Over the past decade, there has been a nationwide focal shift towards health and wellness. Never has there been such a demand for fitness and nutrition services in the Phoenix valley and state of Arizona. There are hundreds of health and fitness professionals across the state, but today I talked to Monique Machiz about her journey as a fitness professional and how she came to be voted the 2019 Best Trainer by Arizona Foothills Magazine “Best of Our Valley” contest.
Monique is a personal trainer for Tytin Fitness in Tempe, Arizona. She works out of the wellness center she and her fiancé, Ty Mealey, opened in 2018: Arizona Aesthetics & Wellness. Their personal training business was originally planted in a small Scottsdale studio, under the name Tytin Fitness in 2016. The business grew so fast in just two years that the couple wanted to open a bigger second location for their personal training and other health and fitness services to call home.
“We wanted to open a one-stop-shop for health and fitness. AZA&W hosts Tytin Fitness personal training, as well as various medical and athletic recovery services. Clients can come for a training session, followed by an adjustment with Dr. Cory Baker, our chiropractor, or increase the intensity of their training with Wesley Kress’s Breakthrough Performance & Rehab. Those are just a few of our services. In the future we would like to house physical therapists, aestheticians, and so many more!”
With the success that Monique has had over the last few years, I wanted to learn more about her professional journey and what got her into the fitness industry. Monique had played sports her entire life. She played basketball all the way into college. After suffering an injury, she was forced to learn different ways to work out. She began to do a lot of research about exercise and nutrition, and she even put together women’s workout groups at her school to teach her friends how to workout, as well.
After graduating from Whittier College with a B.S. in Kinesiology, Monique obtained her Personal Training Certification because, like many recent graduates, she was not sure exactly what she wanted to do: “I just knew I wanted to help people.” She began personal training at a corporate gym and instantly fell in love. She was able to teach people about health and fitness and pursue her passion at the same time.
With seven years of certified personal training, I was excited to hear a bit about Monique’s training and nutrition philosophy.
“When it comes to nutrition, people tend to under eat. There are so many preconceived notions that carbohydrates are the enemy and that you should eat low fat. Food is 80% of the results we make in the gym. Food is our friend. Finding that overall balanced lifestyle is so important for my clients. I try to stress an 80/20 approach. It is important to be eating clean, whole foods most of the time, but food is also meant to be enjoyed.”
For her own personal diet, Monique likes to follow a higher fat approach. “I have an endomorphic body type, so I perform well on a higher fat diet. Beef is one of the predominant meats that I eat. I have an easier time building muscle when I incorporate red meat into my diet.” Not only does Monique train for overall health, she also competes in figure competitions. She stressed to me the importance of nutrient timing and why she loves red meat for workout recovery. “When it comes to making a meal plan, I love putting red meat post-workout. Red meat is slower digesting, and because of the micronutrients and high creatine content, red meat can be awesome for recovery and for rebuilding the muscle.” While old-school bodybuilders tend to stress lean meats and fish, Monique believes red meat is a great food to incorporate in the diet without having to take a bunch of supplements.
Monique loves the bodybuilding style of training, as it is one of her hobbies, amidst her busy schedule. But she understands most people are interested in fitness to lead a healthy lifestyle. For many of her clients, she incorporates bodybuilding movements with a functional style of training. “I mix a little bit of both styles into my training. We need to make sure the body is moving well and functional for the client’s lifestyle.”
To wrap up our interview, I asked Monique what she thinks the general public should know when navigating health and fitness: “Find what works for you. It’s all about trial and error. Try something and give it a month. Don’t be afraid to mix things up, and don’t be afraid to research what you’re putting into your body. Just because someone says something is healthy doesn’t mean it is. Fitness is not a one-size-its-all.”
To learn more about Monique Machiz, you can visit her social media and the Arizona Aesthetics & Wellness website.
This post was written by Celia Dubauskas. Celia is an undergraduate student at Arizona State University, studying Nutrition Communication. This spring, she has been an intern for Arizona Beef Council, creating written and social content for our platforms. Celia is an experienced fitness professional and is certified as a personal trainer through the National Academy of Sports Medicine. Her passion for fitness has fueled her interest in nutrition and learning more about health and diet culture. Keep on eye out for upcoming posts!
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