In Focus: Get To Know Muscle Core Athlete, Jen Towers
From being an anti-workout kind of person to becoming a passionate Personal Trainer, this is how our Muscle Core Athlete, Jen Towers started her fitness journey.
We had a chance to talk to her amidst her busy schedule and we are very excited to share it with you!
Who is “Jen Towers” before you started your fitness journey?
I’m a British girl born and raised and I started my fitness journey just over 10 years ago when I was 18 years old. I was working in an office, not doing any exercise and not eating the best diet so I wanted to introduce exercise into my lifestyle with goals of becoming fitter, healthier and to lose some weight and boost my confidence. I joined my local gym with not a clue in the world what to do so I stuck to the cardio machines, like a lot of people, and it was actually my husband that introduced to me to weight training as he was a personal trainer there.
Before I joined the gym, I was the most anti-workout kind of person and hated any type of exercise apart from dancing. As I learned more about resistance training and living a healthy lifestyle, I began seeing quicker results as I had a structured program and fell in love with weight training and incorporating healthy foods into my diet!
What made you decide to become a personal trainer?
It was my experience with my own fitness journey that made me want to help others reach their goals as I like to think if I can do it then anyone can! I want to inspire others, especially women out there to be the best version of themselves and discover how strong they can be in both body and mind.
How long have you been a personal trainer?
I’ve been a trainer for just over 3 years.
How would you describe your philosophy in health and fitness?
Don’t be afraid to be a beginner, we all have to start somewhere. Also, don’t compare yourself to other people. Use them as inspiration but focus on your journey, your progress and your goals and you will be far happier and fulfilled.
How do you balance your time between your personal training and personal life?
Life as a personal trainer is definitely a busy one but also pretty flexible. My morning clients usually start at 6 am onwards until mid-morning then I have a gap of a few hours until my afternoon/evening clients which I use to focus on my own training and working on videos, blog articles and client routines.
Coming from past jobs in the UK with routine times of 9-5, the working hours I have now definitely took some getting used to but when you have clients who have goals to reach and rely on you to help them, it never feels like an effort getting up so early.
What are your specialties in terms of fitness class?
As I work with my husband for our own PT company, I’m not based in one particular gym with classes but I do hold functional circuit training classes sometimes for small groups of friends, corporate teams and families in their own homes which is fun and effective for all ages. It’s also great for moral support as everyone motivated each other to succeed.
How do you motivate your clients to work out regularly?
I like to post regular videos, pictures and quotes on my social media to inspire my clients and show them that with hard work and patience, it is possible to achieve your goals no matter how big or small. I also do regular progress check-ins with each client and provide them with nutrition guidance to help them get the most from their training.
What foods do you suggest for the following meals:
Breakfast
- Oats with blueberries, flax seeds, chia seeds, cacao powder and blueberries (optional protein powder mixed in for a protein boost)
Pre-workout
- Rice cakes with our delicious home-made almond butter (with added Muscle Core Nutrition whey protein) – A great source of energy to fire you up for the workout ahead!
Post-workout
- I usually take a chocolate protein shake mixed with water for after my workout to refuel.
Dinner
- Oven baked salmon with rice, green beans and broccoli with a homemade teriyaki sauce - yes it tastes amazing!
Snacks
- Almond butter on rice cakes
- A couple of squares of dark chocolate for the sweet tooth.
- Home-made granola with Greek yogurt
- Protein power smoothie (spinach, coconut milk, almond butter, avocado, protein powder etc)
What would be your advice for individuals looking to live a healthier lifestyle? What should be the first step?
My advice would be to first decide to commit to a regular workout routine for at least a month, if possible - with a good personal trainer (points to self) if you’re new to the gym environment. They will help to teach you the basics and get you into a consistent, effective routine. With regards to nutrition; plan your meals and snacks at the weekend for the week ahead so you know exactly what you’re having and when and allow yourself enough time to shop for all the ingredients you’ll need. This will help you stay focused and less likely to make poor decisions. Remember slow and steady progress will help you stay fit, strong and healthy for years to come! Learn about your body, how it moves and make sure you incorporate functional training into your lifestyle so your quality of life will be improved when you get older.
How can they contact you for personal training inquiries?
If you’d like to find out more information on my personal training packages then you can visit the website www.thefoundation-pts.com or reach me at thefoundation.pts@gmail.com. Also, you can find me at jen_dubai_pt on Instagram for lots of tips, motivation and food ideas to help you on your fitness journey!