Health begins in your mind – not your mouth. From time to time, I ask the same 5 questions and shine a spotlight on how different people think about health.

Wanna know who inspires ME to get my tush to the gym? This lady right here in today’s Spotlight.

I swear – I hear her voice in my head whenever I feel like skipping my exercise….and I find myself skipping a lot less! If anything, I push myself harder since I’ve met her. She has that effect. Be warned!

Heather Frey

Heather Frey is the founder and president of SmashFit.com, the first personal trainer and fitness matching website. Think matchmaking for fitness. Heather is also the fitness expert on the NBC show, “Miami Moms” on the NBC Miami Nonstop station and has appeared on CBS4 in Miami as well as written for “SELF Magazine” on topics of health and fitness. In addition to being an entrepreneur and TV personality, she is also a speaker, writer, trainer, fitness strategist, and Figure Competitor and the creator of The Change Challenge for the Ricki Lake Show.

What does ‘healthy’ mean to you?

There are different kinds of healthy to me. You can be healthy by eating well; you can add to your health by working out, but overall *healthy* means working the insides and the outsides by eating well and moving with purpose. Generally, I’ve found that the most healthy people are the ones who make their health a priority and not something they squeeze in when they can. You have to make solid health and fitness choices part of your day, until they don’t really feel like choices anymore, it’s just the way you live.

What are your specific reasons for wanting to stay healthy?

Same as anyone’s, to feel strong and look great for as long as I possibly can. I want to enjoy my life with my kids, and never stop having adventures. I’ll be honest and tell you that when I first started my life shift and fitness trek, I just wanted to look good. I’d had my 2nd baby and was feeling poofy and invisible. Didn’t like that. So I decided I would change my shape, but the right way this time, because all fast, half-way efforts I’d tried in the past weren’t working for me. So I started eating right and training right and as my shape transformed, but so did my thoughts, my confidence and my life. It’s a very powerful feeling, and the reason I started SmashFit.

What is a simple healthy habit that you practice every day?

Breakfast and drink enough water. Ok, that’s two, but they are simple and have impact from the moment I get up. I love my breakfast, Oatmeal-Egg-White Pancake with almonds. I feel nourished, perfectly filled and ready to start my day. When I first really started taking my health and fitness seriously, breakfast would put me in the right mindset to continue clean eating all day. The water keeps me from getting hungry and fatigued when I’m working and it’s an absolute must when training.

 How do you handle ‘cravings’ – or those challenging moments when you don’t feel like making a healthy choice?

I roll my tape forward, “How will I feel AFTER I eat this? Is it worth it? Will I feel better or worse?” And then I walk away. This said, I do love my sweet, so I’ll treat myself with a banana, strawberry smoothie, and sometimes a piece of dark chocolate. I’m perfectly satisfied with bites of treats. I don’t need a whole one, just a taste. So when I take my daughter out for ice cream, I have a few bites. I suggest to others, to find healthy replacement sweets for cravings. Gum can also work. But if you love your sweets, plan in a treat for your week. Know where and what you’re going to eat and enjoy.

Name one ‘health’ food that you used to think was weird – but now you love it!

Asparagus. Couldn’t pay me to eat them, or any green vegetable growing up, now I eat them almost every day. I eat them steamed, boiled, and grilled. One of my healthergizing favs.

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