Alex Silver-Fagan Workout Wednesday

This week I am excited to bring you Alex Silver-Fagan. I first met Alex while we were both working at event for Nike. I was talking nutrition and she was instructing a killer rooftop workout. We instantly hit it off and the first thing I asked her if she would like to be featured on Workout Wednesday. I was immediately inspired by her age and how much she has accomplished. She is not only a super talented fitness instructor but also a Nike trainer, Wilhelmina model and NYU graduate. So here is a peek into Alex’s fun packed day!

At only 23, and fresh out of college, I realize how lucky I am to be doing what I love. I’ve never been one to follow the crowd or model my life based off of what I think is “normal” so it only makes sense that my career and life is completely chaotic, constantly challenging, and absolutely amazing all at the same time. 

With an atypical career comes a hectic schedule full of hustling, creating opportunities, and always balancing multiple projects. Not a single day of my week is ever the same and while some might recoil at the thought of a lack of structure, I find excitement.4:20am – Wake up!

On days like today when I have a packed schedule ahead of me, I like to get a good sweat in early. It keeps me focused and actually less tired later. My boyfriend, Omri, is a trainer at Barry’s Bootcamp and teaches the 5am classes every morning. Usually once a week, I’ll drop into his class. Today, I decided to go with him early in the morning. I love to lift weights but doing cardio on my own is a struggle so it’s nice to be able to get in a session with some good motivation around me.

After a large glass of water first thing upon waking, we head over to the NOHO studio.6:30am – Breakfast

I fortunately live around the corner from the Barry’s Bootcamp NOHO location and am able to run home after class to shower and make a quick green smoothie for breakfast. In the mix today is an orange, pear, spinach, ginger, and cashews. I also added spriulina and matcha tea. I’ve recently partnered with the company Green Blender, and they send me packages with smoothie ingredients and recipes every few weeks. It’s been an awesome addition to my routine! I definitely recommend checking them out, and be sure to use my code ALEXSF for 20% off your first box!8:00am – off to the Nike Studio!

This past April I was fortunate to join the NIKE NYC crew as a Trainer. Here in NY, we have a private training studio downtown in SOHO called 45 Grand. There, I train clients privately one on one in addition to teaching group HIIT classes. This morning I had a private client scheduled.The studio is so pretty, I couldn’t help but get a quick stretch in after my client.10am – Modeling!

Another one of my jobs is a fitness model for Wilhelmina. Today, I booked a quick shoot with Rodale Inc. Wellness to film some video. I’ve worked with their team before for videos for Women’s Health Mag and I always have a blast!12pm – Lunch

Lunch is served on set but I always prefer to bring my own food. Most fitness shoots have healthy food available but I like to play it safe and pack lunch just in case. This morning before leaving for my client at the Nike studio, I packed some leftover ground turkey with tomatoes, onions and avocado, a kale salad, carrots, 2 hard boiled eggs, and an apple (which I actually forgot to put in my bag!) For lunch I just eat the turkey, kale and carrots. I’ll save the eggs for later. Not pictured: a big bottle of water!4pm – Time to lift!

I leave set at 3:30pm and head to CrossFit Solace. I like to include 3-4 heavy lifting days in my week and decided to deadlift today. A few months ago, I experimented with a powerlifting program and absolutely fell in love with getting stronger and moving some serious weight around! After completing a 12 week program with an awesome group of coaches, I decided to go off on my own and develop my own program mixing in yoga and group fitness classes along with the major lifts.Here’s a snippet of the workout I did today: 

Sumo Deadlifts

warm-up set:

• 95lbs x8

working sets:

• 135×8
• 155×5
• 155×5
• 175×3

Superset:

• Box Squats x5

Jump Squats

• x10 x4

Superset:

• dumbbell RDLs x15
• KB swings x15
• x3
• Walking lunges x12 each leg
• Weighted step-ups x8 each leg
• x3

6pm – Computer work/snack.

Finished lifting and now I am STARVING! But, I still have a CITYROW class to teach later and decide to keep my post-workout meal light. I have the eggs I packed earlier (leaving out one of the yolks,) and pick up an apple on my way to Hu Kitchen where I grab some granola and a coffee. I have 1.5 hours to check e-mails, work on any upcoming articles I am writing for Bodybuilding.com or Cellucor.com, playlist CITYROW class, and program my private clients for the rest of the week. 7:30pm – CITYROW class

Even though I’m definitely tired from the day, the moment I step into the CITYROW studio I’m immediately excited to teach class. Our clients come and work HARD every class and I’m so lucky to call something so amazing a “job.” CITYROW is a 50-minute low-impact total body workout that combines intervals of rowing with strength training on a mat using dumbbells. In addition to my own workouts, I love to take class from my colleagues at least 2 times a week.9pm – DINNER

It’s definitely late but I’m starving after the day and need some good dinner. When I was at Hu earlier, I also grabbed some goodies to eat after class because I wanted to be able to get right into bed after eating so I could be rested for the next crazy day tomorrow. I love to cook, but when I do, it’s during the day on a less hectic day of the week and I make a big batch to use for lunches (as shown) in addition to dinner. 

Tonight I combined my Hu purchases (roasted cauliflower, kale caesar salad, and a salmon cake) with a rainbow carrot, fennel and butternut squash quinoa dish (the purple mush on my plate) I made two days ago when I cooked the turkey.11pm – Bedtime!

After a hot shower (second of the day… trainer problems,) I hop into bed, ready to do it all over again the next day. 😉

My number one tip: Plan! The only way to stick to your goals amidst a crazy schedule is to plan ahead. Pack your lunch. Schedule time in your day for a workout. Plan to wake up early. It’s YOUR life and you decide how you want to live it. Choose the path that will get you to your goals faster.

Recipe: Colorful and Hearty Butternut Squash Quinoa

Ingredients:

• 1/2 butternut squash, cubed
• 1 fennel, sliced
• 1 onion
• 4 cloves of garlic
• 1 cup mushrooms (your choice)
• 1 cup rainbow carrots, chopped
• 1 cup quinoa
• 1.5 cups vegetable broth
• 1 tbsp olive oil

Directions:

1) Brown onions and garlic in olive oil in a large stock pot. 

2) When onions are tender, add in butternut squash, fennel, mushrooms, and carrots. Let soften and cook for 5 minutes. 

3) Once vegetables have softened, add in quinoa and vegetable broth. Bring to boil and then simmer for 15-20 minutes until quinoa is cooked and liquid has absorbed.

Your colorful creation will turn purple from the carrots but don’t be alarmed! It still tastes amazing AND is a one-pot wonder. Enjoy 😉