1) Who is Adrianne Haider? (where are you from, what do you do, a bit about yourself (hobbies, etc).
I was born and raised in a small town in Minnesota- 45 minutes north of Minneapolis. I have my bachelor’s degree in Exercise and Sports Science with a minor in Biology and Psychology from Hamline University where I was a collegiate track athlete for 4 years. After graduation, I pursued another degree in Occupational Therapy- where I’m currently working part time as a pediatric Occupational Therapy Assistant in a pediatric outpatient clinic.
I’ve been working full time as the General Manager of CrossFit Minneapolis for almost 2 years and I absolutely love it. Coaching, personal training, member relations- It makes me look forward to going to work every day.
I just recently started my own Nutrition Coaching business- Simply Strong Nutrition LLC! Nutrition has always been my passion- and I love that I’m able to use my knowledge and skills in the gym to help members and clients obtain lasting results both physically and emotionally.
I’ve been married to my husband, Chadwick for 3 years! He’s in chiropractic school, coaching at the gym, as well as a 1LT in the Army National Guard- preparing for a deployment in June.
2) How many years have you been training? (Including how you got started, etc)
I started CrossFit about 5 years ago. I was an athlete my whole life- 3 sports in high school and collegiate track, but I never felt like I was able to perform to my full potential in the sports I played. I saw the CrossFit Games on ESPN during my senior year of college and was determined to find a gym after graduation! I picked up on the movements pretty quickly- especially weightlifting. My coach suggested I compete in a local weightlifting competition (about 6 months into CrossFit) where I ended up qualifying for the American Open Finals. I’ve been back and forth between training for CrossFit and Weightlifting- mainly to give my body and mind a break. Since I’m not a full time athlete, I have to manage my time properly in order to maximize my training and potential in the sport!
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)
I’ve never had a super serious injury (crossing my fingers) so far in my career. I’ve had my fair share of nagging overuse issues here and there, but nothing that’s taken me too long to overcome. I think my biggest obstacle has been my everyday life. I keep myself super busy with multiple jobs- so my focus can’t be on my training. I do this for fun! I struggle to give myself grace when it comes to the hours put in the gym, competition prep, and setbacks- but this is truly for fun, I just happen to be a decent weightlifter!
4) What does your typical workout/diet routine look like? (With any particular protocols you rate).
My training looks very different than most athletes. Since I’m not full time, my coach sets my program to be finished within an hour and a half- sometimes less. That’s all the time I have on most days! Leading up to a meet, I’ll have a 3-4 day/week weightlifting program and I’ll do the CrossFit class metcon when I finish my program. This allows me to stay fit and strong- as well as training the way that I enjoy. I probably train much less than most of my competitors, but it works for me!
5) What new knowledge have you learned over this past year regarding training, lifestyle and nutrition? (And How has it changed your focus for the future).
In the past year, I’ve been extremely focused on my nutrition. During a weight cut, my nutrition has to be near perfect in order to maximize every calorie to help maintain muscle, energy, and sleep to be used towards my training/life. It’s always a work in progress- but this is the main thing that increased my overall capacity.
6) Whats your favourite cheat/Treat meal?
A big burger and ice cream!
7) Whats one supplement that you could not live without?
Well this is pretty difficult- I’ll give you two! I don’t take many supplements- It’s not a huge part of my life. However, I do take 2 supplements on a regular basis.
Greens and reds from 1st Phorm. They aid in digestion, recovery, and help start my day in the mindset of health. They are absolutely amazing- I take them every day!
Post workout stack from 1st Phorm. I’m a firm believer in post workout supplementation. Everything else in your diet can be eaten through real food and shouldn’t need to be supplemented- but a good post workout, fast digesting protein and carbohydrates is KEY! This helps to speed up recovery and allow me to continue through my busy day as well as prepare for the following day’s training.
8) If you had to start your Journey from scratch with both your health & physique what would you do differently and why?
Focus on nutrition WAY earlier! I had no idea how ‘bad’ I used to feel, until I started treating my body correctly and finally understood what it felt like to feel ‘good’. When I first started training, my schedule was so much more open and allowed me to train for multiple hours/workouts per day- and I got to be a pretty good athlete at that time! However, if I were to focus on recovery/nutrition/sleep during that time, I could have cut my training time in half and increased my overall fitness (and body image!). I had no idea how much can change with food!
9) Who do you look up to in the fitness industry and why?
Most people probably say some extremely high level athlete- one whose day revolves around their training. Someone who has a nutrition coach, weightlifting coach, gymnastics coach, and one who has a perfectly planned out training regimen. As great as those athletes are to watch, I don’t look up to them. I enjoy being a ‘regular’ person working a ‘regular’ job, because I can find success in adversity.
I look up to the many ‘regular’ athletes I see come into my gym every day. They leave a stressful job and a loving family to come to the gym and better themselves on a daily basis. They make the time to workout, understand the importance of fitness, and work to be the best they can be for their personal goals. I love it!
10) If you had to give one bit of advice to people starting out what would that be?
Get a good coach! If you’re in a CrossFit gym, drop into many gyms in your area and asses the coaching level. Your coach should be focused on your technique, bringing you through a substantial warm up, guiding you through movements, encouraging you, and truly have your best interest in mind. Go ‘gym shopping’ to find the best gym, community, and coach that allows you to maximize your potential!
If you’re a weightlifter- same thing. Find someone who understands your goals, focuses on your technique, and helps you find success.
Lack of good coaching can impact your overall performance, mood, and easily turn you off to a sport. Don’t settle with the easy route- find the BEST option for YOU!
11) What new goals do you have on the horizon?
Nationals! I want to get on the podium again for the upcoming national meet next year. If this puts me on another international team- even better!
12) Where can people find you? (website, social media accounts)
PERSONAL IG: @Adraakae
BUSINESS IG: @SimplyStrong_Nutrition
WEBSITE: haideradrianne.wixsite.com/mysite
