Krista is a certified personal trainer, strength & conditioning coach, director of health and fitness at COR strength, and Special Olympics coach. Not to mention, she was the very first female athlete to ever join the Axe & Sledge Team.

Krista may not be a typical "physique" competitor, but she competes with herself on a daily basis to improve, whether that's getting stronger, faster, or fitter. Krista primarily trains in a way that keeps her healthy, fit, and functional.

Krista enjoys exotic animals, motorcycles, guns, knives, sour gummy worms, and beer. Krista  frequently posts creative workouts on the COR Strength Instagram page, as well as her own page, so make sure to give them both a follow! Keep reading to learn more about Krista!

Question & Answer

Where are you from?

• I was born and raised in Butler, Pennsylvania, which is a small town outside of Pittsburgh.

What got you interested in health & fitness?

• Since I played various sports growing up, I wanted to find other ways to remain active after high school ended, so I started going to the gym, practicing martial arts, and doing various fitness classes. From there, I developed a passion for helping others through coaching health & fitness.

Did you play any sports in high school?

• I started doing dance and gymnastics when I was just 4 years old, then I also started playing soccer when I was in 3rd grade. I continued those sports throughout middle school and into high school.

What certifications do you have?

• Certified Personal Trainer
• Certified Exercise Therapist
• Corrective Exercise Specialist
• Strength & Conditioning Certification
• Special Olympics Coach
• Adaptive Training Specialist

What does your diet consist of?

• I don’t follow a super strict diet and since I travel a lot, it makes it challenging to follow a specific meal plan. But I tend to eat healthy overall, some of the staple foods in my diet include rice, tofu, vegetables, fish, and eggs. I generally eat 3-4 meals per day, but that varies a lot also. Whenever I go out to eat, I try to stick with the most healthy options available.

Since you travel quite frequently, what’s your #1 tip for staying on track?

• In order to stay on track with your diet and training while traveling, planning ahead is key! I often plan a week in advance and schedule in time for workouts, whether that’s at a hotel gym, outside, or going to a local training facility. I tend to have resistance bands and a few dumbbells in my car in case I can’t make it to the gym.

• Also, I always bring Axe & Sledge supplements with me, such as the protein powder, bars, greens, etc. as well as other protein-rich snacks and microwavable rice, so I can stay on track as much as possible!

What’s your current training split?

• My workouts vary a lot based on my work and travel schedule, so I don’t really have a set training split per say. However, I do try to lift/workout 3-5 days per week, whether that’s practicing jiu jitsu, sparring, kickboxing, lifting weights, HIIT workouts, etc.

What got you interested in martial arts?

• Throughout my younger years, I was always interested in doing martial arts. I would watch a lot of wrestling and MMA competitions, but I never really got the opportunity to try it. Then, a few years ago, I started doing kick-boxing classes followed by ju jitsu and the rest is history! Not only is martial arts a great workout, but it also is phenomenal for developing different skills and learning self-defense techniques. So far, I’ve been practicing jiu jitsu consistently for about 3 years.

What's your favorite exercise for each body part with no equipment?

• Chest: Push-Ups
• Back: Pull-Ups
• Quads: Jumping Squats
• Hamstrings: Glute Bridges/Lunges
• Calves: Sprints
• Biceps: Banded Curls
• Triceps: Dips
• Abs: Hanging Knee Raises

What are your top three Axe & Sledge supplements?

• Farm Fed - Chocolate Milkshake
• The Grind - any flavor!
• Greens+ - any flavor!

What are your three American Made Nutrition Supplements?

• Collagen Peptides
• Amino+
• Women’s Multivitamin

If you could own one exotic animal, what would it be?

• As a child, I was obsessed with Tarzan and wanted to live in a jungle, so it would have to be a monkey!

What's your top two goals at the moment (fitness & business)?

• In terms of business, my main priority is growing COR Strength. From the amount of clients we work with to just overall brand awareness, I want that company to positively impact as many people as possible.

• In terms of fitness, I really want to imrpove my tactical skills.

What's your go-to cheat meal?

• Pizza

Do you have any hobbies outside of the gym?

• Outside of the gym I enjoy shooting guns, coaching special olympics & gymnastics, as well as riding motorcycles!

If you could make any flavor of the Home Made Bar what would it be?

• Either White Chocolate Raspberry or Red Velvet! I am a huge fan of the red velvet flavored Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream.

Why did you choose Axe & Sledge supplements?

• I first met Seth and Bob at a local gym called, Legends of Pittsburgh. I occasionally helped them with All American Roughneck women’s apparel. I remember them telling me about Axe & Sledge and I saw how much time and work that was going into this company. From the start, they prioritized the quality of the products. I never took many supplements prior because of the uncertainty about the companies and the products.

• Once 4DH started Axe & Sledge, I knew they were going to change the supplement game. From the beginning, I believed in 4DH, their products, and everything they stand for. I’m still so grateful to have the opportunity to be a part of such an amazing supplement company. They created a community of HWMFer’s that support and motivate each other every day. I'm excited to see the continuous growth of Axe & Sledge. There is no other supplement company like it and there’s no other company I'd rather be a part of.

Where can people find you?

• Instagram:@krista_gia
• CORstrength:https://corstrengthnj.com/