Ashley Haag

Ashley Haag

What is your job and its responsibilities?

I am the owner of Ellipse Fitness Third Ward, a boutique functional training gym that offers large group team training, personal training and specialty programming so that you can see results and improve your health and wellness. Working to change lives is one of the best parts about what I do. My job as owner, certified personal trainer and coach is to make sure that my members and clients always look forward to their time at Ellipse and not only receive a great results-proven workout but leave feeling stronger, happier and more fit.

How long have you lived in Milwaukee and what brought you here?

This February is my 8-year anniversary. It’s truly a fairy tale story but here are the cliff notes: This Texas girl (that’s me) went to a wedding in August of ’07, was solo, checked out who I could flirt with and dance with. Saw this guy, I pursued him, danced the night away, made out like teenagers, last to leave wedding. Went to a hole-in-the wall bar, got my butt-kicked in air hockey, sat in his car till 5 am and talked about all of life’s important issues. Left the next day to go home, couldn’t get him out of my head, talked everyday, 6 months later packed up a U-Haul and moved to Milwaukee. BEST DECISION EVER!!

What is your favorite Milwaukee event?

Besides Summerfest, I love downtown dining week. It’s a good thing I love to workout because I love to eat too! If I could order a sampler platter of amazing eats at each restaurant I would. Problem is most sampler dishes are fried foods and that’s something I stay away from. Downtown Dining Week allows me a chance to try new dishes. Side note: One of my favorite things to do is find a few new restaurants to try each month. It makes for a great date night. I always have a running list of new places to try and my favorites on my iPhone.

Seriously might get in trouble for this one… but STOP GRIPING ABOUT THE WEATHER! It’s truly the one thing that drives me crazy. Griping doesn’t change it. I often wonder if it’s because people are bored and have nothing else to talk about. It makes me want to say if you hate it then move! Now granted, I know the winter can take a toll on you (remember I am from Texas…can you say sunshine most of the year) but you have to make a vow to yourself to stay busy and beat the winter doldrums.

What is the most effective way to implement change in Milwaukee?

Be the change you want to see! It’s not a genius or new concept but its so true! I live this in my own life and I coach it everyday at Ellipse. So if you want something bad enough you have to work towards changing it and BE IT! It doesn’t mean you may get the result you want right off the bat but perseverance is key!

What is the perfect thing to do in Milwaukee on a Sunday afternoon?

Brunch and Bloody Marys! I am a huge Bloody Mary fan and Milwaukee’s are the BEST! Where else can you get two drinks at one time and it gets called a chaser? In fact, I forget how awesome our Bloody Marys are and then I travel and I order one and am always disappointed. No one serves a meal in a glass like good ole Milwaukee! (I know the next question would be where is your fave? EASY! The Knick’s Queen Mary with an added blue cheese stuffed olive)