Meet Francesca Bankovich | Bridal Fitness + Nutrition Coach

We had the good fortune of connecting with Francesca Bankovich and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Francesca, is there something you can share with us that those outside of the industry might not be aware of?
I love this question! I think most brides assume that getting in shape is just about following a strict workout plan and diet but reaching your fitness goals can be far more nuanced – especially for women. A worthwhile strategy doesn’t force the individual into a rigid program – it tailors the plan to fit into the individual’s unique lifestyle, not the other way around.

I call this taking all “puzzle pieces” (diet history, work schedule, stress levels, past exercise habits, etc.) into account before designing a plan for my bridal clients. When women feel like they’ve “fallen off,” it’s often because the program wasn’t designed with all of their puzzle pieces in mind.

Lastly, I don’t think it’s commonly acknowledged how paramount trust and transparency within a coach-client relationship is. These elements, which are so vital to any meaningful relationship, are what helps the coach make well-informed tweaks that ultimately lead to better client results.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
It is typical for people to start businesses based on their own personal life experience. However, I’ve never been a bride – how I got here is actually inspired by my parents’ divorce.

I grew up as a competitive swimmer and, similar to others who have grown up as an athlete, did what I was told. Naturally, when I got to college, I had no idea how to design an effective workout program let alone execute any exercise with proper form. Don’t even get me started as to how clueless I was in the nutrition department!

In an effort to get over the gym-timidation and confusion I felt, I started binging Dr Layne Norton on YouTube and fitspo accounts on IG. As I slowly “figured it out” in the gym, I committed to my first bikini bodybuilding competition. This led to developing discipline, an understanding and interest in nutrition, and four total competitions under my belt.

I switched my major to Exercise Physiology at the same time my parents told my sisters and I they were separating. By the time they divorced, and I was coincidentally tasked with developing a business plan for a college capstone project, I recognized how integral my parents’ personal health habits were to their dynamic as a couple.

I recognized both individuals lacked stress management, sleep management, a foundational understanding of nutrition, and prioritization of exercise. I noticed how the de-prioritization of their own health created a wedge between them and made the connection that when we don’t prioritize ourselves (which leads to feeling confident in our skin as a byproduct), we don’t want to be fully seen by our partners and don’t show up as our best selves – especially to those closest to us.

This sparked my capstone project of, “The Mrs. Trainer” and ultimately, now, Fit Bride Method. I’m incredibly passionate about enabling the individual with nutrition and fitness education, not just deliverables, so their marriages can be infused with healthy habits and greater intimacy, connection, and fulfillment.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
A very timely question considering my sister, who I’d consider a best friend, is visiting as I type this…

The itinerary I made us consists of Sunset Cliffs (duh), smashing burgers at Burger Deck in Midtown, workouts at Ocean Pacific Gym, walking around Liberty Station + snacking at their Public Market, hiking Torrey Pines (also duh), authentic Italian food at Ristorante Illando in Little Italy (the best in Little Italy IMO), and soaking in the sunshine at Mission Bay.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Absolutely! Garin and Yesi Heslop, founders of The Gynergy Effect, have been recent pillars of encouragement for me. I’m currently participating in their Date Zero container focused on unlocking your highest self through daily gratitude and intention. Tangibly, that looks like starting and ending my day with the journal they created and reviewing our weekly successes with the community, which has helped me live more purposefully and aligned with my values.

Their mission is focused on creating a ripple effect of gratitude and impact through self-discovery and service. Both Garin and Yesi have hearts of gold and I’d love to see them and Gynergy highlighted.

Instagram: fitbyfrancesca

Image Credits
Alex Callahan
Tarin McCauley