If you haven’t tried one of Mat Forzaglia’s Bootcamp workouts on the NEOU app, you’re missing out. As a natural born athlete, Mat is blessed with an innate understanding of fitness and how to maximize performance. If that’s not enough to convince you to press ‘Play’, read on to learn more about his approach to exercise and how he can take you to the next level.

What inspired you to pursue a career in fitness?

I was in college and took a recreation therapy class that showed me that helping people with disabilities was something I enjoyed doing. As time went on I began working with all different types of populations, then I found myself training my teammates on my lacrosse team. I realized that helping people in sport was something that made me feel great, and I was able to push them differently than others I had worked with. Being able to get these individuals to the level they needed to be satisfied me as they accomplished their goals.

What do you love the most about your job?

Aside from how flexible it is, I enjoy all of the different people I work with on a day-to-day basis. People from all walks of life exercise so its different people with different goals, disabilities, and needs. It’s cool when I’m able to get someone to do something 3 months later when they came to me and could barely even touch their toes.

If you couldn’t work in fitness, what would you be doing instead?

I think about this question all the time. I would probably be working in the field of sports and recreation. Something that is still related to moving the body but sport focused.

ON THE FIT LIFE

What best describes your training philosophy?

I’d say, “efficient and effective.'“ I’m the type of person that’s focused on getting people to move properly. I’m not the type of trainer that judges, but I will have you hold a squat until you’re perfect. Doing so makes sure the correct muscle firing, therefore, we can achieve our goals faster. The last thing you want is bad form as it leads you to overcompensate, then you have to work on muscular imbalances and other problems.

What would you do if you only had 10 minutes to fit a workout in?

I would either do an AMRAP (as many rounds as possible) or an EMOM (every minute on the minute). In an AMRAP, I would choose 3 movements that have strength and cardio focus, then do as many rounds as possible in a 10 minutes window. This for sure will be efficient and effective. Or I would do a 10 min EMOM. I’d choose a cardio movements to do on the odd minutes and then a strength movements on the even minutes. Again, its short, has a focus and will definitely be effective. (Try this quick one from Mat!)

ON EATING WELL

What’s your take on eating well?

I think people over complicate this more than it needs to be. It’s simple: know where and how your food is being cooked. If you don’t know the answer to this than just cook yourself. Many people will eat something healthy and then kill it with tons of high-calorie condiments or dressing. Have a protein (chicken, fish, steak), veggies (more veggies than anything else), and then a grain or carb but keep it to a size that could fit in the palm of your hand.

What’s one healthy meal you couldn’t live without and why?

I’m a very simple guy when it comes to eating. I can eat for days and I love all the cheat meals and elaborate dishes out there, but I could eat chicken, veggies, and rice everyday for the rest of my life and be completely fine. I would choose this dish because it gives you all the nutritional value you need, its very easy to make, and you can cook a large amount for cheap so you won’t have to worry about what to eat for the rest of the week. Also, this is the key to getting the results you want. (Start your mornings like Mat. Try his spiked coffee!)

How about your guilty pleasure?

My guilty pleasure would have to be Chinese food. Once I hear it, it’ll be stuck in my head and I’ll be craving it until I have it!

ON MOTIVATION

How do you push through the days where you might not want to workout?

On those days I try and work out with other people. It forces me to show up, and once I’m there the thought leaves my head and I get in my zone and workout.

On days where I don’t train with others it’s a little bit harder. I tell myself to just get something in for 10-30 minutes in a high intensity state and I’ll be good to go.

What are some things you’re looking to achieve in fitness?

A personal goal is to continue to build my conditioning up. Before I had appendicitis I was fitter than I have ever been, but now my conditioning is nowhere near where it used to be. My goal is to build it back up, and it’s a slow process, but focusing on the things I need to do day by day will get me there.

On a broader level, it would be to motivate people to move. No matter who you are or what you're dealing with, you can do it, whether it's for 10 minutes or 45 minutes. I want to give people a starting point and then push them to go further than they thought they ever could.

What does being “Always On” mean to you?

“Always On” means that it doesn’t matter how I feel or what is going on with me and my life. I need to be 100% present 100% of the time when I am with clients, in front of a class, or on-camera. I need to be ready and willing to take on whatever is in front of me or to react to whatever is happening. I always have to stay on point and on top of my game.

Try Mat’s “Burn It Down!” on the NEOU app today!