Bay Meadows

Meet Holly Del Rosso, a Bay Area Personal Trainer and Boot Camp Instructor.  Holly has over 10 years experience as a Fitness and Nutrition Professional. Holly’s mission is to fight against the climbing obesity rates in America by encouraging people of all ages to start with small steps towards a healthy life.  Holly hosts a boot camp for residents and neighbors of Bay Meadows every Wednesday evening at 6:30pm at Bay Meadows Park.  She brings all the equipment so be prepared to sweat along with your friends of Bay Meadows.  Cost is only $10 per session.

What inspired you to decide to become a personal fitness trainer?

I had just graduated from college in the beginning of the recession in 2008. My dreams of becoming an art therapist ended abruptly when all art therapy programs were cut from schools and hospitals. I had been in gymnastics my entire life and loved being active. I knew my calling was to help people, but I didn’t know in what avenue. I moved in with my auntie, who was suffering from type II diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and obesity. I changed her entire diet to low fat, low calorie and high quality whole foods cooked with minimal additives. I was able to decrease her blood sugar and reduce the severity of her health conditions. I realized that if I could help one person transform her life, I could help many more. My Auntie played an important role in raising me so helping her gain her health back was the best present I could ever have given her, to say thank you for everything she had done for me.

There are so many new exercise out there; how do you keep your fitness knowledge up to date?

It’s great to be a speaker at many of the national fitness conferences because I’m able to see the latest fitness technologies and fitness products while speaking to the creators of them. I also read the New York Times health section daily, so I have the most recent information on nutrition and health studies.

How would you describe your philosophy about being fit and healthy?

I believe fitness has to be fun to be a lifestyle. I always tell my clients that diets do not work, if they did, we would all have washboard abs! The most important factor in being healthy is ensuring that you are breaking a sweat at least 30 minutes per day and eating a balanced diet full of unprocessed foods following the food pyramid.

What’s your favorite quote or mantra you can’t live without?

Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies.

Mother Teresa

What makes you laugh, smile, and be joyful?

My girls after school program in Los Angeles. There are 37 inner city girls who always make my day, with the simplest words. They are an inspiration to me every second of my life. I’ve been career coaching, fitness and nutrition training, and soul transforming them for the past two school years and I’m seeing amazing results in their attitudes and lives. They are learning to dream bigger and to search their hearts for all of their answers in life.

Do you have any tips or tricks to living healthy, lean, and fit?

Workout with friends and family! We always have this idea that fitness is a chore and has to get out of the way, then our day can start. What if we incorporate fitness into our daily routines and we join a fitness class with our family, friends, or co-workers? I have many people in my bootcamp classes who have become friends though class, so always make sure you say hello to the person next to you in class. You never know, they can be your new fitness accountability friend!

What foods are always in your fridge?

I am a vegan so I always have almond milk, leafy greens, blueberries and foods that I have prepared in advance for the day. I typically have everything I would need for a kale salad and a fresh fruit salad for desert.

 Favorite Workout 

I love paddle boarding in Foster City along the lagoon on the weekends and during the week I strength train 30 minutes per day along with uphill runs through the hills in San Mateo.

 Favorite restaurant in San Mateo 

I enjoy the skinny salads at the Cheesecake factory. As long as you make sure the dressing is on the side, you have a healthy and tasty meal!

Guilty Pleasure

I cannot live without having a warm almond croissant from La Boulange once a week!

 

Bay Meadows is a family-friendly neighborhood with lots of green space to enjoy all year long. Whether its growing your own vegetables in a gorgeous community garden with expert guidance, playing a game of pick-up basketball after work, team building over bocce and beers, or picnicking with friends and family on warm summer nights for Movies in the Meadow,there’s no shortage of green space to explore. If you have little ones, don’t miss Momdays on Mondays in Paddock Park!