5/5 Small Business Interview: Helping People Find Balance

Vanessa Burgess

Vanessa’s small business wants to change how people approach fitness. Like many of you, she set out to carve out a niche for herself, and found a way to make her passion her career. Today, she runs Amplified Physique(amplifiedphysique.com), an outfit that takes a holistic approach to health and well being. Let’s see what she has to say about staying in shape while running a business, shall we?

What is the story behind Amplified Physique? How did you, Becki and Karissa come together?

Amplified Physique got started after I finished my term in the US Army. I was completing certifications and taking as many courses in nutrition and exercise physiology as I could while deployed, and it turned into a real passion.

I spent some time managing at a private fitness studio after that, but my passion and desire for helping people in my own way became so overwhelming that I decided to leave and start my own business.

You should eat as much as possible to reach your goals, and not so much that you regress.

Karissa was actually one of my very first official clients at the studio over 5 years ago! She has lost 200 lbs on her journey, and has been an incredible source of inspiration for our clients.

Becki and I “met” online through Facebook in a group that the doctors I am certified through (Metabolic Effect) were running. We shared an instant connection because we were some of the only ones constantly asking for more info, more seminars, more training courses, everything.

I decided to ask her and Karissa to come on board and help me with AP, and here we are!

What’s different about your company when compared with other fitness outfits?

The “Eat Less, Exercise More” advice has got to go!

We are vastly different from most others in the industry because we focus on the hormonal & psychological connections to body change, not just caloric. We aim to teach people how to balance their hormones through nutrition and exercise in such a way that fat loss becomes second-nature, and not something you have to treat like a calculator. Our mission is to help people find balance in an otherwise hectic world. We believe that fat loss is a by-product of a hormonally balanced metabolism, and balance cannot be achieved through extreme measures.

We are the antithesis of the mainstream diet industry. We believe you should eat as much as possible to reach your goals, and not so much that you regress from your goals. Having a flexible ‘diet’ is critical to not only staying on track, but living this lifestyle in a sustainable way.

If you could dispel one fitness myth from everyone’s minds, what would it be?

The “Eat Less, Exercise More” advice has got to go! In terms of hormones, this is one of the worst things a person can do. By exercising more while on a calorie restriction, a person sets themselves up for compensatory reactions of severe hunger & cravings, mood swings, muscle loss, and more. Sure, it will work in the beginning on a virgin metabolism. But once that state passes, these compensatory hormonal reactions will inevitably lead to binge episodes that will bring the fat right back on, often times 2 or 3. What we teach is a proper balance depending on goals: you either want to eat less and exercise less, OR, eat more and exercise more.

When have you ever seen a serious athlete on a calorie restricted diet?

What advice would you give a young fitness enthusiast looking to start out as a personal trainer?

Find someone who will take you under their wing and teach you everything they know. Get deep into the trenches with hands-on, clinical experience, because what they teach you in the typical certification courses will not cut it if you want to be the best at what you do.

What is your favourite Hiveage feature, and if you could change one thing about the app, what would it be?

I love how easy it is to figure out and use! Don’t think I have found anything I would change just yet!

5/5 is your chance to get to know awesome Hiveage users from all around the world. In each issue, expect five questions, five answers, and a load of insight from freelancers and small businesses just like you!