Fitness Model Interview:Natasha Pharis |
The Interview: 1. What's your background? How did you get started in the fitness industry? At the age of five, I became a "mascot" cheerleader for the local high school team. I was involved in cheerleading and dance ever since (when a team was available of course). In junior high through high school, I played basketball and ran track as well as cheered on the varsity cheer team. It wasn't until high school that I actually started lifting weights because our coach made us. But shortly thereafter, I found a love for it, and have been lifting ever since. In college, I became our co-ed dorm "trainer". There was this one time in college, I had just finished working out and was going through our dorm lobby and everyone started getting excited and yelling at me trying to tell me something. They had seen a Fitness America Competition on television and told me that it looked like something I would do. I just smiled and walked away, because I knew I would someday! A few years later, while working at a local gym in a different state, I overheard someone talking about an obstacle course competition. Soon thereafter, I went to my first as a spectator. That same year, I flew over three states to participate in my first fitness competition and have been hooked ever since.
I feel my biggest fitness-related accomplishment has been the ability to help and inspire others to get in shape.
My full time job is a retail store manager. At times, it is really hard to fit in a work-out schedule, especially during the Christmas season. Anybody who has ever been shopping the day after Thanksgiving or worked retail knows there's a lot to prepare for. I find myself working around 70+ hours a week. Thank goodness, this time of the year is off season for me. One thing I am working on during my off season is my first ever fitness routine. I am also getting a website together, which should be up within the week. Check it out!!! www.natashapharis.com
My immediate and long-term goals consist of mastering a flawless and energetic fitness routine and of course win a title.
A typical day for me (during season) - I get up at 5:00 a.m to go to the gym, where I do cardio for at least one hour. I then get ready for work, and work at least 9 hours, and then I go back to the gym and do a figure enhancing workout, which consists of push-ups, pull-ups, and a few weights. I will also start training on my fitness routine this year. If I am lucky, I will be able to go to bed around 10 or 11.
My typical training diet consists of tuna fish, chicken, a lot of protein, spinach, egg whites, and moderation of carbs. I never kill out the carbs, because that is what gives me energy.
My training routine essentially is a cycle of pull-ups, push-ups, dips, step-ups, lunges, and of course a little ab work. For cardio and legs, I either do sprints, bleachers, or the treadmill with an incline of 15 for about 45 minutes. I ALWAYS wear a heart rate monitor. That enables me to know exactly what I am doing and keeps me from being able to cheat.
I currently don't use any supplements. Although during season, I incorporate flax seed oil into my diet.
I motivate myself to stay in shape by surfing the web and keeping tabs on who's doing what and how they look. I also keep in contact with a few competitors and talk about what's going on as well and new training ideas and techniques that are working for them.
A few of my favorite fitness and health related web sites are www.planetphysique.com and www.fitnessamerica.com these sites allow me to see who is on top of the game and what I need to look forward to.
One of the tips I give to someone getting started in the fitness field, is to determine what your goal is and stay focused on it. No matter what, give it 110% - that way you can't look back and say, if I would have done this. Also, when starting out, it's still a learning process. Take as much help and ask as many questions as you can. Learn from what you are doing, and if at all possible, talk to the judges or fellow competitors and find out what you can possibly improve on. There is always something you can improve on.
When someone asks me this, I always reply with doing cardio and wearing a heart rate monitor to see what level you are training at. Also, I mention their diet. It doesn't do a lot of good to train in the gym and then binge out when you get home. Your diet is 80% of your training.
One thing that differentiates me from other competitors is the fact that my job is not fitness related and I work about 45-75 hours a week (depending on what season it is). So, my training and discipline has to be more strict, because I don't have a lot of time to live at the gym.
I am looking for sponsorship from local or national corporations. If you have any questions or just want to chat, don't hesitate to write NITBLE@cox-internet.com or check out my new website www.natashapharis.com.
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