By Pyc Fitness
©2004-2008
Jessica Zapata wants Edmontonians to work up a sweat for the city's less fortunate this holiday season.
With Christmas fast approaching, Zapata's Riverbend-area fitness studio is offering a free workout with a personal trainer next week to anyone who brings in a donation for Edmonton's Food Bank.
It's called "Sweat for the Starved." The inaugural charity event runs Dec. 10-15 at Infinite Fitness Personal Training at 206-596 Riverbend Square
"In Alberta, we take it for granted that we have a great economy," explains the 28-year-old Edmontonian. "But there's still people that aren't seeing the results of that great economy that we need to think of."
Zapata (nee Ritchie), who launched Infinite Fitness about six months ago with husband Tristan, says she's also excited about giving food donors a chance to work out with a personal trainer - especially if they've never tried that before.
FOOD FOR FITNESS
"If you have some extra food in your cupboard," she says, "why not trade it in to try this workout with a certified trainer?"
Nine trainers will be on hand to take food donors through one of three circuit-style workouts - beginner, intermediate or advanced. Each workout is designed to be completed in less than 30 minutes. Prizes will be awarded for the best time in each category.
Of course, Zapata knows first-hand that there's no greater prize to be garnered from working out than improved health.
"Obviously, I want to look good. Who doesn't? At the same time, I really want to be healthy," she says of her motivations to keep fit.
Zapata, fit as a fiddle at 138 pounds and five-foot-seven, admits that about eight years ago her physical condition wasn't quite up to her current standards.
Shortly after hanging up her tutu around age 20, the lifelong ballet dancer suddenly became somewhat sedentary while studying for her diploma as a physical therapy assistant at MacEwan College in 1999 and 2000.
Through her less-active lifestyle - along with too much processed food and empty calories - Zapata succumbed to the dreaded "Freshman 15," gaining about 15 pounds in her first year of college.
In 2001, Zapata started pursuing her bachelor of science degree in kinesiology at the University of Alberta.
That year, she also started running. And within eight months, she dropped about 30 pounds.
The following year, Zapata began working and training at the university's fitness centre - and was soon bitten by the iron bug, zealously supplementing her running with her new weight-training regimen in a bid to pack muscle onto her slim frame.
She had dabbled in pumping iron in high school but back then had never really "bought into the benefits," she explains.
In 2002, Zapata ran two marathons - Edmonton and Disney World.
Around that time, Zapata had also become a certified personal trainer.
By then, she was in kick-butt shape. And as fate would have it, her active lifestyle ended up leading her to her husband - a like-minded personal trainer who had played for Argentina's national fast-pitch team.
The two met while working at a city health club in 2004.
"He hired me as a personal trainer," she recalls with a laugh.
The couple married this past August, just three months after becoming co-owners of Infinite Fitness.
These days, Zapata - who earned a top-five finish at last year's provincial figure competition under the Alberta Bodybuilding Association - lifts weights two or three times a week.
Most workouts, she'll train with hubby Tristan.
"We keep it intense," she says of their hour-long sessions. "You've got to make it count."
Zapata, who ran the New York marathon in 2005, runs four times a week. The jaunts range from 5 km in about 30 minutes to 20 km in roughly 2 hours.
In the warmer months, she'll hit the river valley. More recently, she's been hitting residential streets and sidewalks.
"I hate running on the treadmill," she says. "I've run through winter lots. You just have to dress for it. As long as people shovel, it's good."
Yesterday, Zapata was in Las Vegas to run a half-marathon.
When she's not running or working out herself, she's either training the 15-20 clients she sees on a regular basis or teaching up to three group classes a week, including indoor cycling and core conditioning.
Despite her hectic schedule, Zapata eats mostly home-cooked meals and steers clear of fast food or anything else that's processed.
Her staples include, chicken, steak (once a week), whole wheat or gluten-free pasta, rice, sweet potatoes, asparagus and other green veggies, and a variety of fruits.
However, she does allow herself the occasional treat.
"If I want to have a glass of wine, then I go ahead," she says. "I'm not restrictive, but I eat clean. It's important to live. I like ice cream in the summer, too."
To book a time slot for Sweat for the Starved, grab a non-perishable food item and call 435-7111.
JESSICA'S TIPS FOR KEEPING FIT
1. Don't be discouraged when things don't go as planned. Just get back on the wagon.
2. Shop the perimeter of the grocery store - where the most nutritious foods are usually stocked.
3. Keep a positive attitude.
"We're capable of anything. If you believe it, you can achieve it."