Paul and Sandy Sklar made fitness a family affair.
The first family of the fitness relationship has grown from coach-client to husband, wife, and parents, with their mutual bond being self-improvement. They have turned their passion for the gym into a successful career where they train, teach, and inspire both clients and social media followers to improve by focusing on their fitness goals.
Paul, a former college athlete, is one of America's top coaches with nearly a million followers on Instagram. Sandy has a fan base of nearly half a million due to her motivational training tips that she regularly posts on Instagram. Together, the athletes at Optimum Nutrition (ON) own and operate Prescriptive Fitness in Charlotte, NC.
Having such global responsibility, however, sometimes leaves the fitness tandem little time to share a leisurely couple training session. While training together can be challenging at times, it is through a combination of commitment and compromise that both Paul and Sandy make it work. They even make it a family affair by including their children in some of their training days.
Paul and Sandy share a few tips on how to share your love for lunges with your significant other and a number of relationship building tips to make your fitness journey fun for the whole family.
Use the WE in weekend training
Paul and Sandy agree that including your kids for a weekend workout may not be the most efficient game plan for making long-term gains at the gym. Both believe in adding some weekend workouts to your weekend schedule. t only is it a fun activity to share with all your family, a little sweat and a few jumping jacks are a solid foundation for promoting healthier lifestyles for your kids - though you may need to keep an eye on the younger kids.
"Actually, Paul and I just do our own thing," says Sandy. "Sometimes we train together, and when our little ones are running around doing their own thing, we're basically helping anyone who needs help to watch them." They like to use some of the resistance bands and some of our equipment. So we show him a few things - or they even want to show us an exercise or two (laughs). "
In addition to bands, the couple suggests that even a light kettlebell can be a lure for your kids to want to take part in a workout. Whether you're pushing each other to succeed or just enjoying a light laugh with the family, the time together pays off later.
"We use the weekends as our time to bond as a family," says Paul. "We don't always do the same exercises - mostly not - but we are always in the same room. We can see each other and feed each other on the energy. Or the children watch us and we watch them. Then everyone has fun."
Take your fitness outdoors
Fresh air and fitness go hand in hand. What better way for a couple to connect than running outside, hiking, even walking, or taking a jump rope or other portable device to the park for a fun workout. Studies have shown that running or walking improves your heart rate, boosts your immune system, and even helps family relationships.
"I think being outdoors with minimal equipment or just your body weight can be a great exercise," says Paul. "Plus, it's great to just do a simple run that is just running and talking. It's great exercise. And it's fun."
Share the training plan
If a person controls the choices for Netflix binge watching, chances are the relationship won't end well. As with sharing the remote control, the same theory can be applied to creating workouts for both of you. If you and your significant other want to sweat a sweat together, it is best if each of you play the same role in your workout choices.
"Be open and take turns," says Paul. “Of course we have different goals. But when Sandy trains or trains a client, I'll watch what she's doing and vice versa. We play out each other's ideas. "
If a week of deadlifting is your preference, give your partner the option of choosing a long term run, hot yoga, or even a heavy squat day for the next workout. Participation in the fitness decision strengthens the partnership.
"Because we are so busy during the work week, it is really difficult to buy time," says Sandy. “So we take off on our weekends. This is our time together and we make sure we take the time.
Keep the diet flowing ...
Paul and Sandy know very well that abs are made in the kitchen, but when it comes to kitchen creativity, Paul admits that meals remain mundane. "We are creatures of habit," says Paul that their dinner menu usually consists of chicken or fish with broccoli or noodles.
Paul weighs around 170 pounds and says he takes around one gram of protein per pound of body weight to maintain his shredded muscle mass. To get the extra protein, Paul takes several scoops of ON Gold Standard 100% Whey every day. (Sandy in particular is a big proponent of the brand's skin and joint fixer, Collagen + Hyaluronic Acid.)
The family gets creative when it comes to providing healthier options for their children. Whether it's chocolate protein cupcakes or just a milkshake, the Sklars believe that keeping the kids healthy and having fun for the kids is a subtle incentive for promoting healthier lifestyles.
"We do a lot of shakes together, especially with the kids," says Paul. "My son has his own little mixer, so he likes to make his own shakes."
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... As well as the compliments
Sure, when you look in the mirror and finally see that your six-pack creates a rewarding sense of accomplishment, when you hear the words "you look hot" from your proud spouse appreciating your physical accomplishments, you go a long way towards making it happen to build a stronger body. shaping bond.
Both Paul and Sandy have seen the positive effects of exercise on couples. They say positive affirmations are both an incentive to keep exercising and to share their fitness paths together.
"We're going to get clients who come in and say," My husband, when he started working with you, he didn't have abs and now he does and I love it, "says Paul." If both spouses exercise, do they really like to compliment each other - that just makes it a lot better for them. "
