FITNESS FUEL: TIPS FROM PHOEBE, A FOOD INDUSTRY PRO

Staying fit and healthy is essential for everyone, but it holds special importance for those in physically demanding industries like the food service sector. Phoebe, a manager and bartender at a Malibu restaurant, shares her insights and personal fitness journey to help others achieve optimal health and well-being.

Find Inspiration in Your Routine

It’s important to find inspiration in one’s routine and not feel stuck. "Ask yourself what you need to feel inspired," she suggests. Phoebe enjoys activities like kettlebell and resistance band training, yoga, and hiking. Finding the right routine based on activities she enjoys can make a significant difference in maintaining a healthy lifestyle while managing within the demanding food service industry.

“I love kettlebells... I love to squat with a bar anywhere because I love to work on my booty... I love anything that allows me to feel strong…”

Quick, Effective Workouts

Even a 10-minute workout can have a profound impact on one’s daily fitness. That said, lack of time need not be a barrier to maintaining an active lifestyle. Short, focused workouts can be highly beneficial.

Here’s how Phoebe’s 20-minute workouts break down: 5 minutes of cardio followed by 15 minutes of strength training focused on squats to engage multiple muscle groups. The simplicity and efficiency of this workout make it accessible to everyone, whether at home or in the office.

Phoebe prepping to use the Agile Rack.

As a manager and bartender, Phoebe shared three specific routines that help her perform her best while at her job. These workouts are quick and efficient and support the physical demands that bartending requires.

1. Bicep Curls – Essential for shaking powerful Martinis or lifting plates.
2. Overhead Tests with Food Runners – Useful for lifting trays high and moving gracefully through the restaurant.
3. Deadlifts – Great for assisting with bussing and moving tables in a safe and graceful manner.

Check out Phoebe’s “Rack Snack” workout HERE:

Structured Workout, While Listening to Your Body

Phoebe emphasizes the importance of listening to one's body and finding what works best for individual fitness. She has a personalized regimen involving three or four exercises, with reps starting at 15 and decreasing to 8 while increasing the weight. Both methods of high-rep low-weight workouts and low-rep high-weight workouts produce results. For Phoebe, she noticed her body responds better to lower reps and heavier weights. The key is to discover the balance and approach that suits one's body and fitness goals. In addition, incorporating hot yoga helps counteract muscle constriction from workouts and maintain muscle flexibility.

Consistency is Key

At one point in time, Phoebe stopped working out as much over the years, despite being an athlete growing up. Her journey back to regular workouts began with encouragement from her best friend who is a fitness trainer.

“She helped me get back into that habit, and once I got back, I'm like, whoa. I miss just being athletic. I miss feeling strong. I miss feeling great throughout my day.”

With consistency and dedication, she has now been working out regularly for nine years, feeling strong and great throughout the day. Much of the workout tips Phoebe outlines above have greatly contributed to being able to maintain that level of consistency.