Who are you, and why do you work with WHE? 

My name is Emily Kritzler, and I am thrilled to be WHE’s Founding Exercise Coach.  As a personal trainer and fitness instructor turned Nurse Practitioner with a Master's in exercise physiology, I’ve spent nearly two decades helping people manage chronic conditions and optimize wellness through movement. 

For my patients, “prescriptions” for physical activity are as common as those for medications.  Because exercise truly is a powerful medicine, improving everything from sleep and mood to metabolic health and longevity. 

What attracted you to WHE?

As someone who genuinely loves exercise (I’m a marathoner and avid skier who took up gymnastics as an adult), I previously struggled to understand those who did not share my enthusiasm for fitness. 

Over the years, however, I’ve learned that while many people appreciate the benefits of exercise, they may not enjoy the process itself–and that’s okay.  What makes WHE unique is its recognition that both can be true; you can dislike exercise and still experience its transformative effects.  Joining WHE allows me to translate the science of motivation to get people moving, at scale!  There is nothing I love more. 

Why is it important that WHE has a human coach?

While I appreciate the conveniences of modern automation (honestly, how did people manage before online bill pay?), we have all experienced the frustration of being caught in an endless loop with a customer service bot–frantically pressing buttons in a desperate attempt to reach a real person.  Human connection lies at the heart of WHE, which is why ensuring access to a human coach is not an optional perk; it is integral to our mission. 

As that coach, my role is to support even the most reluctant exercisers in discovering an approach that aligns with their lifestyle, performance goals, and health history.  The human element allows for nuance–and exercise is full of nuance.  I am here to help navigate the inevitable obstacles of a lifestyle change: an unexpectedly chaotic work week, an injury, or the need to adapt a plan for a specific health condition.  

My aim is to make exercise achievable, rewarding, and meaningful for every hater. 

What is a SMART Goal?

Rather than committing to a vague intention like, “I want to exercise more,” SMART goals provide structure and clarity–essential for sustaining motivation, especially when the business of life threatens to interfere with the best of intentions.  

The acronym SMART stands for:

• Specific: Goals should be clearly defined. For example: “I want to start walking and weightlifting” becomes “Walk 3x & Weighlift 2x per week.”
• Measurable: Progress should be trackable. Instead of “I want to get fit,” try something like: “Walk 20 minutes, 3 times per week.”
• Attainable: Goals should be challenging and realistic. At WHE, we help haters find that sweet spot — a goal that’s motivating but still doable in real life. (emphasis on doable!)
• Relevant: Goals should connect to your broader wellness intentions, whether that’s easing anxiety, improving bone density, building consistency, or supporting weight management.
• Time-bound: Goals need a clear time frame.  How many days per week? For how long? These details matter — and we build them directly into WHE programming.

SMART goals help haters translate good intentions into actionable steps, providing a practical path for real results. 

What's your favorite little-known fact about exercise?

When my alarm goes off for an early morning workout, the one thing that keeps me from hitting snooze—because even exercise coaches have those mornings—is exercise’s impact on life expectancy. A recent review published in The Journal of Aging Research found that physically active individuals live, on average, four years longer than their sedentary counterparts. Even more compelling, regular exercisers are more likely to remain disability-free in their later years. In other words, physical activity not only adds years to your life, it adds life to your years. 

The vision of riding bikes with my grandchildren and playing catch with my great-grandchildren is what ultimately gets me out of bed. Exercise, for me, is not simply about longevity—it’s about maintaining the vitality to fully participate in the moments that make life meaningful.

Tell us about a "hater" you recently coached?

I often think of one participant who joined WHE three months postpartum. After welcoming her first baby, she struggled to find the time and energy for physical activity. Yet, she was motivated by a simple but powerful goal: to be the kind of mom who could keep up with her children on the playground. 

Together, we built SMART goals that fit into the demands of new motherhood: short, at-home strength sessions while her baby napped, stroller walks on days she needed fresh air, and a weekly hike with friends that gave her a sense of connection outside of parenting. 

After twelve weeks, she was physically stronger, sleeping better between nighttime feeds, and felt her postpartum anxiety abating. And although she never fell in love with exercise, she did swoon over the results. Haters like these are what make my role at WHE so rewarding!

Whether you’re an individual curious about whether your healthcare or insurance provider offers We Hate Exercise, or an organization interested in bringing our program to your patients, email us—we’re here to help!

Written by: Emily Kritzler, NP, MS, CNM