Our Dope Fit Chick of the week is Certified Personal Trainer Shante Perkins! Read her interview and find out what motivates her to live a healthy lifestyle!
Quick Stats:
Name: Shante Perkins
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Age: 27
Height: 5’2
Weight: 150
I am a Certified Personal Trainer in the Chicago land area. The name of my businessis SLP Fitness which also stands for Strong and Luscious Physiques. I am all about showing women that they can be strong and also feminine at the same time.
Prior to becoming a trainer I worked in higher education. I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice and a Master’s Degree in Studies in Human Behavior. Also I am a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
What motivates you to work out and live a healthy lifestyle?
What motivates me to work out and live a healthy lifestyle is that it allows me to take better care of myself. Physically and mentally I’m working towards being the best version of myself each day while inspiring others to do the same. Working out for me is deeper than wanting to look good. Most days weight lifting is the therapy that I need to alter my mind or mood. It isn’t always about the physical.
What does your workout routine look like?
My workout routine for Mondays is strictly for training back. Tuesdays are for shoulders and core work. Wednesday and Saturdays are my favorite, leg day. On Thursdays I’ll train arms, hitting those biceps and triceps along with more core work. I also perform cardio after weight training 2-3 times a week. Typically for me this just involves incline treadmill walking for 30 minutes at the speed of 2.3-2.5 and an incline of 15.
What do you eat in a typical day to stay in shape?
In a typical day my first meal always consists of ½ cup of oatmeal with almonds, egg whites with spinach and fruit on the side or sometimes with my oatmeal. I may or may not add turkey bacon to my breakfast. Every other meal will have the protein (Lean Ground Turkey, Grilled Chicken), veggies (Broccoli, Green Beans, Brussels Sprouts) and carbs (Sweet Potatoes, White Rice, Brown Rice). I also will have at least 2 protein shakes, one earlier in the day between meals and the other as the last “meal” for the day.
How do you maintain your hair while working out?
I maintain my hair while working out by keeping my hair in a protective style. My go to style are crochet braid styles. With this style my hair stays in place, won’t get damaged and I know my hair will still be secured after any intense workouts. They are also convenient especially for us natural women who love to workout. We want to be able to move without ruining our hairdo!
What’s in your gym bag?
In my gym bag you’ll find my workout gloves (handlz gloves), resistance bands, booty bands (thexbands), a jump rope, weight lifting belt (Golds Gym), samples of protein powder, pre-workout (Diesel Diva XXX, Nitraflex), a bag of caramel rice cakes, business cards, pens, headphones and an extra shirt.
What might we catch you doing outside the gym?
Since I spend the majority of my time in the gym, you will more than likely catch me in the grocery store picking up food.
Give your best 3 health tips that people can implement right now.
My first tip would be to drink a gallon of water each day.
Secondly, eat less of processed food and more real food such as lean protein, fresh fruits and veggies.
My third tip is to reduce your intake of sugar. Read product and nutrition labels. Know how much sugar you’re consuming daily. Getting in the habit of doing these things will bring about a healthy lifestyle change for the better.
Where can we find you on social media?
I can be found on instagram (@trainwithtae5) and on Facebook (Shante Perkins). Also I can be contacted by email (trainwithtae@gmail.com) or on any one of my social media pages for training and fitness inquiries.