The Reach Out: Ashleigh Banfield
"Does it count if I have to lunge 20 feet to the printer?"
As the host of ‘Banfield’ on NewsNation, Ashleigh Banfield covers breaking news, while also interviewing politicians, celebrities, and newsmakers.
Banfield’s previous roles include co-anchor of CNN’s Early Start, legal analyst for Court TV, host of HLN’s Primetime Justice with Ashleigh Banfield, and host of CNN’s Legal View with Ashleigh Banfield.
Banfield worked as a correspondent for ABC’s Good Morning America, 20/20, World News Tonight, and Nightline, and reported for NBC’s The Today Show, NBC Nightly News, Dateline, and anchored MSNBC's Ashleigh Banfield: On Location.
When I reached out to Ashleigh Banfield, a fellow Canadian, it quickly became clear how determined she is to make her workouts count.
How do you make exercise a regular part of your life?
When I was working an earlier time slot on CNN, I had to be in my New York City office at 7am, with a 75 minute commute. So I would wake up at 4am, go for a two mile run wearing a headlamp and a reflector, and follow up with a 20 minute yoga routine, shower, and hit the road.
When I moved to a prime time show at 8pm, it threw off my years-long workout mojo and I went into a total slump! Now, a few years later, I anchor another live, weeknight program (10-11pm), so I’ve jumped back on the exercise horse!
I’m working out three mornings per week with a Zoom trainer. I’ve turned half my living room into a gym — with a bench, free weights, a kettle bell, a yoga mat and foam rollers.
Have your exercise routines changed since the beginning of the pandemic?
For the most part, I simply ate my way through COVID. And without the regular movement of a New York City commute, I sat at my home office desk and did just a 75 foot commute to the fridge! So I’m on a strict, thrice weekly, workout with a trainer and still working on mitigating the fridge commute — baby steps!
If my trainer weren’t waiting for me on Zoom, I might not get out of bed, so it’s worth what I’m paying. Incidentally, he’s Canadian, coming to me from my hometown of Winnipeg! His name is Joe LaLeune from Three Phase Fitness.
Do you make an effort to avoid extended periods of sitting while working?
Does it count if I have to lunge 20 feet to the printer? I do move around the house a lot during the day, but the desk is still home plate for the most part.
If television is on when you exercise, what are you watching?
I only have the Zoom screen on for the workout, but a minimum of three TV screens are on news channels throughout the day (sometimes muted, sometimes not). And they stay on from about 9am until about 2 or 3am (yes, it’s a long day).
Do you listen to podcasts while working out?
I have yet to listen to a podcast! What I’d really love to find time to do is read a book.
How do you think we can encourage kids and teens to be more active?
I have found that smothering my teenage boys with kisses really motivates them to wiggle, bend, and get away. After that, they actually break into a run. Not much else works to get them off Instagram, but football and tennis at school are pretty good.
If running in the dark at 4am, equipped with a headlamp and reflector, isn’t the definition of “motivated exerciser,” then I don’t know what is. Ashleigh Banfield laughs about it now, but given her dedication, I can definitely see her doing it again!
Thank you, @TVAshleigh
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