Our Very Own Influencer: Q&A with Nicki Cox
Who said students can’t be influencers?
by ALLY LAIN-HEDDEN ★ JULY 29, 2021
Ever wondered what it’s like to be an influencer? If you didn’t already know, SU has our *very own*: the incredibly cool, insanely inspiring Nicki Cox. With 10k followers, senior Nicki Cox (@nickicoxfit) provides realness, great workouts, and tasty recipes almost daily. She tells us about her personal experience with fitness and how to maintain a healthy lifestyle in your everyday life.
Trigger warning: calorie counting, “fitspo,” eating disorders
UGirl: What made you want to start your platform and share your tips for working out and maintaining a healthy relationship with food?
Nicki: A big inspiration for me was my problem with the fitness social media industry, because it is so over-saturated, and focuses on counting calories and weight loss. But it is important to note that for some it works. Fitness also does not need to be about wanting to lose weight but instead, it can be about appreciating your body. I found that weightlifting was the perfect thing for me and it saved my life because it was either I relapse or recover. Weight lifting made me realize how capable my body was, and in order to lift, I needed to fuel my body. As an influencer, I want to show my audience that you don't need to count macros or calories but instead workout because it makes you physically and mentally feel good. I never want to be a “fit inspiration.” I found that sometimes we follow certain accounts hoping that if we do the workouts or follow their diets we will look like them. My goal is to give women the tools they can use to work out and feel comfortable and confident.
UGirl: Gyms and Dining Halls can be overwhelming and hard to find healthy options, what meals are your faves, and what tricks do you have for school?
Nicki: For the dining hall, one thing my roommate and I did that worked well was get the to-go boxes and pick up staple foods that we could either cook with and better our nutrition. While living in Booth, we would buy foods that we enjoyed like vegetables, proteins, carbs and use our microwave and the kitchenette available. While it does cost a little more, it was a sacrifice we were willing to make since it gave us more of a variety in food. My -saving grace- and the go-to thing was Bitchin’ sauce. Literally can't live without it. We also kept snacks in our room. Our goal was to supplement meals with food that made us feel good. Be creative at the dining hall-- you shouldn't feel restricted. Luckily, we have a really good gym facility at school. But I think we can all agree that it is intimidating to work out in front of men our age. Especially if you are a beginner. One thing I tell myself is that everyone was a beginner at one point, and if someone is going to judge you at the gym then it's on them. Just act confident, and be yourself. The hardest part is getting to the gym and finding the strength to start working out but once you do you feel so accomplished. Exclusive tip: learn your gym non-peak hours, usually it’s busiest after 4 but empty at noon.
UGirl: How do you stay motivated even when you have a lot of work or pressure from school?
Nicki: See the funny thing is, I'm not a super motivated person. I try to remind myself that I work out not to lose weight, but as a form of self-care, appreciating my body and knowing that it will make me feel good afterward. I also let my body rest when I need a rest day. Listen to your body, don't force yourself. You want what you're doing to feel good. Like I said earlier, the hardest part is getting to the gym but once I'm at the gym I will work out. At school, I try to bring my workout gear to class since I know I am near the gym. If I bring my stuff the chances are that I will want to go. Try finding ways to make it easier for you to work out and find the motivation to go.
UGirl: What is your opinion on society's pressure for the “ideal body shape” and how do you handle this?
Nicki: The hardest part of the ideal body shape is that it is ever-changing, and constantly changes over time. When I was younger I was surrounded by being skinny and now it is being curvy. People claim you can work out and get in shape, but it's not realistic because of genes. This creates a level of disappointment because you feel that it is achievable, but it's not because of genetics. If you feel like getting work done and it makes you happy, do it. Way too many people judge people who do but if it is something that you can fix and feel confident about, do it. Just be honest about it when people ask. Accept your body for the way it is because we spend so much time hating ourselves. On social media, I also find that we are sometimes so scared to unfollow people. If you follow someone who isn't benefiting you and your mental health, unfollow. If someone I follow isn’t adding anything good to my life, and instead makes me feel bad, I unfollow. Surround yourself with people who make you feel confident and drop those who don't.
UGirl: If you could go back and tell your younger self anything what would it be and why?
Nicki: I would tell my younger self, “what you're searching for you will never find.” I thought that if I looked a certain way I would be happy. I wish I could tell myself weight isn't a problem but the problem is that I didn't accept myself. You're not going to find what you are looking for through the means you are doing it and life gets better. Eating disorders are very prevalent in our age group, and they can be seen as a shameful thing that people don't talk about. The first time I spoke out about it was during my freshman year at Cuse, when I decided to post on the first day of National Eating Disorder Awareness Week (NEDA week). Immediately, I was sent so much support and love from everyone. I realized it was not something to be ashamed about because so many others had similar experiences and feelings. When we talk about our struggles, we find that so many others have shared similar experiences. With ED recovery, there is a lot of anxiety and keeping it a secret adds more anxiety but when you find the courage to talk about it, it’s like a breath of fresh air.
UGirl: What does a Healthy Lifestyle mean for you and do you think that society has created a false expectation of it?
Nicki: When we look at platforms like TikTok, we see so many videos about “How to have a hot girl summer or How to get a bikini-ready.” But being healthy isn't something that happens at once. A Healthy Lifestyle isn't just eating healthy but it's about being both mentally and physically happy. For me the way that I do this is walking instead of driving, weightlifting, baking delicious -healthy- muffins. I try to find things that I enjoy and see how I can make them positive. A Healthy Lifestyle isn't about physical health but also mental health. There is such a bigger aspect to health that isn't represented in the media. The media only depicts physical health as weight loss, which isn't true. For me my definition of a healthy lifestyle means to be sustainable, feel good, come easy, and is enjoyable. We have viewed a healthy lifestyle as having to have salads, green juices, and run miles but in reality, it is about living a lifestyle and eating food that makes you feel confident. If you find joy in reading or dancing, then that is a healthy lifestyle. Each one of us finds joy in different things and works to incorporate at least one of those things into our routine.
UGirl: What brands or celebs do you love that spread a message of positivity and realness?
Nicki: My go-to brand is GymShark, an athletic clothing brand. As a company, their message has changed over the years and is still very admirable. They are the first activewear company to do what they do. They are a blueprint for change and continue to change with the times. They represent all communities and all body shapes. They have shown that fitness is for everyone and their message aligns with everything I agree with. Influencers I really like are Danyele Wilson, Krissy Cela, Libby Christiansen, and Linda Sun, but I love influencers who show how to train like athletes and speak about confidence. My goal is to start a podcast one day that women can listen to and feel confident.
With a growing platform that spreads a message of confidence, we can all look to Nicki Cox as an inspiration. Society places so much pressure on young girls and men and hopefully, with this interview, you can find new ways of motivation and confidence. Wishing her all the best for her future and make sure to give her a follow on her fitness page @NickiCoxFit.
All photos via @NickiCoxFit on Instagram