We sat down with our golden (medal-winning) girl Erin, to chat about her views on health. Read on to see why Krispy Kremes aren't going anywhere, and how travel can be a double-edged sword. (You can read Erin's full bio here.)
What is your definition of a healthy person?
For me, a healthy person is someone who is healthy in all aspects (give or take, here and there) in their life. They’re active, they’re happy and they’re eating clean, good foods. It’s not about who can eat the most vegetables but about a person who has a good balance in their diet, social life and active lifestyle.
What healthy habit/s do you follow daily, without fail?
I always start my day off with Nature's Nutrition, either in my morning oats or a nice smoothie before training. I have to make sure I get at least 2 litres of water throughout the day too. If I make sure I get these two things right, I know my body will thank me for it.
What does a week of exercise look like for you?
My week always consists of seven swimming sessions that can range anywhere between 1.5 - 2hrs, three rehab sessions, two gym sessions and one Gyrotonic session. In between the days, I’m constantly seeing chiros, physios and doctors to sticky tape my body back together, haha! In total, I spend about 17-22 hours being active per week.
What is your general nutrition outlook/strategy?
My outlook on nutrition is pretty simple: what you put in is what you’ll get out. If you put the good stuff in you’ll feel good on the outside too! Being an athlete, it’s super important to keep my body healthy, and the easiest way to do that is to eat as well as I can.
What is your biggest challenge when it comes to living well?
My biggest challenge is probably when we travel. With swimming, we are lucky enough to see a bit of the world, but when we do it’s obviously expensive and some foods aren’t easy to find (depending on where we travel). We tend to go for the cheapest and most convenient option, but it tends to be the unhealthier choice. So it’s definitely tough to stick to my usual routine eating.
What are your non-negotiable indulgences?
CHOCOLATE! And definitely Krispy Kreme doughnuts.
It's ten years from now: what do you want your day, week or general life to look like, from a health perspective?
In 10 years I hope that I am still fit, happy and eating well. Maybe it sounds cliched, but I hope I would’ve learnt yoga and meditation. I want my days started with a clear mind and finished with a stronger body.
If an individual wanted to start living healthier, what is the FIRST recommendation you would give them?
I would tell them to create a meal plan that consists of healthy but enjoyable foods for THEM! You have to find what works and what doesn’t work for your body. There’s no point in eating broccoli every meal if you hate it because being healthy will become a chore. It’s got to be something you look forward to.
Erin uses our Protein variants every day. Shop for yours online here: Nature's Nutrition Protein
