Athletes in the Spotlight: SANTINA PHILIPS

We are thrilled to kick off our new series, Athletes in the Spotlight, featuring the incredible Santina Phillips! As a seasoned athlete, renowned trainer and the founder of URSUS, Santina embodies the spirit of strength and determination. She recently took the time to answer our 8 burning questions, offering insights into her journey and the passion that drives her. 

1 | Tell us a bit about your training regimen. What drives your motivation and keeps you going?

I love training and I love having a goal. I regularly train 5-6 times a week with a big focus on strength and fitness. I follow a structured strength program which focuses on helping me build muscle, develop unilateral strength and aid in running performance. Recently I regularly run now too which I’m really enjoying! 

My motivation to keep going is 1) having a goal and something to train for but 2) most importantly I genuinely love training for my mental health and so that I can feel good for many years to come.

2 | What is your absolute favorite exercise, and why do you love it?

I love a dumbbell Bulgarian split squat, they are so so gross and humbling but also so amazing!

3 | What inspiring moment or achievement in your fitness journey are you most proud of?

I was really proud of myself for winning Australia’s strongest woman 8 years ago!

I am also really proud of myself for competing in HYROX as I’m not a natural runner, I’m glad I persisted and kept trying to improve 😊

4 | What does ‘Clean Eating’ mean to you?

Clean eating to me means trying fuel your body with nourishing foods and where you can, whole foods. I try to have a balanced diet including protein, fruits and veggies but also the key word is balance - enjoy your food too so if you want something that’s sugary or processed that’s cool too!

5 | Can you share your strategies for meeting your daily protein goals?

I try to include protein in every meal if possible, like eggs, Greek yogurt, fish, pulses and beans or meat. And then I add variety with colour and fruits and veggies and carbs 😊

6 | How do you typically fuel your workouts to maximize performance?

I love to make protein pancakes and put honey and almond butter on top. I’m also a classic “shove a banana in your mouth before you train kinda gal.”

7 | What's your favorite cheat meal that you enjoy guilt-free?

I love burgers, bacon cheese burger with pickles and extra fries plssss.

8 | What is a common fitness or nutrition myth you wish more people knew the truth about?

“Cardio is better than weights.”

I love being fit and doing cardio, but strength is king. Without weights it’s hard to develop muscle and improve bone density. Weights are great for body composition, longevity and feeling good!