College students know how hard it is to avoid the temptations of life on campus. With the beginning of college, it’s the end of high school athletics and the time to look for new ways to keep fit and new role models to follow for motivation. We asked Fitmark Ambassador Blake Holman to step up to the plate and give us his take on college life and how he got into his healthy fit lifestyle.
Fitmark Ambassador: Blake Holman
Lifestyle: Full-Time Student, Sponsored Athlete, Fitness Competitor
Fitmark Bag: the Envoy Backpack
At 23, Blake Holman is currently studying Health and Human Performance with a focus on fitness, and strength and conditioning at Radford University in Virginia. When he started college, he struggled to find an outlet for his love of sports and staying active, until he discovered a whole other side of fitness, the competitive side. He told us:
Sports were always a huge part of my life so when I realized they were over, I had to fill the void. Watching various people around me compete, as well as people on YouTube, I completely fell in love with the fitness lifestyle. This was when I knew it was something I was going to do. I’ve been lifting weights consistently for about 4 years.
Weight lifting was something Blake had loved from his football days in high school, so it was a natural transition to find himself in the gym pumping iron again. He told us:
I recently competed in my first natural fitness competition. It was one of the hardest things I’ve done in my life, but it was definitely the most rewarding. I can honestly say that very few things have felt as good as walking across that stage knowing that I gave it my all. I ended up placing first in all four classes that I completed in. This included the overall title and won my ANBF Pro Card.
Plan Ahead, Prep Your Meals, Stick To The Program
While it may not be everyone’s goal to compete in a fitness competition, there’s something to be learned from a full-time student who finds the time to work out so consistently and hold down a job. Blake also works part time in a gym and is currently studying to become a personal trainer. With his busy schedule as a full-time student, keeping up with his fitness interests requires planning and dedication and a little organization.
To help him stick to his meal plan he relies on meal prep and preparing your food ahead of time. He told us:
Whether it is going to class, work, or the gym, my Fitmark Bags play a huge role in my everyday life. Everywhere I go I’m sporting one of them. It has taken my meal prep game to the next level, and they have allowed me to go long days without missing a single meal. My current favorites are the Velocity Backpack, the Box LG, the Envoy Duffel, and the Envoy Backpack.
You don’t have to be a fitness pro to stay consistent and keep fit in college, but following someone like Blake can help motivate you along the way. Whatever your fitness goals, Blake has a few tips to help motivate you:
Blake Holman’s Top 3 Fit Tips
- Don’t compare yourself to others. Everyone is different. Focus on becoming a better version of you.
- Don’t get discouraged when obsessing with results. Keep being consistent and give it your all. The results will come.
- Work hard. Dream big.
Finding Motivation
Blake told us he finds motivation in the people around him and makes sure he surrounds himself with the right people. It’s all part of living the lifestyle and stepping up your fitness game. Blake has found that hanging with the right people pushes you “to be a better person both physically and mentally.” That kind of feeling is contagious and it’s something you want pay forward, which is one of the driving forces behind Blake’s studies and interest in fitness. He told us:
I want to see everyone succeed. I would also like to inspire others and help them push past their limits and eventually help them reach the goals they never thought they could.
You can find Fitmark Ambassador Blake Holman on Instagram @blakeholmanfitness
Sport Your Lifestyle
The Fitmark Team
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