Q&A WITH JEREMEY TATE (JT), TRAINER/COACH AT THE FIT FACTORY, CROSSFIT 615, ORANGE THEORY FTINESS AND BRIDGES

We mean your gym bag. For some, it’s a top of the line, multi-functional fashion statement. For others it’s a simple backpack. No matter how fancy their features are, what really matters is what lies within. This month we asked JT to show off what his bag holds within.

WHAT ITEMS DO YOU ALWAYS CARRY IN YOUR GYM BAG?

Food! Although there is no food in the picture (because I already ate it), there are always Cliff bars!

TELL US YOUR GO-TO PRE-WORKOUT AND POST-WORKOUT SNACK/DRINK?

My go-to pre-workout snack is a banana and Cliff bar. Post workout I’ll take down a Muscle Pharm Protein shake with peanut butter. It’s great stuff!

WHAT’S THE NEWEST PIECE OF GEAR/APPAREL YOU’VE PURCHASED?

I’ve been doing a lot of Olympic lifting recently and picked up my first pair of Olympic lifting shoes. They’re yellow Reeboks and have been an immediate game changer for my squats and oly lifts.

WHAT’S CHANGED ABOUT YOUR GYM BAG OVER THE PAST YEAR?

The addition of a HAMMOCK. I do morning and night classes and with the middle of the day open for training (and napping), it’s essential to keep in my bag after a long morning of coaching.

IF YOUR BAG SOMEHOW CAUGHT FIRE AND YOU COULD ONLY SAVE ONE ITEM, WHAT WOULD IT BE?

My Surface 2 tablet! It has been my life line to organizing my schedule, recording client sessions, posting videos and entertaining me during my down time.

ON A GOOD DAY, YOUR OPTIMAL WORKOUT ROUTINE LOOKS LIKE…

10-15 minutes of rowing, 10 minutes of mobility work (foam roll, lacrosse ball or stretching), then working up to a heavy squat, bench followed by some gymnastics work (muscle ups, handstands, handstand walks). I’ll end with some more mobility movements for a cool down.

FAVORITE QUOTE/MANTRA YOU LIVE BY?

“When you want to succeed as bad as you want to breathe, then you will be successful.”

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE COLOR?

Green has always been my favorite color.

HOW OLD ARE YOU? AND HOW OLD DO YOU FEEL?

I’m 29, but I feel 23… until I hang out with 23 year olds HAHA!

WHO DO YOU ADMIRE OR LOOK UP TO AS A ROLE MODEL?

It’s changed over the years (and I’m sure it will change again), but right now it’s the one and only Rich Froning Jr. That guy’s work ethic and commitment to being not only an incredible athlete but a great family man is something that inspires me day to day.

THE BEST WORKOUT PLAYLIST WOULD FEATURE THE FOLLOWING SONGS…

• Cudi The Kid
• Let’s Get Ridiculous
• Beast
• Killing in the Name
• Outta Your Mind
• How Low
• Anything Black Eyed Peas , Rage Against the Machine, Lil Wayne

IF YOU COULD CHANGE ANYTHING ABOUT YOUR WORKOUT BAG, WHAT WOULD IT BE?

I would make it just a little bigger. I enjoy the simplicity of my current bag, but a couple more compartments couldn’t hurt.