Competitor Spotlight time again! This time, meet Tara Danielle. She’s a new NPC Figure Competitor and prior NPC Bikini Competitor. She trains all over the place, but mostly at the gyms at work and our local Gold’s Gym.
Weight In-Season: 135
Weight Off-Season: 150
What got me started in health & fitness?
I grew up playing sports so health and fitness has always been something I’ve been interested in. It wasn’t until I joined the Police Department 15 years ago that I realized just how important my health and fitness was. In my line of work, you have to be able to handle yourself, to protect yourself and others. That’s the job. Being physically fit and following a proper nutrition plan also helps to combat stress. Seeing first-hand what stress, lack of proper nutrition and exercise, and poor sleep habits will do to your body, I made it my mission to make fitness/nutrition educational and training opportunities available to First Responders.
My passion is to show others that the only obstacles we face in life are the ones we set for ourselves. Reach for the stars and don’t be content to settle for average. Find your passion and go after with fire in your soul.
What prompted me to want to step on stage?
I thrive on challenge and pushing myself outside of my comfort zone. I had always been a runner and soccer player. I’ve run half-marathons and full marathons and was looking for something new, something totally different to force me to learn and grow. I had a co-worker that competed and I thought “I should try that, it looks hard!” And stepping on stage was DEFINITELY outside of my comfort zone! I also wasn’t seeing results anymore with straight running. I knew I needed to add strength training into my routine but needed a push to make that happen. So I found a coach who walked me through the whole prep. I fell so much in love with the process!
First Show: Max Muscle November 2015 and competed 3 times since then
Going to compete again: Max Muscle November 2017, taking some time off to build mass!
Favorite body part to train: Do I have to pick just one? I love training hard in general! I love working legs because it’s a big muscle group and they can take an intense workout. I also enjoy working back and shoulders because those workouts make me feel strong and powerful.
Favorite exercises:
For legs, right now my favorites are reverse hack squats and Bulgarian Split Squats. They burn…and I like that!
For shoulders, my favorites right now are upright rows and a superset of dumbbell and barbell military press….oh, and landmine presses…love those!
For back, I love t-bar rows, cable rows, barbell deadlifts and rack pulls.
Playlist while working out:
Yes, I like an eclectic mix…everything from Eminem to Metallica, from Rob Zombie to Ludacris, from Journey to LL Cool J!
Favorite Cheat Meal: Burger and fries, no doubt!
Favorite clean meal recipe: While I’m not on prep, my favorite clean eating recipe is plain Greek yogurt with a half scoop of Chocolate Peanut Butter MaxPro and a cup of berries mixed in. So good, satisfies my sweet tooth, and good protein!
Strong Support System?
I have a great support system in place that starts with my husband. He’s very focused on health and fitness, as well, so he understands my need for support and encouragement. He pushes me out of bed at 4am to do fast-cardio when I don’t want to get up. He knows I’d regret it later! I also consider myself very lucky to have a great support system of coaches and friends through my team. Being a part of this team made a world of difference in my last prep. Being surrounded by positive, focused, disciplined, like-minded people who’ve been there and know what you’re going through is invaluable. I’ve made some very close friends through this journey, and I’m thankful for the opportunity to be a part of it!
What do I do for a living? And how does training fit in?
I work in law enforcement, high stress, fast-paced, ever-evolving. In order to get all of my workouts in each day, I get out of bed at 4am and am at the gym by 4:30 for fasted cardio. I used to hate getting out of bed that early but now when I don’t, I miss it. I feel like I get so much more done during the day when I start off with a workout. After work, I get in a lifting session before going to pick up the kids. Depending on my work schedule and the kids’ activity schedule (they both play soccer and I coach one of their teams), I will get up earlier to do both workouts in the morning or plan to lift after the kids go to bed in the evening. It definitely takes a lot of determination, dedication, and juggling to make sure that I get everything in each day. But I wouldn’t have it any other way. I’m teaching my children about self-discipline, motivation, work ethic, and goals.
How to connect with me?
People can connect with me on IG @lifefitforce