88 oxygenmag.com
CALLING ALL
FIT WOMEN
Think you have
what it takes?
Send your story to
futureoffi tness
@oxygenmag.com.Future of fi
tness
Adrenaline rush: Basketball was Melissa
Klave’s passion. She made the varsity team as a
freshman in high school and became an all-area
athlete. “After high school, I was in search of a
new goal,” she says. “I began running half mara-
thons in search of the adrenaline rush. Once I
did a couple, I needed something more. I began
working out at a CrossFit gym and became
addicted to the competitive atmosphere.”Hard work: “My favorite move is a snatch.
The most rewarding things in life are the
things that don’t come easy, and this move has
been anything but easy to perfect,” she says.
Klave spreads her training out through the
day. “I lift weights six days a week with two
20-minute HIIT cardio sessions a day — my
fi rst one is at 5 a.m., and it’s fasted to help with
fat loss, and my second one is at the end of the
day after all my meals have been fi nished. I lift
in the middle of the day,” she explains.Obstacle race: When asked if she had
to overcome obstacles to her fi tness, Klave
says, “I don’t know anyone who was able to
reach their fi tness peak without overcoming
obstacles. There will be days where you physi-
cally can’t get out of bed due to your workout
the day before, and there will be days where
you mentally quit because you have reached
your limit. These are the days you look back
on when you reach your goal and can say it
was worth it.”Melissa Klave
Troy, Michigan
Stats: 29 • 115 lb • 5’2”
Gig: Doctor of ChiropracticBuild up: Karey Northington has been an
athlete since she was young — she was a soc-
cer player and medaled as a track athlete in
the state championship — but she immersed
herself in bodybuilding to help build back her
self-esteem that was shattered in adulthood.
She is now a gym owner with her husband
and is also an IFBB Bikini pro.Foodie: Although she is a fan of frozen
yogurt and Oreo cookies, she saves those
treats for the weekend. During the week,
her diet stays very clean. “I prep on Sundays
for the week. My go-to foods to prep are
ground turkey, grilled chicken and steak,
roasted sweet potatoes, hard-boiled eggs and
spaghetti squash,” she explains. “My meal
choices include homemade chipotle bowls
with chicken or steak, rice, guacamole, Greek
yogurt and pico de gallo.” Frittatas and mini
quiches are also in her rotation.Why not: Sometimes it’s hard to stay
focused and motivated, and Northington’s
best advice is to “remember your ‘why.’ I keep
a list of all the reasons — big and small. I want
to live a healthy lifestyle, and when I’m feeling
unmotivated, I read from the list. Some weeks,
I’m reading the list hourly,” she says. She also
fi nds motivation from her mom. “She is my
role model. She passed away when I was in
middle school but was a shining example of
hard work, ethics, love and kindness. I strive to
emulate her light and loving personality.”Karey Northington
Gilbert, Arizona
Stats: 35 • 132 lb • 5’6”
Gig: Business ownerMeet 5
women
who’ve
got the fi tfactor.
fi t factor INSPIRATION
Photo by James Patrick Photography / Photo by Scott Sprague