Q&A with Donna Burke: 5 Things to Make Your Life Easier Today
Ever feel like your life is getting away from you? You felt fine on Monday, but by Wednesday, you’re exhausted. You don’t feel like cooking. You don’t have time to get to the gym. And everyone seems to want something from you. Donna Burke, a personal trainer and certified nutritionist, created an environment where her clients feel welcomed and empowered to live their lives to their greatest potential. The founder of FORME studios will lead an upcoming Misspacklight healthy eating event, and we caught up with her for a quick Q&A to learn a few life-hacks that every woman can use to make her life better and healthier today.
Q&A
1. What is your go-to healthy meal when you have little time?
If I’m out and about, I pull through Starbucks for the egg white bites for breakfast or the eggs & cheese protein box for lunch. Both of these are very well-rounded meals!
If I’m at home, but in a time crunch, I’ll throw together a Greek salad! Olives for healthy fats, pepperoncini peppers for a little spicy to kick up the metabolism, Trader Joe’s pre-cooked chicken breast, cucumbers, tomatoes, and balsamic & oil with a mixed green salad leaf and half a pita for some yummy carbs!
If I’m really in a rush, I try to keep Trader Joe’s chicken pesto wraps in my fridge to take with me!
2. What is the one thing that a woman can do to start turning her health around today?
Put your phone down during meals. Eating while distracted causes us to make poor choices and eat more than we need to! If we can concentrate on just our food for 10 minutes, we’ll find ourselves eating less, feeling less stressed, and starting to see changes quickly!
3. Stress is big part of health. How do you personally silence negative thoughts that can literally sabotage your health?
I always ask myself, “Would I say that out loud to a friend?” Would you call a friend fat? Tell a friend her hair looks bad? Judge a friend for saying yes to too many things? We don’t, and we wouldn’t, and that question typically helps put everything in perspective.
4. Is there any book you would recommend that has helped you on your health journey?
Gretchen Rubin’s “The Universe Has Your Back” changed my life. It focuses more on mental health and finding your right path, but mental health is the biggest part of overall wellness.
5. Any life-hack you can share that you believe has helped make your life easier and healthier?
Your smartphone is your biggest health tool! Use apps like Instacart to save time on groceries! Postmates or Uber Eats to order healthy food before you get hungry, and make a comfort choice. Lose It to track your calories and weight loss. Insight Timer for short meditations. Use the power of your phone to save you time, money, and save yourself from unhealthy decisions!
About Donna
Donna launched FORME’s signature Barre Fusion class in 2014 after suffering an injury that ended her running and high-impact workout career and resulted in a 50lb weight gain. She had been a boutique fitness addict, but wanted an affordable, welcoming atmosphere that every woman could feel comfortable in no matter her size or fitness level. In July 2015, she opened the first FORME studio and started building the FORME community.
She has been featured in magazines, on National TV and on the radio as a health, fitness, activewear and wellness expert, is an AFAA Certified Group Fitness Instructor, NASM Personal Trainer and Certified Nutrition Coach, and is trained in traditional barre technique and bootybarre.
Donna launched the Busy Babe Balance nutrition program at FORME in 2017 nutrition as a way to help women live their lives to their greatest potential! She takes private nutrition clients as well as virtual group nutrition workshops to allow those all over the world to have access to the program!