Hi Frankie! Please tell us about yourself.
Hi friends! Originally from Fairbanks, I moved to Anchorage 8 years ago. My parents still live in Fairbanks, although they snowbird to Florida, and I have two older brothers on the East Coast.
My partner-in-crime, Elly, and I have been together 5 years and our 1-year wedding anniversary is coming up on Labor Day. Our dog, Koda, joins us on our adventures and our cat, Max, does cat things.
I work in marketing at The Alaska Club, which has been known to cause a few raised eyebrows when chatting with the Fig’s crew. I’m not a spy, really. These are the types of workouts I prefer and sometimes it’s hard to turn work ‘off.’
In addition to my day job, Elly and I are in our 2nd year of running Alaska Trail Guides, a company offering year-round bike tours. My hobbies include playing hockey, hiking, working out and reading.
How long have you worked with FF, and what initially inspired you to begin training with us?
I’ve been with Fig’s since April 2016 and Elly made inspired me to join. We were both unhappy with our lackluster fitness results via sporadic gym visits and were looking to get serious. She had gone to a few boot camps in the Beacon days so that’s where we focused.
What are a few things you’re most proud of accomplishing this past year?
Making it to Year 2 with our little business is a great feeling. We’ve learned so much about the process and we’re constantly working to make it better.
In February, I started making breakfast each morning and I really enjoy it. Before, I was having a piece of toast with a protein shake on the way out the door and it was so unfulfilling. Now I start the day with yummy food and eating at the table; I feel like it really sets the tone for the day.
I’ve also been focusing on being more efficient at work (using tips from the book The 4-Hour Work Week) which has helped my stress level A LOT. Although I don’t consider getting married an accomplishment, I do consider being married one so I should throw that in here.
Who or what inspires you?
That’s easy, Elly. Her passion and drive amazes me all the time. She’s a dreamer, always seeing great opportunities and is constantly challenging herself. She helps me enjoy each day and opens my eyes to a world of possibilities.
My parents also inspire me, I admire the life they’ve built together, and their support means a lot to me.
What are some of your favorite exercises?
I like functional movements like tire flips, box jumps and sled push/pulls. I also like the agility ladder and bench press.
How about a few of your favorite muscle groups to train?
Easily my favorite area to train is my upper body – arms, shoulders, back and chest.
Optimal health, what does this mean to you?
My first thought was, “Sounds like a gimmicky, marketing phrase.” But really, to me it means having an efficient and consistent lifestyle. Everything is dialed in and running smooth.
What advice would you give someone looking for ways to motivate themselves to start or maintain a fitness program?
In terms of starting a fitness program: don’t be so hard on yourself and understand that it’s not all going to come together overnight. It’s going to be challenging and overwhelming sometimes but stick with it and you’ll figure it out.
I remember when I started counting macros – I could not hit my protein goals to save my life and everything seemed to blow my carb and fat numbers sky-high. I thought for sure the rest of my days would be spent eating chicken breasts, egg whites and protein shakes.
What are some of your preferred ways to rest and recover?
Honestly, when I sink into the couch in the evening, everything just melts away. Popcorn and a little Netflix are bonuses. I also like to read, cook and do puzzles like Sudoku. Traveling is another good one but doesn’t happen nearly as often. One day…
What new goals do you have planned for the remainder of 2018 and beyond?
Well once tourism season started, AKA summer, I’ve only made time for one workout a week. So, it’s time to get back into it – at least 3 workouts per week.
I’ve tried yoga a few times and I want to work in one class a week for improved mobility; then eventually be able to do Crow pose and a handstand. I found a nifty article on gym benchmarks (here) that I plan to work on.