Written by Kimi Adeigbe As a first time mom-to-be, even though I am a personal trainer, it has been tricky trying to stay fit during my pregnancy. I know I am not alone in the struggle! First thing to always remember when doing your best to stay fit and healthy during your pregnancy is to never compare your experience to any other women’s experience. We are all so very different with different needs, symptoms and fitness levels. A lot of women experience the same symptoms but a lot of women DO NOT.  My personal experiences As a trainer I’ve been pretty fit and healthy before my pregnancy ..read more

Congratulations to Rebecca Buckalew and James Gilroy! These athletes are following the process to achieve real change – they found a training program they enjoy, that holds them accountable, and that keeps them progressing at the right pace over time. James and Rebecca never miss a session, and they come in ready to work hard at whatever their trainers throw at them. Clients like these are a trainer’s dream! Congrats on your hard work and your continued progress!   ATHLETE OF THE MONTH: James Gilroy From James’s trainer, Daniel Taylor: I chose James because every time he c ..read more

Congratulations to the 2024 recipients of ASF’s Student Athlete Scholarships! This year, our community raised $10,000 and we awarded scholarships to five incredible student athletes.  We are always extremely impressed with the students who apply. This year’s group represent high schools all over Austin, and play a variety of sports from football and soccer to swimming, fencing and dressage. We asked them to write about how athletics has helped them overcome a challenge, and we read so many thoughtful and forward-thinking essays. The themes that stood out this year are the value of learni ..read more

  We had an amazing event this past Saturday! In its sixth year, our annual Coach DJ’s Memorial Bench-A-Thon was a smashing success. A record 61 lifters of all ages came out to show their one-rep max strength on bench press! Since 2021, Bench-A-Thon has raised money for our Student Athlete Scholarship Fund. We are proud to announce that we met our goal of raising $10,000! This spring, we will award five student athletes with $2,000 scholarships. It is exciting to see this event continue to grow so we can affect even greater change in our community. The vibes were especially high this ye ..read more

Written by Daniel Taylor Cortisol is defined as the stress hormone. According to the World Health Organization, stress is defined as a state of worry or mental tension caused by a difficult situation. Stress is a natural human response that prompts us to address challenges and threats in our lives. Everyone experiences stress to some degree. The way we respond to stress, however, makes a big difference to our overall well-being.  Cortisol’s Role in the Body Stress and cortisol are synonymous to one another, as in they both work in cohesion with one another. Cortisol has several roles in ..read more

We are celebrating an awesome pair of athletes this month. Celia Pellegrini and Sophia Reznik are committed to getting stronger, and they are enjoying the process. We all know that training is hard work, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be fun! Celia and Sophia work hard and stay consistent, and they are motivated to keep their progress going! ASF Central: Celia Pellegrini From Celia’s trainer, Niamh McWalter: I’ve chosen Celia because she always comes in to the gym ready to WORK! Her personality and smile are infectious and even though she’s had some setbacks due to previous injuries, she make ..read more

At the end of February, we will celebrate a FULL DECADE of John DeLaPaz at Austin Simply Fit! John DeLaPaz has been an excellent trainer for 10 years, and for most of that time he has also been a rock-steady member of the Leadership Team. His many roles have included managing the South Studio, leading the marketing team, and organizing all of our events. (Including Bench-A-Thon, click here to register or donate!) John brings tons of energy, personality and good humor to everything he does. As a trainer, he keeps his clients laughing, helping them enjoy the process of getting strong. He spent ..read more

Nelly Thompson Senior at Leander High School Varsity Basketball Women’s Flag Football Texas Fury Elite Flag Football USA Football Here’s what Coach Sierra Nevels had to say about Nelly: I am choosing Nelly because she’s a hard worker, and like the silent assassin. She’s very chill and laid back but gets after it bar none. Since I started training Nelly this year, I had no idea flag football was now a collegiate sport – this is awesome and just a great opportunity for others to get into sports that they love. It’s been a pleasure training Nelly – her work ethic is insane and it shows. I’m excit ..read more

Written by David Polisky If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to see lasting results day in and day out, follow these “secrets” to help you create your own “luck.”  Call it being obsessive, a creature of habit, or just plain neurotic, but however you may see it, you’ll find that by following your own rituals you will progress much faster than if you don’t follow any habits. Obviously, everyone has their own specific needs, and these are by no means meant to solve everyone’s problems, but rather to give a broad overview and outline as to how to create your own solution that works best for ..read more

  This month, our athletes are all about competence and confidence! Christophe Cunha and Alexis Delgado have been making gains in both areas while training at ASF. Training consistently and with purpose and intensity, they have seen their strength and skills skyrocket. We are so proud of them!   ASF South: Christophe Cunha From Chris’s trainer, Nicky Trbovich: Chris truly deserves to be spotlighted this month. Every session, it is guaranteed he is going to push himself to the fullest extent. Even after an intense session, he comes to the next one ready to go, smiling the whole time ..read more