This week’s Healthy Her Way feature is someone I’ve followed for years, so I mean it when I say I really am excited to introduce her. When the HealthyWay team discussed women in wellness we wanted to highlight, triathlete Nicole Loher immediately came to mind.
I started following Nicole on Tumblr (yes, Tumblr!) in 2011 or 2012 when she mostly posted outfit pics, because that is what people did on Tumblr in 2011 or 2012. After a while, I stopped using Tumblr and for a few years I didn’t think about the many women I followed on that platform. Fast forward a few years to when a suggested account popped up on my Instagram feed: Nicole Loher!
Now, Nicole—who moved to New York for college and ended up working for companies like Jeffrey Campbell, Nanette Lepore, and NARS—does triathlons (and trains three hours a day to prepare for them), teaches at New York University, is an ambassador for adidas, and holds down an awesome gig as the global digital editor at Christian Louboutin. To say I’m impressed is an understatement, especially because sometimes I need a nap even if I’ve slept in past 9.
Her busy schedule—which starts every day with hip shakes in a mirror at 4:30 a.m.—is a true testament to women’s incredible ability to multitask and get shit done. She trains three hours a day, full-time job and all, which kind of makes her seem like Superwoman. Incredible accomplishments aside, though, she’s admitted that her quest to be the best has had effects on her mental health. In fact, her biggest goal for 2018 is to be kinder to herself (which is probably something we should all work on).
Seeing someone’s struggles makes seeing their highs even more fun. I’ll admit it: Even though I don’t know Nicole personally, when she posted (what may be the cutest photos ever) about her engagement earlier this year, I definitely teared up. Getting those peeks into another person’s life is the most interesting part of social media for me. And thanks to her “go get ’em girl” captions and willingness to open up about things like her social anxiety, her journey to getting fit, and the state of the “fitfluencer” industry, it’s easy to get a picture of who this woman is and how she approaches wellness. Reading real advice, like “what works for me may not work for you,” from a powerhouse athlete is refreshing.
In an age of Photoshopped yoga poses and cult fave workout classes, I’m appreciative of women like Nicole who are out here keeping it real, reminding us that we’re all on a journey and we all have to work to keep going—even triathletes.
A Day in the Life
What does your daily routine look like?
I wake up at 4:30 a.m. every day. Before heading to the gym at 5:20 a.m., I catch up on personal emails and how the markets performed the day prior—I’m very into personal finance. I head to the gym for an hour to lift weights before heading into work at 8 a.m. From there, I head back to the gym at 6 p.m. to catch an evening spin class, hot yoga session, or run and stretch. From there, I go home to rest up and spend time with my fiancé before starting over again.
What are your favorite ways to practice self-care?
I run a lot—part is to keep myself healthy, something that’s very important to me, but a lot of times it’s just to have time to myself to think. I also love a good bubble bath with lavender Epsom salt, face mask, a cup of tea, and a good book.
How do you stay inspired?
My mom and dad. They’re both constantly innovating to make everything around them better and better. It’s wild.
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Loving Lately…
What are the best products you’ve discovered recently?
I’m loving Dermovia vegan, paraben-, cruelty-, chemical-free face masks, cocokind’s new Golden Elixir, [and] Rishi Turmeric Ginger Tea. I found the face mask at a store in my hometown that I’m obsessed with called Cultivated, and the Rishi tea is a recent discovery thanks to my meditation studio, MNDFL, in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.
What are your favorite apps?
On heavy rotation: VSCO and Snapseed for photo editing, Insight Timer for pre-bed meditation, iBooks because I’m never not reading, adidas All Day to keep me endlessly inspired with health, and Spitfire to guide my lifting routines.
Whose Instagram is on your radar?
@chels is an old internet pal of mine (who I actually ran into randomly in the middle of a street in SoHo recently)—she’s an extremely talented graphic designer and has an eye for aesthetic unlike anyone else in our age bracket. She’s also really pretty (girl crush). And I really look up to @jessiezapo, founder of @girlsrunnyc. She has been the number one inspiration for me within the health and wellness realm. She’s so down to earth and warm and is always looking to be better. I also admire @sarah_levey, founder of Y7 yoga studio. She is one of the most driven, badass women I’ve ever known.
What’s your go-to healthy snack?
I love jackfruit. I only had it for the first time when I visited Sri Lanka in January. It’s a fruit that’s a species of the bread family—think fig, mulberry—and native to southwest India. It’s super sweet, and you eat it like a date.
Nicole IRL
If your pet could talk, how would they describe you?
“Too aggressive in the cuddle department, spends way too much time watching Dateline when home, and will eat a whole bowl of steamed broccoli with coconut aminos for dinner in under five minutes while wearing no pants.” —My cat, Lucy
What is your bucket list travel destination?
Tokyo…and space!
What superpower would you like to have?
I wish I could teleport.
What’s your coffee order?
Black iced coffee—no matter the time of year.
To learn more about Nicole, follow her on Instagram.