Ed Buckley (left) with Olympian Conor Dwyer
Ed Buckley, 27, PhD Student at UF and President of peerFit, Gainesville, Florida
Why do you do group fitness classes? I do classes they always work! Sometimes I am lazy and just need someone to tell me what to do, and sometimes I want to see people and get that social connection when I workout. No matter my mood, group fitness helps satisfies it.
How long have you been doing group fitness classes? Phew… um probably since I was 16.
Do you compete? Tell us about that. I compete in my own head… I guess. I look around the room and want to do better and work harder than everyone else in the class. Classic competitive spirit, I guess you could say.
Most challenging aspect of group fitness classes: Deciding on what class I want to do.
Ed’s on the left!
Most fun aspect of group fitness classes: The unknown of what workout will I be put through today.
Most rewarding aspect of group fitness classes: Finishing a workout someone else has designed. It’s great to know someone else put their time and effort in to coming up with a way to kick your butt, and you were able to foil them.
Who/what inspires you when you’re feeling weak? Everyone else in the room, you know that giving up would make you look foolish and the peer pressure keeps me going.
Advice for others who’d like to get started: Use peerFit! No seriously, seeking out reviews on what class would be right for you is important, don’t go to an advanced class if you aren’t ready for it.
Your must-have equipment for this activity: H…2….0. I am a water fiend, I drink tons of water throughout my normal day, so when I workout I drink twice as much.
Favorite training song: It changes so often, I don’t have a go-to.
Favorite healthy food: Do french fries count? No, I’d have to say a nice whole wheat chicken pasta with lots of spices is my go-to.
Favorite not-so-healthy food: Burger and fries, no doubt.
Funniest /weirdest/most awkward experience doing group fitness classes: Picture this… me at 26, first time at a Zumba class with a foo-man-chu. Enough said.
