Fitness Expertise
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. She reviews the training side of Athletic Lift.
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 how Skylar reviews Athletic Lift. When a guide makes a claim about training, recovery, or fueling a workout, she checks it against what actually works for real people with real schedules, not just what looks good on paper.
Credentials & Experience
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Recipes and guides written by Skylar for Athletic Lift.
26 Cheap Crockpot Dinners That Stretch Your Grocery BudgetOctober 7, 2026
19 Braised Beef Dinners That Fall Apart With a ForkOctober 6, 2026
14 Breads to Serve with SoupOctober 5, 2026
22 Hearty Stews That Simmer Into Something GoodOctober 4, 2026
27 Low-Carb Soups That Are Actually FillingOctober 3, 2026
20 Potato Side Dishes That Go Beyond Basic Mashed PotatoesOctober 2, 2026
21 Meatball Dinners Worth MakingOctober 1, 2026
20 Cheap High-Protein Dinners with Beans and LentilsOctober 1, 2026
16 High-Protein Salmon DinnersSeptember 30, 2026
21 Soup and Sandwich Lunches That Hit the SpotSeptember 30, 2026
20 Holiday Main Dishes That Feed a CrowdSeptember 30, 2026
22 Friendsgiving Appetizers That Disappear Before DinnerSeptember 29, 2026
27 Thanksgiving Sides You Can Make AheadSeptember 28, 2026
23 Easy Stir-Fry Dinners You Can Make in 20 MinutesSeptember 26, 2026
22 Steak Dinners That Feel Restaurant-Worthy at HomeSeptember 25, 2026
28 Fall Baking Ideas Perfect for Crisp Autumn DaysSeptember 25, 2026
25 High-Protein Mediterranean DinnersSeptember 24, 2026
26 Pork Dinners That Make Weeknight Meals EasierSeptember 23, 2026
19 No-Cook High-Protein BreakfastsSeptember 22, 2026
20 High-Protein Toast IdeasSeptember 21, 2026
17 High-Protein Taco Night DinnersSeptember 19, 202624 Football Sunday Dinner Ideas for Game DaySeptember 17, 2026
14 High-Protein Tuna Food IdeasSeptember 16, 2026
16 Butternut Squash Dinners that are Perfect for Fall WeatherSeptember 15, 2026
Skylar Macall 
During my first year of serious training I was lifting 5 days a week on a grocery budget that barely covered chicken and rice. The crockpot is what kept me fed. I’d load it before work with whatever was on sale and come home to a week of protein. I still cook this way. 1) …
Sunday is my rest day, and nothing fits a rest day better than beef braising low in the oven for 3 hours. I get it going after breakfast, take the dog for a long walk, and come back to meat that falls apart with a spoon. The cheaper, tougher cuts are made for this. That’s …
Soup night at my house is really an excuse to bake something. My kids will eat whatever’s in the pot as long as there’s something warm to dunk in it. I keep the soup lean and protein-heavy, so the bread is where I let myself have a little fun. Here’s what’s on rotation. 1) Buttermilk …
On the first cold Saturday of the fall, I put a pot on the stove before I leave for the gym. When I walk back in 2 hours later the whole house smells like dinner, and nothing beats that. Stew is also the easiest way I know to feed a family a serious amount of …
Every year, I pull carbs back for a few weeks while I lean out, and soup is what keeps me sane. A big bowl fills me up, warms me through a cold night and carries more protein than people expect. These are the ones that made the cut in my kitchen. None of them taste …
My plate after a heavy leg day is simple: a big piece of protein and a pile of potatoes. They’re one of the best carbs I know for refueling, and I’m not about to eat them plain every night. These are the sides I rotate so the steak or chicken always has something worth sitting …
Sunday afternoons, after my long lift, I roll a double batch of meatballs while the oven heats up. By Wednesday I’m always glad I did, because dinner is already half made. These are the ways I’ve been serving them lately, from saucy and classic to light enough for a summer night. Pick a sauce and …
I went through a stretch last winter where groceries were eating a bigger chunk of my budget than I wanted to admit. Beans and lentils are what got my protein back on track, and I stopped thinking of them as a side the week I made a real pot of chili with them. A can …
I buy salmon every Sunday and then spend the week trying not to cook it the same way twice. Most weeks it ends up on the grill or a sheet pan, but I’ve gotten a lot braver with bowls, pastas, and even the occasional bagel night after a late session. These are the versions that …
I eat lunch at my desk most weekdays, and for a long time that meant a sad salad that left me hungry again an hour later. What finally fixed it was going back to the soup-and-sandwich combo I grew up on, just built with more protein on purpose. Most of these hold up in a …
Hosting a holiday for 14 people taught me that the main dish is where the stress lives. I used to pick something fussy and spend the whole afternoon babysitting it instead of talking to anyone. Now I go for mains that scale up, hold their heat, and slice clean. Protein first, always. 1) Classic Roast …
Friendsgiving at my place means 10 people showing up hungry at 2pm while the turkey still has 3 hours to go. I learned fast that the appetizer table is what keeps everyone happy until dinner. So it gets real food, not a sad bowl of chips. Protein included. 1) Deviled Eggs Nothing disappears faster at …