Category Archives: Interview

What’s your fit fix? Triathlete Kelly Wilson on making the switch to multi-sport events

KellyWaldo

Occupational therapist by day and triathlete by mornings/evenings/weekends, Kelly Waldo Wilson has been making a real splash on the San Diego racing scene. When she’s not snagging a spot on the podium or winning her age division, there’s a good chance she’s training for it – whether biking, swimming, rock climbing or running around town with her dog, Annie.

Oh, and did I mention she’s a former track & field and cross country teammate from our high school days in Michigan?

It’s been fun following her athletic accomplishments over the years, and I can’t wait to venture down south to cheer her on in person. But until then, I thought it’d be fun to do a little Q&A with this red-hot redhead who is taking the triathlon world by storm…

Kinetic Fix: What sparked your interest in triathlon?

Kelly Wilson: It was 2011 – I was living in Virginia at the time and received a post card in the mail to join Team In Training for a sprint triathlon in Richmond. I have been a runner since high school and have completed three marathons, multiple 10Ks and numerous 5Ks. But I kept getting injured and rehabilitating myself by biking and swimming, so I figured I might as well try out the sport of triathlon and turn my “rehabilitating” into “training.” I did my first tri with Team in Training in June of 2011 and have been hooked ever since.

How do you make time for all the necessary training?

I’m a morning person, so I wake up routinely at 4:15am for a 1-2 hour training session before work. My evening workouts are usually running with my dog and/or swimming with my husband. I am NOT a night person, so I have no problem going to bed while it is still light out to get eight full hours of sleep!

Do you train with anyone? 

I train with HERevolution triathlon team here in San Diego. It’s a team started by Darcy Eaton, owner of HERevolution women’s multi-sport shop in Solana Beach, Calif. When not training with the team, I join master’s swim and spin classes at my local YMCA.

What’s on your iPod?

My iPod has a mix of hip hop, oldies, country, reggae and rock. Really anything to distract my mind and that I can sing along to. My best training sessions and races have been when I’ve had a single song in my head repeating over and over.

Got any pre- and post-race fueling tips?

Before racing I believe in routines and sticking with foods that are familiar. I always have a banana and a Balance bar; Mocha Chip and Cookie Dough are my favorites. During races I’m hooked on Espresso-Love Gu packets and Clif Margarita shot blocks. After…fruit; I always crave fresh, cold fruit.

Do you keep a strict diet or can you allow for indulgences?

For about a year and a half I have been experimenting with an anti-inflammatory diet; mainly eating foods with anti-inflammatory properties and minimizing highly-inflammatory foods. I’ve noticed a big difference in my training and recovery while sticking with this “diet.” My favorite indulgence is dark chocolate and wine.

Got any good advice on injury prevention?

I have found that alternating swimming, biking and running has kept me mostly injury-free. I do spend a lot of time on the foam roller, stretching, and I never miss my monthly deep-tissue massage.

What gear can’t you live without? 

Compression socks and compression pants. I wear my compression socks daily. I have a pair of 2XU recovery compression pants that I put on after my evening workouts and I wish I could wear 24/7. Once you feel the effects of compression after a hard training session, no other socks will do.

What would you say to beginners hoping to break into triathlon?

I had such a great experience with Team in Training. When I joined the team, I immediately had a coach and supportive teammates who were feeling just as nervous as I was. If Team in Training isn’t an option, I would recommend finding a club though your local triathlon store. For example, The Triathlon Club of San Diego has triathlons and workouts specifically for beginners only.

Finally, do you have a ‘bucket list’ race you’d like to do in the future?

My dream is to do a full Ironman, but I’d like to complete a few more half Ironman distances before committing to a full.

Healing our hearts and minds in the aftermath of the Boston Marathon

A woman kneels and prays at the scene of the first explosion on Boylston Street near the finish line of the Boston Marathon on April 15. (Credit: Getty Images)

A woman kneels and prays at the scene of the first explosion on Boylston Street near the finish line of the Boston Marathon on April 15. (Credit: Getty Images)

After being glued to the TV, transfixed by social network updates and in a perpetual state of prayer for the safety of Boston residents and law enforcement last week, many of us are feeling emotionally drained in the wake of the marathon bombings and subsequent manhunt.

Such tragedies and shocking news events are not only beyond stressful for those involved, but they can also impact those of us who are observing from afar. Plus, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed when we’re bombarded with emotionally-charged images and graphic descriptions in today’s 24/7 news cycle.

I sat down with media psychiatrist and bestselling author Dr. Carole Lieberman to discuss the emotional impact of last week’s gruesome events – and how we can begin to move forward from here.

Kinetic Fix: There seems to be an uptick in these horrendous acts in our society; would you hazard a guess as to why?

Dr. Carole Lieberman: The world definitely seems to be spinning out of control with more violence than ever. There are many reasons for this, including desperate people wanting their 15 minutes of fame, copy cat crimes, a bad economy that’s dragging on for too long, violent media (especially violent video games), children being raised in single parent homes, and increased stress in general.

What kinds of feelings are normal after an event such as the Boston bombings?

People will feel anxiety, depression, insomnia, a desire to stuff themselves with comfort food, and so on.

The psychological impact of the Boston Marathon terror attack is to trigger the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder that is still laying dormant in us from 9/11. The similarities between the Boston attack and 9/11 trigger our memories. These similarities include there being two bomb blasts in mid-city with buildings crashing on top of people and people running in a panic on an otherwise beautiful sunny day. On top of this, the ricin letters are triggering our memories of the anthrax letters that followed soon after 9/11.

At what point should we consider seeking help from a doctor?

If your symptoms last more than two weeks, or if it is interfering significantly with functioning well in work and family settings, you should consider seeing a mental health professional for psychotherapy and, in some cases, medication.

What are some steps we can take to alleviate our feelings of anger, sadness, hopelessness, etc.?

There are many things you can do to alleviate these symptoms, such as spending more time with your family and friends, going to religious services, volunteering to help people who are less fortunate and spending time in nature.

Finally, what would your recommendation be to those of us who may feel as though we are losing our faith in humanity?

It’s easy to lose one’s faith in humanity after reading one violent headline after another and feeling like the world is filled with evil people. The antidote to this is surrounding yourself with people who have a lot of humanity, such as people involved in your church or those who are volunteering to help the less fortunate.

What’s your fit fix? Actor John Brotherton on healthy living & baring (almost!) all in Hollywood

Actor John Brotherton on the red carpet at the Daytime Entertainment Emmy Awards. Photo credit: Contactmusic.com

Actor John Brotherton on the red carpet at the Daytime Entertainment Emmy Awards.
Photo credit: Contactmusic.com

You may recognize him as the mysterious Jared Banks from daytime’s One Life to Live, but this summer actor John Brotherton will be turning fan’s screams of delight into screams of sheer terror in his latest project, The Conjuring.

Based on a true story, the movie tells the horrifying tale of how world-renowned paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren were called upon to help a family terrorized by a dark presence in a secluded farmhouse.

It hits theaters on July 19, and if off-the-charts ratings from test screenings are any indication, we’ll be in for some major chills (so much so that it’s been upgraded to an R-rating from its original PG-13).

I sat down with Brotherton – who lives in L.A. with his wife, actress Alison Raimondi, and their two daughters, Shia and Saylor – to chat about how he maintains a healthy lifestyle despite a hectic Hollywood schedule.

Kinetic Fix: There’s a lot of talk about the pressure among leading ladies to stay fit; do you feel it as a male actor, as well?

John Brotherton: Absolutely. I remember one of my first days on ‘One Life to Live’ where I was wearing nothing but a flesh colored speedo for a scene so I could appear totally nude. My costar (with whom I was about to get very personal) was wearing a full nightie. I asked her, “Whoa, why am I the only one naked here?” She grinned and replied, “This audience ain’t tuning in to see me naked. Welcome to daytime.”

The reality is, Hollywood is vain and you are expected to look your best, always.

KF: What’s been your most physically challenging role to-date, and how did you prepare for it?

JB: Ironically, it was for a role I didn’t actually book. In 2010, I screen-tested for the title role in the remake of ‘Conan the Barbarian’ opposite Jason Mamoa (he eventually booked it). I had three weeks notice before the test, but I’m not exactly a giant, muscle-bound barbarian. So for those three weeks I was in the gym, twice a day, lifting incredibly hard with protein shakes before and after each workout – and more lean protein with every meal.

Each workout was focused on a specific muscle group (i.e chest, back, shoulders, etc.). I’d do three different lifts, five sets each lift, with reps of 20, 15, 10, 10, 10. Between each set I hit my core in various ways. The key was that I’d increase my weights every single workout.

It’s incredible what the body can do with intense hard workouts and the proper fuel. I can’t remember the exact numbers, but I know I made sizable strength gains in that short period of time.

KF: Wow! So describe a typical day-in-the-life for you in terms of diet & exercise, both during and between projects.

JB: I try to be consistent on a daily basis, but of course if a project is nearing, my training increases. Now that I’m in my thirties, my workouts have become less about ‘how much’ I can lift and more about full-body fitness. At the gym, I prefer to do a circuit rather than focus on one muscle group. I have a four mile run I try and do at least four days a week. I don’t exactly like to run, so for me, four miles is enough to push my body without the ‘torture effect’ kicking in. I also try and do the basics around the house, push-ups and pull-ups. Everyone should have a pull-up bar.

As far as diet, my house eats relatively healthy as a whole. We buy all our produce at the farmers market from local organic farmers, and we get all our meat from an all-natural butcher. Organic just tastes better and your body knows how to process it. Although, you’ll always find dark chocolate laying around and ice cream in the freezer. I’ve learned if you deprive yourself too much of the goodies in life, life just isn’t quite as fun…oh, and Sundays are reserved for pizza, of course. You gotta live a little, but all in moderation!

KF: Any tricks for eating clean on set despite 24/7 access to a buffet of craft service snacks?

JB: As much as I love and appreciate it, craft services can be the devil. There are always plenty of snacks on set, a lot of which is junk. Nuts and trail mix are my go-to snack. They satisfy the hunger bug and curb the junk food desire, especially if the trail mix has a few M&M’s to fend off my vicious sweet tooth.

KF: Last but not least, can you share a few of your favorite healthy-living tips with us? 

JB: First, put up a pull-up bar somewhere in your house and throughout the day jump up and do a few at a time. You don’t have to break a sweat, just trigger your muscles. You’d be surprised how quickly your body adapts. Same with push-ups; bang out a few here and there, for instance during commercial breaks or in your kitchen while you cook.

Second, crash diets don’t work. They lead to binges and erratic behavior. Just stay consistent and, without indulging too much, don’t deprive yourself of the stuff that makes you smile and say “yummy.” If you’re happy, it’s easier to be healthy…which keeps you happy, and so it goes…

Finally, I grill everything! Meats, veggies, whatever. It’s hard to eat too unhealthy when cooking on the grill. It’s one of my favorite pastimes: Sitting outside in the So-Cal sun, sipping on some frosty beverage, watching my kids play and smelling the grill work…it’s magic.