Steve Shepherd, 54, Gainesville, Florida, Director of Partnerships Alumni Affairs, University of Florida Alumni Association
How often do you exercise? I workout at 5:30 a.m. at Gainesville Health and Fitness Center four times a week. I also maintain my cardio by walking my dog, Charlie, an average of one to two miles a day during weekdays and two to three miles a day on weekends.
Brief description of your workout routine: Half hour of cardio at the gym; work the line (lower body and upper body), doing two and three sets of all machines in the line—total of 15 machines; total workout time: one and a half hours.
Brief description of your eating habits: I always try to incorporate some vegetables into every meal; breakfast bar in the morning; I always have some form of protein for lunch and dinner. Also, I do not take any weight loss pills or any muscle-enhancing shakes. The only thing I do take is a multivitamin every morning.
Favorite Workout: Arm cross and chest press
Least favorite way to workout? Leg extensions
How does fitness affect you as a professional? Fitness makes me more alert, and gives me more stamina throughout the day; plus, I always feel better about myself when I walk into a room full of peers who notice my good health.
Would you be as good at what you do if you didn’t pursue fitness? I do a lot of extracurricular activities each and every week and if I didn’t have a workout routine, I would run out of steam quite easily.
How do you squeeze fitness in on a crazy busy day? I’ve worked out in the evenings for most of the last five years; however, I just changed to 5:30 a.m. workouts so I could have more time at night for myself. Prior to working out in the mornings, I always begrudged the thought, but now I know it was all in my head.
How do you fight the urge to skip workouts? I challenge myself to work out every other day. I have a routine, and if I skip I feel the urge to find a “make up” day…it keeps me motivated.
If you travel, what kind of workouts do you do on the road? When I travel, I pray that there is a gym at the hotel that has at least some semblance of my gym back home…cardio and weights. If not, then I find ways to work out other ways just to keep the cardio going.
What other obstacles do you face (health-wise) as part of your work? Have you found a way to overcome them? An obstacle with my job is immobility; I sit a lot. That is why I work out in the mornings, and take the dog for a walk in the evenings (and on the weekends). My objective is to keep my heart moving some way, somehow.
Does your company offer incentives for exercising or eating right? If so, how do you take part? No incentives that I know of.
Must-have training equipment: Good shoes!
Favorite training tune: AC/DC
Favorite healthy food Avocados
Favorite not-so-healthy food French fries
Do you think fitness is a factor in being successful in business? Why or why not? Absolutely. A good fitness routine keeps you mentally and physically alert, which shows throughout the day in your stamina and in the people who witness your good health and good attitude.
Steve Shepherd with Fitz
What fit professional inspires you? Seriously, I would have to say Fitz Koehler does … always inspiring and motivating. On a national level (without sounding like a geek), it would have to be someone like Tim Tebow. His drive and work ethic is captivating.
Advice for others trying to become more fit: The idea of working out altogether is a challenge to most, but if you try it for a month you might just enjoy the new you. I started when I turned 50 and at 212 lbs…four years later and at a steady 186 lbs., it was one of the best decisions I have ever made.
Best piece of business advice you’ve ever received: “You can sell more in two months by becoming interested in other people, than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you.”
