Meredith DeJesus

WHY DID YOU BECOME A FITNESS INSTRUCTOR?

Dancing has always been a big part of my life. In college I was very involved in the dance program — performing, choreographing, and taking class. I entered law school immediately following undergrad and I realized quickly that it was near impossible to take class with my schedule. I found a spin instructor in Boston that I loved at Boston Sports Club. I slowly found that Wednesday nights could not come soon enough. In the middle of class one day I said to myself, “I can do this.” After that class, I asked my dad if he would “invest” in me taking a certification course. I promised him that it would pay off—and it did.

Teaching spin to me is the closest thing to being back in the dance studio—I crave that energy. I love being in a room with a group of people all moving to a beat, sweating together.

FAVORITE GO-TO PUMP UP SONG?

“Jungle Bae” by Skrillex and Diplo (ft. Bunji Garlin).

FAVORITE MOVIE?

Tommy Boy.

FIRST JOB?

I cashiered at my family’s supermarket in the summers. I still know a lot of the produce codes… nbd.

HOMETOWN?

Marblehead, MA—birthplace of the American Navy.

FAVORITE JUNK FOOD?

I have a serious problem when it comes to sweets. I could probably eat 20 Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups in one day if given the opportunity.

FAVORITE RESTAURANT?

I love Coppa in the South End. I’m also a huge fan of Stella and Cinquecento.

GO-TO WEEKDAY MEAL?

I pretty much eat at least one sweetgreen salad daily. I LOVE sweetgreen!

WORST IN CLASS BLOOPER?

I fell off my bike in the middle of teaching a Flywheel class. Yup, you read that correctly. I literally fell off a stationary bike. I got off my bike during a steep hill climb to help a rider in the front row get back into her clips. I failed, however, to turn my resistance down on my bike prior to getting off—so when I launched myself back up on my bike the resistance was still on and I was not expecting that. I immediately started to fall and tried to grab the bike to help me stay up and that plan backfired and I went down with the bike in front of an entire packed class.

WON’T LEAVE HOME WITHOUT?

Cellphone.

GUILTY PLEASURE?

Mani-pedis. I’m very routine when it comes to my nails and I won’t skip out.

FAVORITE PLACE TO SWEAT WHEN YOU AREN’T TEACHING?

Barry’s. I try to get there 3 times a week. It is the perfect complement to FlyWheel and I love the instructors. Kicks my ass every time.

HAVE TOO MUCH OF?

Gum. I go through a pack a day… easy.

FAVORITE WORKOUT GEAR?

FLY Gear (and I’m not getting paid to say that), and specifically the tanks. Sports bra favorite right now is the Lululemon Free to Be Wild Bra and I’m also getting into the Victoria’s Secret bras too. For pants, I love the Booty by Brabant’s one-size-fits-all leggings in black.

MORE ESSENTIAL, WATER OR COFFEE?

*Seltzer* Water

CELEBRITY YOU’D MOST LIKE TO BE?

James Corden. All the carpool karaoke skits have got me wishing I was as cool as him. Not to mention that dude can sing!

WHO INSPIRES YOU?

My mom and dad are high school sweethearts. They have the same birthday and they’ve been together since they were 15 years old. They will be married 40 years this September – that’s pretty incredible. It’s such a rare thing to see nowadays. I’m a divorce attorney by day and I truly would not be able to do it day in and day out without their example. I know my sisters, brother, and I all feel very lucky when it comes to our parents.

 

FOLLOW MEREDITH:

Instagram: @madjesus12