Keeping it Going!
with Denise Austin

“Fitness is your lifestyle, so you’ve got to keep it going no matter what.” Denise Austin

Denise Austin is one of the leading pioneers in the exercise and sports industry. She has sold more than 20 million exercise videos and DVDs, authored 10 books on fitness, and starred in the longest running fitness show in the history of television.

Denise was born in San Pedro, California. She started gymnastics at the age of 12 and earned an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Arizona. In 1979, she graduated from California State University at Long Beach with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Physical Education, with an emphasis on exercise physiology. She began her career teaching aerobic exercise classes in the Los Angeles area and went on to co-host the The Jack LaLanne Show, in 1981. In 1982, she earned her own television program on KABC in Los Angeles and released her first two workout videos, Rock Aerobics and Rock Hard Abs. From 1984 to 1988, she was the fitness expert on NBC's Today Show.

Denise has created a loyal television audience with her two major television shows: Getting Fit, which ran for 10 years on ESPN, and continued on under the new name Denise Austin's Daily Workout, when it moved to the Lifetime Television Network. Daily Workout and a second Denise Austin show, Fit & Lite, both appeared on Lifetime through March 2008.

She has promoted the benefits of heart health and good nutrition throughout her career and is currently serving her second term on the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports. Denise has also testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions and helped launch the new food guidance system of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (mypyramid.gov). Woman's Day magazine and the American Heart Association honored Denise’s outstanding contributions to heart health by presenting her with the Red Dress Award in February 2008.

Denise has been married for 25 years to Jeff Austin, a sports attorney and brother of tennis champ Tracy Austin. Please join us in congratulating her on 25 years of marriage! They share a home with their two teenage daughters, Kelly and Katie. Their dog, Madonna, is also an important part of the family.

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Tampa Bay Wellness Magazine (TBW):  We understand that you began gymnastics at a very young age. What did you enjoy most about that?

Denise:  I started when I was twelve years old, and I loved gymnastics because it was with my girlfriends. I started off at a local YMCA, and I really loved it so much that I became a serious competitor by the time I was in high school. I practiced 4 or 5 hours every single day and was on a private team. Then I got an athletic scholarship to the University of Arizona where I competed. To me, gymnastics was the foundation for what I’m doing today in my career. It gave me confidence as a young girl.

I think sports for kids—especially for girls—are so important because it helps their self-esteem, puts them on the map, and makes them feel like they have purpose. It gave me the discipline and body control for what I do today. The education behind it has really helped me in my career; not that I knew back then what I was going to do with my life.

TBW: Do you think it’s a good idea for all children to get involved with at least one sport?

Denise:  Yes. I think it’s great, because it promotes camaraderie and social skills. They have a chance to learn about taking care of their body in a disciplined way. It’s also a wonderful way to have a positive spirit with each other. I’m a big believer in sports for kids. Starting them young is great, because it becomes part of their lifestyle. A lot of times parents are so busy now that they don’t stop to think about what program they should get their kids in. Being young and starting at the YMCA was a cornerstone for me. I’m big believer in Boys and Girls Clubs in America and the YMCA.

TBW:  How did you become involved with the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and what about it do you enjoy most t?

Denise:  I got involved back in 1985 when President Regan was there and Vice President Bush. I would travel with the program and when Bush got elected, Arnold Schwarzenegger was the chairman. I did a lot of volunteer work to spread the message about getting kids fit and getting kids out their moving.

I also did things for adults to get them energized. We put together the first website the President’s Council ever had, presidentschallenge.org, which encourages all Americans to get in shape. We put together a fitness test for everyone, no matter how old you are, to see where you stand and how fit you are now, and how you can progress. We felt really proud about getting that up and running. It has become very popular. Corporations are using it to get their employees fit. It’s a really good program.

TBW:  We’ve read many places that you get at least 30 minutes of exercise per day. Do you think that’s a reasonable goal for anyone to achieve?

Denise:  I think 30 minutes is a perfect amount of time for most everybody. If they’re just starting out, 10 minutes here and 10 minutes there would be great. You can accumulate 30 minutes in the course of a day. But most people can do a workout in 30 minutes and get through it. It just depends what you are doing for those 30 minutes. I change it up constantly. I’m a big believer in just doing something. It can be walking or toning. But 3-4 days a week, I do some cardio to burn fat. On other days, I do more toning, strength training, pilates, or yoga.

TBW:  Can you tell us about your role as a spokesperson for Energizer Live’s Healthy Keep Going Campaign? What do you enjoy about it and how did you get involved?

Denise:  First of all, I’ve been quoted as an energizer bunny for twenty some years. I’ve been interviewed in newspapers and magazines, and they end up calling me an Energizer Bunny…It’s a campaign that I believe in. It’s all about keeping going. Even though I’m older now (I’m 52), I keep going. Fitness is your lifestyle, so you’ve got to keep it going no matter what. It’s been a great campaign for me, because it’s all what I truly live by and truly engage.

I’m also a big proponent of a pedometer. I tell everybody to get one. It’s very inexpensive to get a pedometer. It can give you the chance to see how many steps you take in a day. It becomes a challenge, and it becomes kind of a game. I gave each of my kids one, and it was so fun because at the end of the day they would compete with each other by asking, “How many [steps] did you get today?”

It is honestly a true measure of fitness, because if you can walk 10,000 steps in the course of a day, that’s an amazing way to stay in shape. It can be a mile here and a mile there, or going out for a 3 mile walk. It all adds up. The ultimate goal is 10,000 steps. I’m a true believer in a pedometer.

The other thing I truly believe in is music when you are exercising…Music is the key to moving yourself, and to move quicker and faster, and to enjoy your workout.
 
TBW: Can you tell us about the online program that you offer through your website, deniseaustin.com?

Denise:  I love that, because I get to talk with all the people that have worked out with me through my TV shows and my DVD’s or books. It’s such a wonderful home for me in a sense, because I can feed all of my positive messages with my Denise Austin e-mails that go out every day. You can sign up for my free daily e-mail that goes out. I give a recipe of the day and exercises of the day. And then there’s another part in there where you can become a member…It’s a great program to have a support system.

TBW: Congratulations on celebrating 25 years of marriage. Can you tell us more about your family?

Denise:  I have two daughters. Kelly, who is 18, is going to play lacrosse in college on a scholarship. Katie is 15 and she plays lacrosse and tennis for her high school.

TBW:  What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

Denise:  My favorite thing is to go out to dinner. I’m a real foodie…I love movies. I love to get together with my big family---all my sisters, brothers, my husband’s side of the family, and my girlfriends. I have great friends. Spending time with family and friends is my joy in life.

TBW:  We heard that you have a new DVD coming out soon.

Denise:  I do have a new DVD coming out. It comes out September 15. It’s a DVD called “Best Buns and Legs.” It’s a really fun DVD with seven different workouts for each day of the week. 


TBW:  Congratulations. We know that you have done so much and that you continue to “keep going.” We truly find you inspirational and appreciate what you do.


Denise:  Thank you!

For more information about Denise Austin and to sign up for her e-mail of the day, an online class, and more visit www.deniseaustin.com