How This Equinox Trainer Gets Swimsuit Ready!
You guys!! It’s so close I can FEEL it!!! What is that you ask?! SUMMER – AKA Bikini season! Can you tell that I’m just a teeny tiny bit excited about that?! We’re starting to see the sun and feel our hands when we’re walking outside in Chicago and I couldn’t be MORE grateful.
SO, I thought – what better way to kick off Spring really arriving this weekend than with a post on how we can get Bikini Ready?! There are still a few months until it’s truly here in Chicago if we’re being totally honest, so hopefully this post can help you get on track.
A few spoilers for you – Danielle Hess is a personal trainer at Equinox Chicago Loop, so you will get the inside scoop on the popular fitness establishment, she STRONGLY believes in girls lifting weights (honestly, just doing cardio isn’t helping anyone in a bikini!), eating clean AND indulging in the cookie once in a while. Need I say more? Read on to get yourself pumped for those warmer months and to take in some amazing knowledge from Danielle!
Q: OK, so I know that you’re an amazingly fit Equinox Personal Trainer, but can you tell the readers a bit about who you are?
A: I am originally from the East Coast but moved to Chicago four years ago to attend law school. I fell in love with the city (how can you not)?! and decided to make this my new home.
Fitness and clean eating has always been a big part of my life, but I didn’t really fall in love with it until law school. Between the stress and crazy hours, I needed an outlet.
When I am not training or working out, I love exploring new areas in the city, going to brunch with friends, and binge-ing any new Netflix show there is!
Q: It really is an amazing outlet for stress! What made you want to become a trainer and how have you gotten to where you are today – were ya born fit?! 😉
A: I was definitely NOT born fit. I was never the kid in high school to play sports and I am not really athletic whatsoever. When I started my fitness journey I started doing yoga and then found my way into yoga sculpt (yoga incorporating weights).
Even though I graduated law school this past May, I decided to follow my true passion and become nationally certified as a personal trainer. Equinox was my dream gym to work at and when I was offered a position there I was over the moon and extremely grateful.
In the past few months of working there I have learned so much not only about fitness and the human body, but also about myself. Just because someone was never “born fit” or didn’t play sports, does not mean that they cannot embark on a fitness journey.
Everyone has to start somewhere.
Q: I love that – and honestly it couldn’t be more true! I feel that sometimes people get discouraged seeing people at their best. You can’t compare your beginning to someone else’s third year! Speaking of starting, for those who aren’t familiar, can you tell us about Equinox and what makes this (very insta-worthy) gym stand out from the rest?
A: Equinox is not just a gym- it is a lifestyle. Our members don’t dread coming to the gym – they are excited to finally get out of that chair they have been sitting in for 8 or more hours and get moving! We have fantastic group fitness classes that cater to different fitness styles (anywhere from interval training to cycle or sunrise yoga).
On my end, our trainers invest into our clients to make sure they reach their goals and their full potentials. One thing that makes Equinox really stand out is that when you work with a personal trainer you do not just come in for that 1 hour and workout. We build a whole program that lays out a whole monthly plan which then breaks down into weeks. When personal training clients come into the gym – they never have to worry about what they are going to do that day. They either will train with a trainer or they have a class or “homework” on their monthly calendar. This really holds our clients accountable!
Q: Lucky for them!! SO, for those of us that aren’t your clients – we DEF need to pick your brain and get ALL the good advice on how to look your best in a bikini with summer right around the corner. You have one week until your vacay, what’s your plan?
A: Realistically, it is very difficult to change the way you look in one weeks time.
If I had to give advice with only a week until your in that bikini I would say eat clean, high protein, healthy meals everyday (anything that won’t expire after a week do not eat) and get to the gym.
You do not have to drive yourself crazy at the gym – as long as you are getting your heart rate up and pushing yourself – including weights – your body will adjust.
Q: AMAZING advice – I’ve honestly never heard it stated that way. Sometimes people don’t understand, only eat whole, real foods – so saying if this food is going to last for weeks, don’t eat it – make so much sense! Back to bikinis – obviously abs are a huge focus whenever you’re on a tropical vacation & of course ALL the time in the summer – what’s your go-to ab workout while away from your typical gym?
A: Core is the foundation of any fundamental fitness movement. Without a strong core, working every other muscle in the body will be more difficult. If you do not have access to a gym I have found that resistance bands have been AMAZING.
There are so many different variations that you can do with them – and you can see your progress since they range from light-heavy resistance. One ab move that I love to use with these bands is placing them around the middle of the sole of your shoe and drive your knees into your chest one knee at a time while in a boat position.
Q: Resistance bands are also very affordable AND easy to bring with you anywhere! Great tip. What does your own weekly fitness routine look like?
A: Since my schedule is pretty hectic and unpredictable I like to plan out my weekly workouts every Sunday so I am prepared for the week. I like to do cardio 3x/week and strength training 3x/week.
Obviously life happens and sometimes I miss a day or two – but I really try to hold myself accountable and stick to my schedule. For cardio, I get very bored on the treadmill so lately I have been changing it up and either doing the stair master or rowing.
I also like to do body weight exercises such as burpees, pushups, box jumps, and high knees! Strength training can vary depending on what body part I am working on that day. I really enjoy using kettle bells because you can use them in a squat, lunge, or even arm presses.
Q: I’m all about prepping on Sundays too – always helps to setup for success. Being a trainer, I’m sure you’ve seen it all! Can you spill on your top tip of advice for something girls can be doing better to get the results they want?
A: STRENGTH. TRAIN. I have SO many girls come into the gym and do cardio and then leave and they wonder why they are not seeing the results they want.
Picking up weights will NOT make you “bulky.” It took me a while to wrap my head around this but once I started to add strength training into my workouts I saw a huge difference in not only how my body looked but how I felt! Do not be afraid to wander over onto the strength floor of the gym and pick up some dumbbells and add them to simple exercises!
Q: What foods are a go-to and a no-go when your prepping your bikini bod?
A: I am a huge believer in living a balanced life and everything in moderation. If you are serious about prepping for bikini season you need to be eating healthy, unprocessed food. Fueling your body with “good fats” and working out will help you achieve the body you want.
On the other hand, if you see a cookie – do not deprive yourself – eat it! Listen to your body.
Q: Couldn’t agree more – depriving yourself of treats once in a while will only set you up for failure. I always have a bite (or three, ha!) of dessert. On the food topic, for the girl sweating it out in the gym before here swimsuit debut, what’s your advice on pre and post workout snacks? I feel like there is so much opposing advice on this – what is yours?
A: I know there is a lot of hype about pre and post workout drinks. To be honest, I am not a huge fan of these protein drinks- I do not drink them and I never advise my clients too.
Before my workouts I usually eat a piece of fruit or a granola bar just to have something in my system but something that is still light. After my workout I like to always eat some sort of protein such as chicken or fish and add a carb and veggies to top it off!
Q: Good to know! I’m inspired by SO MANY great babes that are killing it in the wellness and fitness space on Instagram. Who is your fit-spo?
A: Emily Skye is 100% my girl crush on Insta. She has an amazing blog that really dives deep into clean eating, workouts, and why you should and shouldn’t be doing certain things. She occasionally uploads simple workouts that girls can follow and also allows people to buy her workout program to really help them get a jump start into strength training! She incorporates cardio with weights which is how every girl should be working out!
Q: Amazing – need to go creep on her now! Before we go, where can we find you and follow you?!
A: You can find me at Equinox the Loop most days but I also can be reached through insta @Dani1553 or email: danielle.hess@pt.equinox.com. I would LOVE to hear from any of you with any questions regarding fitness or just life in general! 🙂
WOW – I loved alllll of that goodness and it got me extra excited for the Summer, as if you couldn’t tell that I was already, ha! Maybe it’s the swimsuit or maybe it’s just the warm weather so that I can finally defrost from this Chicago winter?! 😉
Anyways, I hope you guys enjoyed Danielle’s wealth of knowledge and I hope you will be laying on a beach, feeling fab in your bikini, sipping on a skinny cocktail ASAP 🙂
Cheers to warmer weather!
XOXO
Alysia (Purely)Pope
