Last autumn, I launched a series spotlighting remarkable women who deeply inspire me. Every week, this segment shines a light on outstanding and empowering individuals who have impacted my journey in health and wellness. Their influence has encouraged me to evolve into a better version of myself, and I truly hope their stories inspire you as well.
I want to introduce you to Tina Chow from @FitChicksCook this week. I connected with Tina on Instagram last year and was instantly captivated by her stunning meal preparations – they’re truly culinary masterpieces! Tina offers insights into her fitness journey and provides followers a behind-the-scenes look at her meal creation processes through her Instagram stories. She’s an inspiration and embraces the fact that we all have our human moments. Such authenticity is genuinely commendable.
Once you browse her Instagram, you’ll find yourself yearning for her delicious meals. But don’t fret; you can whip up these dishes in your kitchen with her upcoming cookbook, “The Everything Healthy Meal Prep Cookbook.” Let’s dive in!
Learn to prepare healthy, portion-controlled meals for the week with this easy-to-follow cookbook that saves time and can help you lose weight. Meal prepping has quickly become one of the best ways to control what you eat and organize your eating habits.
TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF: WHAT DO YOU DO, LOCATION, HOBBIES…
TC: I work for the largest Canadian bank as a Regional Sales Coach. So, I coach bank managers and their sales teams on sales effectiveness and on delivering sound financial advice and excellent client experience. Yes, it’s very different from health and fitness blogging. I’m from Toronto, Ontario, and a proud Canadian. Besides work, working out, and cooking, I also enjoy hiking and traveling.
WHAT GOT YOU INTO HEALTH + FITNESS?
TC: I started my health and fitness journey about five years ago. I had recently left a long-term relationship on my own for the first time in many years. I signed up for a “fun and easy” 10km run with a group of friends, and that’s when I realized just how out of shape I was. So much so out, I was nearly crippled for three days post-race. I was only 28 at the time but probably had the cardio endurance of an 80-year-old!
WHAT GOT YOU INTO MEAL PREPPING?
TC: I was training about 4 to 5 times a week when I began my fitness journey, but after a few months, I rarely saw any difference in my physical appearance. At the time, I was always eating out, enjoying buffets and unhealthy meals post-workout, thinking it was okay because I’d worked out, right? After conversing with my instructor and research, I’ve concluded that you cannot outwork a bad diet (duh!). During this time, I was also completing my master’s degree part-time while also working full-time and maintaining a busy training schedule, so there was no way I could cook fresh meals each day. And this was how I started meal prepping. Since then, I’ve turned it into my lifestyle and still meal prep weekly as a way of life.
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“MY FOOD PHILOSOPHY:”
TC: Eat unprocessed whole foods as much as possible, and cook most of your meals at home.
YOUR MEAL PREPS ARE GOALS! YOU’VE INSPIRED ME TO PLAN AND PREP MY MEALS FOR THE WEEK. WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO OTHERS EMBARKING ON A MEAL PREP JOURNEY?
TC: Start small so you don’t overwhelm yourself. Start with maybe just a couple of prep days, then expand to more meals and days as you get more comfortable. Another tip is to keep your meals simple. Don’t make fancy extravagant meals as preps; keep those for your weekend meals.
TELL US YOUR MOST PERFECT DAY. HOW WOULD YOU SPEND IT? WHAT WOULD YOU YOU DO?
TC: I love spending the morning doing a long hike, then a break for lunch, and ending our day lying on a beach! Both active and relaxing.
OK, NOW, WHAT IS YOUR DAY REALLY LIKE?
TC: On a regular workday, I’m up at 5:30 am and the gym by 6 am for an hour CrossFit workout. Then, I shower and start my work day. After work, I’ll likely work on a blog post (editing photos or writing blog posts). Then, when Rob gets home, we’ll have dinner and end our day with a walk around our neighborhood. We’re in bed by 10:30 p.m.
WHAT IS YOUR RECIPE FOR A HAPPY, HEALTHY LIFE?
TC: Do what makes you happy. Stop worrying about what people think of you because those who care about you won’t judge, and those who judge won’t matter to you anyway.
FINISH THESE STATEMENTS:
Sushi takeout.
BEST FAST FOOD OPTION:
BEST HEALTHY RESTAURANT TIP:
Ask for all sauces on the side. You can save a lot of calories this way!
WHAT IS YOUR MANTRA/WORDS TO LIVE BY?
Make time, not excuses.
AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK I COOK…
I love ground turkey. I make it in one form or another. Usually, just sautéed ground turkey is simple but also filling and delicious!
EVERYTHING TASTES BETTER WITH A LITTLE…
Coconut cream
THE ONE THING THAT I CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT IS…
Rob. It’s cheesy but true.
MY GUILTY PLEASURE IS…
Ice cream
MY FAVORITE GO-TO FOOD IS…
Sushi
VF: WHERE CAN WE FOLLOW YOU?
TC: Instagram @fitchickscook
Learn to prepare healthy, portion-controlled meals for the week with this easy-to-follow cookbook that saves time and can help you lose weight. Meal prepping has quickly become one of the best ways to control what you eat and organize your eating habits.