Written by Kirsten Yovino | CPT Brookbush Institute
Fact checked by Tyler DiGiovanni, BSBM
FACT CHECKED
A NASM certified personal trainer, fitness nutrition specialist, women’s fitness specialist, stretching and mobility coach, and owner of the fitness company Royal Change, Sydney Cummings Houdyshell is an inspiration for anyone wanting to improve their diet or fitness.
Sydney is an expert in the fields of nutrition and exercise and she’s willing - and eager - to help transform the lives of her clients through her fitness company, social media pages, and YouTube videos.
And if you’re looking for a sneak peak into everything Sydney knows, SET FOR SET has got you covered. Sydney sat down with us to answer questions about her favorite cardio, the importance of nutrition, and how to eat to fuel your goals.
Sydney Cummings Houdyshell 2024 Exclusive Q&A
From overcoming the tragic loss of her brother to simultaneously working multiple personal training jobs to get her start in the health and fitness industry, Sydney's story shows that you can hit your goals through hard work, motivation, drive, and perseverance.
To learn more about Sydney's fitness journey, check out this YouTube video, in which she discusses how she got her start as a trainer.
Now, let's get into the interview!
1. What’s your go-to cardio workout?
My go-to cardio workout is a quick high intensity interval workout with bodyweight cardio exercises! I prefer this over running because you can do it anywhere without any equipment!
2. Between diet and exercise, if you could only pick one, which is better to prioritize?
If I had to pick only one, I would chose to focus on my nutrition as the impact nutrition has on your health overall is immeasurable, not to mention your goals for weight loss and weight gain. The impact from nutrition outweighs so many things in a healthy lifestyle.
3. Do you follow a certain diet? What tips do you have for someone who is trying to lose weight? What about ladies trying to gain muscle?
I do not follow a certain diet but my diet focuses on prioritizing protein, veggies and fruits, and complex carbohydrates. I like to focus on getting the right macronutrients in my body to make sure I have adequate energy and maintain my muscle that I work so hard to build.
My advice for someone trying to lose weight is to focus on getting more of the right nutrient dense foods in your life instead of focusing on what you think you have to eliminate. Prioritize lean protein, vegetables and fruits, and complex carbohydrates and minimize the calories you consume from drinks.
My advice for ladies trying to gain muscle is to prioritize protein and make sure you are in a calorie surplus to fuel your body and help your body repair to grow. From a training perspective, to work for hypertrophic benefit, make sure you lift weights in the 75%-85% of your max range and keep a moderate tempo for each lift.
4. How can the SFS community learn more about you?
To learn more about me, you can follow my workout programs on YouTube, follow my healthy lifestyle journey as a trainer, mom, wife, and business owner on Instagram, and join my accountability community, the Sydney Squad, for nutrition, community, and interaction with me!
Kirsten Yovino
Author