Exclusive: Fitness Trainer Katie Austin Wants to Show Everyone That 'Life Is Worth Living to the Fullest': 'Have Fun!'

Former USC lacrosse player turned fitness instructor Katie Austin is all about being real and genuine with her followers.

"I hope I can teach girls that eating a cheeseburger won’t ruin your life. Eat what you crave in moderation. Balance. Have FUN with your life — and don't take yourself too seriously. You have one body, one life, make it count," the 30-year-old, who is partnering with Amazon Devices to share how she uses Alexa to streamline her mornings and enhance her workouts, exclusively tells Morning Honey about how she wants to inspire others.

Growing up with her mom, Denise Austin, an icon in the fitness world, Katie always leaned toward a healthy and balanced lifestyle.

After her lacrosse career, she became a full-time sports host while teaching fitness classes on the side. Though Katie was inspired by her mom, she always had a passion for helping women fall in love with movement, leading them to live healthier and happier lives — in a realistic way.

"Rather than empowering girls, my goal with my platform is to show them the POWER they already have within themselves through movement and fuel. I love teaching my community how confident, strong and powerful a workout can make you feel. It can change your day around! Through my recipes, I try to teach my audience how cooking healthy can be realistic and delicious. Adding both exercise and good nutrients to your life can make you more positive, give you energy — that’s how I hope to empower," she shares. "My whole goal in life is to reach more women to make them FEEL their best self. I want to show everyone out there life is worth living to the fullest."

"I hope I bring joy to everyone around me! That’s the goal. I want to make working out fun and positive," she adds.

With her mom by her side, Katie has picked up some tips and tricks since she's been in the space almost her whole life. "I got started at a young age, following in my mom's footsteps. My first workout video was when I was 7 years old! I’ve learned to stay true to my method and beliefs. Quick fixes, fads and diets aren’t sustainable. You need realistic and attainable life changes to be consistent," she says.

As for what she's most proud of, she says: "I would say creating my fitness app is a huge one, because it’s created a wonderful sense of community, but I also have LOVED being a Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model. I auditioned for four years in a row, kept trying and finally won the online swim search process. I feel very accomplished with that career highlight because I didn’t give up!"

In the meantime, since Katie knows she only has so many hours in a day, she is loving her partnering with Amazon Devices "because I genuinely use Alexa devices, like my Echo Spot, every day! Having a morning routine is so important to accomplishing your goals," she notes.

"While everyone’s morning routines — big or small — can look different, the main thing is staying consistent. I streamline my mornings with an Alexa Routine that plays a customized alarm, turns on the lights, keeps me on track with daily reminders, and lets me know what’s on my calendar for the day so I can easily schedule in a workout just as I would with a meeting. Once I’ve carved out some time for a workout, I’ll ask Alexa to set timers in between sets or play music depending on my workout. I love a more zen vibe when flowing through my yoga practice and I blast the pump-up music when I’m doing a HIIT workout," she explains.

"I only have 15 minutes of consistency in my days: I wake up, feed my dog, drink a glass of water, review my agenda for the day, and stretch for a few minutes in the morning. With a schedule that changes by the day, my Echo Spot is my lifeline for staying on top of everything I have going on! Plus, as we head into a busy fall and holiday season, Alexa is a must-have for staying ahead of your to-do lists and maximizing efficiency on busy days. I started using Alexa and Echo devices in my morning routine to be more mindful, and haven’t looked back since," she adds. "When I’m feeding my dog Milly in the mornings, I’m always asking Alexa what I have coming up next on my calendar or to-do list, so I can plan out my day. As I go through my day, I ask Alexa to set reminders and add things to my lists, so nothing falls off my radar. When I’m cooking and notice I’m out of an ingredient, I can ask Alexa to add into my grocery list or set multiple cooking timers. Alexa really helps me multitask when I’ve got my hands full!"