Get in shape

How I shaped my body with exercise

Beautiful legs, a toned stomach and a firm bottom: with the right sport you can get your body in shape. Are you wondering how to find a sport that will help you achieve this goal? Then let the story of influencer and personal trainer Lisa Wagner aka Lisa Mary inspire you!

“I can’t imagine a life without sport,” says Lisa Wagner, better known on Instagram as Lisa Mary . The Regensburg resident has been a personal trainer for recreational and professional athletes since 2019 - and is also an enthusiastic ninja athlete. But the 27-year-old's sporting future was uncertain for a long time. The reason: a serious accident. Lisa is now in top shape again. In the interview, the former track and field athlete reveals more about her path to becoming a Ninja Warrior , how she got her body into perfect shape with the help of sport and gives tips on how to find a sport that is fun in the long term.

Lisa Mary aka Lisa Wagner has been passionate about sports since her youth - the former track and field athlete is now an enthusiastic Ninja Warrior and personal trainer.

@© TVNOW / Markus Hertrich

Hi Lisa! You have a fitness trainer license, have completed further training in the areas of functional training and weightlifting, among other things, and became self-employed as a full-time personal trainer in October 2020. Have you always been so passionate about sports?

I have been passionate about sport since I was a child and teenager. I started early and was on a professional track as a track and field athlete. I was particularly enthusiastic about obstacle running and took part in various competitions. Until everything changed.

What do you mean by that?

I was involved in a serious bus crash. For example, I suffered external bruises from this. These wounds have healed again. But the internal injuries remained undetected for a long time. I had cracks in my kidneys, which meant that I constantly had severe bladder and pyelonephritis, which was very painful. This also resulted in water retention in the legs. At the slightest exertion I immediately ran out of breath and no longer felt productive.

Not good conditions for a career in athletics...

No, not at all - that's why I had to give it up. Go abroad after high school and do track and field at a college in the USA or Great Britain? None. Before the accident, I competed, played tennis, and played team sports with my friends. My plan was actually clear: I wanted to become a professional athlete and study sports medicine or sports science.

Instead, it became business law and I did an apprenticeship in a bank because I physically couldn't do it anymore. The accident completely catapulted me out of my life as I had known it up to that point. Ultimately I ended up in the office and was first in a human resources department and then in controlling at a large corporation.

Did this desk job fulfill you?

Don't get me wrong: I liked my colleagues and I also enjoyed the work itself. But the constant sitting was unusual. I also had to conform to other people's ideas, couldn't do my own thing and always felt replaceable. At some point I said: Enough.

What was the consequence?

I first decided on a position as the sports manager of a fitness studio in Regensburg. I was able to train the trainers and also give courses. That's when I realized: I want to fulfill myself in sport. Self-employment was just the right thing for me to be able to do that. At first I was self-employed part-time and after a year I decided to become self-employed full-time. Now I can say clearly: It was the best decision of my life.

I'm glad to hear that. Has sport helped you regenerate?

Definitely, but it was a long, arduous journey that took about five years. That's when I realized: I can no longer handle athletics mentally. Working in the office didn't fulfill me either. Something completely new was needed. That's where Ninja Warrior came into play.

How did you find out about Ninja Warrior?

At the time, when I wasn't feeling well physically, I watched a lot of TV and "stumbled across" the German version of the format. That really impressed me. I happened to see a video of American Ninja Warrior athlete Kacy Catanzaro on Facebook and thought it was just awesome. I followed her directly on Instagram and quickly knew: That's exactly what I want to do. To achieve this goal, I started training like crazy. In 2019 I started getting fit for Ninja Warrior Germany. I was on the show in spring 2020.

Impressive how you fought back! How did you do that?

At first everyone said: “She’ll never be able to do that”. That's because when I started Ninja Warrior I wasn't physically fit at all - I couldn't even do a pull-up. Then a friend gave me a good tip: Get a pull-up bar and hang on it every time you go to the fridge. I did that. My bar hung in the door right in front of the refrigerator and I tried it every time - until I finally managed the first pull-up.

And then it continued. With a lot of practice the ladder to heaven worked. When I did that, something really clicked and I got through all the obstacles. I shared my progress on social media. I wanted to show them that you can do anything if you set your mind to it.

So your body and your training focus have changed because of Ninja Warrior.

Exactly. Because from my point of view, a Ninja Warrior is a martial artist. Consistently athletic and fit from top to bottom. As a runner, my focus during training until my accident was always on my legs and core. Because core stability is very important when running. I was also very slim – just the typical runner’s stature. To be successful as a Ninja Warrior, you need muscle mass, upper body strength, jumping and grip strength and speed.

My body has completely changed as a result of the training - I am now 15 kilograms heavier than when I was in athletics because I have a lot more muscle mass. My legs are actually just shaped differently now because the muscles are distributed differently. For example, I have bigger butt, but my pants still fit me. The biggest change is in my upper body. I can no longer fit into a jacket and instead of being a dress size I now have a size M, previously it was S. It is now much more defined and stronger than before.

Did a trainer accompany you during this transition?

I worked everything out myself. It was clear to me: As soon as I regained a certain level of endurance and strength , I would go through with it and become a Ninja Warrior myself. As soon as I could, I went to the nearest ninja hall with my friend. I had the will to achieve everything in this sport. That meant a lot of “learning by doing”. So just doing what interests me and focusing on my upper body.

How have functional foods like whey supported your physical change and helped you get into shape?

I use protein powder and creatine to give my muscles power** and cover my protein needs. I'm not a big meat eater and I do a lot of sports, so it's important for me to cover my protein needs in this way and protect my muscles with the help of the products***. Personally, I tolerate both plant-based and classic milk-based protein powder.

My tip for anyone who wants to try functional foods to support sports is to simply test different products and see: which one do you tolerate best? If you feel bloated after drinking a protein shake, plant-based products can be a good alternative. I also simply like the products from Dextro Energy*. For these reasons, I use protein powder once or twice a day, creatine once a day and, if necessary and depending on the stress phase , plant protein once or twice a day. I use protein bars as snacks when I get cravings. A healthy alternative to sweets!

How do you best integrate protein powder etc. into your diet?

It is important to me that the products fit my everyday life. If I know I won't be able to eat and I'm just on the run, I can easily take a shake with me and drink it at the same time. Otherwise and when I have more time, I like to bake banana bread with protein powder or add it to my low-fat quark. I try to avoid sugar as much as possible and only use honey as a sweetener if possible.

What tips do you have for anyone who wants to get back into sport after a long break, be it due to an accident or for other reasons, and wants to get their body back in shape with the help of sport?

The most important thing for me is mental strength. My tip is therefore: Don't get too carried away - nothing lasts forever and new doors are constantly opening. Be open to these changes. Also get inspired, for example by following interesting personalities on Instagram. That can really push you. Also dare to try new things. Nothing more than it not working can actually happen.

If you can't do it alone, that's not a failure - find people who support you. These can be friends, but also trainers like me. From a sporting perspective, it is also important to push yourself to your limits and push through if you want to get your body in shape. Too much caution leads nowhere.

Will all of these things help me to “stick with sport” in the long term?

Definitely. And I also advise everyone who wants to do sport seriously and in the long term: listen to yourself. What type of person are you – more of a lone fighter or do you need a date to do sports? If the latter applies to you, find friends or a partner who trains with you regularly. Training in a group creates pressure. Someone will always be motivated to stick with you. Ultimately, it is important that everything suits you personally. Because only if you enjoy training will you achieve your goals and get your body into beautiful shape.

Take this “me time”. Sport also has a huge impact on mental health and gives you strength for everyday life, as working out releases happiness hormones. If you stick with it, you'll just do well in the long term - keep that in mind.

A big thank you for your openness and the pleasant conversation, Lisa – and all the best for your future!

* Smart mix with high protein content, no added sugar (NATURALLY CONTAINS SUGAR).

** Creatine increases physical performance during speed training as part of short-term intensive physical activity (with a daily intake of 3 g).
*** Proteins help maintain muscle mass.
Note: A varied, balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle are important.