Meet Jennifer Zerling | Fitness and Age Management Expert

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jennifer Zerling and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jennifer, what habits do you feel helped you succeed?
I am persistent and relentless. When you set a goal for yourself, you not only have to go for it, but you have to be crystal clear on how to get it! I am successful because I am first clear on what my goal is. I then perform a lot of research behind what will get me there. And then I go for it and become unstoppable. Being relentless means not letting anyone or anything get in the way of your success. But there is one secret that I haven’t mentioned yet. And that is, self care has helped me remain in power providing me with the mental stamina, energy, and the strength to be relentless and consistent.

What should our readers know about your business?
My brand is JZ Fitness. I have learned in the 24 years of providing fitness and lifestyle coaching that fitness is not just physical; it is mental, emotional and spiritual. My training has and continues to embody the whole experience for each individual. I have dozens of certifications and experience working with thousands of people in weight loss and age management. I am proud that my background isn’t only a Master’s in kinesiology. There aren’t too many trainers with both a graduate degree and an extensive clinical background in fitness and nutrition as I’ve acquired over the last 12 years of my career. I put myself through my Master’s degree while working full time and had to overcome the time constraints that didn’t allow me to go to school full time. I knew I wanted to work to eradicate the obesity epidemic in America so I landed my first clinical position right out of school and from there have evolved into the world of age management medicine working for some of the best doctors in the country as their fitness and nutrition counselor. To get to where I am today, I had to undergo a lot of training, a lot of interviews (at first) and countless hours at the clinic to prove myself. I wanted to position myself as a true expert in what I do and I knew that this had to be the path I took. Challenges will always present with any goal, but when you really want something you just keep your eyes on the prize and do what it takes to get it. And truly that is the story of my career path in a nutshell. But with any career success comes a lot of responsibilities. If you are willing to exceed people’s expectations on a daily basis, then work for yourself and be the best at what you do. And if no one does what you do, then set a whole new standard so that you can pave the way for others to learn from, grow from and thrive from. I guess my ultimate goal now that I am reflecting here is to leave a legacy for my children to be proud of, and for those who knew me to be touched by. But I couldn’t be this or do this without being on my A game and committing to optimal self care. My coined phrase is “Maximize Your Potential by Optimizing Your Health.” I not only do that myself, but that is what I teach others to do through JZ Fitness.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
When my friend comes to visit, we would plan to do something active every dang day. We can go hiking in the beautiful mountains of Southern California and enjoy the gorgeous weather in the middle of winter (now early spring). I would pick out local healthy eateries to prove that it is possible to eat good food that tastes good that is actually good for you. I would pick out some recreational activities such as kayaking, a beach walk, paddle boarding, or a walk around an outdoor mall. Southern California has so much to offer including my favorite restaurant spot in Malibu called The Sunset Restaurant, amazing biking through the Marina, and amazing afternoon and night views while we dine at places such as Mastro’s Ocean Club and Castaway where we can see the star lit city.

We would certainly visit Orange County and step foot into Disneyland for the day. We would enjoy the beauty of taking my car across the Newport Marina on the ferry from Balboa Island to Balboa peninsula and grab happy hour at Harborside, who has the best sliders and Cesar salad.

There are plenty of places to shop and visit in Los Angeles, gosh where would I start first? Third street promenade is fun alongside the Grove, which are not exactly right down the street from each other.

Perhaps if time permitted we would venture up to Santa Barbara and visit the zoo. I have great friends whom I call SB and KC whom I would arrange to say hello to while I am there.

We would certainly make a pit stop at Canter’s Deli since my cousin Leisa is married to Marc Canter. We would meet me for lunch there and enjoy a pastrami sandwich. Why not, right? But then of course, I would sign us both up for an Orangetheory Fitness class the next morning. LOL!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My family has provided me with a strong foundation, and there is nothing more awesome than having 2 great siblings and a very amazing mother and father. I have two extraordinary teachers, my 1 year old and 3 year old children who teach me patience and resiliency. My spouse whom I call Doc, must be among this shoutout for his continued trust and belief in me through his unconditional support of my success over the last 15 years. I have a great circle of other professionals and mentors in my life including Dr Forman, Dr Maywether, Dr Lucia and Juan Chavez, Dr Turcillo, Kristy Morrell, Brendon Ayanbadejo and Paul Marcus who truly are a gift to me . I am grateful for JK Livin and Jenny Rizzo for allowing me to provide my fitness expertise to the students of the program. I must mention my girlfriends who light my world up with their love and support, including my “QOTL”, Tutu, H Bomb and Meggers. Last, I thank everyone who follows me on social media, who reach out to me directly and who work with me one on one. All of those people make me want to be better every day. I am very blessed.

Website: https://www.jzfitness.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jzfitnessnutrition/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenn-zerling-b7867b/#experience

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JZ_Fitness

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JZFitness/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAx82utrBAj9gM1AC5k9D0A

Other: JZ Fitness Lifestyle Course https://jzfitness.teachable.com/p/fitness-lifestyle

Image Credits
The family shots are all David Swayze