Growing up,
I was involved in sports year round. Swimming, track, speedskating, to
name a few. Varsity athlete grades 9-12. Track was by far my favorite
sport. I loved practices, especially challenging ones!
After
attending community college for a few years, I decided to join the
Marine Corps. There, my job was Military Police, very physically
demanding. While in the Corps, I was introduced to strength training.
I had always been very good at cardio, and now I was given something new
to excel at!
I started
lifting seriously in 2003. When I returned home, I decided that I wanted
to become a personal trainer. So, I started training at a local gym.
One of the other trainers asked me if I had ever thought about doing a
fitness/figure show. I had no idea what that was! So, we went to a
local show to watch. I was struck by how muscular, beautiful, feminine,
and strong the women up on the stage were! I decided that I would train
for a show!
I started
training very intensely, lifting heavy, and interval training for
cardio. I also attended Jen Hendershot's Phat Camp. I met a lot of
wonderful ladies there. And learned a few things about workouts, posing
and nutrition.
My first
show was the NANBF Natural Mr/Ms Minnesota show. To be honest, I almost
left after seeing the other girls there! My friend made me stay, and I
ended up winning the tall class of 8 competitors! Everyone there was so
nice, and the athletes were treated so well! I was hooked! I
competed
in one more show that summer, then decided to take some time off to
focus on building some more muscle!
Tara A Thatcher (center)
After my shows, I decided that I needed someone to help me with my
workouts and diet. So I hired a personal trainer. Aaron Callister (
WNBF Bodybuilding pro and NANBF show promoter). I managed to put on
some muscle, and found it much easier with some added help!
I decided that after such a positive experience, that I would enter the
2007 NANBF Natural Mr/Ms Minnesota show. This year it was a
Pro-Qualifier, so there was an added bonus! That really motivated me to
train and diet hard! The show was larger than the previous year. My
personal goal is to improve my physique for every show that I do. I
felt confident that my physique was more muscular than last year.
All the hard lifting and
dieting paid off! I won the tall class again. I did not take the
overall. The woman who did, Kate Anderson, was very deserving and
looked AMAZING. Such a sweet lady. I am qualified to compete in the
Natural USA's! So you better believe that I am back in the gym with a
vengeance! I am training as hard as I can to come in better and leaner
at my next show!
I
plan to compete at the Natural USA's in October. I would also like to
do some
fitness modeling. I recently did a few photo shoots, and am
really pleased with my pictures. Ultimately, I want my WNBF Figure Pro
Card. Being on the cover of Oxygen magazine is also a goal of mine. I
would love to be sponsored by a reputable
supplement/fitness company. I
believe that with hard work, determination, motivation, and a great
humble attitude, anything is possible!
I am a drug-free, natural athlete! That is the only way
to go. God has given us one body. Why poison it with steroids, and
quick fix drugs? How about good old-fashioned hard work! I am so
blessed to be strong and whole. I remember those who overcome physical
limitations, and I have no excuse!
I have amazing family and friends who form my support network. Without
them, I could not do this!
My favorite
exercise would have to be squats! I love an exercise where I can feel
every muscle in my body working together!
My favorite body part to train is back. It is strong, and I love how I
feel when I get a great pump!
My training philosophy is: Put everything you have into it, so when you
walk away you have nothing left to give. Then you will have no
regrets.
I love to be outdoors. Definitely a tomboy! I have ridden horses since I
could walk. I love to run with my dogs. I like water-skiing, snow
skiing, anything physical outdoors. I love to relax in the sun with a
good book. I love to travel, and have been to Sri Lanka and England
recently. And most of all, I enjoy spending time with the people that
matter the most to me.
I
plan to compete at the Natural USA's in October. I would also like to
do some 