Amanda Robinson: A Whole New Outlook
Written by Rachel Debling, Editor-in-Chief
Photography by Paul Buceta
Gym photos shot on location at Better Bodz Inc., Milton, Ontario, owned by Gary Ferrier
Hair & Makeup by Monica Kalra
That was our interview with cover girl Amanda Robinson being interrupted by the most adorable interloper possible: her eight-year-old son, pleading for permission to use her weighted vest, which is usually safely stored away until her nightly walk with their dog. Luckily, the 38-year-old municipal worker was able to talk her precocious kid out of his planned shenanigans and turn her attention back to the task at hand—for the benefit of us all, as the story she shared transcends your average “fit gal” story.
From a series of injuries that completely changed the way she approached fitness to her refreshing outlook on what it means to truly be healthy, Amanda is a breath of fresh air in what is often a “no pain, no gain” gym zeitgeist. And the lessons she imparts here are applicable to virtually everyone concerned with their well-being, no matter their age or experience.
Lesson 1:
Fitness journeys should evolve.
As a young athlete who excelled at hockey, baseball, and soccer, and who today has a professional golfer husband, Amanda once considered herself the epitome of “tomboy.” But her affinity for both organized sports and her own training have changed drastically over the years.
“When my time with organized sports ended, I was kind of in a limbo,” she recalls. “Like, what do I do next to stay in shape? And that’s when I started doing a lot of HIIT (high-intensity interval training) workouts.”
Part of the reason was, at the time, that style of training was gaining popularity, both for its short time frame as well as its well-documented fat-loss claims. And at that stage in Amanda’s life, burning calories was workout goal numero uno, even though the thought of doing yet another high-impact workout made her cringe.
“Truthfully, it wasn’t something I loved doing,” she shares. “I did it because I felt like that’s what you’re supposed to do to stay healthy.” But after following this all-or-nothing approach for more than a decade, she recognized that her mental and physical health were at an all-time low, and her workouts were to blame. Plus, two previous knee injuries had made these types of workouts all the more uncomfortable—and dangerous. “They were consistent 30- or 45-minute workouts where your energy is completely drained, and after you’re drenched in sweat and you just feel terrible. I didn’t get that ‘I feel great’ type of workout.”
Then, Amanda saw the light. During COVID, when gyms were closed and she couldn’t do her regular routine, she invested in a home gym, which she stocked to the teeth with heavy weights and lifting accessories. Something just clicked. Suddenly, Amanda felt more energized, her physique slowly started changing from skinny to strong—and she hasn’t looked back.
Lesson 2:
Aim big (within reason).
Now armed with a passion for lifting heavy, Amanda found it easier to stay consistent in her routine, and the positive aspects of her fitness transformation flowed through all other aspects of her life. She got into the groove, scheduling her workouts like appointments and following through with them every evening, once her husband and son were in bed. For Amanda, morning sessions were never going to (pardon the pun) work out for her.
“I would hit snooze too often [and miss the workout], and then I would get really disappointed in myself,” she says. “It would throw my day off.” Shifting her exercise time before bed helped her ensure that she stuck with it, and soon she came to consider it her personal form of self-care.
“Sometimes your body gives you signs, and breaking my kneecap was my sign. It made me realize how important your health is.”
As she progressed over the months, she not only clocked visible changes in her body but also her ability to lift more, with better form. In fact, she recently reached a personal best on her hip thrust, pushing an awe-inspiring 345 pounds for seven whole reps. She credits her change in mindset with this amazing achievement.
“I always used to be pretty strong in my upper body because I wouldn’t really focus on my lower body due to my injuries, and it was a big mental shift I had to get across. I finally realized I wasn’t going to hurt myself.”
Her signature move is another head-turner: the barbell split squat with knee tap, which Amanda demonstrates on page 61. Anyone who has tried it knows firsthand that it not only requires exceptional musculature but also top-notch balance. And the results speak for themselves. “Now my legs are the strongest they’ve ever been,” she says proudly.
Lesson 3:
Get the family involved.
Amanda’s active lifestyle extends far beyond the confines of her home gym. Her past experience on the ice and enduring love of hockey led her to become a coach for her son’s team. “He calls me Amanda at practices, in front of his friends and teammates,” she laughs.
Being married to a golf pro also has its perks, as it’s brought their family together on the green. Their standing Sunday golf dates are the highlight of her and her son’s week, and this year she’s returning to a beloved role: she’s excited to be back acting as her son’s caddy when he participates in the U.S. Kids Golf Tour, which runs from April until October.
Though there’s friendly tee time competition between Amanda and her husband, Nate, you won’t find them sharing a workout space. Their personalities, and preferred workout styles, would only get in the way.
“He’s really calm and collected, and I’m high energy—go, go, go!” she explains, adding that he gets up at 5 a.m. every morning for work, hence his early bedtime. So while Nate focuses on mobility and yoga, in keeping with the needs of his job, Amanda takes the opportunity to push her own limits, in her preferred ways.
Lesson 4:
Treat yo’ self.
Over the years, Amanda’s nutrition plan has shifted in conjunction with her exercise routine. When she first began working with a fitness coach following her injuries, they analyzed her daily diet. It turned out that not only was she undereating by an estimated 600 calories, but her protein intake was also not conducive to her “get strong” goals.
Knowing this, she adjusted her eating habits, increasing her daily protein from 40 grams per day to 150 grams or more. As for her turn to strength training, she saw and felt the impact of the change almost immediately.
“It’s a lot more sustainable now. And I didn’t realize that where I was before was so unhealthy,” she says. “Sometimes your body gives you signs, and breaking my kneecap was my sign. It made me realize how important your health is. Because if you don’t have your health, it’s hard to live well.”
One of her favorite go-tos, whether used as a meal or a snack, is overnight oats prepared with protein powder and topped with yogurt and fruit. But she will always—always—find room and time for a treat, and it’s often the Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Blizzard that she reaches for.
“I always used to be pretty strong in my upper body because I wouldn’t really focus on my lower body due to my injuries, and it was a big mental shift I had to get across.”
“I’ve learned that it’s not an all-or-nothing type of approach,” she explains. “If you balance your diet with eating stuff that you love, it’s going to help you stay more consistent. You’re not going to have that urge to binge on it when you allow yourself to have it.”
What she’s doing between the gym and the kitchen seems to be working. Since beginning her strength-training journey in 2020, she has gained a whopping 26 pounds of muscle, which she points out is proof that the number on the scale is just a data point, not a measure of your worth.
Lesson 5:
Anyone can have influence.
Like everyone else, Amanda feels the pull of social media. Open any app and take a quick scroll, and you’ll see bodies and claims that feel far from reality—and far from what is attainable by most people. It’s her hope that by being in STRONG and by sharing her story, others will recognize that you don’t need to be an influencer to be acclaimed.
“Where you are in your journey is important, and you should celebrate and be proud of it,” she says. “I find with social media, it’s really hard to not compare your day one to someone else’s day 500. And we often don’t give ourselves enough credit.”
Amanda’s journey is a perfect reflection of this attitude. It’s been peppered with many ups and downs, and a few instances where she went against what was popular at the time. But it’s resulted in a healthier outlook on life—and a set of glutes that just don’t quit.
“I really hope that my story of not being a fitness influencer or someone who has a fitness-training portfolio inspires regular people, like a mom or someone in the corporate world, to follow their passion and be proud,” she says, adding that her STRONG cover is a realization of all her hard work. After all, as Amanda notes, “What better way to celebrate your journey than being featured in a magazine? It’s truly amazing.”
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