This Could Be What You Need to Finally Reach Your Goals

We all have things we’d like to improve on in life. Some of us aspire to run a marathon. Some of us just want to feel good in our jeans—and some of us are better at setting goals and following through than others. Wherever you land on the spectrum, there are many reasons a nutrition coach may be just what you need to guide you along the way. Why? We can’t do everything ourselves. Having someone who’s been there before or has knowledge you don’t have is key to  creating and sticking to a plan. (If you’ve been trying to reach a goal without a concrete plan, you know it’s a practically impossible feat!) The best news is that there are different coaches who can meet your specific needs—such as a nutrition coach, life coach or health coach. RELATED: 3 Expert Tips to Set Achievable Goals Ready to start crushing your goals? Consider these three reasons a coach may be just what you need. 3 Reasons to Get a Coach 1. A Coach Will Hold You Accountable This is often the No. 1 reason why my clients seek coaching. They have an idea of what they “should be doing” but really need someone to push them along the way, or push them harder if they hit a roadblock. If you struggle to connect the dots to make a behavior a habit, you need a coach. Bonus: Our greatest assets can be ones we don’t realize, and a good coach will help you discover those and bring them to life. 2. You Feel Overwhelmed Many of my clients know they need a complete overhaul, but are so overwhelmed they don’t know where to begin. This is where coaching can help you break out of the rut you are in and start new habits. We begin by looking at your big picture goals and breaking them down into actionable steps. RELATED: How to Manage Your Stress So You Can Focus on Healthier Habits 3. A Coach Provides a Personalized, Outside Perspective Sometimes when we’re stuck in the muck we can’t see through to the other side. An outside perspective is crucial, especially when it comes with one-on-one personalized advice (as opposed to internet research providing you with a one-size-fits-all approach). For example, I’ve been working with a client who has been trying her hardest to overcome her sugar habit. When we finally talked it out, she discovered ways she could change her routines in order to break the habit. She has been able to skip having a nightly sweet treat and opt for some fruit or herbal tea instead. Although the solutions seemed simple, she admitted she hadn’t thought about trying these things. One final tip before you go get a coach: I encourage you to make sure the coach you seek out is a certified one. Look for someone who’s educated on the subject they’re helping you with, with a a degree or full certification that goes beyond a two-week course. By Gretchen Riddle, CHES, CHWC, NLC About Gretchen: Gretchen Riddle, CHES, CHWC, NLC is a certified health and wellness coach and a graduate of Nutritious Life Studio’s Become a Nutrition Coach course.   She has worked in corporate wellness for over 12 years coaching and incorporating programs for weight and stress management among other topics. She uses a real food approach to nutrition and works to empower clients to make lifestyle changes that stick. She also provides coaching independently through her own coaching company, Gretchen Leigh Wellness. Learn more at gretchenleighwellness.com.  

Mantas Zvinas is Living Proof You Can Drink Beer AND Have Chiseled Abs

If you know who Mantas Zvinas is, you’ve likely seen his muscled mid-section. On a bike at SoulCycle, leading runners through the streets of Manhattan, or on Instagram catching the sun as he leaps off a boat on the Amalfi Coast. Zvinas is a crazy-loved instructor at Soul and is the founder of SurfYogaBeer, a fitness adventure retreat company that makes every other trip you’ve taken look lame. He’s (of course) originally from Southern California, and his surfer persona basically demands shirtlessness. It’s just…should you be heartened that the guy can drink beer regularly and still show off abs of steel? Or is it super annoying that for every six pack you even glance at, you end up even further away from an actual six pack? Zvinas would tell you to forget about the abs altogether; his energy is totally heart-centric. His classes and retreats emphasize embracing adventure, and he eats and exercises in ways that are just about feeling good and living fully. (Amen!) It’s why his fans follow him from dark spin studios to far-flung tropical destinations. We got the insider scoop on his healthy habits, from back-to-back spin sessions to, yes, beer. How Does Mantas Zvinas Live a Nutritious Life? If you had to name your healthy diet, what would you call it? Balanced and Aware. What’s your go-to breakfast? Coffee. Your go-to workday lunch? Eggs, avo, and more eggs. RELATED: 7 Easy Egg Recipes for Delicious, Protein-Rich Meals Your go-to workday dinner? BBQ. I used to live above Mighty Quinns BBQ. What’s the one food you always have in your fridge? Does beer count? What do you eat before and after a workout? In the middle of my day, I go for acai bowls for the quick pick-me-up! Before a workout, I have granola or avocado. After a workout, it is usually more substantial like tacos. Your favorite food indulgence? Again, does beer count? Other than water, what do you sip regularly? Ugh, hello, BEER!! How often do you exercise, and what’s your workout of choice? I work out seven days a week about three or four times a day. Most of that is from teaching at SoulCycle, because I ride while I teach, and other times it’s teaching BootyCamp, Yoga, and leading RunClub with SurfYogaBeer…and of course I take as many as I can of the plethora of classes on the NYC fitness scene! Which workout would you NEVER do? Pilates, ugh… How do you stay active outside the gym? I lead fitness adventures around the world with SurfYogaBeer. Those involve beach bootcamps, surfing, hiking, and outdoor yoga sessions. RELATED: 4 Fun, Easy Ways to Take Your Workout Outside What’s your go-to tool for managing stress? Working out is a huge stress manager, and since I do it so much already, I don’t have that much stress. How do you pamper yourself when you need it? My home is my sanctuary, and I love taking naps. How do you express and spread love? It’s so easy—just smile at people! What’s your weirdest healthy habit? Going into morning workouts without fully being awake. DON’T THINK, JUST DO! Which healthy habit do you wish you had more time for? Hiking… that’s hard to get in NYC. Mantas Zvinas: Lightning Round Meditation or massage? Meditation A hot shower or a soothing bath? Shower. A bath in NYC? That’s dirty… Almond butter or peanut butter? Almond Butter. Coffee or tea? Coffee. A long run outside or a dark spin class? Run outside. (Photos: Instagram/@MantasZvinas)

SoulCycle Superstar Stacey Griffith’s Spiritual Spin on Healthy Living

Stacey Griffith is a SoulCycle superstar, but her first book, Two Turns From Zero, is not about spinning. Fitness is a theme, of course. But her many fans (and there are many) wouldn’t be surprised by the fact that she gets the most excited when talking about what motivates her—and how she then uses that supercharged stamina to motivate others. “I care about every person’s experience in every situation,” she says. “I watch out for people as a general rule. It’s who I am.” Griffith’s book is no fairy tale, either. It gets gritty about her past personal struggles—from drug problems to career stumbles—while painting a picture of how each failure drove her to succeed, both on and off the bike. RELATED: 3 Goal-Setting Tips to Succeed at Anything Here’s how the celebrity Soul instructor lives well—from spirituality to Skinny Pop. How Does Stacey Griffith Live a Nutritious Life? What’s your go-to breakfast? Oatmeal with chia seeds. Your go-to workday lunch? Sweet potato, avocado, baby greens, one sunny side egg on top. RELATED: Amazing Avocado-Egg Recipes to Make Now What’s the one food you always have in your fridge? Blueberries and Bai Bubbles. The one food you’d never buy? Liver, ew. The snack you always have with you when traveling? Skinny Pop popcorn, plain flavor. Your favorite food indulgence? Too many to list: PIZZA, Magnolia Bakery Banana Pudding, Bill’s Birthday Cakes. How often do you exercise, and what’s your workout of choice? I teach 18 classes a week. After running around the floor, I have little energy for myself on the weekends to ride at SoulCycle, but I also love cross-training and doing Michelle Brugal’s studio workouts. Rumble is super fun, XPT training when I can get to it. And surfing now that summer is here and my ocean fear has passed…and lot’s of SUP boarding! What’s your go-to tool for managing stress? Listening to Deepak Chopra and Eckhart Tolle’s Youtube’s. They’re the best. RELATED: A 2-Minute Calming Meditation to Manage Stress How do you pamper yourself when you need it? Facials at Tracy Martin, massages with Makaila and Lisa Hoffman, and baths with my spiritual bath salts SBbySG…coming soon in June!! Do you have a favorite health gadget? I’m a gadget girl but not for health. I find them to sometimes to be disappointing. When you think you killed it and it says, “eh… you only burned 200.” I think we’ve gotten to the age where you rely on a gadget to gauge your performance, and sometimes it’s more rewarding to just know in your gut you really had a fantastic training session. It’s crazy how many people are addicted to that little thing. I personally think they get in the way and can be very distracting in a dark room. Which healthy habit do you wish you had more time for? Working out. I’m so tired from my job, I don’t have the energy for myself. I give it to all of my students every day, 900 classes a year. Lightning Round Meditation or massage? Massage. A hot shower or a soothing bath? Bath. Almond butter or peanut butter? Almond. Coffee or tea? Coffee. A long run outside or a dark spin class? Spin class. Photos: Instagram/staceygnyc