Today we’d like to introduce you to Ingrid Clay.
Hi Ingrid, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
The earliest memory I have of my mother is of her decked out in her “Jane Fonda” attire, stretching in front of Jane Fonda herself. I remember playing Barbies but was distracted by the of her rhythmic breathing. Jane didn’t have weights, but my mom did. She was dripping sweat and lifting. Beside the set of weights she was using was an opened Muscle and Fitness Magazine. I had no idea at the time what an impact that embedded image would have on me. Always an athlete I went on to complete degrees in both Electrical Engineering and Physics. After working in corporate for 7 years, I didn’t feel like I was living in my purpose or truly changing any lives; I struggled with that for years and with my own weight gain. Always an athlete the increase in weight really took me by surprise. I remember sitting on the floor of norstroms trying on jeans, having a breakdown as each size no longer fit me. After leaving corporate America I decided to focus on me and losing the weight I gained. Always a scientist I went back to my research and researched Macros before Macos were such a “buzz word.” I decided to write a computer program to figure out my macros and created a meal plan to support my weight loss journey. I loss the weight 45 pounds. But I was skinny. I didn’t like skinny. So, I went back to the research and science and started a lifting regime. I created curves, readjusted my macros, and reached my first goal. I say first because life transitions and we do too and goals change. I take a very science-based approached to fitness and nutrition, it’s the root of all things. It’s been my approach for over 11 years. My body has changed several times! I competed in bodybuilding changing my body from a bikini competitor to a figure competitor. I have fought through body dysmorphia to now being comfortable with any stage my body is in and teaching others to do and feel the same. I have incorpated and study the benefits of working out and eating mindfully and consciously. And how meditative practices can be transferred into your workout regime. In the midst of all the changes with my body. I was teaching group fitness at Barry’s Bootcamp where I was a Senior trainer; I was growing a personal training business and had started a meal delivery company. I had a client at the time who was plant-based, so I decided to nuture my second love cooking and I also found the time to go to culinary school for plant-based fine dining. I took advanced courses in plant-based cooking, sports, and nutrition courses as well and a course in dessert making. I pivoted and started doing plated coursed plant-based menus. where each course is an artfully skilled vitamin and by the end of the end of the meal you would have taken a multivitamin. The merging of science into my food in addition to my fitness philosophy helped me write my first book “The Science of HIIT.” I taught group fitness for years always explaining to clients the whys behind each movement. I take all those whys and combine them in my book. To write that book again I went back to the research, back to where I started.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Not at all. Women in health and fitness let alone a black woman in health and wellness have their own challenges. When I first started in group fitness, I was one of 3 women in South California and the only black woman in all of California teaching for a global fitness brand. To say the least, it wasn’t easy. However, I could navigate from physics and engineering where women are also rare. Like any entrepreneur, the growing pains of building a business are always tough. It’s a series of experiences that can sometimes be deemed as failures where you learn things picot and try something different. I think these experiences where we don’t always get it right are telling. It speaks to not only our strength but tenacity and ability to be fluid and transition when we need to.
Lately, the challenge of motherhood has been an obstacle. After two miscarriages, being able to accept my body and find it beautiful touches on some of the issues I had when I was competing. I think this is topic women don’t speak on a lot. The changes to your body with each one and the changes to your heart with each one.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I specialize in providing conscious training and creating thoughtful, artful foods that nurture the body, mind, and soul.
I’m proud of my approach to both and getting clients to stop bringing in Instagram pictures of what they want to look like and instead focus on bringing out the best of who they are. I think that is the changing of goals I mentioned before. Bringing out and seeing where you can go, finding out who your best self is, and bringing that person the forefront!
What’s next?
I am not working with Chris Hemsworth on the Centr app. You can find my peak program coming up this January aptly entitled “Sculpted” where I am bringing my methodology and science-based coaching to the masses. Additionally, I am also working on my own app that will include my Ebook, in-gym workout recipes and so much more.
I am also so looking to bring approachable macro-focused vegan meals to the masses through a curated cooking show.
I will continue to elevate my approach to fine dining plated courses and this year because I was so inspired by Art Basel and Esme in Chicago, I will partner with an artist to create dishes that is a reflection of that art.
Contact Info:
- Website: ingridsclay.com
- Instagram: ingridsclay
- Facebook: ingridsclay
Image Credits
JT Photography
Matthew Ryan
We Shoot Media
