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10 Quick Questions – Susan Baxter, Fitness writer & presenter

susan baxter

susan baxterWe love finding out about the philosophies of Aotearoa’s experts on health, nutrition, wellbeing and fitness! Susan Baxter is an established fitness presenter, writer and international fitness competitor who strives to motivate and empower people towards their best health possible using science.

Having recently completed a PhD in health science, Susan is passionate about researching strategies for overcoming barriers to exercise. Combined with close to a decade of experience in group fitness instructing, her goal is to share her knowledge, inspire others and lead in the fitness industry.

This week we asked Susan the NZ Real Health 10 Quick Questions.

1. In a nutshell, what do you do for your job?

I am a fitness writer and presenter, an OptimumΒ Nutrition athlete and international fitness competitor. This allows me to research with industryΒ experts who will take the information and put it into practice.

Through my eBooks on Amazon and other writing work, I’m passionate about using best proven health and fitness techniques in real-world settings in the mostΒ efficient way so that people can get theΒ most benefit from the research.

Competing and being an athlete has given me a vehicleΒ to set goals for myself – to really challenge myself – and as a result I feel moreΒ authentic than ever.

I am now someone who is living and breathing the goalΒ setting and attainment that I have been trying toΒ encourage people to do!

2. How did you get into your line of work?

I have a passion for learning about health and fitnessΒ and communicating the science that I know and understand to others. I startedΒ studying at the University of Otago, and well, just didn’t stop! I now have aΒ PhD in health science and I have merged my passionΒ for practical hands-on workΒ in health with academic research.

In terms of competing, I always advise people to setΒ themselves goals, yet I had no real goal (with a β€˜set’ deadline) myself. SinceΒ I am a very shy person, I was initially brushing off suggestions that I shouldΒ compete. I decided that once and for all I would give it myΒ best shot, and IΒ haven’t looked back since!

susan baxter3. What’s the best thing about your job?

In the words of Mandela, education isΒ the most powerful weapon with which you can change the world.

I consider myself extremely fortunate to have theΒ alignment and sporting and academic support of a world-class company, such asΒ Optimum Nutrition. I was blown away when I was asked to be a part of theirΒ team’s Jakarta tour, which taught me a lot aboutΒ training and nutrition withinΒ a different culture. I guess that’s why travelling to different countries is soΒ important, and what’s inspired me to be a fitness presenter on an internationalΒ level.

4. What do you do to keep fit?

When not prepping for competitions I will exercise six days a week, but always with one rest day. I do love being active so I mightΒ also have other social activities included in there, such as trying a new danceΒ class or a game of tennis, but I don’t sacrifice myΒ scheduled session for that.

I’m often based at a computer for my writing and studies so getting moving isΒ one of those things I’ll (quite literally) jump at the chance to do!

5. What’s your philosophy on nutrition and diets?

Balance is key, and knowing your ‘why’.

Once you know what your ‘why’ is, itΒ can really help you make the more difficult decisions. The thing is,Β happiness isn’t the result of doing exactly what you want all theΒ time, it’s wanting to do what you have to do.

If you don’t know what it is you want, it makesΒ it very difficult to stay on track, but it is even more difficultΒ when you don’t know why you are chasing that dream. For example if yourΒ goal is to look great in your little black dress, it might not quiteΒ feel theΒ same if you have no friends to wear it with, simply because youΒ have sacrificed your friends in the pursuit of your goal.

Above all, it’s the small consistent habits that addΒ up. Aim for perfection but don’t feel guilty for being imperfect: youΒ will instead have reached excellence!

6. What does keeping healthy mean to you?

To me, health is a complete mental, physical,Β environmental, spiritual and social balance (as well as technology!). ToΒ achieve this you must nourish your body with correct nutrition, exerciseΒ regularly, rest well, challenge your intellect – and be able to enjoy timeΒ withΒ friends, yourself and your surrounds. I cannot say that I get the balance rightΒ all of the time, but I certainly try, and for me that’s the goal!

7. What motivates you to stay on track with your own nutrition and training?

Following my nutrition and training has taught me soΒ much: dedication and not deprivation, commitment and not obligation. Developing a personalΒ insight into my own strengths (and weaknesses) has been incredibly empowering:Β this has also led, in turn, to a betterΒ appreciation of the strengths inΒ others.

8. What’s your best health or fitness tip?

We are so often led to believe that life should beΒ about ‘quick fixes’ but the reality is that we need to work hard to reach ourΒ full potential. However, small things, consistently done, produce big resultsΒ in the longer term. The greatest challenges produce theΒ greatest rewards – certainly there are often hurdles along the way but this makes it allΒ worthwhile. We are all capable of a lot more than we give ourselves credit for!

Just imagine if some of our world’s greatest leadersΒ had refused to β€˜get off their couch’ and invent things? What might we be livingΒ without today? You have the power to change within you, and the only personΒ standing in your way is you!

9. If you were stranded on a desert island, what three things would you want to take?

Music, coffee and a way of creating a fire (matches?)Β I would be the best darn survivor out there!

10. Any favourite inspirational quotes?

I guess for me,Β my favourite quotes are around working hard. My grandmother has alwaysΒ instilled these values on me.

‘Just when theΒ caterpillar thought it was all over, she became a butterfly.’

‘If you tryΒ your hardest, you will never be disappointed with the result, regardless of theΒ outcome.’

For more information on Susan, visit her on Facebook and Twitter.

Images / Trev Hill Photography
Hair / Zaibatsu hair art
Beautitian / Elegance on hanover

 

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