Welcome NPC Figure Competitor, Dana Peterkin to this week’s Competitor Spotlight!
Where do you train?: Freedom Center – Manassas, VA
Weight On Season: 142 – Stage Weight
Weight Off Season: 150-152
Association(s): NPC
What got you started in health and fitness?: Throughout high school and into my twenties an early thirties, I was very active. I was a high jumper, I played softball, basketball, volleyball and flag football and lifted weights consistently. Once I met my husband, I let a lot of my activities go to. Prior to getting pregnant with my son in 2011, I had ballooned up to 208lbs. I had pre-eclampsia with him and had my labor induced, I ended up having a blood infection possibly for being in labor for 3 days. That infection spread into both my uterus and heart. They sent my son home after 3 days, and I was forced to stay in the hospital for 2 weeks to contain the infection. Once released I very sick and weak, I had an IV inserted all the way to my heart, I was told that I would likely have to have my heart valve replaced and that I would be on blood thinners for the rest of my life. I was also told that I would not be able to have children because of the medications and the stress on my heart. Six months later I was bit by a tick and contracted Lyme disease. After several months of treating the Lyme disease, I finally was free of the Lyme disease, and my heart valve damage was almost non-existent. On top of that I found out that I was pregnant. Unfortunately, I lost that child at 14 weeks, and slipped into this pit of despair, I was desperate to have another child. Over the next 2 years I had 2 more miscarriages and gained more weight with every one. By July of 2014, my husband and I decided that we were going to try Invitro Fertilization, and if that didn’t work we would just look into adoption. We did all of the prep work and were scheduled for our egg retrieval, but it turns out that I was already pregnant. This pregnancy was also full of complications, and I developed Gestational diabetes. In April 2015, I gave birth to my daughter, however my gestational diabetes didn’t go away and my blood pressure was on the rise. It was that time that I decided to change my life, to be there for my husband and my kids but mostly for myself. So I started tracking my food with MyFitnessPal and working out with a trainer.
What prompted you to want to step on stage? I started lifting with my trainer and he jokingly mentioned that I had a “bodybuilder” body type and that in 6 months I probably could compete. The idea stuck and I reached out to Corry Matthews, who had met at a health fair at the freedom center while I was pregnant. I knew she had competed before so I scheduled a meeting with her, not even realizing she had a started the So You Want To Compete team. I walked away from that meeting with a meal and exercise plan and a possible show date.
Which show was your first show? How many times have you competed since then?: I competed at Lenda Murray on July 8th, 2017. That was my first and only show.
Are you going to compete again? Have you already decided on a show or shows?: I will be competing again in the Max Muscle show on November 11th, 2017
What’s your favorite body part to train & what exercises? Least favorite & what exercises?: I absolutely love train shoulders. I think my favorite exercise is bent over lateral raises, I just like the way it looks in the mirror. My least favorite is legs, mostly because I hate lunges. I have a birth defect and have a deficiency in my left foot and calf so my balance is not that great.
Do you have a consistent playlist for when you’re working out?: I have a Beyoncé – Formation station on Pandora that gets me through my workout.
Favorite cheat meal?: Just about anything with melted cheese. I used to love bread but going through prep I realized that Gluten causes me to bloat.
Favorite clean meal recipe? Right now, I love cooking shrimp with a little bit of Coconut Oil and then I season it with Cumin, Chili Powder, Garlic Powder, Garlic Powder. I add a little bit of water and a splash of Lime juice. I let it cook on a low heat until it makes a nice sauce. Depending on where I am in my prep I may or may not add salt.
Do you have a strong support network for your training and nutrition planning?: My husband and kids have been my number one support system. I also have a great group of folks that I workout with and a number for friends and co-workers who have been great about calling and sending texts just to say “You can do this.” So you want to Compete team has also been a great source of support. Most of the people on the team has been or is going through the same thing and that helps knowing you are not alone.
What do you do for a living? How does your training and nutrition work around that?: I am a Sales Engineer for a Software company. I work from home 90% of the time so I have time to prep my food and rarely have to worry about transporting food. The training is the harder part. With 2 small kids, I try to get up and workout at 5am so I am able to be home by 7am in order to get them dressed and off to school.
How can people connect with you?
Email: danaisthebomb@hotmail.com ;
Facebook: facebook.com/danaisthebomb
IG: Cateyedgryl