In Focus | Mel Breitkreutz of HIITit.ca

In Focus is our gift to the community. A way for us to help show our recognition for the people, businesses and organizations that help make our city great. The team at KelownaNow.com is passionate about this community and the people that make it amazing. We want to show our friends, neighbours, family and colleagues that we notice them and the fabulous things that they do.

What is your name?
Mel Breitkreutz

What do you always find yourself saying?
“Oh my word”, “you've got this”, and “100 percent!”

If you could spend one whole day with anyone in the world who is currently alive, who would you select?
Richard Branson

If you were to receive any existing public award, what award would you like to win?
Canada's Top 40 Under 40

If you could spend a day with any historical figure, who would you choose and why?
Jesus. I would just love to ask him so many questions.

Who inspires you?
My grandma, Jeanette Wolfer.

What are three things on your bucket list?
1. Go to Fiji.
2. Train a celebrity.
3. Drive a Lamborghini.

If you had an enormous yacht, what would you name it?
I would name my boat "Eldoret". Eldoret is a city in Kenya that I visited when I was 19, and a place that really impacted my views on life and the world. Eldoret taught me so much about being grateful for what we have, living each day to its fullest, and realizing the incredible beauty and amazing people that live outside of our own world. A city, and memory that I will always hold close to my heart.

If you could foresee a single day of your future in its entirety, what date would you select?
Tomorrow!! No further please!!

What are you passionate about?
A lot. Passion runs in my veins - it's how I've always been. To name some of the passions that stand out at this point in my life, I'd definitely say women's health, daily fitness, empowering youth, and encouraging others to follow their passions and use their individual gifts. We each have so much to offer this world, and I believe that if we can do what we love in life, whether for work or a hobby, lives will be impacted for the better.

What has been your favourite day of your life, up to this point?
I smile thinking, of course I'll say "my wedding day", but actually yes, I full hearted truthfully would say "my wedding day". Not that the day itself is what stands out, but more so in hindsight the person I joined forces with that day. My husband Trent has been an incredible example of what it means to be a life-partner and best friend. Having fun with me, standing up for me, believing in me, building me up exactly when I have needed it, and in love speaking truth in to my life when I'm not making the best decisions, being a brat, or just not being the best I can be. Funny as it seems, it is a total gift to have someone in my life who isn't scared to tell me when I mess up. Life is about being better and I definitely know it's a million little lessons that mould us in to being 'the best version of ourselves'. If you've ever met Trent (if you haven't you want to!), he is the real deal through and through. An exceptional human being I admire and thank God for daily.

What has been your proudest accomplishment?
Starting HIITit.ca with my best friend and business partner Chelsea Harrison!!!

Where is your favourite place to dine in Kelowna? What do you like about it?
Yamato Sushi!! Brown rice + salmon sashimi= heavenly bliss.

What is your favourite activity or event in Kelowna? Why?
Tennis, wakeboarding, and SUP'ing. This city has the most phenomenal weather for outdoor sports.

What is the name of your business/organization?
www.HIITit.ca

What does your business/organization do?
We upload daily 12 minute HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) workouts that are emailed out each day at 2:00 a.m. to our subscribers. It's just amazing how 12 minutes of working out can bring such incredible results. I'm so proud of what we do.

Where can people find you or your business online?
www.HIITit.ca

Where can people find your business on Facebook?
HIIT it Kelowna 30 Day Challenges and HIIT Workouts

What is your Twitter account?
@HIITitKelowna

What is your mission?
To help HIITit.ca participants feel confident, alive, healthy, and strong through daily activity.

If you could achieve one thing within your field, what would it be?
To be a program that is known for its participants being successful in improving their health, stamina, strength, and overall desire to be active.

Where do you want your business/organization to be in five years?
To be sending daily workouts to 1000s of participants to every country of the world!

Who do you consider to be a forerunner within your field?
Cory Tout. A mentor to me and absolutely one of Kelowna's best personal trainers.

What three qualities do you feel that your business/organization exemplifies?
Hard working, focused, and passionate about seeing others succeed.

What would you like to say to your employees/volunteers?
Chelsea - there could never be another business partner better than you! What a gift it is to be able to work with you!

How does your business/organization impact the community?
Though we work with 100s of participants, we truly care about each of our subscribers as individual clients. Our goal is to create, healthier, stronger, more confident individuals who can then be stronger, more productive, and happier in other areas of life.

If you were trapped in an elevator with several wealthy investors from any field, which field would you want them to be experts in? What would say to them/talk about?
Marketing! It fascinates me and though there are thousands of ways to get a message out. What an art to know which method is best for your specific message that is going out. Every small business knows you only have so much money and we want to spend it as wisely as possible.

If I could change one thing about Kelowna, it would be:
More inexpensive city-run indoor activity spaces to go with little kids when the weather is crumby.

What do you think makes Kelowna great?
Practically everything!! You may not be able to find a bigger fan of Kelowna than me. I love everything about this city. The hiking, wineries, restaurants, the lake, the views, the people, the laid back feel, and the WEATHER!! There's a reason everyone comes here to holiday - it's the best!!

My nomination for the In Focus spotlight is:
Cory Tout

Some general comments I would like to share are:
If you are new to fitness, wanting to get back at it after a time away, or are just looking for something new to stay in shape, we would love for you to check out our website to learn more first-hand about our 12 minute daily fitness program. It is just incredible how regular activity can boost your energy and mood, help you to feel more confident, in control, healthy, and positive. Building strength and stamina trickles down into so many other aspects of life and the positive health benefits of regular fitness are just beyond amazing. If you are even slightly thinking about checking out this style of working out, do it! You, like hundreds of thousands of others around the world may find HIIT to be a style of working out that you love and HIITit.ca can be your all-access pass to on-going accountability, motivation and ultimately, fitness success.

We encourage you to leave your comments and words of support below, and submit your own nomination by clicking HERE. You are also welcome to submit a form of your own by clicking HERE. Thank you, Kelowna!