Emily Climer: Fit Since 17

Emily Climer says she was “your typical high school kid” when she learned that she had high cholesterol. “I wasn’t taking care of myself,” recalls Climer, a stylist and colorist at A Perfect Hue in Henderson, Nevada. “I didn’t even play sports.” To avoid taking medication to lower her cholesterol, Climer launched what she calls her “healthy journey” right then, at age 17, switching to a low-fat diet and working out three days a week.

‘I lost 15 pounds in three months,” she reports, adding that her weight yo-yo’d quite a bit until she added weight training. This is when she got serious! Climer fell in love with kettlebell, a sport that challenges athletes to use specific techniques to lift weights for as many repetitions as possible in ten minutes. She competes regularly and, as a result, has built a lot of muscle.

“I’m in the best shape of my life,” declares Climer, who also enjoys hot yoga. “I had a client tell me I’m the healthiest person he knows. Really? That’s awesome! A lot of my clients ask me about it and look to me for motivation. I’m happy to share! I’ve been studying health and fitness for a while, trying different things to know what works for me.” Climer has found five keys to keeping herself in shape:

• Eating enough protein
• Scheduling my workout
• Prepping my food
• Getting enough sleep
• Drinking water

“When you try a new routine, give it 90 days and see how you feel,” Climer advises. “Wait for the results. At first, I think I ate oatmeal every morning. Switching to eggs worked better for me, because lean protein builds lean muscle mass. I eat no dairy or gluten, but I do eat red meat, chicken and turkey. I make turkey burgers without buns, thai chicken meatballs and chicken alfredo with spaghetti squash as the ‘pasta’ and coconut milk and cashews as the base instead of cheese.”

Climer and her boyfriend, a trainer with a strength training specialty, decided to share their interest in nutrition and fitness. They launched Healthy Pair Lifestyle, posting their recipes and ideas on a YouTube channel and Facebook. She’s also @emilyclimer on Instagram.

She is just as diligent in her pursuit of excelling in business. “I follow Michael Cole’s business-building program, and I hope to reach $100,000 in sales this year,” Climer says. “Last year I hit $86,000. I’m going to start studying for the American Board of Certified Colorists. I don’t know where I’m going to find the time, but I’m always up for a new challenge. I have lots of things on my list!”