Kim Frazier: Amazing Fitness Story

1) What inspired you to improve your fitness and join a facility like The Fitness Edge (FE)?

In early 2014 we had just returned to Boulder County after living in Singapore for two years. While that was a fantastic life experience, my eating and exercise habits suffered because I spent a lot of time traveling around Asia and Australia while there, which included sampling all the local food and drink. Long story short, I gained a good bit of fat weight and lost some muscle while there.

We all know there is no shortage of gym and workout options here in Colorado. As soon as we got resettled here, I started asking and googling around to identify where I thought I could get the best results, and enjoy the process. I know if I don't like something I just won't stick with it long-term. I found Fitness Edge online and contacted Scott. He responded quickly and seemed really knowledgeable and personable. I came in to meet him, check out the gym and to try a workout, and two years later, I'm still training with him three days a week. I love that Scott makes workout fun, I like the varied types of equipment that he has to work with, and most of all, I've gotten really great results. I like being a part of a gym community where "Every Body" is welcome. Scott trains really talented competiive athletes, and he trains regular people of all ages who want to get and stay fit.

2) What is your biggest challenge when it comes to staying consistent with both your nutrition and fitness?

I still like to travel and my husband and I love to eat out. So making good choices when there are so many delicious "bad" choices is still a challenge. I've realized that I can remain pretty healthy and fit if I make good choices about 90% of the time, and the rest of the time eat and drink "off plan." That has turned out to be really sustainable for me, and my weight doesn't start to creep up.

As for the workout part, that is just simply non-negotiable for me. The truth is I am lazy and that's a big reason why I invest in a trainer. I know Scott is at the gym waiting for me to show up, and I know that on the days I least feel like training, I will feel a million times better once that hour of training is complete. So I just put on my workout clothes, get in my car, and go get it done. After an hour of lifting heavy stuff, talking and laughing with Scott, and doing some crazy and challenging higher intensity stuff at the end, it's guaranteed -- my mood and mindset are vastly improved, and I've made one more deposit in the workout bank. It's no exaggeration to say that my whole life is better because I exercise faithfully, and because Scott makes sure to combine strength, flexibility/mobility, and cardiovascular training. We need it all.

3) What is your favorite exercise and why?

That's a hard one for me, because so many different exercises confer important and needed benefits. But if I had to pick one, I guess I'd say the kettlebell swing, because it's so efficient in combining strength, power/explosiveness, and cardiovascular training. Even if you only have a few minutes, you can get a well-rounded training session done with some kettlebell swings if you do them with good, safe form.

4) What do you do mentally to stay focused? on your health goals?

I think about what my future would look like if I didn't stay committed to training and eating healthy food. My greatest fear is not dying, but is living poorly. I do not want to age with pain and weakness, and not be able to take care of myself. I want to be able to fit in clothes that I enjoy wearing, carry and move heavy things when I need to, run around and enjoy this incredible place where we live, and see as much of the world as possible before I die. Possessions are nice, but really, our body is where we live, and if our bodies break down or can't function properly, our life just isn't what it could be or should be. While we don't have total control over what happens to us or to our health, we do have a large amount of control. My intention is consistently take actions and make choices I can to stay as healthy and vibrant as I can for as long as I can. I'm 55, and my parents both died in their early 60s. I plan to do everything I can to have my life turn out differently. And not to be morbid, but even if I croaked tomorrow or everything goes south for any reason, I know I died trying. That matters to me.

5) What do you enjoy most about FE?

Scott is, no kidding, kind of a genius, and he's also just a really nice person and he wants the best for everyone who walks into his gym. When I say he's a genius I mean that I can tell him something that I'm stuggling with health or fitness-wise, or a new health goal that I've dreamed up, and he will figure out a way to adjust our training or to introduce new elements into my training accordingly.

For example, a while back I told him that it's really important to me to keep my brain sharp along with my body. I told him I hate those online computer "brain game" thingies, and wondered if we could do stuff in the gym that would challenge my brain while training my body. He immediately started devising these segments for the end of my workout, when I'm already physically and somewhat mentally fatigued, during which he has me do things that really do cause my mind to have to work hard along with my body. We have started calling it "brainstorming" and it's really effective and fun. He and I both can tell that as a result, my brain processing speed and reaction time have improved dramatically!