Meet Abby, she’s a fitness trainer, an avid weightlifter and runner, and while she may be fast, she’s taking the long trail home when it comes to her lifelong journey of fitness. 
Read our interview and find out more about the Women’s Best athlete!
Name: Abby Pollock
Location: Toronto, Canada
Height: 5’7″ (170cm)
Instagram: @abby
Can you share more about yourself and what you are doing?
I’m an engineer turned fitness trainer passionate about women’s health and combining with experience to help you work smarter, not harder on your own journey.
When did your journey start? Was there a certain event or situation after which you found your passion for fitness and decided this was your path?
My fitness journey started kind of by accident in my first year of university while studying engineering. At the time, I was very skinny, feeling lonely, and struggling with my mental health. By some stroke of luck – I discovered the world of weightlifting which changed my whole perspective on training and fuelling my body.
You’ve created The Team Plans, your very own science-backed workout guides. What was the motivation behind this?
When I first got into weightlifting, I quickly realized how much of my engineering could be applied to the human body. From exercise mechanics to sifting through research reviews – the more I learned, the more gaps I saw in the fitness industry’s “if it worked for me, it’ll work for you” approach. The Team Plans was created to fill this gap – providing science-backed guides that meet you where you’re at, then safely and effectively progress you over time.
What are the 3 best points of advice you would give to people on their fitness journey?
#1 Do less – if you’re just starting out and struggling to stay on track, readjust your expectations and focus on just one habit at a time. While it may feel counterintuitive, the less you do – the more energy you’ll have to stick with that habit consistently.
#2 Focus on consistency > extremes
Doing too much, too soon will drain you of energy and keep you stuck in the cycle of getting on track then falling right off. Kinda like Tip #1 – focus on getting really consistent with one thing, repeating till it becomes a habit, and you don’t even have to think about it. Over time, you can add on more habits till eventually you have a routine and consistency feels easy!
#3 Set habit-based goals
You’ve heard it before but two people could follow the exact same diet, exact same training, and still have different bodies. Long story short – we can’t control outcomes, but we can control actions. By showing up consistently, we can see how different habits affect our body, and adjust as needed to keep progress going.
Tell us more about your workouts and training, what does your weekly routine look like, and do you mix this up throughout the year?
My approach revolves around training full body 3x per week and staying active in between. My full body workouts typically take about 30-40 minutes each and are based around compound exercises like squats, deadlifts, presses, and pulls. I balance running and lifting so depending where I’m at with my running goals, I’ll switch up the emphasis and intensity of my weightlifting to better support these.
You’ve been transparent about your past and how you’ve been at every point on the spectrum, from skinny to gaining weight. How did you find harmony and balance within yourself?
I started my weightlifting journey in my first year of university when I was super skinny. Over the next few years, I competed in bodybuilding until eventually stopping and gaining weight rather quickly. I struggled for over a year to lose the weight, but what it ultimately came down to was that I was sick of living life on the sidelines. I was tired of saying no to nights out, feeling anxious around food, and like I was fighting my body. I knew there had to be a better way and so I committed to finding it.
Do you follow a specific diet? What about your favorite treats?
Nope! I stopped counting calories and macros a few years ago and since then have committed to reconnecting with my hunger and fullness cues so I could feel fully at ease around food. I eat what I want when I want it without the desire to overeat because I don’t restrict. I go through phases with favourite foods – right now it’s probably birthday cake, cookies, and rum balls…maybe?
Fun question: we know you love running. What’s your perfect running scenario? Weather, distance, speed, terrain and music or no music?
Fall running is my FAVOURITE! Cool weather, partially cloudy, and leaves blowing. When I have time, I love loosely planning a route but giving myself the freedom to explore new areas along the way – picking up the pace if I feel like it, backing off as needed, and just training by feel.
What are your favorite Women’s Best nutrition products? When do you use them and why?
Women’s Best Vegan Protein is hands down my most used product. It is the best for baking – whether I’m making muffins, brownies, or cookies. Through lots of experimenting, I learned I could substitute up to 1/3 of the flour in a recipe for this protein while having it taste exactly the same.
I always have the BCAAs, Pre-Workout Booster, and Collagen in my pantry, but one of my more recent favourites has been the ZMA. It helps me relax before bed and is great for sleep quality!
What is your favorite Women’s Best collection, in what color and why?
Move Seamless in Blue Marl! I hate having to choose, but I love the supportive yet still stretchy fit of this collection.
Lastly, you decided to collab with Women’s Best. Why did you choose to be part of the community?
What set Women’s Best apart to me was their commitment to uplifting women of all backgrounds, body types, and ages – something you don’t often see in the fitness industry. Fitness is a lifelong journey and everybody’s journey is unique. Women’s Best embodies that with their team and how they treat their community.
