Fitness Expert, Terry Asher Talks Weight-Lifting For Women

You know I love to mix it up.

So today we’re doing JUST that.

One of my good friends from high school is going to really INSPIRE YOU. He’s constantly inspiring me with his dedication to a healthy lifestyle, crazy work ethic, & knowledge about the fitness industry…plus all the girls always have crushes on him.

So because of those qualities, I had to ( DUH ) do an interview swap.

That’s right, I’m featured on his blog, GymJunkies, & he’s on mine. Flirty, right.

Terry is SUPER KNOWLEDGEABLE. I also love hearing from top trainers about tips for women. Seriously, though, it’s cool to hear from fellow ladies what women should do to stay tight BUT it’s also cool to hear from male trainers. A different perspective never hurt a flea.

Anyway, we’ve discussed heavy lifting a bit before but I wanted to go deeper with another badass guy. & Terry Asher is the man for the job. Happy reading:

| Introduce yourself: |

Hey! I’m Terry from gymjunkies.com! I currently live in Del Mar, California and started GymJunkies to help inspire others to work out & be healthy.

| How did you get into training? |

I was always kind of a runt growing up, so when I was a freshman in high school, I figured I would give weight lifting a shot and try to put on some muscle mass. Then it really became an addiction for me, I felt better, I could focus better, and I eventually started to get in better shape.

| Most important thing when you’re training someone? |

It’s been a minute since I’ve trained someone one-on-one but I think the most important thing is to remember that everyone is different. For instance, if you have a desk job you most likely exhibit rolled over shoulders, and or a craning neck. So there are certain things you can blend into your workout program to combat your client’s posture issues or muscle imbalances.

So it’s important to program people’s workouts and tailor it to them specifically because at the end of the day, one mold does not fit all.

| You’re ALWAYS so motivated, like what the fuck – how do you stay constantly motivated? |

It’s really an addiction for me at this point and I have to get my fix every day.

I feel like people often overlook the physiological effects of working out. It does a lot of great things including releasing dopamine ( happy hormone ), reducing your stress, improving your sleep, & squelching anxiety.

Not to mention now it’s a branding thing for me; in fact, someone called me out on Snapchat the other day and said, “hey I didn’t see a gym post today.” I thought to myself, damn who is motivating whom now?

| If someone wants to lose fat, what do you recommend? |

First, don’t fall victim to fad diets. I see too many people get into something just to fall out two weeks later. Second, remember there are three components to fat loss: your diet, cardio, and weight lifting.

You can probably take a guess which is my favorite of the three and seems to be the least favorite of most women: weight lifting. It’s important to remember that while cardio does have its place in burning fat ( HITT cardio specifically ), weight lifting will assist your body in becoming a fat burning furnace.

What do I mean? Weight lifting helps your body burn fat after your actual workout by increasing your metabolism ( resting metabolic rate ). So after a solid resistance workout, your body is still burning fat! Even when you’re watching your favorite show on Netflix.

| What do you recommend for women between the ages of 18 to 40 for fat loss when it comes to diet? |

When it comes to diet especially, don’t skip breakfast, eat more often and consume calorie ( and nutrient ) dense foods. If you like sweets, try replacing it with a chocolate whey protein drink to curb your sweet tooth.

At the end of the day, remember it comes down to a simple rule: you will need a calorie deficit. So you need to find your caloric intake and minus 500 calories from there. And guess what? If you follow this rule 6 out of 7 days a week, you can have a nice cheat day and still lose weight!

| What do you recommend for women between the ages of 18 to 40 for fat loss when it comes to exercise? |

I would recommend researching HIIT cardio if your athletic level permits, & like I previously mentioned, ladies: pick up some weights!

| Best snack? Why? |

There are tons! If I were to pick one pre-workout out food I would choose cottage cheese with mixed berries, as it’s high in natural casein protein. This snack will give your muscles protein over a long workout, give you a dose of antioxidants, & reduce muscle inflammation!

| I’m busy, really busy. So how can I stay healthy when I’m running around like a psycho? |

Aren’t we all? If you’re extremely pressed for time during the day then aim for high-efficiency workouts.

You’d be surprised how much you can accomplish in 25 minutes. For example, if you normally do 8-12 reps of an exercise, try switching it up and adding in drop sets ( dropping to a lighter weight when you fatigue ) & supersets ( jumping straight to a different exercise ). By incorporating these two variables, you can increase the intensity/volume of your workout substantially.

| COCKTAILS: tips? Tricks? Thoughts on wine? |

I’m more of a whiskey drinker if I do decide to drink, and guess what…?

Whiskey contains more antioxidants than red wine! It also contains Ellagic acid, a plant compound that acts as a free radical combatant, and for you ladies, if applied topically, could prevent skin damage & wrinkles. Not to mention it can aid in stress reduction, combat cancer, improve circulation, & helps digestion.

One glass every few days wouldn’t hurt. As long as you are consuming in moderation, the health benefits should outweigh any negative aspects!

| How has fitness evolved to where it is now? |

I think people are becoming more aware of fitness in general, which is obviously a great thing. Information is more readily available and there are tons of apps, sites, and other tools you can track your progress with.

I think the future of fitness is promising, as people will be more integrated with apps, sites, tools, and trackers. No excuses!

+ Follow Terry on Instagram or Snapchat ( @terryasher ) for more fitness tips.

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