How to Reach Your Fitness Goals with Health & Fitness Enthusiast Ashley Joseph #MeettheG

How to Reach Your Fitness Goals with Health & Fitness Enthusiast Ashley Joseph #MeettheG

Hey G’s, I’m so happy to announce that our Meet the G series is back! For those who are new, this is a series where I interview some amazing folks killing the game in their respective industries. Not only will you gain insight on them personally but you’ll pick up some tips to implement for yourself! Today we’re chatting with Ashley Joseph, a Fitness & Health Enthusiast as well as Lifestyle & Beauty Content Creator based in Houston, Texas about how we can set and achieve our fitness goals this year!

Alexis Gonzalez: You’re very open on your platform and have shared with us that fitness wasn’t always a priority for you. So how did you become so dedicated to living a healthy lifestyle? How did your fitness journey begin?

Ashley Joseph: Growing up I was always involved in some sort of physical-related activity that involved some form of fitness. In middle and high school, I was a cheerleader, then for the first time (in what felt like forever) I wasn’t involved in any type of physical activity when I started college at LSU. This was the start of my wake-up call. I didn’t have any cheer practices or commitments to doing anything for a team – this was when I realized that fitness was a choice, not something that anyone would make me do. Every blue moon a friend and I would go to the recreation center to get some cardio in or take a Zumba class, but making it there on a regular basis was not a priority.

Fast forward to graduation in December of 2015 – I made it through without picking up “freshman 15” or a substantial amount of weight. However, months later after starting my career and entering the real world of catered breakfast/lunch on a daily and weekly dinners/happy hour dates, I quickly picked up weight and could no longer fit half of my wardrobe. This was when reality kicked in. For the first time ever, I was not happy when I looked in the mirror and I was disappointed in myself.

For the first time ever, I was not happy when I looked in the mirror and I was disappointed in myself.

– Ashley Joseph

Within a week of that reality check, I bought a gym membership and hired a trainer. Working out regularly became a part of my regular weekly routine, but my eating habits took a solid year or two to truly adjust. I ended up finding a love for fitness – so much that I was motivated to compete in my very first bikini competition in 2018. This is where a lot of my mindset shift transitioned due to realizing what I was capable of doing – 12 weeks of a low-carb diet with no sweets or alcoholic beverages was a challenge, but one that I’m proud to have completed and picked up so much discipline from. 

There is so much more I could share about my journey, but the most important takeaway is that fitness will not become a priority for anyone until there is a mindset adjustment and commitment to yourself and your health. There will be some good days and lots of bad ones, but the best part about committing to living a healthy lifestyle is knowing that no matter what, you’re committed to keep going. 

AG: Around this time of year many of us are starting to lose the motivation to stick to our health & fitness New Year resolutions! What are some tips you would recommend to someone who needs a little push to stay on track.

AJ: Everyday isn’t exciting and YOU WILL lose motivation. Carving discipline into your mindset is what will keep you going even when you don’t feel like it. Aside from that, here’s three other best practices that work for me: 

  1. Keep your end goal in mind! Why were you motivated to start in the first place?

2.  Keep it “fresh” – try new healthy recipes and workouts.

3. Get an accountability partner – your boo, bestie, or even an app that reminds you to get your life (lol).

AG: Getting started is usually the biggest and most difficult hurdle for someone who isn’t into fitness but wants to make that change. How would you recommend getting started in a way that is maintainable?

AJ: Just start! Stop overthinking and making excuses, and seriously just start. I highly recommend investing in a trainer while starting off, whether in-person or virtual. Doing this will help keep you accountable and feel more confident as far as where to even start, based on your personal goals. Also, if you’re paying for a service you are more inclined to make yourself do it (at least I am – better get my money’s worth, OK?!) 

If you can’t invest in a trainer (contact me for recommendations), purchase an online program that includes workouts, meal plan, grocery list, etc. for you to follow. I may or may not have something up my sleeve around this later in the year! 

AG: Okay, so we’ve made the decision to dive in! But maybe we’re still weary of hitting the gym in a pandemic, understandably so. How can we get the most out of our at home workouts, using minimal equipment?

AJ: Get you a set of dumbbells and resistance bands – there’s nothing you can’t do without these! I have lots of workouts posted on my Instagram that include little-to-no equipment and can be done from anywhere. 

Also, you’d be surprised at how great of a workout you can have from only using your bodyweight! I recommend using dumbbells/resistance bands for most of your workouts, but only using your bodyweight 1-2 times a week is still super productive. 

AG: What are some of your favorite workout apps/tools/equipment? 

  •  Myfitnesspal app: this is a must for tracking your food intake and monitoring fitness goals.
  •  Food scale: you need one of these for measuring your food and having portion control
  • Smart Scale: I don’t recommend checking this daily but I do recommend having one to monitor your monthly progress.
  • All of my fitness must-haves amongst other favorites can be found on my Amazon favoriteshere.

AG: Where can everyone find you? 

AJ: Find me on Instagram (ashleyjoseph_), and look for more platform launches to come during Q1 of this year 😉 Additionally, I link many of my other fitness, fashion and lifestyle must-haves on my liketoknowit, found here – give me a follow on all accounts so you don’t miss a beat!

Stay tuned for more Meet the G interviews with some amazing Creatives and Entrepreneurs moving forward! You can also check out previous interviews here.

Love,

G

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