Next in our Inspiring People Interview Series we have the lovely Sophie MacKenzie, Soph is the other half of the Megs and Soph Duo and is also a World Record holder in rowing! We chat to Soph about her training schedule, her healthy lifestyle and her most memorable moment on her journey so far!
Hi, I’m Sophie MacKenzie but Soph for short, I am a full time athlete in Rowing so I get to travel overseas every winter to European summer 🙂 and race internationally and I Love it! I grew up in Marlborough on a big high country sheep station and have always played a lot of sport. My huge passion for health and well-being didn’t really start until my first year out of high-school and I turned official lightweight and started training harder for rowing which meant I needed to fuel my body more efficiently. So since then especially the last two years I have developed a much more holistic and whole food approach to eating and my general well-being.
Tell us about your current lifestyle and why you choose to eat a gluten free and whole food diet…
I eat gluten free because I suffered from terrible tummy aches and pains throughout my whole life pretty much when I started reducing gluten products I noticed a huge change and I no longer get those nasty sore tummies. I grew up on a farm with our staple dinner being meat and three veg so whole foods were kind of drill into me from the start and to this day a roast meal is still my favourite! Plus I love creating dishes with whole foods in their natural state as they have so much flavour and can literally use them in everything – about to go make courgette choc protein muffins…
What does a normal training day look like, both training and food wise…
My days vary A LOT but a general day might look something like this.
6.30 wake up take heart rate, make green juice and eat breakfast which is usually soaked oats or if I have time make porridge. I like to change up the flavours most days but love goji berries with walnuts or seeds.
Bike to training (25 minutes)
Go rowing for about 1 ½ – 2 hours
Bike home
Make a large Protein Smoothie, again flavours change at the moment I’m loving either a rich chocolate and banana one or a Vanilla and Blueberry one both usually have some greens hidden in them.
11-2 do some study, Megs and Soph stuff or create something.
Lunch is also mixed in there somewhere and usually involves some form of eggs like a omelete, in a sandwich or poached on quinoa bowls
2.30 back on bike to training
3pm Either go biking for 2-3 hours or weights session or ERG/row session about 1 ½ hours total
Bike home
Have something to eat – either a smoothie or protein muffins, toast, cereal – all is home made and can find on Megs and Soph or in our eBooks.
6.30 Dinner, I cook a couple of times a week and have loving getting out the slow cookers lately and throwing everything in the morning and its basically ready when I get home 🙂
After dinner I usually just chill out, study maybe or do some yoga if I haven’t before dinner.
Bed time, woohoo I get to lay down!
What is your approach to balance & moderation in life?
I think we should enjoy everything in moderation which is why I often indulge in chocolate. People often think that I am super healthy and never eat what they might consider unhealthy food, but I don’t deprive myself of something if I feel like it or want it I’ll eat it.
Another way to look at a balanced life is by seeing how much I train I try to compliment it by practicing calming yoga which sometimes turns to simply just laying on the floor because that’s what I need.
What is your favourite form of exercise to do (outside of rowing)?
It’s actually walking up big hills and mountains I just LOVE it! Growing up on a farm surround by hills it would be hard not too
What is your most memorable moment in your career so far?
I would definitely have to say this year has just been incredible winning bout under 23’s and then elite in the light double has literally been a dream come true. And to top that off we got the world record! I’m still trying to believe it.
What is your favourite healthy recipe?
This is actually to hard for me to choose!!! I have so many but if I had to say right now I think it might be ginger slice or blueberry smoothie…
What is your number one tip for those who want to live a healthier life?
Everyone is different so embrace your uniqueness either through foods you like and work for you, or through the way you move your body find what fits you at that point in your life and Have fun with it!!
What are your favourite healthy living blogs/websites or tools?
Megs and Soph! haha but aside from the obvious I actually have so many it’s a bit ridiculous! Dr Libby is a go to and have all her books to, but I love finding more people and seeing what they write so www.mindbodygreen.com is a great place to search for the stuff I love 🙂
Thank you so much for agreeing to be interviewed. And for making time in that hectic sounding schedule to complete the questions! I’m not sure how you manage to fit it all in, I can see why sometimes you just need to lye on the ground 😉
You can find Soph in the following places:
Megs and Soph Website
Twitter @MaccaSoph and @megsandsoph
Instagram
Megs and Soph Facebook
I’d love it if you left a comment about what you loved from this post, I love reading your comments!
Oh wow! SUPER inspiring. Thank you for introducing her.
Wow. such an inspiring and active lifestyle.. meanwhile, i’m just thinking about all the food i’m going to eat on the holidays. haha 🙂 i have a fitbit, so i’m just trying to walk more at the very least. ooh and this just reminded me.. it’s the perfect time of year to go hiking. we need to put that on our schedule.
That is a seriously disciplined schedule!! I wish I could get myself up to workout first thing in the morning, but my body just prefers coffee on the sofa. Someday… Good for her. 🙂
I love your approach to moderation! Such a great way to live — no excess or deprivation. Congratulations on your world record! Incredible!!
Wow, so incredibly disciplined! I wish I could do this, I keep trying but no luck yet!
Super inspiring, I want to be back on track and exercise daily again. I need to find an activity that will make me move and sweat. Holiday fat is taking its toll on me 🙁
very cool!! this makes me want to move more…eating well and exericse always makes us feel amazing!! Congrats and all the best Sophie!!
Interesting to read about other people’s lifestyle!
Thanks for sharing! I go back and forth between being pretty healthy and not- this is a bad week for me as I am super busy with schoolwork and Thanksgiving, so no time for running. My brother rowed in college and I have done a little bit- such a fantastic workout!
So inspiring! I need to get on a healthier path with eating, some of her recipe ideas sound pretty good!
adore that she talks about using yoga as part of a balanced life. What a great interview, thank you for introducing me to her!
Wow! That’s a lot of exercise…I’d love to do more exercise, as that’s definitely what I’m lacking right now. Love her drive, and she certainly is inspiring!
This has just given me the little push, getting back to the gym is a must. I find its so easy to make excuses with 3 kids.
That’s amazing! What an inspiring and adventurous life she’s lived. How amazing that’s she’s a world record holder <3
I know right?! I couldn’t fathom holding a record for anything but then again I’ve never been that good at sports!
oh wow such an inspiration, I so need to stay away from on this food I keep consuming and what I will eat during christmas
Omg how inspiring!!!!! Thank you so much for sharing 🙂
Wow! She’s really inspiring. I like her tip about finding what works for you (foods, exercise, etc.) because what works for one person may not work for another.
I think finding what works for you is the best tip, as you’ll never really stick with something if it doesn’t work for you personally 🙂
Living an active and healthy lifestyle is really amazing, it makes you feel so much better about yourself and in general!
So interesting to meet the other half of that dynamic duo. I like how they aren’t hard-core about eating healthy food, they have made their own individual decision and promote us real people (non-famous athletes!!) to find our own path to healthy food. Sophie seems very, very cool!
I love that too Andi, they are just like you and me and treat themselves occasionally but still fuel themselves with great food 🙂
I am tired just reading about her daily schedule. Great interview. She is an inspiring person.
Awesome! I love reading about people who have made dietary changes for their health…I’m in the process of getting our family to only eat whole food and it is a discouraging journey at times. This is inspirational!
Wow, she really did have a magnificent year. I love her message about just embracing your uniqueness!
Great interview. Super inspiring. Love reading about daily activities.
Rowing has become very popular in Oklahoma City! I shared this post with some of my rowing friends.
Thanks so much for sharing Jen 🙂
I love your balanced approach and agree 100%! And there is everything right with some good chocolate