Page 34 - Demo

34 || MOST FITNESS || JUNE / JULY 2016MFM: How or why did you take the name or persona, Princess Joy Villa?JV: I took the name and persona of %u201cPrincess%u201d because I had this goal that I would travel the world and people would treat me like royalty. In 2012 I met my fianc%u00e9, wellknown photographer Thorsten Von Overgaard, when he booked me to model for him in NYC. He kidnapped me and began whisking me around the world with him, and I started booking concerts and making fans internationally. I began to use the name Princess on my Facebook and my social media just as a sort of fun thing to do for my fans, and they loved it! I think that it%u2019s important for women to really embrace the royalty that%u2019s inside of them. I have a great responsibility to act as a Princess and to be a role model of excellence and confidence in fitness, fashion, art, and music. It%u2019s a way of life; I am Princess Joy Villa. MFM: How do you maintain being fit and living a healthy lifestyle?JV: I travel a lot, and it%u2019s important for me to maintain my fitness level throughout the year and not just when I need to get ready for photo shoot, because there%u2019s always a photo shoot! As soon as I land, I make sure I know where there%u2019s a gym. Weights are super important for my workout program. I lift heavy to maintain muscle mass and grow. I drink more water than I think I need, especially after flying. I sleep 8-9 hours a night. As a vegan athlete, I make sure I%u2019m eating every two hours, focused on whole, natural foods and plenty of greens.MFM: What kind of cardio do you like the best and why?JV: I switch up my cardio, and every day I%u2019ll do something different. My favorite is boxing. I%u2019ll hit a punching bag, and do some HIIT for 20 minutes, or heavy dancing for my tours. That%u2019s the best! MFM: What type of food or supplements do you consume? JV: I focus on organic, green, leafy vegetables, fresh fruits, and lean proteins like beans, kale, and my favorite sliced protein from Tofurkey. I go out to eat a lot on my tour schedule, so I eat at places like veggie grill or Mediterranean, Indian or Mexican food. And I eat everything in moderation. If I feel like I want a vegan cookie or some vegan cheesecake, I%u2019ll indulge.MFM: What tips do you recommend for eating out at restaurants?JV: Skip breadbaskets or any of the appetizers that involve white breads and noncomplex carbohydrates. Order a salad first to fill you up, with dressings on the side. Add avocado to your salad. Drink lots of lemon water. Replace fried foods with baked or grilled. Always order green veggies on the side and eat them all! MFM: Give us your top 5 tips for losing body fatJV: Make sure you get enough to eat. Often women will try to lose fat by starvation, but that slows down your metabolism. Focus on a complete, nutritious profile with protein, fats, and complex carbohydrates. Buy healthier versions of snack foods. You don%u2019t want to be eating empty calories. Eat healthy fats such as avocados and nut butters. You don%u2019t want to cut drastically or you%u2019ll send your body into starvation mode instead of a fat burning machine. Cut down just a little bit so you%u2019re under calorie needs but you%u2019re taking in highnutrition value. Focus on whole foods and high intensity exercises. When you%u2019re lifting weights, take shorter rest periods, add in some jumping jacks or some dance moves in between your sets. This workout that I put together for you burns fat; it%u2019s a circuit that will leave you sweating. Depending on your fitness level, if you can do it five times you could end up burning over 500 calories! Stay active and eat well; be consistent. There%u2019s no shortcut!MFM: Your bio says you lived in Seattle; did Seattle have any long-term impact on your life style?JV: I love Seattle. It%u2019s one of those places that really feeds me spiritually and artistically. I worked at a jazz club called LUCID, and I was around great music everyday. It molded me, playing shows with African and Haitian artists. I learned a lot about beats and rhythms.