Meet Katie Barberi, Skimble‘s featured Trainer! This new mama is keen to inspire everyone around her that being fit and healthy is FUN! We recently had the chance to chat with Katie and learn more about how her passion for nutrition developed and the path that led her to become a Fitness Nutrition Coach.
Tell us a bit about your background and where you’re from.
Katie: I am originally from Boulder, CO but I now live near Los Angeles, CA. I have been married to my husband for four years and we had our first child in March of 2017. It has been the most amazing thing raising a tiny human. I spend my days juggling the little guy and working as a health coach, and I wouldn’t change it for the world!
What inspired you to become a health coach?
Katie: I found out that I have Celiac Disease in September of 2010 so that was the first time that I really thought about nutrition and the foods that I put in to my body. I was forced to pay attention to everything I eat and I quickly realized I actually enjoyed learning about how food affects the body. I also met my husband, who is a professional cyclist, around the same time and started learning how nutrition and exercise are very interrelated and it was full steam ahead from there.
What are your areas of specialty when it comes to fitness and nutrition?
Katie: I have two major areas of expertise, sports nutrition and pre/post-natal health. They may seem like two very different areas but they are actually very similar. I deal with two types of people that require specialized diets and lifestyles that are very specific to their current situation.
Who did you certify with and why?
Katie: I have multiple certifications. I started by getting my certification in Fitness Nutrition through ISSA. From there I went on schooling through the Nutrition Therapy Institute. I also got my pre/post-natal health coaching certification through Dr. Sears Wellness Institute. I chose the last two institutes because they aligned best with my holistic views of the body and the fact that the body is a lot of working parts that all rely on each other.
How did you first hear about Workout Trainer?
Katie: I actually just found it by searching through fitness apps on my phone. I was searching for an app that would give me more workouts that I could do at home because of the new baby and I haven’t stopped using it since.
What’s your favorite feature in the app?
Katie: Personally, I love being able to create workouts as I am doing them. I often come up with my workouts as I go and this allows me to save them and share them with my clients.
How do you use Workout Trainer as a part of your coaching business?
Katie: I use the app to create workouts for myself and for my clients. I am not one to enjoy doing the same workout over and over again, so this allows me switch it up and keep things original.
In your experience, what are some of the benefits of online training?
Katie: I have been an online trainer for many years now and the biggest benefit is that I am able to work with anyone, anywhere. With the technology available to us these days, we don’t need to be in the same room as each other in order for me to keep my clients accountable. I can see when my clients do their workouts, whether they finished them, how hard the workout was for them, and if I need to adjust anything. It’s also really nice because I can adjust things day to day, rather than having to wait a week or two between meetings with clients.
What keeps you motivated to stay fit and healthy yourself?
Katie: I have always been a fairly fit person by choice, but meeting my husband made me step up my game. Being married to a professional athlete is huge motivation to stay in shape yourself. These days my son is my motivation. I want to show him that being fit and healthy is fun. Currently he loves watching me work out and he finds push-ups hilarious, unlike myself 🙂
Finally, can you share a secret health/fitness tip with the Skimble community…
Katie: When you make goals for yourself don’t make goals that are too broad. Rather than just saying “I want to lose 15 pounds”, try to make goals that will allow you to take steps towards reaching that goal. Start with goals like, “I am going to go to the gym 3 times a week” or “I am going to track my food every day for a month”. Creating stepping stones will make it more likely that you will achieve your goals and create habits that you will stick with once you have reached that goal.
Thanks for sharing with us, Katie, we’re excited to see what the future will bring for you and your fit fam!
Katie Barberi is currently accepting new clients for 1:1 Online Personal Training in Workout Trainer. Get signed up today and let her help you crush your fitness goals.
Want to follow Katie and other great trainers? Download the Workout Trainer app for Android & iOS, then head on over to the Trainers tab.
Are you a fitness professional? Want to become a Verified Trainer like Katie and have access to our coaching tools and more? Get started on Skimble’s Trainer page.
