Boston’s ‘Best Personal Trainer’ on How to Stay Healthy Over the Holidays
Julie Erickson has been voted Boston’s best personal trainer due to her “hands on’’ training style and her work with marathon survivors. Boston.com spoke with Erickson to get her advice on how to stay healthy during the busy (and food-filled) holiday season.
Boston.com: You were just voted Boston’s Best Personal Trainer by Boston Magazine. Congrats! How would you define your training style?
Julie Erickson: I’m very hands on and I’m very particular when it comes to form. When folks are working out it’s three absolutely perfect repetitions and they’re gonna be absolutely perfect because I’m holding your arm in place.
You’ve also worked with survivors of the Boston marathon bombing. How have you helped them work towards their strongest selves?
JE: The way that I teach is a New York style classical Pilates which is very hands on. We start by working on the core. Celeste [Corcoran] is a double amputee. She really needed to find her center. All of the work she does with me I make sure she feels secure. She can do squats now, it’s amazing. It’s been a miracle. I get emotional talking about it because it’s worked so well for her. I also work on keeping her very mobile and working her leg muscles so that they’re strong. She has one above and one below the knee amputation so we have to work to balance. We have a really good time. Her daughter [Sydney] was also involved in the marathon bombing and over the summer we did mom and daughter sessions. I worked with Jess Kensky and Patrick Downes, who are a married couple who lost their legs. It’s been such a great experience.
What advice would you give to those trying to stay in shape this holiday season?
JE: What I would say is make a plan for yourself. Like this morning it’s 20 something degrees and the last thing I wanted to do was run, but I did it because later in the weekend I’m going to celebrations, and if I can get my workouts in I won’t feel bad about enjoying food with my friends. Food is such a big part of celebration and the holidays. People put a lot of work into what they make for others, and we need to take part in that. If we’re doing our workouts and the rest of our diet is good, it’s totally fine to have a cookie at a party.
How can we keep our normal routine during the holiday season?
JE: Yesterday I was scheduled to work from 8:30 to 5:30, and had a party that night, and I didn’t have time to get that workout in. I was very lucky and keep sneakers in the car and was able to get a run in. It has to be preplanning for when you can get a workout in. Have your gym bag and sneakers ready for free moments. I always plan a workout and I usually get to it. We have a running group at my studio and we are very accountable to one another. If you know someone is waiting for you in the cold you better get there.
How can we stay motivated?
JE: Staying motivated over the holiday season is tricky. Lots of things get in the way. I recommend to friends meeting me for a mat workout, or a spin class, and then we can go out for drinks. Sneak in seeing friends and family with a different view. Don’t meet at the bar, meet at the gym.
What are some tips on healthy eating over the holidays?
JE: Five years ago I tried to cut out every single chemical that we had in our house, nothing with a preservative or chemical. We try to eat very whole foods. During the holidays I let that drop back to 80 percent of the time. Look at the ingredient list. If there is something you don’t recognize, don’t eat it. That made such a big difference to me. Five years ago I leaned out like crazy. Taking out preservatives took off a layer of fat tissue, so I encourage people to do that. I’m healthier now than I was in my twenties.
What’s the best way to get back in shape after a time of heavy eating?
JE: After the holiday season it’s the best time. The gyms are full, there’s lot of classes. Getting to the gym or the studio so that you are accountable or maybe choosing something that would be a race in April, something in the spring that’s going to motivate you in the wintertime. Summer bodies are made in the winter. The winter months can be tough. January has very short days. Sometimes you have to get workouts in in the dark. My biggest piece of advice is to be accountable to somebody and have a goal to look forward to. Not a weight loss goal, more of a healthy goal to aspire to.
What are some of the best “bang for your buck’’ workouts?
JE: The best workout is what you’ll do. If you could get in a core workout I would definitely recommend it. Anything that teaches your body how to move properly. Make sure you’re approaching workouts from a place where your form is correct. Just move around, whether you’re dancing or running or biking, movement in your body is important. But you have to love it. Most people aren’t going to stick with stuff they don’t like. Running is definitely my thing. You have to find something you in joy, and add some ab work.
If you could only give one piece of health advice, what would it be?
JE: I would say make your nutrition a priority. Buy the highest quality foods with the least amount of ingredients that you can.
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