end up being big results. And it doesn’t matter what you do when it comes to training. I always say, “I don’t care if you Zumba, crossfit, ballet, swim or lift like a boss… just MOVE.”
Move your body in a way that makes you happy because if you’re not loving it you are not going to stick to it. Find what works for you and do that, everyday, and then find other things you love and do those too and then mix them up.
Lots of Love –
Connect with her on Instagram
Photos by James Patrick
Author: Tanja Schmitz
Founder and Editor of Fitness Magazine. You’ll find her behind her computer or on her bike, dreaming up new ways to improve or create content for you.
No matter how many mistakes you make or how slow you progress, you are still way ahead of everyone who isn’t trying