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Skylar Macall

Fitness Expertise

Skylar Macall, NASM-CPT

NASM Certified Personal Trainer · Athletic Lift

Skylar Macall is an online fitness coach based in Utah, a NASM Certified Personal Trainer, and a High Fitness instructor. Before coaching, she played rugby for a Division I college program, where she learned that showing up consistently, in the gym and in the kitchen, beats any short term fix. On Athletic Lift she writes recipes and meal ideas and makes the videos in them.

I’ve lost more than 55 pounds twice, once on my postpartum journey. I don’t coach anything I haven’t lived myself.

That experience shapes what Skylar writes for Athletic Lift: food that fits a training week and a real schedule, not just what looks good on paper.

Credentials & Experience

NASM-CPT
Certified Personal Trainer
High Fitness
Certified Instructor
Division I Rugby
Collegiate Athlete
55+ lbs Lost, Twice
Personal Transformation

Articles by Skylar

Recipes and guides written by Skylar for Athletic Lift.

Latest

Little Hands, Big Christmas Fun! Treats Kids Will LoveSnacks & SidesLittle Hands, Big Christmas Fun! Treats Kids Will LoveLast December my nephew asked why the guy who talks about protein all day was the one frosting cookies at 9pm. Fair...October 27, 202625 High-Protein Thanksgiving Leftover IdeasDinner25 High-Protein Thanksgiving Leftover IdeasThe Friday after Thanksgiving, I’m usually back in the gym by 9am and staring into a fridge full of turkey by noon....October 27, 2026Thanksgiving Snack BoardsSnacks & SidesThanksgiving Snack BoardsMy job on Thanksgiving is the snack board, because nobody trusts me near the turkey anymore. I start building it while the...October 19, 2026

All Articles

Thanksgiving Morning BreakfastsBreakfastThanksgiving Morning BreakfastsThanksgiving morning I’m out the door early for a turkey trot, and I come back starving with a long day of cooking...October 17, 2026Christmas CookiesDessertsChristmas CookiesEvery time the holiday season rolls around, I give myself a pass on tracking macros for a single afternoon, and that afternoon...October 16, 2026Winter CasserolesDinnerWinter CasserolesIn January my meal prep gets simpler. I build 1 big casserole on Sunday, cut it into squares, and that’s dinner for...October 14, 2026Winter Crockpot DinnersSoups & Slow CookerWinter Crockpot DinnersSunday is my long training day, and I’m not cooking much after it. So the slow cooker gets loaded at 8am and...October 13, 2026Winter SoupsSoups & Slow CookerWinter SoupsIn the winter I’m walking out of the gym at 6am while it’s still dark and about 20°F. That’s the week I...October 10, 2026Cheap Crockpot DinnersSoups & Slow CookerCheap Crockpot DinnersDuring my first year of serious training I was lifting 5 days a week on a grocery budget that barely covered chicken...October 7, 2026Braised Beef DinnersSoups & Slow CookerBraised Beef DinnersSunday is my rest day, and I often spend it braising beef low in the oven for 3 hours. I get it...October 6, 2026Breads to Serve With SoupSnacks & SidesBreads to Serve With SoupOn soup night at my house, I usually bake bread too. My kids will eat whatever’s in the pot as long as...October 5, 2026Meatball DinnersDinnerMeatball DinnersSunday afternoons, after my long lift, I roll a double batch of meatballs while the oven heats up. By Wednesday I’m always...October 1, 2026Cheap High-Protein Dinners With Beans and LentilsDinnerCheap High-Protein Dinners With Beans and LentilsI went through a stretch last winter where groceries were eating a bigger chunk of my budget than I wanted to admit....October 1, 2026High-Protein Salmon DinnersDinnerHigh-Protein Salmon DinnersI buy salmon every Sunday and then spend the week trying not to cook it the same way twice. Most weeks it...September 30, 2026Soup and Sandwich Pairings for LunchLunch & Meal PrepSoup and Sandwich Pairings for LunchI eat lunch at my desk most weekdays, and for a long time that meant a small salad that left me hungry...September 30, 2026Holiday Main DishesDinnerHoliday Main DishesHosting a holiday for 14 people taught me that the main dish causes the most stress. I used to pick something fussy...September 30, 2026Make-Ahead Thanksgiving SidesSnacks & SidesMake-Ahead Thanksgiving SidesEvery year I make the side dishes, and I also want to fit in a workout before anyone shows up. So I...September 28, 2026Steak DinnersDinnerSteak DinnersI like a good steak at the end of a long training week. I keep a few cuts in the freezer so...September 25, 2026Pork DinnersDinnerPork DinnersI cook pork when I want a special dinner without standing at the stove all night. A shoulder or a tenderloin needs...September 23, 2026High-Protein Toast IdeasBreakfastHigh-Protein Toast IdeasI train early, so breakfast usually happens with one hand while the other is still hunting for my keys. Toast works for...September 21, 2026High-Protein Taco Night DinnersDinnerHigh-Protein Taco Night DinnersTaco night started this list, but it never stays just tacos at my house. Fajitas, a few bowls, and a pot of...September 19, 2026Football Sunday DinnersDinnerFootball Sunday DinnersFootball Sunday in my house means the game’s on and people are hungry for hours, not minutes. I’ve learned to cook for...September 17, 2026High-Protein Tuna RecipesLunch & Meal PrepHigh-Protein Tuna RecipesCanned tuna has been in my gym bag and my pantry since I started training, and it’s still one of the cheapest...September 16, 2026Halloween Dinner IdeasDinnerHalloween Dinner IdeasHalloween in my house means kids too wired to sit still and me still trying to get a real dinner in before...September 12, 2026High-Protein Crockpot Chicken DinnersSoups & Slow CookerHigh-Protein Crockpot Chicken DinnersI bought my crockpot for one reason, which was to stop cooking chicken at 9pm after a late lift. Now I load...September 10, 2026Fall Breakfast IdeasBreakfastFall Breakfast IdeasThe first cold morning of the year I stop rushing breakfast. I pull out the good pan, put something in the oven,...September 9, 2026Fall Snack Boards and CharcuterieSnacks & SidesFall Snack Boards and CharcuterieEvery fall people gather around my kitchen island before dinner is ready. I started building bigger boards just to keep hands busy...September 8, 2026Halloween Treats for KidsDessertsHalloween Treats for KidsEvery October I make Halloween treats with my kids. We spend the last weekend before Halloween making treats that are simple to...September 6, 2026Fall SoupsSoups & Slow CookerFall SoupsOn the first cold morning of the year, I pull out the big pot and use it until spring. Soup gives me...September 3, 2026High-Protein Soups and StewsSoups & Slow CookerHigh-Protein Soups and StewsI cook a big pot of something on Sunday and my whole family finishes it. Soup and stew are where I get...August 23, 2026Fall Crockpot DinnersSoups & Slow CookerFall Crockpot DinnersBy October I am training in the dark on both ends of the day, and I want dinner waiting when I get...August 17, 2026School Night DinnersDinnerSchool Night DinnersBetween practice, homework, and whatever else got scheduled without asking me, most of our weeknights leave about 30 minutes for dinner. I...August 12, 2026Cheap High-Protein Meal Prep IdeasLunch & Meal PrepCheap High-Protein Meal Prep IdeasProtein does not have to be the most expensive thing in your cart. Eggs, beans, ground turkey, canned tuna and pork shoulder...August 4, 2026Crockpot Dinners for Hot DaysSoups & Slow CookerCrockpot Dinners for Hot DaysWhen it reaches ninety degrees outside, you don’t want to be baking in the kitchen. That is what slow cookers are for....July 10, 2026Make-Ahead High-Protein BreakfastsBreakfastMake-Ahead High-Protein BreakfastsThese high-protein breakfasts can be prepped in batches and stored in the fridge, and they reheat or can be eaten quickly. A...June 22, 2026Cheap High-Protein LunchesLunch & Meal PrepCheap High-Protein LunchesWhen trying to get your protein intake on a budget, it is mostly about cheap staples that get the job done. Canned...June 21, 2026High-Protein Sheet Pan DinnersDinnerHigh-Protein Sheet Pan DinnersSheet pan dinners are simple to make and clean up. All you need to do is grab a tray, add a protein,...June 18, 2026Dump-and-Go Crockpot DinnersSoups & Slow CookerDump-and-Go Crockpot DinnersOn busy evenings, dump-and-go crockpot dinners save time. You put in the ingredients, set the dial, and let the dinner finish cooking...June 16, 2026High-Protein Keto MealsDinnerHigh-Protein Keto MealsOn a high-protein keto diet, eating the same things every day gets repetitive. These meals are designed to fit into your real...June 13, 2026High-Protein Dinners for Under $3 a ServingDinnerHigh-Protein Dinners for Under $3 a ServingIf your grocery bill has been high, these meals can help. These meals focus on cheap protein staples like beans, eggs, chicken,...June 11, 2026Low-Carb DinnersDinnerLow-Carb DinnersMany low-carb dinners can be quite boring as well as being a compromise on the quality of your meal. This list considers...June 6, 2026Freezer Meals for Busy FamiliesLunch & Meal PrepFreezer Meals for Busy FamiliesFreezer meals keep busy family dinners simple. You cook once and eat two to five times, without extra dishes on a weeknight....May 29, 2026One-Pan Sheet Pan DinnersDinnerOne-Pan Sheet Pan DinnersSome evenings you may feel like going all out in the kitchen with some elaborate meal prep. Then some evenings you just...May 18, 2026One-Pot Chicken DinnersDinnerOne-Pot Chicken DinnersWeeknights are busy, so dinner needs to be simple. These one-pot chicken dinners keep dishes to a minimum, with options for picky...May 18, 2026Meal Prep Lunches That Don’t Get SoggyLunch & Meal PrepMeal Prep Lunches That Don’t Get SoggyMeal prepping is supposed to make lunch simpler. Keeping food fresh and neat is a good way to bring a meal to...May 14, 2026High-Protein Snacks Between MealsSnacks & SidesHigh-Protein Snacks Between MealsMany people get hungry between meals. A high-protein snack is a good choice, as they tend to keep you full longer than...May 1, 2026Lunch & Meal PrepGreek Chicken Pita PocketsEach pocket is built from five parts: lemon and oregano chicken, a warm whole wheat pita, tzatziki, crumbled feta and raw vegetables....April 24, 2026High-Protein Meal Prep DinnersLunch & Meal PrepHigh-Protein Meal Prep DinnersMeal prep dinners help you avoid takeout and make weeknights less stressful. Good meal prep dinners keep well in the fridge and...April 6, 2026DinnerCreamy Lemon Chicken and DumplingsThis is a bowl of soft chicken pieces in a warm, creamy broth flavored with lemon. This recipe for Lemony Creamy Chicken...March 9, 2026

Author

Skylar Macall

 

Skylar Macall is an online fitness coach based in Utah, a NASM Certified Personal Trainer (NASM-CPT), and a High Fitness certified instructor. A former Division I rugby player, she writes recipes and meal ideas on Athletic Lift and makes the videos in them.

Articles by Skylar Macall

Snacks & Sides

Thanksgiving Snack Boards

My job on Thanksgiving is the snack board, because nobody trusts me near the turkey anymore. I start building it while the...

Breakfast

Thanksgiving Morning Breakfasts

Thanksgiving morning I’m out the door early for a turkey trot, and I come back starving with a long day of cooking...

Desserts

Christmas Cookies

Every time the holiday season rolls around, I give myself a pass on tracking macros for a single afternoon, and that afternoon...

Dinner

Winter Casseroles

In January my meal prep gets simpler. I build 1 big casserole on Sunday, cut it into squares, and that’s dinner for...

Soups & Slow Cooker

Winter Crockpot Dinners

Sunday is my long training day, and I’m not cooking much after it. So the slow cooker gets loaded at 8am and...

Soups & Slow Cooker

Winter Soups

In the winter I’m walking out of the gym at 6am while it’s still dark and about 20°F. That’s the week I...

Soups & Slow Cooker

Cheap Crockpot Dinners

During my first year of serious training I was lifting 5 days a week on a grocery budget that barely covered chicken...

Soups & Slow Cooker

Braised Beef Dinners

Sunday is my rest day, and I often spend it braising beef low in the oven for 3 hours. I get it...

Snacks & Sides

Breads to Serve With Soup

On soup night at my house, I usually bake bread too. My kids will eat whatever’s in the pot as long as...

Dinner

Meatball Dinners

Sunday afternoons, after my long lift, I roll a double batch of meatballs while the oven heats up. By Wednesday I’m always...