Interview with a Fitness Instructor: Kenta Seki and a GIVEAWAY!

I’m still riding my “Boston Qualifier” high, as well as taking a little break from running. I have taken a [solidcore] class or two, but have otherwise just been relaxing. However, I have to admit a week off is giving me the itch to get started again! In addition to wanting to run again, I want to try to incorporate more cross training in, at least as much as I can while training for the London Marathon. And sometimes in order to squeeze it in, there’s no time to head to the gym. Instead, I have been looking at different options to stream classes at home.

I was recently contacted about FitFusion.com, which is like Netflix but for workouts. There are hundreds of streaming workout videos onFitFusion.com from celebrity trainers, such as Jillian Michael. Membership is $9.99/month, which gets you access to all of the videos.

Sounds pretty awesome!
Today, I have a quick interview with one of the trainers on FitFusion.com, Kenta Seki. Kenta Seki is  a BODYSHRED Master Trainer and also Jillian Michael’s protégé.  She just helped him create his first workout DVD’s that launched on FitFusion.com this past January. I had the opportunity to ask him some questions about finding “The Right Fit” in fitness, and here are his answers:

Please tell me a bit about yourself and your background- how and when did you get into fitness?
I started practicing Yoga when I was 9 years old, and I fell in love with the body and how it moves. I started teaching Yoga when I turned 16, and became a personal trainer at 18. Since then I started working with many of the fitness industry leaders, like UFC, BOSU, and Jillian Michaels.

What do you expect to see become more popular over the next few years in fitness?
Definitely shorter workouts are becoming more of the craze. People just don’t want to make the time for a full hour workout, so more and more gyms and DVD programs are releasing 30 minute workouts. The fitness DVD market is also on a decline, so the majority of filmed workouts are moving to streaming media sites, like FitFusion.com. I’m releasing my own DVDs on there later this month!

A lot of my readers are distance runners- what Jillian Michael’s classes would you recommend for them?
Jillian currently only has one group fitness program, BODYSHRED. It’s a HIIT 30 minute class that challenges everyone- whether you’re a sprinter or a marathon runner, this class can be a great addition to your training regimen. Changing up your workouts can be really beneficial for your overall health & performance.

What are some of your most important diet tips and advice?
Eat clean. I always recommend avoiding unnatural flavors, colors, and preservatives. Ideally choose as many organic and non-GMO products as possible, and generally the less ingredients in your packaged food the better. In the beginning I didn’t like the taste of many natural foods, but the longer I ate clean the more I start to cringe at the taste and even sight of processed foods.

What are some of your favorite fitness apparel items right now?
I swear by my Bluetooth headset. I can’t believe I ever use to have wires tangled around me during my workouts! I’m also loving my Apple watch. The simplicity of just being able to change my music from my wrist rather than having to reach into my pocket is both a godsend for functionality and a curse for my laziness.

Tell me how you stay motivated when you’re having trouble getting pumped to do a workout.
Just make it happen! No matter what it is that my mind is starting to tell me… whether it’s that I’m too tired, or too busy, or should go to this other event… I know to prioritize my workouts and my health. No matter how I feel going in to the gym, I always leave feeling glad I went.

What is your biggest challenge in staying in shape and how do you overcome it?
Personally my biggest challenge is building and keeping muscle! My genetics naturally lead me to be very thin, so I’m in a constant battle with my metabolism to force down food and build muscle. My saving grace are my supplements and snacks. I make sure no matter where I go, I always have bars, snacks, and protein shakes with me so I can always take something down every few hours- whether I’m hungry or not.

Thanks Kenta!

GIVEAWAY!
Do you want to try out FitFusion.com for free? I have TWO free 2-month trials to give away to you if you’re interested in checking it out.

Just leave a comment here about your favorite (non-running) workout. If you’re also willing to share, tell me if you currently work out at home; if so, do you stream any classes? Purchase DVD’s? Make it up as you go?

I’d love to know how you fit fitness in at home! I’ll leave the giveaway open for a week and then randomly select two winners. Good luck!