Every Wednesday, The Sweaty Guinea Pig will feature a fresh individual who will share his or her thoughts and experiences on fitness and healthy living.

Name: Andy Ni
Age: 24
Location: New York City, NY
Occupation: IT/Strategy Consultant

What is your current routine? How many days do you dedicate to exercising every week?
I work out 2 to 3 times a week with a session of basketball thrown in on Sundays.

How did you come up with your current routine?
My routine is driven by my work schedule.

What are your short term (within 6 weeks) and long term (3 months and beyond) goals?
My 6 week goal is to be able to finish a 5-mile run under 35 minutes. I’m going to be running in a race with some of my friends, and I can’t lose! My long term goal is to strengthen my core muscles and increase my flexibility. I still need to find a measurable long term goal to work towards.

What are other types of training that you’d like to try?
I’m up for anything as long it works. I tried yoga a while back and would like to start that back up again to increase my strength and flexibility.

What is your favorite post-workout meal?
Reggie introduced me to the miracle of non-fat yogurt. I love mixing the yogurt with strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and some granola. The yogurt is a little sour, but the berries sweeten it up, and the granola adds some nice texture. I’ve actually grown to crave this concoction after workouts.

What is your ideal “cheat” meal or favorite guilty indulgence?
I love chicken/lamb and rice from those carts on the streets.

Any advice or words of encouragement for other Sweaty Guinea Pig readers?
Push yourself as hard as you can! Walking around the day after like I just got beat up puts a smile on my face because I know it’s working.