When Hilary told us she worked out before our December cover shoot – one that began at 7am and required her to play rugby all day with the New York Knights – we had to learn what motivates her! She invited our Entertainment Director, Rebecca Sinn Kelly, and me to join her in her workout of choice: the Tracy Anderson studio.
We chatted with Hilary to find out what keeps her motivated, how she finds time to work out (even when she’s halfway around the world) and her go-to post-workout fuel.
Melissa Ventosa Martin: What was your fitness philosophy 5 years ago?
Hilary Rhoda: That was when I really started getting back into working out. It was more of forcing myself to go and I didn’t really enjoy it—then I found SoulCycle and Tracey Anderson and that’s when it started to be exciting and fun and something that I looked forward to. [My fiance] Sean took me to my first SoulCycle class. I was afraid to go by myself, but then I was like “this is fun” and I can bring friends who have never been and it’s more of a social thing.
Rebecca Sinn Kelly: Does your regimen change at all during the holidays or are you more consistent with yourself and you don’t break it?
HR: No I don’t, I don’t ever. Like I was in Paris last week, and I had 7 AM pickups at my hotel, so I was up at 5 AM and going down to the hotel gym and just trying to do that leg series and do the treadmill and whatever I can. It’s definitely harder by yourself with bad gym equipment but I still try. It just makes me feel better. When there’s the group environment, it’s definitely much more motivating but when I’m by myself I’m just like—there’s not anybody saying buy more then I will definitely cheat and stop.
MVM: I know, because I’ve done the videos before and it’s like, “Ohhh I can skip these last couple…”
HR: But yeah for the holidays, what’s great about living in New York is that there’s SoulCycle classes on Christmas day, there’s places open, it’s always at your fingertips. It’s easy to stay in it. I’m going to Mexico for New Year’s and hopefully stay healthy and exercise somewhere down there.
MVM: It’s kind of nice doing mat exercises on the beach, though. It’s very serene in the morning.
MVM: Do you need to eat before the workout? Do you feel like you have energy?
HR: I try to have an apple or something but nothing too heavy because if I eat too soon before, it makes me feel sick so I have to be careful.
RSK: Do you need to eat right afterwards?
HR: Sweet Green is across the street, so if I go in the afternoon, I’ll do that. Or Juice Press. This is like the little health block.
When I’m at home, I make chicken. The other night I made four chicken breasts, put it under the broiler for 12 minutes with some soy sauce and Miracle Whip and Caribbean jerk rub and then I just put it in the fridge. I can have it as a snack or on my salads, but it’s just good to have prepared. Otherwise, sometimes cooking takes too much time and that’s when you go for chips or something unhealthy.
MVM: So your fitness/workout style is pretty minimal?
HR: Right, to me it’s more functional. I like to be stylish and have nice new stuff but I’m more about the technology like the Dri-Fit because you see how much we sweat in there. I really like Lululemon tights and Nike tights and the thinnest possible shirts that get the sweat off me.
I think of her now every time I’m rationalizing skipping a workout. Full disclosure: Hilary stayed for another class after we left. “What?!?” was our out of breath response. She just wanted to dance.
ance.
[My Takeaways:
No weights necessary. I’m used to using 3 lb weights but after about 5 minutes of keeping my arms extended I felt an imaginary magnet pulling them to the ground. I gave Hilary a guilty look and saw she was weight free! I immediately put mine down and felt like I was flying.
Give Miracle Whip another chance. After hearing Hilary’s solution to quick, healthy eating I MIGHT try her recipe of broiled chicken with Miracle Whip. Bad associations, I know, but better than eating chips!
Sweating does not mean you’re out of shape. As a pool of sweat was forming on the floor in front of me, I noticed that my neighbor (ahem, Hilary Rhoda) was sweating as much if not more. Breaking a sweat it what it’s all about and really make you feel you worked hard[My Takeaways:
No weights necessary. I’m used to using 3 lb weights but after about 5 minutes of keeping my arms extended I felt an imaginary magnet pulling them to the ground. I gave Hilary a guilty look and saw she was weight free! I immediately put mine down and felt like I was flying.
Give Miracle Whip another chance. After hearing Hilary’s solution to quick, healthy eating I MIGHT try her recipe of broiled chicken with Miracle Whip. Bad associations, I know, but better than eating chips!
Sweating does not mean you’re out of shape. As a pool of sweat was forming on the floor in front of me, I noticed that my neighbor (ahem, Hilary Rhoda) was sweating as much if not more. Breaking a sweat it what it’s all about and really make you feel you worked hard/