1) Who is Emma Ferreira? (where are you from, what do you do, a bit about yourself (hobbies, etc)
HI! I am a 23 year old athlete and I am from a cute little town called West Sayville in Long Island, New York. I am a full time Crossfit coach and athlete at Freedom Athletic Academy, coaching classes and 1v1s as well as an online coach & programmer.
Besides working out, my hobbies would be any type of out door activity including sports. I do also love cooking/baking. I love finding new recipes or creating them myself that fits my meal plan best!
2) How many years have you been training?
Competitively I’ve been participating in Crossfit for about 3 years…but overall I will be doing Crossfit 5 years in July.
3) Whats been the most challenging/hardest part of your journey so far? and how have you overcome them. (set backs, rejections, injuries, basically anything difficult that you have had to overcome)
So far the most challenging part of my journey would be dealing with an injury. Even though it was the most challenging it was also the most humbling. I was out with a sprain wrist plus a few ligament tares. This injury led to about 3-4 months of nothing but running and air squats…it was miserable. I was forced to sit out of the Granite Games after just receiving my qualifying email as an individual and had a scare of missing the Open. Fast forward a few months and im finally under a heavy barbell and back on my hands! Its crazy how an injury can make you visualize the big picture. It made me realize how grateful I should be to be able to do what I love everyday. The hardest part was not the physical injury itself, but the feeling of loosing my ability to do what I love.
4) What does your typical workout/diet routine look like?
Typically my workout routine is 2 sessions a day 6 days a week. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Thursday are a single session active recovery day. Whether that is a long run, swim or row. And of course Sundays are a total rest day, a day to rest, recoupp and recover.
I’m proudly to say my diet routine is structured by the awesome crew at RPSTREGTH! Having a 1v1 coach with them has changed my body comp as well as my performance tremendously. Setting me up with meal plans, nutrition tips, types of foods and competition day plans for each my double, single, active recovery and rest day sessions.
5) What new knowledge have you learned over this past year regarding training, lifestyle and nutrition?
I’ve learned so much over this past year. I’ve learned more about my self as an athlete as well as a coach. Honestly this year I truly learned my love for this sport and journey. I’ve learned that nutrition is just as important as training if not more. What I do is not hobby, its a lifestyle. You have to fully devote yourself if you are looking to make it to the top. I’ve learned that I am willing to do whatever it takes to there.
6) Whats your favorite cheat/Treat meal?
My favorite cheat meal would probably be tacos with a side of guac and chips … and of course followed by Cookie Monster ice cream.
7) Whats one supplement that you could not live without?
XENDURANCE! I take basically all of their supplements from protein to omega 3s, joint support and their Extreme Endurance pills. But if were to choose one, I think id go with their extreme endurance pills.
8) If you had to start your Journey from scratch with your health & physique what would you do differently and why?
This is a good one! I think I would choose to take portion control of food more seriously. When first started I was huge into Paleo (I mean who wasn’t) and just eating everything that wasn’t man made thinking it was great. And don’t get me wrong, it was but I never really learned how to control my portions. Also I would put myself into gymnastics LOL!
9) Who do you look up to in the fitness industry and why?
I don’t really look up to anyone in particular. I’m inspired by and motivated by girls who have and/or accomplished the same goal me. Competing at the Crossfit Games. All of the girls who dedicate everything just to be one day closer.
10) If you had to give one bit of advice to people starting out what would that be?
Don’t give up. Continue your journey and don’t let anyone stop you from chasing your dreams…no matter how big they seem. Oh! And quit your day job… do what you love. If your the slightest bit unhappy…why continue? Start over. It may not be easy in the begging…not nothing with having is easy.
And know… not all destinations are promised. Fall in love with the journey. To put your whole heart into a journey knowing you have no control over the outcome says so much… its trust in yourself that you’ll achieve it.
believe in yourself because you never know who else does.
11) What new goals do you have on the horizon?
There is never a new goal. My goal is and always to be better than I was yesterday and to compete at the NE Regional and Crossfit Games as an individual. This past open I just missed it by placing 33rd but was lucky enough to go to the Regionals on a team. And all that did was just make me even more hungry to make it next year.
12) Where can people find you? (website, social media accounts)
Find me @ freedomathleticacademy.com
or my Instagram, @emmaferreiraaa
