One of our favorite Celebrity Fitness Experts, Emily Skye is always showcasing how she focuses on being strong through her fitness journey. She has graced a number of covers, provided countless advice and juggles it all while being a mom. She is currently pregnant with her second child and took some time to share some advice that she has as we continue to add new favorites into our routines. We also talk about her role as an ambassador with Women's Best and why this brand is synergistic with her platform.
ATHLEISURE MAG: Tell the readers of Athleisure Mag how you found your interest in fitness?
EMILY SKYE: I spent most of my life up until I was almost 25 years old being unhappy & unhealthy. I suffered from depression, anxiety, and self-worth issues. I couldn’t imagine living my life like that forever, so I decided I had to do something about it and make changes. I used to think someone was going to come along and save me, but I had to save myself.
I heard that healthy eating and exercising had an impact on mental health, so I started eating healthy food and exercising and also changed my attitude to be more positive. Fitness changed my life, it made me feel incredible and I loved the way the exercising influenced other areas of my life. Working out and healthy eating, made me feel more confident like I could do anything, kind of like a superhero! I felt on top of the world and I’d never felt like that before in my life and I wanted everyone around me to feel the same way. So, I’d tell my friends and family to come and train with me, but it wasn’t enough. I just wanted to get out there and share with the world how good it is makes you feel! I still do this over 10 years later!
AM: As many people find their modality of choice, there seems to be a new awareness, especially for women, that there is an interest that in addition to being toned, that they want to be strong. How important is that for you?
ES: Strength is more important to me than being “toned’. People often don’t realize that in order to get “toned” you need to do resistance training and have a good diet. Feeling strong is the best feeling in the world to me and I’d pick that over being lean any day. I have been educating women (and men for that matter) on the benefits of lifting weight for women. I have seen a huge shift over the years and women are more open to lifting weights, but there are still a lot of women afraid of getting “bulky”.
AM: What is your modality of choice and what does a week of working out look like for you?
ES: As previously spoken about, I love strength training and being strong so I usually base my workouts around lifting as heavy as I can with good technique. I do mix it up sometimes though and will do some sprints, or circuit training. That’s the key to staying motivated I believe, change it up and make it exciting and different if you’re getting bored.
AM: Are there any challenges or fitness programs that you are currently sharing with your followers?
ES: I have a 30-day free trial on my FIT Program which has home workouts so it’s perfect for all the people currently stuck at home. It also has gym workouts and a Booty Challenge as well as a customizable meal plan that members get access to.
AM: Tell us about being a Women's Best brand ambassador. Why do this partnership between you and the brand make sense and what do you love about them?
ES: It’s such an honour, all the Women's Best team and other ambassadors are the loveliest people - they truly are like a family. Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to meet up with some of these amazing women in New York City for the Women’s Best launch in the U.S. through a partnership with The Vitamin Shoppe and had the most amazing time connecting with them! They’re passionate, supportive and genuine and that’s what I’m all about and I love being surrounded by likeminded people. We all want the best for others and want to see them happy, healthy and fit. Women’s Best has an amazing line of supplements, now exclusively available in the U.S. at The Vitamin Shoppe, to suit everyone and the flavours are all delicious and help keep me on track with my training. My personal favourites are all of the BCAA AMINO flavours - they honestly are all SO GOOD - I have them before and while I exercise. I love their Vegan Protein, it’s the only protein I have ever had that doesn’t upset my tummy and make me bloated and crampy. The Cookies and Cream is amazing and a current favourite of mine, but I also love the vanilla and chocolate flavours. I like to have one after my workout, if I’m craving a late-night snack and love to make pancakes, muffins and smoothies using the protein. My two year old daughter also likes sipping on my smoothies! The Women’s Best Wear is the most flattering and comfortable sportswear I have ever worn - even while pregnant!! I’m really grateful to be in partnership with such an amazing brand.
AM: What are 3 go-to foods that you enjoy eating to assist your workouts?
ES: When I’m not pregnant I love eating high fat and lower carbs and feel my best eating that way - it also keeps my sensitive tummy happy. I usually have chicken or fish with veggies or salad and for dessert, I love an açai bowl with my partner Declan’s special homemade caveman crunch on top! It’s delicious!
AM: With the summer coming up, what are 3 workouts that we should incorporate into our routine for our arms, legs and butt?
ES: LEGS & BUTT - Lift as heavy as you can while maintaining good technique. Rest for 2 mins in between sets.
Front or Back Squat 4 x 10-12 reps - tight tummy with core engaged, back straight, shoulders back & down, chest out push through the glutes. Make sure your knees push “out” and don’t come “in.” Maintain a straight back and tight core throughout.
Deadlifts 4 x 10-12 reps - pick a weight you can comfortably life, if you’re not an experienced lifter ask someone to help you with technique - especially before upping the weight. Start by bracing your core and a straight back, pull up on bar without moving it off the ground to set yourself up into a strong starting position and hold that while lifting the weight off the ground but driving through your legs and glutes. Think about pushing the floor away from you in a fluid motion to stand up straight. Squeeze glutes at the top and keep your tummy tight and back straight. Don’t hyper extend by arching your back and pulling your shoulders back past where your hips are. You want to finish with your body as straight as possible before lowering the weight to the ground to complete the rep. Remember to BREATHE!
Walking Lunges 4 x 10-12 reps - lunge forward as if you’re on train tracks so you’re stepping out in front and not crossing over your body. Try not to let your knee go past your toes, push through your glutes, keep tummy tight and back straight with shoulder back and chest out.
Hip Thrust 4 x 10-20 reps or until failure (make sure you have a decent weight for these) - Keep back straight, core tight and push through gutes, don’t let your back arch too much, the movement is all about the glutes doing the work.
BACK & BICEPS - Lift as heavy as you can while maintaining good technique. Rest for 2 mins in between sets.
Lat pulldown 4 x 10-12 reps - keep core switched on, back slightly arched & don’t use momentum for the movement. Slow and controlled reps.
Single arm bent over row 4 x 10-12 reps - Core “on”, back straight, chest out, head neutral and in line with spine. Slow controlled reps.
Seated Row 4 x 10-12 reps - Back straight, tummy tight and no rocking. Slow controlled movements.
Bicep curls 4 x 10-12 reps - standing or seated - no swinging, keep elbows close to body & stable - slow, controlled reps.
SHOULDERS & TRICEPS - Lift as heavy as you can while maintaining good technique. Rest for 2 mins in between sets.
Seated shoulder press 4 x 10-12 reps - core tight, back straight - slow and controlled reps.
Shoulder fly 4 x 10-12 reps - standing with a tight tummy, straight back, slightly bend knees, shoulders back and down, head neutral raise dumbbells to just lower that shoulder height - slow and controlled.
Dumbbell kickback - 4 x 12 reps - tight tummy, back straight, keep elbow in tight to the body and try not to move it. Squeeze through the tricep.
Tricep pulldown 4 x 12-15 reps _ straight back, tight tummy, slight bend in knees, pull the ropes down by straightening your arms and keeping your elbows in close to the body and try not to move them.
AM: How do you balance your life as a wife, mother?
ES: It’s hard to be honest. I have had to let go of the idea of getting EVERYTHING done and done perfectly. There is no such thing. I’m not as hard on myself now that I’m a mother and my priority is always my family. I try to allocate hours where I work and most of my work is either on the computer or phone so I try to do it away from my daughter Mia so she doesn’t see me ignoring her. I break up my work by taking time out to play with her and go outdoors if I can. Things are about to get harder with a new baby, but I have a wonderful supportive partner who is a fantastic father. I’m very blessed. The worse thing a parent can do I think is beat themselves up for not doing everything. We just do the best we can and love our kids. :)
AM: Can you share with us any upcoming projects that you have coming up?
ES: I’m so excited that my new app is launching in a couple of months.
Read the May Issue of Athleisure Mag and see Something You Should Know | Getting Strong with Emily Skye in mag.
