Living Well with Brooke Baker
The personal trainer shares her healthy living habits.
November 11th, 2013 by: Lianna Patch
"Never give up is my with my personal mantra."
2005 was a rough year for all New Orleanians, including personal trainer Brooke Baker.
That year, in the face of a divorce and Hurricane Katrina, Baker used the storm as a catalyst to change her life. She had always loved working out, so she decided to become a personal trainer. Now Baker trains clients one-on-one at Premier Fitness and teaches the gym’s spin classes — one of her favorite parts of her work.
On Staying Motivated: Baker loves watching her clients gain confidence and strength. “It makes me want to go back to the gym,” she said. “I love my job. I love helping people have confidence in themselves.” In addition, Baker’s son, a freshman at Country Day School, fuels her drive to live well. “Having him be proud of me is another motivation,” she said.
On Food She Loves: “Sushi is my favorite staple,” said Baker. “As for healthy snacks, if someone gives me something to eat and I like it, I’ll promote it.” Right now, she’s enjoying healthy grab-and-go foods from The Green Fork, like egg and tomato popovers and “Happy Trails” gluten-free snacks with flax and chai seeds.
Keep track of your daily activity: Try a pedometer. Step-counters (pedometers) are cheap and easy to use. Best of all, they help you keep track of how active you are. Build up to 7,000 steps a day—or more.
Client Success Story: Recently, Baker challenged a client to do a wall squat for a full minute. The client said she couldn’t; Baker encouraged her to try. When the client succeeded, she said, “I can’t believe I just did that!” This, said Baker, is the feeling she wants everyone to experience. “Even when clients reach a plateau or get discouraged, I always try to find something good to make that person not give up,” she said.
Wise Words: “Believe in yourself and find something good in every situation — even if it’s just ‘I got up today and went to the gym,’” said Baker. “Keep going, even if you get into a slump or plateau. Don’t give up on yourself.”