Nicole Rodriguez

Nicole Rodriguez - "Hi, I’m Nicole Rodriguez, RDN, NASM-CPT, wife, mother of one, and disco-funk enthusiast. Food and fitness have been my two greatest loves for as long as I can remember.  Grocery shopping (on a tight budget) with my health-conscious mom and picking tomatoes in my grandmother’s garden are some of my fondest childhood memories.  My aunt, proud owner and lead trainer of her own gym, was my absolute idol.  I’ve been emulating her ab workouts and coveting her life in spandex since I was six. Exercise is something I look forward to every day – almost as much as I look forward to my next meal.  Not everyone shares that first sentiment, but most of us have the second one in common.  Show me a person who doesn’t love to eat, and you’ve shown me someone I probably don’t trust. I have no transformation story to share – just a sane, healthy attitude toward eating and working out that can work for almost anyone." via www.enjoyfoodenjoylife.com

(SISS) Hi Nicole, where are you from and where are you currently spending your time? (Nicole) I’m originally from the north shore of Long Island, New York, and I currently live about thirty minutes away – a stone’s throw away from the beach! (SISS) What was one of the hardest things that you had to go through? What advice would you give someone going through the same struggle? (Nicole) I had a very, very difficult pregnancy. I currently serve as a mentor to others in a similar situation and the one piece of advice I offer is, no matter what happens, you will be stronger, whatever your outcome. (SISS) What are you most grateful for? (Nicole) I’m most grateful for my and my daughter’s health! Hands-down! Living near the beach is a close second, as this proximity most definitely feeds my lifestyle. (SISS) How dedicated are you to fitness? What is your fitness goal? On your body, what is your favorite body part and what is your least favorite? (Nicole) I’m extremely dedicated, but that dedication is neither a chore nor a burden but a source of pure joy. The gym has been my happy place for as long as I can remember. Currently, I’m striving toward a 450 pound hipthrust for three sets of twelve. Booty goals! My midsection is both my favorite AND least favorite part because I gain and lose there easily. The struggle! (SISS) What makes you the happiest? (Nicole) Walking on the beach. Any time. Any season. (SISS) How do you deal with disappointment? (Nicole) It depends on the source of disappointment. When I fail in the gym, I remind myself to step back and reconsider if it was truly a failure; ask myself: why didn’t this work? Did I take the best route to reach that at which I failed? Increasingly, I utilize this paradigm shift in the professional realm. Behind every disappointment is a lesson. (SISS) In 2017 what was your biggest win and your biggest loss? (Nicole) Something I’m working on is a more “even” perspective. My husband adopts quite a few Buddhist principles into his daily life, and, after nearly a decade together, I’m getting the hang of one. The gist of it is, be swayed by neither slander nor praise; ride the highs and lows just the same. (SISS) How many time a day would you eat? Can you take us through what you may have for breakfast through dinner and what time is your last meal? (Nicole) I eat at least three times a day and have been utilizing a tracker called FitGenie for the last six months. Breakfast is always some kind of vegetable, usually eggs, a carb of my choosing, fruit, and a Fairlife latte. Lunch varies, but nearly every Tuesday, I can tell you it’s buffalo chicken pizza with marinara sauce on the side! If I’m home, some kind of leftovers in the 500 calorie range. Dinner is often some kind of beef (I live for steak), although I have a killer tuna poke recipe that’s earned a weekly spot on the menu. My husband says I rarely make the same thing twice! My last meal is dessert, about two hours before I wind down for bed. This can be anything from a candy bar to frozen yogurt to a full-out treat, depending on whether or not I had a big snack during the day. Never skip dessert and you’ll never feel deprived. (SISS) Can you tell us four things people don’t know about you? (Nicole) I listen to almost exclusively to soul music circa 1978-1983, even at the gym. I don’t do “cardio” as a general rule. I’m married to a rapper. I’m half Greek-Cypriot. (SISS) Can you tell us where else can our readers follow your daily inspiration? (Nicole) I blog at enjoyfoodenjoylife.com, but you’ll find me daily on Instagram. (SISS) What’s your favorite quote?  (Nicole) The late, great Bobby Womack said it best: “You've got to give her what she wants when she wants it, Where she wants it, How she wants it” (Woman’s Gotta Have It) (SISS) At Smart is so sexy we love to see women who are thriving in their career or business. What are you most passionate about? (Nicole) As a dietitian and mom, my greater purpose is to inspire confidence in our current food system. It’s a controversial topic and one I don’t shy away from. I want other mothers to know their food is safe, nutritious, and that healthy options exist at every price point. (SISS) Who was the most influential person in your life and why? (Nicole) My daughter. She’s given me perspective and, in turn, mellowed out my personality. Having a child definitely shifted my priorities, and I sweat the small stuff waaaaay less now. (SISS) Where were you five years ago? What advice would you tell your five years younger self? (Nicole) I was in school, working tirelessly to complete a second degree to become a dietitian. I’d tell her to stop listening to the negativity and reassure her she would indeed secure an internship (necessary to obtain the RD credential), pass the exam, and move on to other challenges. (SISS) Can you take us through a typical day? From Waking up to going to bed, Can you give us a play by play of a typical day for you? (Nicole) It’s a non-stop blur of social media engagement, client texts and check-ins, appointments, cleaning up after my pre-schooler, and four days a week, pumping iron. This time of year I try to sit down for a Knicks game after dinner at least once a week! (SISS) What is your favorite treat meal? What is your favorite book and/or the latest one you’ve read? When do you feel the sexiest? (Nicole) A bacon cheeseburger is my go-to and I try to have one twice a month. I’m currently on a quest to become a local burger expert – seriously – and I have to do my research! I’m a big fan of musician’s autobiographies, and my favorite is probably Marvin Gaye’s Divided Soul, although Jan Gaye’s After The Dance is even juicier. Highly recommended. Most definitely feel my sexiest at the bar – the Olympic bar, that is. (SISS) A social media question, Facebook, twitter, instagram or snapchat? Which one do you use the most to best market yourself or brand? (Nicole) Love Instagram, but Twitter is the best place to continually share the messages that mean the most to me as a professional. (SISS) Can you name someone on social media that inspires you and is a great follow? (Nicole) My all-time favorite social media presence is Leah McGrath, a fellow dietitian, on Twitter. She walks the walk and talks the talk on shame-free, no-nonsense nutrition. (SISS) What does Smart is so Sexy mean to you?  (Nicole) Lead with your intelligence, show your sense of humor. Faces wrinkle and asses drop, but a sharp tongue is forever. (SISS) Thank you so much Nicole for sharing with us, please follow her on Instagram @nRodriguezrdn