Elyse Miller is a global fitness trainer. No, she doesn’t travel all around the world to meet with her clients. She does however, create custom diet and workout plans for people all over via email. “I am a fitness from a distance expert! I create and host workout videos. I design clean eating food plans and exercise plans for people all around the world. I also do a whole a lot of encouraging. I target busy mamas and people with “no time” to get fit. My workouts are fast and effective… proving that it doesn’t take hours a day to get in shape,” Elyse says.
Career
Elyse has always been an active person. “ I was always involved in sports and I’ve always been someone that can’t sit still,” Elyse recalls. By the age of 18, Elyse was already a certified personal trainer. “I became an A.C.E. certified personal trainer. It was my first real job. I trained all through college and then graduated with a degree in broadcast journalism. I was a TV reporter and weather anchor for five years but really missed being in the gym working with people. After having kids, I didn’t want to go back to a 9-to-5 job so I started doing training online. I figured it would just be something I did on the side but things started to grow. When I became a finalist for women’s health magazine’s next fitness star, my fire was re-lit and I have been working hard to really make my name in the fitness world ever since,” Elyse explains.
Of course, hopping back on the fitness path isn’t always easy for Elyse. But her faith and passion keeps her going. “ The biggest obstacle I’ve had to overcome is the constant battle to find balance as a stay at home/working from home mom & wife. It’s so dang hard to balance being a good mom, a good wife , have me time and work. The solution I have found is to wake up early before the kiddos so I can get in some time to myself and work. I also have learned not to be so hard on myself and to prioritize. Family and God are always first,” Elyse says.
While the road isn’t always easy, it is definitely worth it for Elyse. She has been able to help many people all over the world. “ I love when people’s lives are changed because they are healthier and happier than ever before. I must say it also feels pretty good to see my little ones doing exercises around the house… teaching them young!!” Elyse says.
Next Fitness Star
Elyse had the amazing opportunity to participate in the Women’s Health Magazine “next fitness star” competition. “They selected five upcoming fitness experts from around the country. I couldn’t believe it the day I got the call to say I was one of the top five and then I’ll be going out to New York to be on the cover of the magazine. It was an all time high in this career! A friend actually emailed me and called me that I had to enter. I am always looking for ways to reach a wider population to share my short workouts and clean eating that actually tastes good. I feel it is my purpose to help people live healthier lifestyle is without working so hard. It really can be done without so much work. From the competition I learned that a stay at home mom can still be a fitness star. Throughout the competition I often felt out of my element because I was a mom of two kids and did all of my training from home. The other girls all worked in gyms or boot camps and had enormous followings on social media. I Felt like I didn’t belong. It came at a great time for me… I had a nine month old and a 2 1/2-year-old at the time of flying out to New York and I was terrified to leave them. It was a great growth experience to go focus on my dreams. I told myself throughout the process that I was sitting in example to my children that you must follow your dreams and see things through. Although I didn’t win, I gained so much more confidence and drive from it. The girls that were in the competition with me will be lifelong friends and mentors. Being on the cover and all of the exposure has allowed me to reach so many more people and work with them from afar on their diet and workout plans,” Elyse shares.
Mindset
When it comes to fitness, Elyse believes it all starts with your mindset. “Fitness starts in your mind. You have to commit to actually doing it. Know that it is something you are going to do forever and there is no finish line. Your mind has to be focused on the journey, not simply a destination,” Elyse explains. That is why she spend alot of time providing inspiration and encouragement as well as the tips and tools each client needs.
For those looking to get started on a new path to fitness soon, Elyse has some advice. “Just do it! Seriously, it’s that simple. People spend so much time talking about their goals and making a detailed plan of it when they need to just get going. Start right away. If it’s on your mind, go for a walk or a jog… NOW. Don’t sit down and journal about it, do it! You don’t have to get expensive gym equipment or even a membership, search Instagram or the web. There are plenty of resources that are free. Start there! Commit to 10 minutes of exercise a day. Wake up 10 minutes earlier. That is such a small fraction of your day and can make a huge difference. Do something every day for 10 minutes and you will see. My Instagram workouts are proof that you can do short workouts and they will totally kick your booty!”
In your opinion, what are the most overrated and underrated exercises?
The most overrated exercises arm bicep curls and deadlifts. Bicep curls aren’t needed if you are doing good back work. An underhand a pull-up will kill your biceps while also getting your back. You do not need to isolate them, I think that just wastes time and less you are working to be a bodybuilder. Deadlifts can be great, but typically end up in injuries. I am not a fan of super heavy lifting or doing one rep max workouts… I like a functional workouts. And what is it that we have to do every day? We have to move our body and be agile. That is why I focus on plyometric exercises and bodyweight exercises. In life, there will be times when we need to jump, Sprint and squat. I like to say that I train for life. I’ll kids into the mix and you need to train harder just to keep up with those energizer bunnies!
The most under rated exercise is a hamstring bridge up. You don’t need any equipment and it will burn up your hamstrings and Buns fast!!!
What are your go-to snacks when you’re on the run?
My go to snacks are bars. I love kind bars, Chia bars and quest bars. I also always have nuts in my purse. Every day I throw my snacks into my purse- way more than I need haha. I can pretty much say feed a small village with the food I keep in my purse. The key to keeping your metabolism going is to eat frequently. Don’t let yourself ever get overly hungry or you will over eat. I like to eat every 2 to 3 hours so snacks are a must
What’s your beliefs on performance diet like? Do you prescribe to a particular
philosophy on diet (example: Paleo, Gluten free, etc…)?
The best diet is a diet in moderation without forbidden foods. I think you can eat what you want but just make it cleaner. so if you love pizza, get thin crust and add veggies, and just eat one piece. If you love burgers, make them yourself with lean beef, ground turkey or Buffalo. When you eliminate food group like carbs or fat, you just crave it more. Diets like this won’t last a lifetime… and that’s what I encourage – a lifestyle change that lasts forever. No finish line. Eat small, balanced meals throughout the day and you will get results.
