Melissa Capiro, 23, Miami, FL, Project Coordinator at ProTranslating
How often do you exercise? Five to six times a week
Brief description of your workout routine: My workout routine varies from spinning, boxing, strength-training and cardio work.
Brief description of your eating habits: I eat extremely clean during the week. I prep my meals in advance on Sunday for the workweek. On the weekends, I still try to eat as clean as possible, but I will treat myself to one thing I don’t allow during the week.
Favorite Workout: Hooked Fitness. It’s a mixture of strength training, cardio (bleacher and track work) and boxing.
Least favorite way to workout? Long-distance cardio; I hate running!
How does fitness affect you as a professional? Fitness definitely affects my mood and my energy. I feel extremely lethargic when I don’t workout and it also puts me in a bad mood. This is 
definitely not a good combo when dealing with clients all day.
Would you be as good at what you do if you didn’t pursue fitness? I don’t think I would have the relationships I do with some of my clients if it weren’t for fitness. It makes me an overall happier person. I take stressful situations a lot more lightly.
How do you squeeze fitness in on a crazy busy day? Once I get to the office, I tend to not move from my desk, unless it’s to get my pre-packed meals from the fridge. I put my headphones on and my music extra loud so I don’t hear anyone. I have lunch at my desk and only answer calls when it’s absolutely necessary. I make the most of my day because when the clock hits 5:30, my boss already knows I’m running out to make it on time to the gym.
How do you fight the urge to skip workouts? Whenever I want to be a little lazy, especially on the weekends, I have a little voice in my head telling me to sleep in; that I deserve it. Then I remember it’s only an hour to an hour and a half of my day, and I can nap when I get home. Seeing a “before” picture usually does the trick. Dreams don’t work unless you do!
If you travel, what kind of workouts do you do on the road? I usually have my trainer write up a few workouts that I can do in a hotel gym. Something along the lines of running on the treadmill and lifting some weights and some body weight exercises–anything to break a sweat.
What other obstacles do you face (health-wise) as part of your work? Have you found a way to overcome them? I face obstacles daily, considering I sit at a desk eight hours a day. There also always seems to be an occasion to celebrate with really bad food. I fight the urge to indulge in any of these, because it’s just not worth it. Mind over matter.
Does your company offer incentives for exercising or eating right? If so, how do you take part? My company just launched a wellness program this year with onsite yoga and different mentoring sessions from how to cope with stress by not overeating, etc. Since I already have a gym I go to, I don’t take part; but I thought it was a really great idea that they started this.
Do you have a family, and if so … how do you juggle work, fitness and family? Luckily for now, it’s just me; so I learn to balance my day based on what I have to do.
Greatest accomplishment in fitness/athletics: I ran my first obstacle race this past November called Battlefrog.
Weirdest/funniest/craziest thing that you’ve ever experienced while exercising: My weirdest/ funniest/ craziest thing would have to be about running. Although I hate it, I remember not even being able to run two minutes consistently without telling my trainer Cedric, “ I just can’t.” Now, I’m sprinting faster than most people. There’s just one guy I haven’t caught up to yet.
Must-have training equipment: Boxing gloves!
Favorite training tune: I can only train to hip-hop music; it gets me pumped.
Favorite healthy food: Acai bowls–so delicious!
Favorite not-so-healthy food: Anything with chocolate.
Do you think fitness is a factor in being successful in business? Why or why not? I think it can be. Fitness is definitely a stress-reliever. For example, whether I have had the worst day or not, once I get to the gym and release that stress, it’s like nothing ever happened. I don’t carry it on to the next day, which is extremely essential when dealing with clients and employees.
What fit professional inspires you? My trainer, Cedric Ferguson, has been my biggest inspiration thus far in this journey. His energy is like no other. His ability to command a room, but in the most motivational way possible, will make you never want to let him down. Most importantly, he never gives up on you. He lives and breathes this lifestyle and he himself is a success story, also. He believed in me when I didn’t even believe in myself and I think that speaks for itself.
Advice for others trying to become more fit: Whenever you find yourself doubting how far you can go, just remember how far you have come. Remember every thing you have faced, all the battles you have won and all the fears you have overcome.
Best piece of business advice you’ve ever received: To believe in myself
