FEATURED MEMBER: Asa

     So far, this blog has been all about me - it's time to share the spotlight.  If I can convince enough people to participate, I'd like to interview members once a week or so and have them tell us about their workout routines, healthy habits, and all that good stuff.  If you have any ideas for people you'd like to see on here, let me know!!

     To break the ice, my first victim volunteer is Asa Davis, my favorite husband.  (Please note:  he was not coerced into doing this, but he knew that if he didn't, I'd just answer the questions for him and post an embarrassing picture with "his" answers).  You've probably seen him around the gym - he's hard to miss since he's 6' 6".  Check out his handsome face, then scroll below for his interview.

1. Tell us a little about yourself.
I am married with three kids. I own a consulting company with a focus on leadership communication and training, and I teach statistics at a small college in Lansing.  Interests and hobbies include reading, movies, music, theatre, Words with Friends, conducting training, and public speaking.  I like playing sports, particularly basketball, baseball, tennis, and ping pong.

2. What is your usual weekly workout routine?
My schedule is flexible, so I am able to work out during the day.  I typically am at the gym 4-5 days a week, and I really only do the classes.  I regularly do Body Attack, Body Pump, Body Step, and will throw in Combat depending on the time of day.  I would love to do Vive, but the time never seems to work for me.  I tried doing weights and cardio on my own, but I have found that I work harder in a class environment.

3. What are your go-to snacks and meals?
Now that I am actually paying attention to what I eat and when, I stole Julie's 6 egg white breakfast, which works well 75-90 minutes before I work out.  Otherwise, I like Cheerios, or oats with raisins and brown sugar.  For lunch, I like either lunch meat on whole grain bread or my homemade low fat, high fiber/protein chili (recipe available upon request).  For dinner, it is whatever we decide to make, although I think my current craving is a rotisserie chicken.

I have food intolerances (lactose and corn based sugars - you know, high fructose corn syrup and corn syrup), so I have to be picky, and I tend to have to pick healthy options.  For snacks I tend to choose raisins and almonds, bananas, or grapefruit.   Fortunately, Aunt Millie’s now is predominantly HFCS-free with their bread products, so their whole grain english muffins have been a nice snack for me.

4. How do you balance being active with the demands of your daily life?
My wife enjoys exercising, so I get to tag along.  That and the Kids Kove is awesome so I rarely feel guilty about bringing the kids to the gym with me.

5. What is a fitness or healthy living goal you have for yourself?
Touching my toes without bending my knees.  When I took the Presidential fitness test in elementary school, the standard for healthy was reaching within 2 inches of your toes and beyond.  I was 7 inches away.  My problem is tight hamstrings, so the more I exercise (and remember to do extra stretching), the closer I get to that goal.

6. What do you like about being a member at SWAT?
1. Classes.  2. Kids Kove.  3. The People.  Without the classes, I would be giving all kinds of excuses for why I never go to the gym.

7. What is your favorite class at SWAT?  Why?
Body Attack, because I still need to work up to doing the class with all high options.  I like the intensity, but I also enjoy all the dance moves. 

I am surprised how much I like the other classes as well.  I wish I could take Vive more often because it feels like a lighter version of Attack (or Step without the step, or even Pump without the weights). I HATED Pump, because I never really understood how to use weights, but after taking it for the 5th or 6th time I finally had fun with it (thanks to Jill) and now look forward to taking it.

8. Do you have a person who is your healthy living/fitness inspiration?  Who and why?
Probably my kids.  I want to set a good example for them and inspire them to be healthy.  I like being the parent who can play basketball or football with the kids without getting winded.