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

Hi Vera, any advice for those thinking about whether to keep going or to give up?
In my business as well as with personal goals, I am tenacious about pursuing results. I am usually in the habit of following all of my ideas and plans through until the end, however sometimes my intention changes and I am able to shift my processes to match my new goals. Frequently I work with people to help them achieve their goals in the health and wellness space; oftentimes, it takes two to three initial consultation-style meetings to work with a client to develop their true goal. I am not afraid to reevaluate not only my process- the way in which I get a project done- but I also frequently circle back to consider the goals I have set for myself. Try asking yourself these questions as you begin your next venture: Does this goal match my personal values? Why does this project matter to me? What are some potential barriers that may get in my way? These types of questions will get you thinking about goals as they relate to you personally. The more that we align our goals to a personally meaningful philosophy, the more likely we will be to successfully complete any endeavor we begin.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
In 2012 I created my personal training business- TotalFit: Health and Fitness Coaching- in order to help others create happier, healthier lives through fitness and nutrition. As a former collegiate athlete I knew that I wanted to work helping others develop a positive relationship with physical activity, and I have been on a mission to share my passion for fitness with those who are looking to make lasting and meaningful lifestyle changes. In my practice I take a holistic approach to training, where I lead clients through personalized workout sessions and also provide guidance on everything from daily routines, meal planning, clean eating, and all the elements of a healthy, sustainable lifestyle. My goal is to ensure that each client walks away with a solid foundation and results that they know how to maintain on their own. After several years of running my personal training business I saw that most of the clients coming to me all displayed symptoms of much broader lifestyle-related health issues. The majority of my clients, while they were doing great in the gym, all reported some level of dissatisfaction with their stress levels, sleep patterns, or work/life balance- and I could see the link between these lifestyle issues and the negative impact on their overall health. I was inspired to help more people build healthier lives both in and outside of the gym, so I went to graduate school and earned my Master of Public Health Promotion (MPH). With the MPH I have also become a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES®) which allows me to work with a greater number of people, on a wider range of health topics. Over the last two years my business has evolved to working with people towards creating health-positive behavior changes- rather than being limited to instructing clients how to exercise properly, I now work with clients on every aspect of health. From creating healthier workplace environments, to advising clients how to make the healthiest food choices without needing to go on a diet plan, my coaching business provides individuals and groups the tools they need to live their healthiest, happiest lives! My work is to empower clients to make their own decisions about their health.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my best friend was visiting me in San Diego and I wanted to show her the best time ever, I would start the week with a nice morning hike. We are so fortunate in San Diego to have so many urban trails centrally located to our urban areas, and one of my favorite hiking routes winds through the neighborhood trails of Mission Hills, ultimately delivering hikers to the Quince Street bridge. I would treat my friend to a walk or a hike somewhere in our beautiful city every day of her trip! From the paths at Torrey Pines in La Jolla, to the waterfront on the San Diego marina, to rugged trails like Cowles Mountain, a hike would be on my to-do list every day! After our hikes I would take my friend to one of our seemingly endless number of amazing eateries here in San Diego. For breakfast I would take my friend to the Bread and Cie bakery in Hillcrest- they have amazing handmade breads and pastries, and their breakfasts are delicious! Harbor Breakfast in Little Italy is a great spot for diner-style breakfast and lunch- a can’t miss for a fan of classic diner fare with a healthy twist! As a fitness professional I really do inherently enjoy being physically active, so I would bring my friend along to one of my favorite yoga classes at Buddhi Yoga in La Jolla. We would then grab a healthy, tasty treat from the Beaming Cafe or Trilogy Cafe- both great spots for absolutely delicious vegan food! In La Jolla, we would definitely take a ride at the glider port- the experience and the views are once in a lifetime! On Wednesdays the Little Italy Farmers Market is a great place to check out- you can grab a bite from one of the food vendors, or do some healthy grocery shopping to make a fresh meal at home. I would do some shopping at the farmers market and my friend and I would have a blast putting together a delicious meal at home!

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?
Aubyn Grant: strength and conditioning coach

Website: http://www.totalfitsd.com/
Instagram: @totalfit_sd
Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/vera-ross
Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/totalfit-health-and-fitness-coaching-san-diego-2
Youtube: Vera Ross

Image Credits
(photo credit only for for beach images with yoga poses) @lovejaynoelle