In The Gym with Jasmine Cabrera

FFFC:  Please introduce yourself to our readers.

Hey there!  My name is Jasmine Cabrera and I’m a NASM certified personal trainer, entrepreneur, and trying to be budding nutrition writer (if I could ever sit still long enough to actually finish something).  I hail from good ol’ Virginia, but currently am residing in St.Kitts in the Caribbean until Springtime.  Nowadays outside of training I am really focused on my blog where I focus on diabetics–writing about fitness as well as uncovering the truths about food and how to eat properly outside of what mainstream medicine has been leading us to believe for the past half century.

FFFC:  How did you get interested and started in fitness?

I finished my B.S. in Kinesiology focused in Sports Medicine back in 2012, but before then had played competitive level basketball and softball for over a decade. It wasn’t until half way through college though that I started to take real notice of my nutrition. I saw how a majority of my family would be diagnosed with a non-communicable disease by their late thirties, and didn’t want that for myself.

In my endeavor to not become a walking medicine cabinet, I developed a real interest in the source of my food and the science of how my body used it. That coupled with knowing that a doctor’s opinion about my nutrition doesn’t mean much since the majority of them have no curriculum covering physiology nor nutrition in medical school, fueled my pursuit.

FFFC:  What prompted you to make this your career choice?

I had a soul searching moment my last year of college where it hit me that the career path I was marching (physical therapy at the time) wasn’t what gave me the sense of self fulfillment. But the part time training gig I had down at the university gym, did.
So that’s when decided to pursue fitness training.

FFFC:  What do you like most about what you do?

I love when I can help a client do a 180 and completely change their outcome on the path of sickness they are headed down.

I’m a teacher of health at heart. All of my clients can attest to that.
Every exercise that they perform they can tell you exactly how it should be executed and how it benefits them in the long run.

The same is true for nutrition.
I feel like if I can’t teach you how to properly eat along with the workouts I give you, then I am doing you a disservice.

FFFC:  What is your favorite exercise routine?

Haha, that’s a hard one!  I’m a definite fan of sprints. They are a routine all by themselves.  Personally I think they rank supreme for cutting body fat while retaining muscle mass.

FFFC:  What do you consider the most useful workout equipment?

A Swiss ball, a foam roller, and a heavy sandbag.

FFFC:  What do you think is the biggest misconception about this field and what you do?

The biggest misconception about this field is that all trainers are qualifiable. Because we all aren’t. Unlike other professionals there is no standardization in our field. So my 74 year old non-exercising grandma can say she is a personal trainer just as much as I can.

This also means that not all trainers can help you see results.

So my advice is to do your homework on a trainer, see where they get their credentials from, and try to pick one who specializes in one thing…not 8.

FFFC:  What do you think are the most harmful and helpful fitness fads today?

Let me just put it out there that I am no a fan or promoter of fitness fads.

The diet mentality itself is harmful. People really don’t know and understand how thinking of how you eat as a “temporary” thing to fix a long-term issue messes with hormone signaling in the brain. Dieting ultimately tells your metabolism that you need to maintain or even gain weight to get through this “diet” you are putting your body through.

If I were to tell someone to follow something though, it most definitely would be a paleo lifestyle. That is what I as well as my clients show the most success with.

FFFC:  What general tips do you have for the average woman balancing family, career with health and fitness?

Being healthy is not supposed to be as hard as we make it.
Our bodies are beautifully created to function without a hitch. Most of the time we just need to get out of our own way so that it can do its thing.

So block out all the noise about challenge this and detox that, and focus on learning about how food and exercise effect you from the inside out. Then you will be able to make an educated decision about how to go about being healthy.

It requires a little heavy lifting to get it all sorted out in the beginning, but after that it’s smooth sailing. It’s better to measure twice and cut once, ya know?

FFFC:  Are you hosting any special fitness events or have any coming up?

Yes!  As a personal trainer I focus on helping the diabetic population to exercise efficiently and eat to control their disease.

That is why I’m so excited to announce the launch of my first online training program of the year, Dominate Diabetes 6-Week Food & Fitness Program.

It is primarily focused on helping diabetics and pre-diabetics have structure for a healthy life so they can start reversing diabetes.

I teach them everything food and fitness, so it will be fun!

The program doesn’t launch until Jan.22nd, but I am opening the program now for all Femme Fitale Fit Club readers only!

To become a client and start the program click here: www.chiseltraining.com.trainerize.com

If you are a diabetic or know someone who is, please give yourself and them this gift of health.

(You can learn more about the program here: bitly.com/dominatediabetes)

FFFC:  How can our readers learn more about the services you have to offer?  

You can learn more about Dominate Diabetes and other services at www.chiseltraining.com.  Be on the lookout as a new ebook is in the works!

You can also follow me on twitter @chiselpt
As well as on instagram @jasmine_cabrera

Of course I have to include the hubby! Hehe.