Tamara competing at NPC Northwest Championships in Shelton and after interview with Adriana11/28/2018
We are so proud of this powerful lady. She is so inspirational, not only to me but to many in the Fuerte community. It was a long 2 yrs but she made it. It was even longer for her since she lost 100 pounds prior to working with me towards a fitness competition.
These are questions I ask all my people after doing a show just to keep their head right (that can be challenging for most women after competition. Me: What was your background? Started? Family lifestyle? Tamara: I was fat! I grew up in Iowa in rural farm country. Did some activity, but not a lot. No sports for girls were offered at the small school I went to. Only volleyball. I did paly that sport. I was not active nor atheletic. In adulthood it was pretty much the same. I had my son and gained weight, then my daughter and gained weight. I probably weighed about 170 after my daughters birth. I just became pretty sendintary and liked to eat. Eventually I weiged at least 245. my family are all active. I was not. Me: How did you get introduced to fitness as a life style? Making it work with your 9-5pm? Tamara: I watched my mother deteriorate due to a hip injury. I saw her struggle with recovery due to no muscle and a very sedintary lifestyle. I knew I would end up the same way. It broke my heart to see her unhappy like that. I vowed I would not do that to my children nor myself. So, I decided to fix it. I had tried many different methods...none worked for long. Weight loss and then a gain back. So, I knew I had to do something that I would stick to. I did not tell anyone. I just decided on what I knew I would stick to. I downloaded the app My Fitness Pal. I decided to consume 1200 calories a day. I counted and weighed etc. I began this on April 11, 2013. I lost 20 pounds the first month. Then I decided to add a daily walk. I vowed that I would leave my desk/office by 3 each day to walk for a full hour. No later than 4. I did that exact thing. I walked hard and fast. It was my meditation time. I then kept counting and eating right and walking. By August I had lost 50 pounds. My friend, John Croft, began to coach me in weight training in September and by December I had lost 70 pounds total. He recommended I try boxing for a fun and hard cardio as well as toning. I got a heavy bag and hung it in my garage. I would box at least 3 times a week for 6-9 rounds. Burned me up. By the time a year was done, I had lost 100 pounds. I kept lifting and boxing and lost more sizes. No more weight, really. Just tightened up my body. I went from a very tight size 22 jean in 2014 to a very comfy size 6/4 by the time May of 2014 rolled around. Victory. I have kept it all off since then. My body is comfy where it is and I learned how to eat. Me: Why did you decide to invest more (time money and energy ) into your fitness? Tamara: I did not want to end up like my mom. I wanted to live a rich life. Once i lost the weight, I love it even more. I can wear clothes I like...matter of fact, I can wear anything I want now. Bam! And I feel reall;y good. I look better and younger and I am happy with my body. Me: When did you know you wanted to compete? Why? Tamara: In the summer of 2015 a friend of mine, Pam, said I should do a competition. I dismissed it. She kept at me. I began to think about it more. My husband had died that March. I had decided at that point to live every moment of life to the very fullest possible. So, I thought...why not? I looked things up. Studied the process and then contacted Adriana in early 2016 and set up a process to start. My hip became the issue in late 2016 which took me off the competition schedule until this year. Me: What was the hardest thing for you in your prep for the show? What was the most challenges: your food, cardio, the workout the posing, the bikini fitting? Tamara: I loved the entire process. I would say the hardes thing was the posing. I would love to be able to meet and practice this weekly. I love to lift and the eating was not that bad. It was actually harder to eat more food. Sleeping was kind of tough as well, but I got that tackled and slept when my body told me to. Posing was hard. Mostly because I had no way to be coached regularly. Me: What would you do different? Will you do another show? What do you want to remind yourself next time? Tamara: Yes, I will definitely do another show. I will work on the posing. I will find a way to train at that more hands on. I would like to go to a posing clinic. I want to figure out a way to get better and create my own style. I have more time right now and I will find a way to make that a part of my life work. Me: What were the rewards for you in this feat? How did (if so) effect your confidence? Such as your femininity, internal external beauty, your presence on stage and as you walk into a room/street. How was your physic change? Tamara: I felt great after the competition in body and mind. I had worked hard for two years to get to this. Derailed by a hip replacement and was determined not to let that stop me. I felt accomplished and I felt pretty in my body as well. The fact that judges came to me and told me I had great stage presence and attitude and that they would like to see me compete again, meant more to me than anything. I was relaxed once I got on stage. I felt good there and was happy to be there. I feel like the stage presence is not something everyone has. I am fortunate to be that so I feel like the rest, posing, legs, glutes etc. can all be worked on and will only be enhanced by my confidence. I have always been a pretty confident person and more so after losing weight and realizing that I am in fact, an attractive woman. After being this vulnerable on stage and working this hard for a body I want, I feel even better about my body and mind. Me: What was your first treat meal/drink? During your prep did you allow yourself a treat meal during the week? Tamara: My first meal was at the casino after the evening show. I had crab bisque and a steak as well as a martini. They were good. Not great, but good. It was just good to eat some other kind of food. I did not miss too many things. I allowed myself some cheat/treats once in a while. Not a lot. But when I needed it in my head. Me: What did you miss most? Tamara: Nothing in particular. Mostly just the freedom to eat what I wanted. Me: How will you find a middle ground? Between Competition fitness and lifestyle fitness for you! Tamara: I intend on working out regularly. I have for the last 5 years. That will not change. I like the lean look and the fact that I have muscle defiinition. I will continue to work toward a better butt and legs and maintain the body I have now. I intend on competing again, so I plan on working out and eating accordingly. I want to refine my food. I do not like to have my food freedom taken away. I do not overeat or binge. I learned to control my portions and food types long ago. So, I plan on working on making food easier and more freedom while still staying in parameters that will be conducive to body work. I will research, I currently am, and work at prep etc. Working out is a given for me for the rest of my life. i like it. I will find other ways to work out as well. I like variety. Butt and Legs!!! By Shanti G.,
My journey back to health and fitness began in Fall 2014. My kids were 6 and 4, and I had not had a regular fitness routine for years. In my younger days, I was fairly active – dance, softball, soccer, mountain biking, and more. After having children, I struggled to fit in much physical activity. What used to be toned muscles had turned to soft squishiness. Nutrition had taken a total backseat in my life, too. My husband and I got takeout multiple times a week, and when we cooked at home, it was mostly comfort foods like spaghetti, pot pie, lasagna, enchiladas, chili in bread bowls…and of course plenty of wine, and let’s not forget ice cream for dessert multiple nights per week. Well, things reached a head in 2014, when I had grown to my largest non-pregnancy size and weight. Having gone through ups and downs throughout my life, as many people do, I was caught by surprise at the big numbers on the scale and on the clothes tags…I was saddened, but also angry. After limited success with working out on my own at the gym, I thought it was time to try personal training. I had driven by Fuerte a zillion times, since it was in my neighborhood. I was attracted by its warm and intimate setting. One day I finally took a chance and made a personal training appointment. This would turn out to be one of the best decisions I’ve ever made! My first sessions were with Jake, and it was really helpful to re-enter the world of fitness and start to rebuild strength. After a few months, I joined the 12-week semi-private training group led by Adriana. As I wrote in my previous testimonial, I really enjoyed the camaraderie of the small group sessions, and Adriana is just a joy to train with. She kicked our butts, and we loved her for it. The 12-week session really helped me build healthy habits, specifically strength training on a regular basis and tracking food. Adriana measured our body fat, lean mass, and inches on a regular basis, which was really helpful for seeing progress beyond the scale. At first, tracking food was such a chore…but then I started using the MyFitnessPal app and now it’s a breeze. Adriana was super helpful in making suggestions for apps to use and target ratios of calories/carbs/protein/fat, which ended up being key for my personal transformation. I have continued to participate in the semi-private small group training sessions for the past 2 years, and it is one of the most positive experiences of my life. Adriana and the other trainers she has brought in have been exemplars of healthy lifestyles. Adriana also brings together a positive group of clients. I have learned so much from each of these individuals! Over the past year or so, a few of us have banded together to do 10-day, 14-day, and 21-day cleanses, each of which have helped me get unhealthy foods out of my diet and add more healthy eating habits. Thanks to Adriana and this group of women, I have learned so much about nutrition, as well as what my own body needs for strength and wellness. Adriana has also been extremely encouraging of personal goal-setting. One of my first goals was to lose 30 lbs…after about a year, I reached that goal and kept going. Now at 2.5 years after starting my journey with Adriana and Fuerte, I am down 44 lbs and 5 dress sizes. My muscles are in the best shape I can remember, and I feel strong and toned! Everyone I know asks, “What have you been doing to get in shape?” and I answer: diet and exercise! At Adriana’s encouragement, I started setting goals for strength, too. Last year my goal was to do a yoga headstand, which requires lots of core strength, and I did it! Next for me is pull-ups… I am so thankful to have Adriana, Fuerte, and the extended Fuerte family in my life. Here’s to many more years of encouraging each other to live healthy lives. This is Liam, one of our awesome members at Fuerte Fitness! He completed his health and fitness goal of a marathon this past Saturday at the Rock 'n Rock Seattle. His transformation started two years ago, as a seditary non active person and to now! It took dedication, accountability, and disicipline to accomplish what he did. He first started running on his own and then realized he need a little bit of help. Adriana, at Fuerte gave him some stretches and strength training exercise to balance out his body and help tighten his body as he lost more weight. At Fuerte Fitness, we focus on helping our members and clients to set and achieving their goals in health and fitness whether it is a fitness competition, marathon, keeping with up your kids or simply walking around the neighborhood with out huffing and puffing. We are here to help people find ways to make it happen. Liam was ready to change and was commitmented to do what it took. He says, "I have come so far, and I'm thankful to have Fuerte to help me keep going!" said Liam. We are so proud of you and happy to help you achieve your goals! Stay tuned for Liam's next journey.Happy Fuerte anniversary to Anita (me)! I've been at Fuerte Fitness for one year. I actually came as a Groupon member for unlimited classes for a month because my doctor suggested a daily exercise routine. I never redeemed by Groupon until after I saw myself in pictures from an event I went to (the left side). As you can see, underage drinking and a fast food diet was getting to me although I weighed in about 104 pounds. I first took Morgan's flexibility class which I had some one on one time to talk about why I came to Fuerte fitness. I was very unhappy on how I look, lost myself after a harsh break up from my 3 1/2 year old relationship, and simply wanted to find myself. Let me remind you I had not exercise in over 2 years so the next class I jumped into totally kicked my booty! I was so sore and did not want to come back anymore. But I woke up that Saturday morning instead and told myself you paid for it, now do it.
Now after a year, I am one of the lead front desk assistants, competing in my first bikini competition for fitness hopefully next month. I've worked long and hard, this competition is so meaningful for me, I want to show up on stage with the confidence I have built by being here at Fuerte Fitness and to remind myself my commitment to my health and fitness. I am not saying it has been easy, I had to go through some obstacles. The first one was mentally, I had to tell myself "I can do this and that I have to be strong, yet stronger than I imagine". The next was and still is my diet. I either eat too little or too much of what I shouldn't eat. It was hard especially during the process I turned the legal of drinking. They let me enjoy my 21 run and all the fun stuff at that age only to show that my measurements would teach me the lesson of how alcohol affected my body. So far I'm up to 115 pounds, able to push myself to lift heavy from 145 lbs on my squat, bench press at 65 lbs, and leg press 250 lbs. I have cut alcohol out and keep eating clean. It is still hard when your friends order pizza and go out for Wells Wednesday because I am still a college student. Then I have Morgan Anderson my favorite person to give me pep talks to remind me of my goals. Thank you Morgan! Also, I owe a special thank you to Adriana, the proud owner of Fuerte Fitness for creating this community and giving me the opportunity to be on the Fuerte Team. I strive better with a big support from my peeps here at Fuerte Fitness. The Ultimate Plank Off
For weeks here at Fuerte Fitness we had our members participate in our monthly challenge for April. Each class began by doing a simple plank and our members tried to hold it for as long as they could. They brought it together as a community and cheered on each other as they passed their personal goal. By the last week, it was neck and neck and the title of Ultimate Plank Off Winner was between Darrell Martin and Chris Watts. Sometimes we need a little bit of competition or rivalry to get motivated and accomplish goals. Last year Darrell was our winner at 9 minutes for his plank but Chris was getting closer with every try. Chris had a Plank Off journey he went from starting at 4 minutes to slowly holding on for 8 minutes. The last three days Darrell came in to try to dominate the competition with his 12 minutes and 12 seconds plank. At the very last day Chris came in and had the whole gym cheering him on for holding on for 12 minutes and 26 seconds!!! Here at Fuerte Fitness we are full of encouragement and a community. Well luckily for Chris he won some Mariners Tickets for his strong core and dedication to win this plank off! Runner up was Darrell who held it for a time of 12.13.10, third place was Alex at 7minutes and 5 seconds, and fourth place was Nicole who did it for 6.53.01. |
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