Fitness Enthusiast

Alison Griggs lives life to the fullest. Along with welcoming 21-month-old daughter Xochi to the family, she keeps herself in top physical condition, eats a clean diet, enjoys friends and family and takes care of two rescue dogs.

Griggs, 36, grew up in Seabrook, graduated from Clear Lake High School, received her bachelor’s degree from the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque and spent summers in New York. A lover of the outdoors, sports and fitness has played a major role in Griggs’ life.

“I’ve always loved being outdoors,” said Griggs. “In high school, I surfed competitively and got into road and mountain biking and horseback riding. I did a lot of snow skiing in college.”

While competitive surfing isn’t in the cards these days, Griggs still spends time working out in just about any discipline that she can find. “I get bored with the same thing, so I switch it up a lot. I’ve tried all of the trends, from rock climbing to yoga to Spinning, and some of them I ended up getting certified to teach.”

After having her daughter, however, those modalities weren’t so convenient. “I didn’t want to take my daughter to gym daycare and I couldn’t really swim anymore since she couldn’t do it with me, so I started StrollerWorkouts.com, an exercise group for moms and their babies. Now, Xochi is a little older and I am back in the gym at South Shore Harbor Fitness Center but, mainly, I enjoy my own outdoor cross training classes.”

In addition to her commitment to exercise, Griggs is equ

ally committed to her healthy diet, consisting mostly of fish, fruits and vegetables. “I really enjoy eating, but I’m very particular about what I eat. I’m always thinking about nutritional values.”

Griggs, says she’s not a big fan of meat because of her environmental convictions, but she admits to occasionally splurging on a grass-fed beef burger. “I mainly eat what is natural. I don’t believe in fat-free and low-carb. Yes, I eat potato chips and cookies, but I eat the natural or organic variety. We’ve learned that altering foods isn’t good for us and can have long term consequences.”

The closest Griggs has come to an unbalanced life was during a stint living in New York where, like most New Yorkers, she lived in the fast lane, spending long hours at her office and living on caffeine to stay focused. “As much as I enjoyed New York, my day-to-day life was pretty unhealthy. I had to change my job and get myself in a happier state of mind before I was able to get balanced again.”

In the years to come, Griggs plans to continue to make fitness a big part of her life. “I want to turn my passion into a career. I care tremendously about others and would like to utilize my years of fitness and my certifications as a yoga and Pilates instructor and personal trainer to help others realize their true potential.”

Griggs is off to a good start in turning that passion into a career with her company, MOTIVATION Personal Training, where she designs group and private training sessions.

In the years to come, Griggs says she plans to continue to follow her passion. “I plan to build on my education in fitness and nutrition. Science has a lot more to discover and there is always more to learn.”

—Allison Stephan

Do You Know a Fitness Enthusiast? Send a photo and brief description to Health & Fitness Sports Magazine, 1502 Augusta Dr., Suite 230, Houston, Texas, 77057, or email: rod@healthandfitnessmag.com.