This post is part of a series of Queerty interviews with models, trainers, dancers, and, well, people who can inspire the rest of us to stay in shape this holiday season and beyond.
Name: Stephen Shupe, (30, Shhh, don’t tell the others) (@shuperiorfitness)
Occupation: Besides training I do mostly odd jobs just to shake things up. I’ve been a wildlife spotter for a wildlife photographer because I grew up working with wildlife. I’ve done landscaping/gardening jobs because I love being outside, being creative and working with my hands.
Home: Nashville, TN
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Favorite Gym: I, honestly, just prefer any gym with varied options for physical activity with plenty of the same equipment so I do not have to slow down my workout.
Favorite Work Out Song: I listen to a lot of my Daily Epic playlist which is action-oriented orchestral music. I favor an Electroswing playlist and a playlist with solely LGBTQ+ artists: Eli Lieb, Todrick Hall, etc.
Recommended Work-Out Foods: Eating should be done about 2 hours prior and should be a portion of whole foods that don’t make you feel stuffed. This is important because you won’t be storing fat while working out, which happens right after eating. Also, eating too much can make you lethargic and if you struggle with commitment to making it to the gym this would be a factor that prevents you from achieving goals.
This time window gives you time to relieve yourself before starting your workout as well. Since I would say a cup of coffee, or if you use a pre-workout formula, is good and you are someone affected by stimulants in a way that makes you need to relieve yourself then you need to do so before or after your workout. Working out can also expedite the need to relieve yourself and interrupting your workout is not optimal to gaining or losing, whichever is your goal.
Favorite athletic outfit: Whatever makes you feel most comfortable; I can’t stress that enough. When you’re surrounded by others who are lifting more or may look more along the lines of what society judges as “ideal” or “beautiful” it’s perfectly natural to feel a wide range of emotional responses and they can be negative. So, wear clothes that you feel comfortable in, that can breathe and move and are made for wearing while you get fit and healthy.
How do you balance staying in shape and having fun? Honestly, it’s not as hard as you might think. Maintaining shape is pretty easy because you’ve already formed good habits. This is where personal trainers are helpful because we don’t just make you a workout plan, we help form good habits. How much alcohol if I go out on New Year’s because the chemistry involved in alcohol means it all pretty much gets converted to fat and if you like sweet cocktails that can be a lot of calories if you’re trying to lose. The quality of the food I’m eating and I don’t just mean fat, carbs, and protein. I also mean the cholesterol, nutrients and more of what I’m eating.
Now, if you’re thinking you’ve got to maintain model status or Chris Evans’ body after being turned into Captain America I’ll tell you to stop.
Tip for staying in shape: Commit to showing up and your diet. Showing up is most of the battle. The mentality is what it takes and sometimes you feel like putting it off but if you just get yourself to the gym you can put yourself in the mindset to exercise. Your diet is also a major part. If you’re trying to lose weight/fat then you can not be taking in high amounts of calories and fat. You need to burn more calories than taking in. If you’re trying to gain you need more calories but those need to be good calories that feed your muscles and the rest of you to avoid fatigue and burning off gains.
If you have no idea where to start on a diet then I would definitely recommend a nutritionist because trainers can guide you but unless we are registered dietitians/nutritionists we can’t make meal plans.
More helpful hints:
Vince
Oh noes. Get buff because Mommy and Daddy didn’t say they loved you enough. The horror.
vivanashvegas
Dude isn’t even really buff. Has big arms.. that’s about it.
iamru2
Fact is some bodies are hot and some are not.
Creamsicle
Whether or not someone is beautiful is irrelevant to fitness. Everyone should be trying to be the best versions of themselves. There is no point to hating your muscle insertions or your fat distribution. Just improve what you can and maintain a healthy level of activity whole not over consuming frequently. The advice about food timing is just regurgitated bro science and can be ignored by most people.
Focus on health and performance. It’s easy to let yourself go now that sedentary lifestyles and an overabundance of food are the norm. Focusing on being runway perfect is pointless unless you’re someone who makes their living off their appearance. If you don’t like the gym, then find something physical that you do enjoy. The best workout routine is the one you can sustain for a lifetime. Same thing for a diet.
Rock-N-RollHS
Be healthy or not. But this liberal new age crap–reject shame! love your body!–is superficial narcissism worthy of an Oprah cover. Self-acceptance (quite distinct from the approval of others) is a life-long thing–ebbs and flows like the tide–and having a “great” body is probably the least of it. Btw, what the hell is the plus sign in the gay alphabet? The new liberal generation is schizoid on how it simultaneously erects and rejects distinctions.
Kevan1
T Steven Shupe. I have lived in Nashville Since I was Two. Nashville used to be very homophobic . I am now 51 and since the mid to late nineties Nashville, I have found being openly gay, has been for the most part accepting of gays. Yes, there are the backwards idiots like our VP Pence and his terrier dog of a wife ( no offense to cute terrier pups) who cannot get over their hatred of any thing that is not WASP heterosexual, but there are fewer everyday. Nashville is on of the safer cities in the country for gay men, women, bisexuals and sexually fluid people. The Transgendered people are also gaining more acceptance. Yes there will always be some assholes who have problem with others due to their sexuality, color, religion or some other inane reason, but for the most part Nashville is an accepting city.
vivanashvegas
Steven looks like he needs to spend more time in the gym and less time on Grindr looking for clients. Cause when you log on to Grindr that’s what your looking for is a semi fit personal trainer. Of course someone who looks like him would want to be the spokesperson of gays. First of fitness has nothing to do with being gay and second of all, unless your fit, don’t try to help others get fit! Also he doesn’t even live in Nashville. Get a real job, dude!