Fit Couples 2024 | Jennifer Daniel and Robert Daniel

---

Their Story 

Jennifer and Robert met through mutual friends and love going out for a nice dinner or grabbing drinks with friends. 

Family Matters 

They have been together for 13 years and have a four-year-old daughter named Farrah. 

How They Stay Fit 

Both Jennifer and Robert enjoy weightlifting, with a focus on bodybuilding. They receive coaching from Cindy and Chris Caudy at Next Level Training here in Memphis and love training at Memphis Judo and Jiu Jitsu and Memphis Fitness Kickboxing. 

Fitness As A Couple 

Jennifer and Robert enjoy similar types of exercise but have found doing their workouts independently is best for them. While they do not perform the same workouts, they share the same coaches, and love to hold each other accountable and celebrate their individual successes through positive check-ins. 

How They Inspire Each Other To Prioritize Wellness 

Robert says, “As a bodybuilder, it is very important to have a support system that truly understands all the work that goes into it, and Jennifer gets it. She sees the importance of meal prep, not missing a weightlifting session, and making time for morning cardio. It would be virtually impossible to be successful in the physique game with a spouse pulling you in the opposite direction of what you’re trying to do.” 

Likewise, Jennifer says Robert has been a huge part of her fitness journey. “Robert is extremely supportive, especially with my travel schedule, ensuring I have time to get my workouts in. He celebrates my wins, big or small, and compliments the progress he sees me make towards my goals.” 

Greatest Strengths 

Jennifer recognizes Robert’s self-discipline as his greatest strength. He always sticks to his plan, from training to diet and nutrition. Robert sees Jennifer’s greatest strength as the balance she finds in meeting her fitness goals while working and being an amazing mother. 

Proudest Fitness Accomplishments 

Robert has won national championships in cheerleading and Sumo wrestling — years apart and totally unrelated from one another! Now, he is working on his third bodybuilding competition. For Jennifer, when she started working on her strength, a primary goal for her was to achieve unassisted pull-ups. Once she accomplished that goal, she found it to be a major milestone in her journey. 

Best Wellness Advice 

Jennifer recognizes that women can be very hard on themselves and hold themselves to impossible expectations. Her best advice is to work hard, do your best, even if it isn’t perfect, and recognize how you showed up for yourself that day. She’s also found it incredibly beneficial to have someone who holds her accountable to her goals. “Having a trainer that was able to truly help me as an individual through IVF, pregnancy, and other life events and still hold me accountable through check-ins was a game changer for me.” 

Robert advises you to remain energetic toward your goals even when enthusiasm may wane. “Discipline is superior to motivation; you can build it by daily making yourself do little things you otherwise wouldn’t want to do, like making the bed or eating your vegetables first.” 

Fitness Goals 

Jennifer’s main goals for 2024 are to improve her body composition through exercise and nutrition and increase her flexibility. Robert’s overall goal for the year is to win the Masters Over 50 Class at the Memphis Bodybuilding Championships on May 11. 

By Zoe Harrison 

Photo by Tindall Stephens