Interview With Kristy Lee Wilson
Personal Trainer of the Month - November 2009
Interviewed by Angela Courduff
WP: Kristy is an ACSM, NASM and NSCA Certified Personal Trainer, NASM Performance Enhancement Specialist and Cirque du Soleil Acrobat based in Orlando, Florida. She is originally from Australia, but moved to Florida in 2001 to start performing with Cirque. She has been an elite gymnast since she was eight years old and was a member of both the Australian Gymnastics Team and the Australian Trampoline Team. Kristy is also a former Australian Power Tumbling Champion and Australian Stunt Academy Graduate. Her passion for fitness is proven without a doubt.
Kristy, you are one active and smart woman! Do you still compete?
KW: I was a competitive gymnast and power tumbler, but I don’t actually compete anymore. Currently, and for the past 8 years, I have been performing full time as an acrobat with Cirque du Soleil.
WP: How did you like competing in gymnastics and tumbling? Can you tell me about it?
KW: I was ranked as one of the top junior gymnasts in Australia. I was training on a gymnastics scholarship at the Australian Institute of Sport for the 1996 Olympic Games. Unfortunately, a knee injury (and 3 knee surgeries) ended my gymnastics career. After my third surgery I took a year off and then began training in trampoline and power tumbling. I was a member of the Australian Trampoline Team for 5 years, and also during this time became the Australian Power Tumbling Champion.
WP: Not even three knee surgeries can keep you down! What did you learn from competing? What was the hardest thing for you to overcome when you first started?
KW: I think the biggest thing competing has taught me is to how to handle pressure and also how to deal with disappointments. Sometimes, no matter how much you want something and no matter how hard you work, you may not always come out on top. I’ve learned that instead of letting disappointments get you down you need to stay focused, keep believing in yourself, take away something positive from the experience, and keep moving forward. There are no limits to where we can go! I live by two mottos: ‘Where there’s a will there’s a way’ and ‘Success is just a matter of attitude’. I strongly believe that we can achieve whatever it is we set our minds to.
Competition has also taught me extreme dedication, commitment, and focus. I am a very stubborn person when it comes to achieving the goals I set for myself, and I am very determined to achieve anything I set my mind too. I love when people tell me I cannot do something because I generally go out of my way to prove that person wrong. I’m very stubborn like that!
WP: Those are great personal mottos and it sounds like you are extremely committed to your craft. Do you think you will compete again in the future?
KW: I don’t think I will compete again in the future, but you should never say never, right? I compete with myself everyday. I am that person who is always aiming to be better in every area of life.
WP: Good for you! What are the key factors that dictate the way you train today?
KW: Definitely having to perform every night dictates the way I train. A lot of my training is very specific to my performances and I have to be very careful not to over train myself. Performing is a full time job for me and I need to be able to give my best in every performance I do. Another key factor for me is enjoyment. I need to do something I enjoy; otherwise I am not going to want to do it. I think this is a key factor for everyone. We shouldn’t do things because we have to do them; we should do them because we want to and because we enjoy it. This for me is probably the most important factor.
WP: Well said! Can you tell me how your training has changed over the years?
KW: I began training as an elite gymnast when I was just 8 years old. I was training 8 hours a day, 6 days a week in the gym and about an hour or two of that would be spent on strength training and flexibility. Back then I had a coach telling me what to do. So I just did what I was told.
Now, I don’t have a coach there telling me what to do, so I have to create my own programs based on what I feel I need and how my body feels. Becoming certified as a trainer has helped me a lot! I have learned how to train myself in a way that works for me. Some of the exercises I include in my workouts are still the same exercises I did when I was 8 years old, but I have learned to listen to my body much more over the years. I am very in tune with my body so if I feel I need to take things a little easier for a few days, I will. I train much smarter now. I train very hard, but I train smart. There’s no need for me to spend over an hour in the gym. I’m busy, like everyone else, balancing careers and school. I would rather do an extremely intense 30 minute workout and be done. I find that I get better results from this type of training also.
WP: Well, training for Cirque du Soleil performances must be strenuous. Can you give me an example of your current workout?
KW: I am constantly mixing things up for my workouts. I never do the same workout twice. This keeps me interested and keeps my body guessing.
Since I perform 5 nights a week, I focus my workouts around my performances. My Tuesday routine consists of a 30 minute core workout, including a series of exercises that I do for 1 minute each. On Wednesdays I do a 30 minute leg workout consisting mostly of plyometric exercises like jumping rope, running stairs, squat jumps, etc. I also do a 30 minute upper body workout usually consisting of a tabata style routine. It’s very intense, but I love it! My Thursday workouts are another 30 minute core circuit routine, similar to my Tuesday workouts but with different exercises. Friday workouts consist of another 30 minute plyometric-based leg routine. On Saturdays I do a 30 minute upper body workout. For my upper body, I like doing a lot of body weight exercises such as climbing rope, pull ups, push ups and variations of those exercises.
WP: That’s quite a routine you have. What do you feel has been your stepping stone to get where you are today?
KW: My biggest stepping stone has probably been my injuries. Having 3 knee surgeries in the span of six months as a 13 year old crushed my dream of competing in the 1996 Olympics. That was devastating for me. To train 8 hours a day, 6 days a week for years and then have that dream taken away was really hard. Since then, I’ve had another surgery on that same knee, along with an elbow surgery in 2006 and Achilles surgery earlier this year in March. Injuries are always a hurdle to get over. My Achilles surgery was particularly difficult and frustrating. At one point I thought my career was finished. But, I stayed strong, remained positive, and took one step at a time. Now I am back and good as new! I am so thankful that I did not give up. It was a really tough road back from that surgery. It’s the tough times that build our character and make us that much stronger. And, it’s such a good feeling when you pull through your struggles and finally make it on the other side!
WP: You have such a positive attitude! What has it been like to maintain your physique today? Has it been a tough road?
KW: I have had my ups and downs over the years. I have struggled with the body image issues that many girls encounter as elite athletes, or even just as teenage girls. However, I am lucky to have such a physical job as well as an immense passion for fitness. My job keeps me in shape, but I also work extremely hard at maintaining my figure. It is tough to stay in shape. It takes a lot of dedication and hard work, but the results are well worth it.
WP: Can you give me an example of your current diet? What do you normally eat in a day?
KW: For breakfast I normally have a bowl of oatmeal or Kashi cereal with skim milk and a banana. Sometimes I will add a scoop of protein powder. As a snack I will have some Greek yogurt. Lunch is usually a veggie burger with salad, a bean burrito, brown rice with vegetables and chickpeas, or something similar. I snack on trail mix, granola bars, raw vegetables, fruit with cottage cheese, or a protein shake. My dinners usually consist of some whole wheat pasta with a vegetarian protein source (either beans or veggie ‘meat’), and vegetables. Or, I create some kind of vegetarian wrap. Before bed I always have a glass of skim or soy milk. Like my workouts, I try to mix up my meals so that I am getting all the necessary nutrients my body needs. I try to eat as nutrient dense as possible.
WP: Do you currently take any supplements?
KW: I try to get most of my nutrients from the foods I eat. I believe in the approach of food first and then supplement as needed. However, I do take a multivitamin as well as an Omega 3 supplement. I also use 100% whey protein powder on occasion.
WP: What is the hardest thing you have had to deal with when it comes to your diet?
KW: I think the hardest part for me was to break all the bad habits I developed as an elite gymnast. The focus was on the number on the scale and we were not allowed to eat very much at all. And, certain foods were absolutely forbidden. Breaking those habits and changing the way I thought about food was very challenging for me. I now have an AS in Nutrition which helped me educate myself on proper nutrition, what my body really needs and why my body needs it. It helped me develop a much healthier approach and mindset to my diet.
WP: What are your stats?
KW: I am pretty tiny. I am 5'2" and 95 lbs. I have a 23 inch waist!
WP: Not many women can boast a 23 inch waist! Are you involved in any other sports or activities?
KW: I love spinning! I am a certified spinning instructor and have a spin bike at my house, so I spin a lot. I also love any outdoor activity, whether it’s just taking my dogs to the park or the beach, spending the day at the beach with my friends, kayaking, and jet skiing, or boating.
WP: How do you find time to sleep with all you do? Can you tell me about your family? Are you married, dating, and any children?
KW: I am currently single. All of my family is still back in Australia so I don’t see them often and miss them a lot! But, I have 2 awesome dogs here that keep me company. I have a yellow Lab named Solie and a Border Collie/Husky mix named Chloe. They are the sweetest girls and make me laugh every day!
WP: What titles/accomplishments have you attained thus far? Tell me about them.
KW: Sure, here they are:- Cirque du Soleil Acrobat (2001-current) - Stunt Double in Scooby Doo (2001).
- Graduated from the Australian Stunt Academy (2000)
- Australian Power Tumbling Champion (1998-2000)
- Australian Sports Acrobatics Tumbling Champion (1999)
- Australian Trampoline Team Member (1997-2001) - Represented Australia at 3 World Championships (1998, 1999, and 2000) and European World Cup Series (1998)
- 1996 Olympics Games Women’s Artistic Gymnastics Squad Member (1992-1994)
- Australian Women’s Artistic Gymnastics Team Member (1988-1994)
- Australian Institute of Sport Gymnastics Scholarship Holder (1988-1994)
- Youngest athlete ever to be offered an Australian Institute of Sport Scholarship (1988)
WP: That might be the longest list of accomplishments I’ve seen yet! Who are some of your idols? Who do you admire most in your business?
KW: Wow, this is a tough question! There are so many people I admire in the fitness industry. I think anyone who is doing what they really love and have a positive influence on people is someone I admire. If I had to pick one person, the first name that comes to mind is Michael Seril. I think he is just an amazing individual with an unbelievable work ethic. I love what he is doing for his community and also what he does with his Excellence through Exercise Foundation to help fight the childhood obesity epidemic. It’s a foundation that educates both children and their families on the importance of living a healthy lifestyle. I think it’s great and I thank him for letting me be a part of his foundation. I also admire fitness models Obi Obadike and Jamie Eason. Not only have they reached the top of their field, but both are also great role models.
WP: Have you done any modeling? If so, can you tell me some of the photographers you’ve worked with, or someone you’d like to work with?
KW: I have recently started doing some modeling. I have worked with Mike Zuch who is based in NewYork and a few local photographers here in Florida: Beth Kelly, Amber LaValle and Bill Morrissey, Matthew Kennedy, and a few others. I’d really love to work with Amber LaValle and Bill Morrissey again as well as with Mike Byerly, Paul Buceta, and Mike Brochu. They are all extremely talented photographers!
WP: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
KW: Wow, in 10 years I probably do not see myself with Cirque anymore and having moved into the fitness industry fulltime. I see myself having my Masters Degree in Performance Enhancement and contributing my experiences and knowledge to the fitness magazines. I really want to become one of the ‘go to’ people of the fitness industry. I have such a passion for the industry, and I’ve experienced so much throughout my career thus far that I really want to reach out and help as many people as I can.
WP: With all you have already accomplished you still have so many aspirations! What are your pet peeves?
KW I think my biggest pet peeve is when people make excuses for not being where they really want to be in life. I also don’t understand the negative mentality. I strongly believe that what we do in life is our choice. We choose what we do and what we don’t do, how we react to things, and how we feel about things. People who are unhappy with their life and constantly complain about things have the choice to stay in that place or pull themselves out of it. Sometimes things happen that we have no control over, but we still have a choice of how to react and deal with that particular situation. Dishonesty is another huge pet peeve of mine. You will get so much more respect from me if you are honest. Even if I do not like what you have to say and even if it hurts me, as long as you are being honest I will respect you a lot.
WP: What do you consider to be important in life? Why?
KW I think it’s important to be happy and enjoy life. We are not here for a long time so let’s make the most of it and live life to the fullest! I want to be able to look back on my life and know that I gave it my all. I don’t want to look back and have a list of things I wish I had of done. Also, I think it’s important to be kind to people. Be honest with yourself, with those around you, and treat people like you want to be treated. And, of course, it’s important to take care of your health. Your body will thank you for it!
WP: How have you changed over the past few years when it comes to thinking, actions, and life in general?
KW: Over the years, I have learned to become a lot less critical of myself. I use to be, and probably still am, my own worst critic. But over the years I have become less critical. Before, nothing was ever good enough and I would get very down on myself. I hated this feeling, so I have learned to be proud of the things I do and have accomplished this far.
When it comes to my actions, I used to react to things and situations without thinking them through first. Over the years, I have learned that sometimes I need to take a time out and think things through before I make any decisions or respond to a situation.
Thinking about life, I’ve learned to enjoy it and appreciate everything and everyone who has had an impact on my life. I’ve learned to never take anything for granted because it could be taken away in a second. I really am very thankful. I’ve had an amazing life and I know there’s so much more for me yet to do. I’m excited about life!
WP: Your positive attitude is contagious! Do you have any future projects in the works?
KW: I am actually in the process of creating a Core DVD for acrobatic athletes (gymnasts, cheerleaders, tumblers, etc.). Our squeeze page is up at http://www.tumblepower.com. The DVD is still being edited, but it will be out soon. I’d also love to do more fitness DVD’s in the future.
WP: Any shout outs?
KW: I would just like to give a huge thank you to everyone who has had an influence in my career thus far. It is because of you that I am where I am today. I have learned so much from those people, and I have been so fortunate to have been able to learn from some of the best in the fitness industry. I’ve been trained by some of the best coaches in the world and now I get to work daily with some of the best athletes in the world. I’ve been very blessed.
WP: Is there anything I have forgotten to mention that you would like to add?
KW: I think we covered a lot! I just want to welcome anyone to contact me either through my email or on Facebook. I love meeting new people and find it so interesting listening to their stories.
WP: It has been a pleasure interviewing you and congratulations on winning the nomination for "Personal Trainer of the Month"! I wish you the best of luck!
KW: Thank you so much for this opportunity!
