The International WeLoveU Foundation hosted “Healthy Habits Webinar Presents: Fitness with Compel Fitness,” on Wednesday, April 27, 2022. Compel Fitness is a personal training company with over 20 locations on the East Coast and offers virtual training programs. WeLoveU’s Executive Director Duane Ford interviewed four members of the Compel Fitness team.

Starting Small

Laura Ash, virtual head trainer of Compel Fitness, highlighted the importance of nutrition, initial movement, and resistance training. She highlights having the right mindset toward nutrition and starting light physical activities as an excellent foundation for beginning a fitness journey.

“Instead of making drastic changes, you can make small changes that you can do forever. You can start as small as cutting a soda out of your diet and tracking your steps daily.” Ash then emphasized the importance and benefits of adding resistance training. “Resistance training is going to be the best way to help you reach your goals because it will help speed up your metabolism and help you burn body fat while you are at rest.” These manageable and practical tips can help build a solid fitness foundation. 

High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT)

Alexandra Sablan is a virtual coach at Compel Fitness, and she emphasizes the importance and benefits of resistance band and high-intensity interval training (HIIT). Beyond the fact that you can do these workouts at home and that they burn fat in a shorter time, Sablan had more benefits to share.

“Resistance band and HIIT training cause you to go into fight or flight mode, which releases cortisol to your brain. This helps you burn and break down all of the fats and carbs in your body. It also speeds up the heart rate, which helps control your blood pressure, strengthen your heart, increase endurance, boost your mood, activate your immune system, and lower your blood sugar.” Although these great benefits accompany HIIT, Sablan clarified that each individual has their own fitness goals and should seek a trainer to get customized guidance. 

Fitness Misconceptions

Finally, WeLoveU welcomed Lauren Fisher, head trainer at Compel Fitness, who broke down some common fitness myths. Many of Fisher’s female clients fear doing resistance training because of gaining too much muscle. “A lot of what men have that women don’t is testosterone, so resistance training will help build either a feminine or masculine body.”

People also believe that doing tons of cardio is the best way to work out. Fisher said, “A lot of times when we are doing cardio, our body is being trained to be as light as possible, so although we are losing weight, we may be losing muscle instead of fat.” In the end, there was a lot to take away from tonight’s webinar. Afterward, the evening wrapped up with a fun 31-day challenge from Ms. Ash. Will you try the challenge to reach your fitness goals?

Read or watch last month’s webinar titled, “Healthy Habits Webinar Presents: Nutrition With Compel Fitness.“