Sonya Neks has extensive experience in training and healthy eating. She has guided many women on their fitness journeys throughout her career while maintaining her own well-balanced and fit lifestyle. We asked Sonya about the challenges of achieving a sculpted body and her tips for maintaining lasting results.
Tell us how you managed to get into such shape and how your love for fitness came about.
Fitness is not a hobby or a job for me; it is me. I started training at the age of 16. Since age 5, I have been actively involved in dancing, and at 16, I have performed a lot. Even then, I understood how important a beautiful body is for a dancer. It’s aesthetics. I began to take an interest in bodybuilding and tried different training systems. I came to the gym somewhere around the age of 20. During the first year, I developed an incredible love for the gym and a stable habit of going to workouts. I still can’t imagine my day without at least a light warm-up. If I don’t go to the gym, I always walk several steps to replenish my daily activity. Some people enjoy food, and there are those like me who find endless pleasure in training.
At some point, you decide to share your knowledge with other women who want to get in shape.
Yes, for many years now, I have been helping women worldwide achieve the desired result. I am preparing an updated version of my fitness app in the App Store. I have a lot of ideas on how to make it even more helpful. I conduct online training and marathons that can be completed from any country. In addition, I conduct personal training in Los Angeles.
Today, everyone wants quick results in losing weight. What do you think about this?
I am always for health. Therefore, marathons like “lose 10 kg in 2 weeks” are not my story. I am against extreme results. It is essential for me to comfortably introduce a person to new habits and a new diet. You can go to the gym every day and at home, eat, feel stressed, lack sleep, and wonder why there is no result. A beautiful body is, first of all, a culture of nutrition. I give a lot of diet advice. It is not enough to lose weight; the main task is to stay in it, and you need to change your lifestyle. I also implement this principle in group projects. I aim to share information that empowers others to continue their journey independently, and it’s always rewarding to hear positive feedback along the way.
Sonya, are your nutritional advice also based on personal experience?
Not only did I study nutrition. Now, I am updating my knowledge in the USA and taking another course. But I try everything I study for myself. Therefore, for each program, I clearly understand how to enter this nutrition system, how long you can stay in it, and how to exit it so as not to gain weight again.
Many people admire your fitness journey. Have you received offers for collaboration from sports brands?
Indeed, there are many offers. I was an ambassador for sports brands and sports nutrition and dietary supplement manufacturers in Russia and the USA. For two years, I represented the New Balance company. Today, my dream is to become an ambassador for the Alo brand. It is as close to me as possible in spirit and style.
Sonya, what does a beautiful body mean to you?
A fit body is about health. And about discipline. Do you want to achieve something in life? First, try to get your body in order. If you can do it, you will achieve results and overcome difficulties in other areas. Seeing someone with a toned physique often reflects the effort and dedication they’ve put in, which is truly admirable. Maintaining a comfortable weight can also contribute to feeling more energetic and positively impact overall well-being.
Is it possible to lose weight on your own, without a trainer?
The result achieved under the supervision of a professional is much more effective. Any weight loss should be done wisely, not extreme, without magic buttons, injections, and other incomprehensible additives harmful to health. You lose weight quickly and then gain twice as much because you rob your health and destroy your metabolism. I always say that a quick result is a temporary result that you definitely won’t be able to maintain. The coolest thing is when you achieve the desired shape, and the achieved weight becomes yours. This is what I teach my clients.
How do you find a trainer who will care about your results?
Choosing a trainer is an intuitive story. You should like the person, and you should be comfortable with him. A fitness trainer is your friend and a psychologist. I know everything about my clients, and they know everything about me. There is an exchange of energies. Of course, pay attention to his competence. If you say your knees hurt, and he immediately loads you with various weights, you must run away from such a trainer. Also, be wary if you are offered a quick injection or some drugs. The trainer’s appearance is also important to me. If a person embodies the image of my dreams, then he proves that his words and advice work.
Sonya, you have such a wealth of experience. You could conduct training sessions based on your developments.
All my training sessions are based on my coaching experience. I train in my style. For example, for four years, I had a fitness tour project worldwide. I gathered a group of girls, and they were under my supervision during the entire tour. I use a unique method and approach that has worked well for me. My training experience is likely quite different from most people’s.
You have grown into a first-class specialist. And who was your teacher?
I had many teachers. I still remember my first trainer, who told me the very basics. His advice turned out to be very effective in building workouts. I partially use his technique in my method. The period when I competed as a professional athlete was a big school. I took many fitness courses. Now, I am studying at the American Fitness Association.
I have been in this field for 17 years. Over the years, I have helped hundreds of women form the body of their dreams. This multifaceted experience has developed into structured, versatile knowledge. I strive to adapt to each client’s needs and support them in working toward their fitness goals, no matter their starting point.
Published by Mark V.
