Alexandra Fuller earned her MBA at Simmons, but she’s put those business skills to work by founding a nonprofit. Launched in 2013, Level Ground Mixed Martial Arts provides athletic training, professional mentorship, academic support and employment to youth in Roxbury, Dorchester, Mattapan and Hyde Park—and keeps this Brazilian jiujitsu purple belt plenty busy.
8:30 am: Wake up, enjoy breakfast—coffee with almond milk plus two pieces of toasted Ezekiel bread slathered with almond butter and blueberry preserves—and walk my dog.
9:15 am: Reflect, read, journal and pray.
9:45 am: Organize student uniforms (jiujitsu gis and belts) for tonight’s training. Then I travel to meetings or work from home on special projects. Right now, that means our Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign, which will help scale up our 2015 youth programs.
11:45 am: Head to Brazilian Top Team Boston in Everett to train. I aim for at least five sessions per week so I can serve as a better coach. Plus, some of my closest friends are my training partners.
2 pm: Pick up lunch on my way to Roxbury, where three of our four sites are located. I usually go for a chicken and vegetable sub and/or an acai bowl with honey, strawberries, banana and granola.
3:30 pm: Co-teach MMA to 20 kids with my head instructor, Hudson Henriques, at the Trotter School. The kiddos have lots of energy, so we do a fairly rigorous workout at the beginning so they’re better able to focus. Then we split up for drills before regrouping to set goals and reflect on applying the values of Level Ground: discipline, respect, humility, tenacity and self-control.
4:45 pm: Hit Ula Cafe in JP for a decaf coffee and another hour of work before heading to our evening site in Egleston Square.
6 pm: Touch base with students as they arrive for tutoring or a life-skills workshop; right now, I’m focusing on helping my high school seniors plan their next steps after graduation. They also help set up 36 heavy grappling mats and distribute uniforms.
7 pm: Co-teach Brazilian jiujitsu. The first hour is devoted to warming up, conditioning and drilling positions. The next hour is non-stop “rolling” (grappling). We try to push the students in a safe and structured way so they realize how much they are capable of. Then comes a 20-minute reflection to ensure our values transcend the mat.
9:20 pm: Check in with more students, roll or hold pads for them and continue to cultivate our relationships. Students are free to spar, hang out and have fun.
10 pm: Tear down the mats, load up the uniforms and drive students home.
12:15 am: Shower and cook dinner, which usually consists of a lean protein, salad, cashews and cheese, followed by dark chocolate for dessert.
1:15 am: Flex my creative muscles by writing poetry, sketching or working on my new blog.
2:15 am: Sleep!
Anything but Routine
An hour-by-hour look at the lives of some of Boston’s hardest-working fitness gurus.
By Improper Staff | Photo Credit: John Huet at Red Sky Studios; Hair/Makeup: Michelle McGrath/Anchor Artists | Jan. 9, 2015
The gloves didn’t fall far from the ring for George Foreman III. The son of the famous pro boxer and grillmaster has a sculpted physique and a booming year-old South Boston gym, The Club. Foreman walked us through a day in his regimented life (though he does allow himself some kickback time with the Crawley family).
5 am: Wake up…and hit the snooze button.
5:15 am: Take a shower and walk to The Club.
6 am: Teach a BoxFIIT 360 class.
7 am: Eat breakfast at Nourish Your Soul. I usually have a GoMacro Morning Harvest bar (packed with apples and walnuts) and Get Set green and apple cinnamon juices. An apple a day keeps the doctor away, and with these items it’s like eating six apples. And Get Set is a great boost of greens and a few ingredients to get the blood flowing before a workout.
8 am: Teach a BoxFIIT 360 class.
11:30 am: Teach a BoxFIIT Strength Extreme class.
Noon: Grab a quick salad with chicken from Sweetgreen and hold office hours. I answer emails and write new workouts for my BoxFIIT classes and bag work. The general technique and profile of a workout is determined by whether it is a boxer, brawler or puncher’s workout. By starting with the main goal of the boxing skills I’m teaching, I can then add strength and conditioning exercises that help develop the muscles and coordination needed to perform the skill.
1 pm: Film home-fitness videos for FIITClub.com for my members. On this particular day, we filmed four at the gym thanks to Rob Maloof of Gauntlet Studios in Fort Point. I love filming because it makes it possible to help thousands of people to get in shape.
4:30 pm: Take a shower and get dressed to teach even more classes.
5:10 pm: Teach a BoxFIIT Orientation class and two BoxFIIT 360 classes.
7:30 pm: Work out for 20 minutes with kettlebells and vintage dumbbells.
8 pm: Walk home. On my way, I grab two Sweetgreen salads for dinner because I LOVE fresh veggies—I’m like a cow. And the people who work there are so nice. I usually alternate between the portobello, squash and wild rice salad, the Avocobbo and the Harvest Bowl.
8:30 pm: Take a shower.
9 pm: Eat dinner and watch Downton Abbey. It helps me unwind because there are so many subplots and details to follow that I have no choice but to shut off my work brain in order to follow it. My favorite character is the grandmother—the Dowager Countess. She reminds me of my ex: full of class, comic relief, quick wit and the glue that keeps the family together.
11 pm: Go to bed. Exercise is the ONLY way I can fall asleep right away. Otherwise, I just stay up thinking about squats.
By Improper Staff | Photo Credit: John Huet at Red Sky Studios; Hair/Makeup: Michelle McGrath/Anchor Artists
A lifelong dancer, Julia Robinson worked as a Patriots cheerleader before opening her Modern Barre fitness studio in Chestnut Hill a little more than a year ago. Here’s how she stays on point, with six healthy meals and a lot of smooth moves.
5:15 am: Wake, shower, light stretch.
5:30 am: Meal 1: An 8-ounce glass of warm lemon water and two rice cakes with all-natural peanut butter and banana.
6 am: Open studio.
6:15 am: Teach Signature Modern Barre Express. I get everyone warmed up and spend the rest of the class demoing, offering modifications and correcting form and alignment.
7:15 am: Take a three-mile run through the Boston College campus and up Comm. Ave. Running outside is something I have always done, and it’s very meditative for me. I always stretch for 10 to 20 minutes after I run.
8:30 am: Meal 2: Organic Greek yogurt with organic berries, unsweetened coconut flakes, walnuts, chia seeds and flaxseed, an organic ruby-red grapefruit, a glass of orange juice, a vitamin-D supplement and 1 teaspoon of organic elderberry syrup, an antioxidant and immune system support that’s especially helpful on long days.
9:30 am: Teach Signature Modern Barre class. Each exercise works muscles to fatigue and then stretches them to increase flexibility and create long, lean lines.
10:30 am: Meal 3: Cashew Cookie Larabar, an organic Gala apple and a decaf misto with skim milk, one Sugar in the Raw and cinnamon.
11 am: Check emails, follow up with new clients, finalize training materials for new instructors, confirm the schedule for the upcoming month, manage apparel and ordering and work on social media marketing.
1 pm: Meal 4: A can of tuna with a salad of butter lettuce, cucumber, carrots, cherry tomatoes, almonds and homemade honey-mustard dressing. Tuna is a quick and easy way to get a lot of protein, which helps me stay full for the afternoon.
1:30 pm: Hold meetings and plan classes.
4:30 pm: Meal 5: Homemade chicken-vegetable soup with brown rice and an Adora dark-chocolate calcium supplement. Usually I crave something sweet in the late afternoon, so this is a better option than a Snickers bar.
5 pm: Respond to emails.
6:30 pm: Teach Cardio Barre, a dance-inspired aerobic workout.
8:15 pm: Arrive home and shower.
8:30 pm: Meal 6: Roasted chicken and roasted root vegetables with quinoa, which provides an extra punch of protein.
9 pm: Do the dishes and plan meals and clothes for the next day.
10:30 pm: Lights out.
By Improper Staff | Photo Credit: John Huet at Red Sky Studios; Hair/Makeup: Michelle McGrath/Anchor Artists
In May, neuropathologist turned trainer Jonathan Cruz opened BURN Fitness Studios, a boutique fitness center offering a range of high-intensity interval training classes, from rowing to cycling and beyond. His first client shows up at 6 am—and his day only heats up from there.
4:45 am: Eat breakfast (Cheerios and black coffee), work on business emails and create workouts and playlists for today’s classes and personal training clients.
5:45 am: Open the studio and prepare for my first personal training client. BURN is only four blocks from my home in the South End, so it’s a quick commute.
7 am: Teach Power BURN, a boot camp class that incorporates pyramid interval sets that individually focus on your lower body, core and upper body. During this type of class, I perform the exercises but spend the majority of my time coaching. I BURNed 321 calories in 45 minutes.
8 am: Walk my two dogs and then eat my morning snack (egg whites on whole wheat toast and a banana) while updating our website and social media.
11:45 am: Return to BURN for a V-Flow yoga class taught by one of our coaches. If it isn’t full, I often use this class for my own practice. (On Saturdays, I teach Broga, a yoga class designed specifically for men, but open to all, that combines core-strengthening, muscle-toning, cardio-working, stress-reducing, clarity-enhancing postures with functional fitness exercises.)
1:30 pm: Treat myself to a lunch at Cafe Madeleine: croque monsieur, cafe latte and double chocolate cookie. I love supporting other South End small businesses.
2:30 pm: Train my last clients of the day and prepare the studio for evening classes. In between, I find some time for my own strength-conditioning workout using kettle-bells and bodyweight exercises.
6:15 pm: Teach two more classes. During Bike BURN, I’m able to get a good cardio workout. For Tabata BURN, which utilizes high-intensity interval training (HIIT) to increase athletic performance and boost VO2max and endurance, I spend the majority of my time coaching the class. I BURNed 1138 calories in 90 minutes.
8 pm: Eat dinner (grilled chicken breast with a Sriracha butter sauce, brown rice and string beans, plus fruit parfait for dessert). Then I relax on the couch while watching TV with my husband and two dogs before going to bed, usually around 11 pm.
By Improper Staff | Photo Credit: John Huet at Red Sky Studios; Hair/Makeup: Michelle McGrath/Anchor Artists
Alexandra Fuller earned her MBA at Simmons, but she’s put those business skills to work by founding a nonprofit. Launched in 2013, Level Ground Mixed Martial Arts provides athletic training, professional mentorship, academic support and employment to youth in Roxbury, Dorchester, Mattapan and Hyde Park—and keeps this Brazilian jiujitsu purple belt plenty busy.
8:30 am: Wake up, enjoy breakfast—coffee with almond milk plus two pieces of toasted Ezekiel bread slathered with almond butter and blueberry preserves—and walk my dog.
9:15 am: Reflect, read, journal and pray.
9:45 am: Organize student uniforms (jiujitsu gis and belts) for tonight’s training. Then I travel to meetings or work from home on special projects. Right now, that means our Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign, which will help scale up our 2015 youth programs.
11:45 am: Head to Brazilian Top Team Boston in Everett to train. I aim for at least five sessions per week so I can serve as a better coach. Plus, some of my closest friends are my training partners.
2 pm: Pick up lunch on my way to Roxbury, where three of our four sites are located. I usually go for a chicken and vegetable sub and/or an acai bowl with honey, strawberries, banana and granola.
3:30 pm: Co-teach MMA to 20 kids with my head instructor, Hudson Henriques, at the Trotter School. The kiddos have lots of energy, so we do a fairly rigorous workout at the beginning so they’re better able to focus. Then we split up for drills before regrouping to set goals and reflect on applying the values of Level Ground: discipline, respect, humility, tenacity and self-control.
4:45 pm: Hit Ula Cafe in JP for a decaf coffee and another hour of work before heading to our evening site in Egleston Square.
6 pm: Touch base with students as they arrive for tutoring or a life-skills workshop; right now, I’m focusing on helping my high school seniors plan their next steps after graduation. They also help set up 36 heavy grappling mats and distribute uniforms.
7 pm: Co-teach Brazilian jiujitsu. The first hour is devoted to warming up, conditioning and drilling positions. The next hour is non-stop “rolling” (grappling). We try to push the students in a safe and structured way so they realize how much they are capable of. Then comes a 20-minute reflection to ensure our values transcend the mat.
9:20 pm: Check in with more students, roll or hold pads for them and continue to cultivate our relationships. Students are free to spar, hang out and have fun.
10 pm: Tear down the mats, load up the uniforms and drive students home.
12:15 am: Shower and cook dinner, which usually consists of a lean protein, salad, cashews and cheese, followed by dark chocolate for dessert.
1:15 am: Flex my creative muscles by writing poetry, sketching or working on my new blog.
2:15 am: Sleep!
By Improper Staff | Photo Credit: John Huet at Red Sky Studios; Hair/Makeup: Michelle McGrath/Anchor Artists
One of the four local founders of Back Bay’s Vélo-City, which opened last year, Thomas Resornot only helps run the cycling studio but also teaches a couple of classes. The South Boston resident says he only needs 5 hours of sleep, which leaves 19 hours for him to squeeze in a lot of activity on a typical Tuesday.
5 am: Wake up and check my Pocket MBTA app for the next bus. I’ll listen to my playlist on the bus while I swipe through Tinder or check my Hinge matches for the day.
5:30 am: Arrive at Vélo-City to run the check-in for the 6 am class. Help people with shoes and bike set-up. While that class is going on, I usually grab coffee and small snack.
7 am: Teach the 7:10 am class on Tuesday and Thursdays.
8 am: Clean up the studio after morning classes.
9 am: Head down the street to Boston Tennis and Racquet Club to lift weights—only for about 30 minutes and strictly beach muscles—and shower. (We’re adding showers to the studio soon, which will help!)
10 am: Eat breakfast at the Pour House. They have amazing food and large portions and never charge me for the five cups of coffee I drink. I’m always trying to keep calories on because I’m teaching or taking six to 10 spin classes a week.
10:30 am-4:30 pm: Maintain the studio three days a week. I’m usually making playlists, cleaning, checking bikes, responding to emails and updating the schedule. The other two days I’m either volunteering at a public school in JP or the Boys & Girls Club in Southie. Occasionally, I’ll fire up the pink mustache and drive for Lyft.
2 pm: Eat a very light lunch because I’m usually still full from breakfast and I can’t teach on a full stomach.
4:30 pm: Get ready for the evening classes. I teach the 5:30 pm class on Tuesdays and Fridays, so it’s important to be ready to go by 5.
5:30-9 pm: Hang at the studio for our evening classes. We are always busy and have 40 bikes, so I love being there to help people get set up. Sometimes I grab dinner during the later classes. I generally avoid the nearby Sweetgreen because it’s too healthy. I’m more of a dollar menu at Wendy’s guy. I can’t wait for the Shake Shack to open next door to us on Newbury Street and the Chipotle to open on Boylston Street. I’ve probably burned 1,000 calories, so it’s nice eating what I want.
9:30 pm: Arrive home and take a shower.
10 pm-midnight: Watch reality TV (Vanderpump Rules, The Challenge, Bachelor in Paradise). I try to get to bed before midnight, but it depends on how many shows are on my DVR.
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