Warning: the following photos will give you ab envy like no other and the sudden urge to get active. I’m hoping they also give you a boost of motivation to push it hard in your fitness routine this week! I recently talked about setting goals and getting back on track with my running routine and I figured it was high time I got a pro’s perspective on the areas of fitness that I struggle with most.
We’re going behind the scenes with Jena Kirby, a personal trainer and nominee of this year’s Shape Magazine 50 Hottest Female Trainers award. She answered my burning questions when it comes to getting fit, living an active lifestyle and her career. Enjoy!
We’re going behind the scenes with Jena Kirby, a personal trainer and nominee of this year’s Shape Magazine 50 Hottest Female Trainers award. She answered my burning questions when it comes to getting fit, living an active lifestyle and her career. Enjoy!
What does your job as a personal trainer entail?
I am a certified personal trainer by ISSA, certified Spin instructor by SPINNING and level 1 TRX certified. With my ISSA certification, I have knowledge of weight training, cardiovascular training, program development, basic nutrition, and exercise with all age ranges, as well as exercising while pregnant.
What made you decide you wanted to be a personal trainer?
I had Strength and Conditioning class in high school, which I really enjoyed. I realized how much stronger I was than most other females and I enjoyed being strong. Then, when I was 18 I decided to enter in a bikini competition and instead of going on a crash diet like some of the girls, I hired a personal trainer to prepare me to wear an extremely small bikini! My trainer, Kirk, was a bodybuilder in his younger years and prepared me for the bikini competition as he would for a bodybuilding competition. I felt so healthy, looked amazing in a bikini, and had a newfound love of lifting weights. He taught me so much while I was with him that he changed my life more than he knows, so I decided to be certified in hopes that I can help change at least one person’s life.
Editor’s note: Jena and I went to High School together, but I opted for the basic gym class – typical. Oh how I wish I could go back in time.
Editor’s note: Jena and I went to High School together, but I opted for the basic gym class – typical. Oh how I wish I could go back in time.
What does a typical day look like for you?
I actually just moved to Hawaii! I do not have a job here yet, but in the near future, I will start applying to places. My last job at a gym was in my hometown of Topeka, Kansas. I prefer to train in the morning so I can have my evenings at home. I would wake up around 3:30 a.m. to get ready for my first client at 4:30. I would usually work until around noon, which is wild to think I had already worked a 7-hour day by the time most people head to lunch! Then I would get in my workout for the day, run errands, prep my food cooler to take to work the next morning and be in bed by 8 p.m.
Where do you workout?
I was incredibly fortunate to find the love of my life at such a young age and marry him when I was just 21 years old. He joined the Army and since then we have lived in South Korea, Alabama, Germany and now the island of O’ahu. I have exercised in so many different kinds of gyms whether they are on Army posts that cannot afford new equipment or big brand new state of the art gyms. I have to say, my backyard here in Hawaii has to be my most favorite of all. I have just a few essential items here at my house but being out in the sun on the ocean is the best place on earth to sweat out a few calories! Luckily, our Army post is just twenty minutes from home and there are a couple of gyms I can go lift weights at as well as a yoga studio just a block away from my house! However, every weekend my husband and I are out enjoying the island, which includes lots of snorkeling, paddle boarding, or just out for a swim. Those are my favorite kinds of workouts.
What’s your trick to sticking to a workout regimen?
I truly wish there was a trick. You need to think of how bad you want your goal on a daily basis without becoming overly obsessed about it. If you obsess too much, you may get burnt out quicker, so try to find a happy medium to mix life and health together. When you are working out, make every minute of it count!
If you could give young women a piece of advice on how to stay motivated, what would you say to them?
I believe every woman has to figure it out for herself that they want to be healthy for a lifetime instead of just one season. My advice would be to keep setting those small goals to look confident in a swimsuit for summer but to remember they are creating a solid foundation of health to keep them active for the rest of their lives. Don’t just try to be skinny, be healthy and fit…that comes in many shapes and sizes.
How would you describe your workout wardrobe?
My husband would probably just say, “expensive.” Haha! I cannot even tell you how many pairs of yoga pants I have, and somewhere in the dozens for workout tank tops. Right now, I am wearing dark gray Nike Dri Fit pants and matching sports bra and a hot pink Under Armor Fitted ‘heat gear’tank top. Even in the cold winter in Germany, I still wore tank tops to the gym because I do not like the restriction I feel from t-shirts. The Nike Medium support sports bras are my absolute favorite so every time I find a Nike outlet store I stock up on more colors. As for all my tank tops, most of them are Under Armor because I love their neon colors. I have recently discovered Lululemon though, and I feel like I will get in a lot of trouble there soon.
If you had to pick just one move that would lift and tighten those buns, what would it be? (I may or may not be in need of said move.)
The ultimate move to get a nice, tight tushy has to be the squat! If you can learn this movement correctly and keep adding weight to make it hard work, you will see a difference very soon in your backside.
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| All photos via LHGFX Photography and David Bickley Photography |
What’s more important, diet or exercise? Cardio or strength training?
It all works together! Without one, you will not see much of a benefit to the other. This is why I love all kinds of workout styles. I enjoy lifting weights, yoga, Pilates, Crossfit, TRX, swimming and many other activities, because it allows me to be fit in all endeavors of life. Moreover, without my food consumption being somewhat close to what my body needs to recover, I would not be able to make much progress.
You were recently nominated as one of Shape Magazine’s 50 Hottest Female Trainers, that’s an amazing accomplishment! What do you attribute your success to?
Thank you! I will never forget the moment I received the email from Shape magazine telling me I was one of the 50 Hottest Trainers for 2014! I actually cried…a lot. I am very fortunate that I get to enjoy life as much as I do. I have had some amazing opportunities in my 27 years of life. I would not be where I am today if it were not for my husband, my parents and brothers, and my best friends…and thanks to my abs for making me look good in photos.
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I think the highlight of this interview for me was when Jena states that you have to want to be healthy for yourself and you have to want it for a lifetime. I know what I need to do and you know what you need to do. So let’s do it.
If you need me, I’ll be doing squats until 2015. You can follow along with Jena’s amazing photos over on her Instagram account!
What did you think? Was this the motivation you needed to take things to the next level?
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I think the highlight of this interview for me was when Jena states that you have to want to be healthy for yourself and you have to want it for a lifetime. I know what I need to do and you know what you need to do. So let’s do it.
If you need me, I’ll be doing squats until 2015. You can follow along with Jena’s amazing photos over on her Instagram account!
What did you think? Was this the motivation you needed to take things to the next level?
I’m linking up with Life of Meg today 🙂
This is the Monday kick in the butt I needed. Jena is definitely inspirational, thanks so much for sharing this with us 🙂
Well this makes me feel like a lazy fatass… haha! But on a serious note, my brother is a personal trainer and it’s such an awesome job!
This absolutely makes me want to hit the gym tonight! What a great interview! She is amazing!
Holy motivation!
Wow, what an inspiring interview. I love how strong is the new skinny. I love interval training and lifting weights and have seen a huge improvement in my strength and flexibility.
great post!!
Jen
This is so motivating!! I also love how Jena talks about getting in shape for yourself and not just for one season. You’re so right that we know what we need to do, but just have to do it. I’ll be doing squats, too:) Great interview!
Wow! Ugh, I was thinking about skipping bar tonight, but I should probably go now! ha!!!
Holyyyyyyy…….. holyyyy yeah. Amazing!
I would die for a stomach like that. I will definitely be doing squats and planks too 🙂
Umm I can’t decide if I want to go run 30 miles or just eat a giant tub of ice cream in despair. WOW. Talk about motivation!
Nikki
thefashionablewife.com
This was just the post I needed to read. She is one inspiring lady! And how awesome that you went to high school together. I too loved her outlook on wanting to be fit for yourself and building a healthy lifestyle. Keep the inspiration coming!
xo,
cait
http://gussied-up.blogspot.com
Jena has some abssssssss, man, FOR REAL. 🙂
-Ashley
http://lestylorouge.com
Great interview, Jess! Jena sure can produce some major motivation just by looking at her…gorgeous!
Shannon
Clothes & Quotes
Well you weren’t kidding about abs of envy. Soooo yeah I’m going to go do a million crunches…..
Told ya! haha
Thank you, Shannon! She sure can 😉
Things I don’t have. But want oh so badly!
Thanks so much, Cait! I will for sure 😉
Haha Nikki, I know that feeling all too well!
I second that statement 😉 Thanks for reading, Jana!
My sentiments exactly.
I skipped last night and I’m skipping again tonight because my legs are so sore from running. I have all this motivation that I can’t use just yet! haha
Yes! I never want to go into that yo-yo routine. I want it to be for a lifetime 🙂 Thanks miss Kari!!
Meee too!! Thanks for the kind words, Jen! p/s get it girrrrl!
Right?! (insert wide eyed emoji here)
Thank you, Rachel! She really is. I would kill for a body half that fit haha.
Bahahaha. Girl, you are far from it!
Thank you for reading 😉 I’ve been needing this kick in the rear for quite some time now.
That will most definitely help! Being close to the facility I’m working out at is always #1 on my list. I can’t wait to hear what classes you decide to take! Maybe i’ll have to join ya sometime 😉