Fitness Files: Charles Austin
Charles Austin is known for his impressive career achievements that include being an Olympic Gold Medalist, high jumper, and fitness trainer. He wanted his clients and fans to achieve their fitness goals even if he can't be physically there to help them, so he created the
revolutionary piece of equipment known as Total Body Board (www.TotalBodyBoard.com ). The Total Body Board is a result of the training Charles used during his athletic career. It is a single piece of fitness equipment that is safe for all levels of fitness, gets great results, reduces training time, is fun and allows the users to be creative with their training routine. There is no other single piece of fitness equipment on the market that has the functionality and is as multi-faceted as Total Body Board. It allows for all types of exercise and unlimited combinations including cardio, strength, core and balance training. Continue reading my Fitness Files interview to learn more about Charles and how he has maintained continued success in his fitness career.
NMF: Has fitness always been a major part of your life or was there a catalyst/point in your life when you made it more of a focus and priority?
CA: Yes, fitness has always been a part of my life. From a very early age I was involved in organized sports and in my neighborhood that is all we did from sun up until it was time to turn in for the day. Then once I started competing in college, training was part of my daily routine. As a professional athlete, I coached myself throughout my 15 year professional career and that is when I made it my focus and priority to stay in tip top shape year round and learn as much as I could about preparing my body to perform at it's highest level possible. For me to win the Olympics, World Championship titles and set the current Olympic and American high jump records, I knew that my body and mind had to be prepared to the be able to make those things happen.
NMF: What are a few of your go-to healthy snacks/drinks that help keep you on the straight and narrow?
CA: I have never been on any type of diet or got involved with supplements. I like being 100% natural. When I am hungry, I eat to survive! What I mean is, I eat enough to satisfy my appetite, which doesn't take much. Throughout the day when hunger sets in and I am on the go, I will grab some fruit or whatever I can to keep going without having to stop what I am doing. One thing that I have done for the last 30 years that I feel have helped me a lot is drink a glass of orange juice every day.
NMF: Our motto is “Train Your Mind, Change Your Body” so we must ask: How do you train your mind and stay motivated?
CA: I wrote a book a few years back titled, Head Games: Life's Greatest Challenge. I use my career to get the reader to understand that all success or failure starts with your mindset. I set goals for myself and I understand the dedication and discipline I will need to accomplish them. I find mental ways to challenge myself by playing head games that will keep me motivated. For example, some days I may not want to work or work as hard but then I ask myself, how are you going to feel when you come up short. How are you going to feel when you know deep down inside you could have accomplished your goal but because you didn't give it your all now you have to always say "I wish I would have or I could have but……." I like the challenge of being the best I can be in all areas of my life for me and not anyone else.
NMF: How do you change your body?
CA: As far as changing my body, I stay in decent shape year round. I never really get out of shape. I like looking and feeling good. If I see an area on my body that I am not happy with, I work to make it the way I want it to be.
NMF: What are your fitness favorites?
CA: My fitness favorite is working out on my Total Body Board. This is definitely a piece of equipment that I wish I had when I was competing as a professional athlete. I can put myself through a hour long workout and get the results that I would get in a two to three hour workout. The workouts are challenging and fun at the same time. Also, because there is so many different exercises you can do on the Total Body Board, I never get board with it. It's versatility is what I like the most.
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