Shannon Spake, a prominent FOX Sports host known for her auto-racing coverage, exemplifies how to prioritize fitness amidst a demanding career and family life. Spake's dedication to maintaining balance between her career, health, and family is evident in her commitment to regular exercise and healthy eating habits. She juggles a busy schedule, traveling extensively for work and raising two young children, yet still finds time to prioritize her well-being.
Embracing Bootcamp-Style Workouts
Shannon Spake's fitness journey includes her positive experience with Burn Bootcamp (BBC) in Cornelius. Prior to BBC, she had been doing bootcamp-style classes for 3 years. She shared her enthusiasm for BBC, highlighting its advantages over her previous training routine. "I felt as if I had hit a plateau because of the repetitiveness of the training and the limited schedule of my former location," Spake explained. One of the key benefits she found was the flexibility of BBC, allowing her to "attend a camp any time of the day at any location." While acknowledging that "the monthly fee is higher than what I was paying at my local gym," she emphasized that "the monthly cost is well worth it for the results I see and the enjoyment I get out of working out with the other women who go to BBC!"
Spake integrated BBC into her triathlon training regimen. "I prepared for and competed in 3 Triathlons in two months. I complimented my run, bike and swim workouts with bootcamp and I have no doubt it made me stronger and prevented injuries." Looking ahead, she planned to continue incorporating BBC into her routine, stating, "I have just started training for a half marathons and will continue to do BBC 4-5 times per week." She attributes positive changes to her involvement with BBC, saying, "I feel stronger, healthier and more confident that I have in years." She also emphasized the personal benefit she derives from her workouts, noting, "As an ESPN reporter, I travel up to 200 days a year for work and am raising two 5-year-old boys. Most of my days are 'doing for other people'. BBC is for me!"
The Power of Stair Climbing
Spake's fitness regimen also includes stair climbing, which she enjoys for its numerous health benefits. According to ACE Fitness, stair climbing is a strenuous exercise that targets the cardiovascular and respiratory systems. Alexandra Lempke, PhD, a clinical assistant professor of applied exercise science and the codirector of the Michigan Performance Research Laboratory at the University of Michigan School of Kinesiology in Ann Arbor, explains that "stair climbing exercise can be a strenuous… When you climb stairs, your heart rate and breathing will increase. ‘Stair climbing for exercise targets the cardiovascular and respiratory systems,’"
Fueling the Body Right
In an interview with Inspire Health Magazine, Spake shared her approach to healthy eating. She focuses on viewing "food as fuel and how that food is going to make me feel." She elaborated on this point, saying, "If I go and eat a big plate of pasta or a pizza or whatever at noon, I’m junk for the rest of the day. I feel tired. I feel full. I don’t have the energy that I would if I had a salad with chicken and some salmon, some good stuff." While she admits to indulging in treats like ice cream and wine, she emphasizes the importance of making healthy choices, especially when traveling: "Now don’t get me wrong. I’ll down some ice cream at night, and I love my wine. I’m not perfect when it comes to nutrition, but I do try to eat really healthy on the road because it’s very easy not to."
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Finding Balance in a Hectic Life
Spake stresses the significance of balance in her life. She told Inspire Health Magazine, “It always comes to balance. Sometimes something will be 100%, and the other things drop a little bit down. But the next day, you bring the one that was down back up to 100%. Sometimes you might have to tell yourself, ‘You know what? I’m not working today, so I’m going to go volunteer at my kids’ school." This philosophy highlights her commitment to prioritizing different aspects of her life at different times, ensuring that no single area is consistently neglected.
Overcoming Challenges and Staying Active
Spake's dedication to fitness extends to her participation in races. She shared her training experiences with Inspire Health Magazine: "I’ve trained in freezing temperatures, oppressive heat, rain, snow and everything in between." Even when traveling for work, she finds ways to stay active, relying on "treadmills and stationary bikes" and consuming "more protein bars and electrolyte powders in three years than a normal person will in their entire life." She has also faced physical challenges, including "a herniated disc, tendinitis of the Achilles, and ear infections," but has persevered in her commitment to maintaining an active lifestyle.
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