Stunning Fitness

Interview with aerobics instructor, personal trainer, and figure competitor Maria Kang:

1. What is your background? How did you become interested in fitness?

I am 1/2 Filipina and 1/2 Malaysian Chinese - 100% American! Been involved in the fitness industry for over 7 years as an aerobics instructor, personal trainer, fitness manager, group director, project coordinator, figure competitor and freelance writer. I became interested in fitness when I witnessed my mother suffering from health related diseases influenced by her inactivity. Her suffering inspired me to help other’s with the same challenges as well as prevent myself from also enduring something that can possibly be genetic.

2. Can you please describe a “typical” day for you?

I wake up at 5:08 am - at the gym by 5:45. I don’t leave my car without my water bottle, my baseball hat, and my gym card. I never use gloves, ipods, or straps when I train. I usually focus on intense weight training for about 45 minutes then cardio for 30-45 minutes. After a sweaty workout I usually perform ab work and stretch. After my morning training session, I work on emails and my daily fitness blogsite: www.fitnesscure.com .

After about half an hour I begin my professional work, which is marketing and project coordination for 24hour fitness. I eat at approx. 9am, 12pm, 3pm, 5pm and 8pm with around 300 calories/meal. I don’t eat animal meat and usually depend on protein shakes, eggs, tofu and soy for my protein intake.

After I work, I usually walk my dog, have dinner with friends, read a book, write an article or work more on my computer. (I love what I do so I work all the time!)

3. How do you motivate yourself to get and stay so fit?

I like the feeling of a nice, toned, athletic, flexible, tight body. It feels good to be confident in your skin. What motivates me most is being able to love and be confident with who I am.

4. What forms of exercise do you find to be the most effective?

I’ve always been a fan of the very basic exercises: deadlifts, push ups, pull ups and lunges. I’m also a proponent of functional fitness and usually use free weights for all my strength training exercises.

5. What is your normal eating plan like? Do you have any type of “special” diet for getting leaner?

I despise low carbohydrate diets because its not moderate and it doesn’t feed your body with the energy nutrients it needs to function daily. As mentioned above, I usually eat 4-5 meals a day, approx. 300 calories each, with a coupling of protein and carbohydrate. I try not to eat late at night (I used to and I gained a ton of weight from that!) and I also enjoy eating raw foods and fish. (I don’t eat animal meat)

If you want to get leaner quickly, a low carbohydrate, low glycemic, diet will do the trick for short term fixes. But be weary of the havoc this type of dieting creates on your metabolism and body.

6. Do you use any supplements? If so, which do you recommend?

I’m very bad at taking supplements. But in my vitamin pouch I carry around, inside there is: calcium, b12 and a multivitamin. I also take protein shakes and glutamine when necessary. Not a huge fan of diet pills. I live by the quote: “There is NO supplement for hard work.’

7. Are there any other products you use and recommend for getting “fit and sexy?”

If you can put working out, eating right and keeping good hygiene in a bottle, then take that.!

8. Is there anything else you’d like to add?

I have a personal site where I post weekly journals and pictures: www.mariakang.com as well as my daily fitness blog site: www.fitnesscure.com

If anyone wants advice or support, contact me - I am always here to help!