A new reality TV show is pitting 10 women and their trainers against one another to see who can have the greatest transformation. But if you think this is another weight-loss show, you're wrong.
Why did you want to be on this show?
When I was 17, before I had my son, I did competitive cheerleading, I was the fittest I'd ever been in my life at 17. When you have kids, you put yourself on the back burner; it becomes about them. But this is an opportunity of a lifetime, this is the time.
What was the first day of competition like?
The first day of competition was so nerve-wracking. You have no idea what you're getting into. I had nine other women that I had no idea about. They were from all different walks of life just like I am. Then here come 10 amazing elite trainers, top of their game, they walk in with all these bulging muscles, and I'm like - 'I have no idea what is about to happen, but I'm excited about it.'
They say abs are made in the kitchen. Did you have to change your diet for this?
I agree with that. Abs are made in the kitchen. No matter how many times you do crunches, no matter how many you do, it comes with what you're putting in your body. Food is fuel. It's just like a car, you put bad fuel in your car, it's not gonna run. If you put that fuel in your body, you're not gonna run.
What was it like to be on a reality TV show, having every moment caught on camera?
It was kind of weird at first, but you kind of just get used to it, having a camera in your face and just being yourself. I never want to be anything but myself, so I never pretended to be anything else. It's kind of surreal at the beginning but you kind of like the cameras fade and you just be you.
What was the most challenging part of this competition?
I think the most challenging part of the competition was the day-to-day things. When you're getting up, you have to motivate yourself every single day to get up and work out. The schedule that you were doing on the reality show is always crazy.
What's the mentality for transitioning from being on a show where you have to do these things, to now you're on your own and you are responsible?
That's the hard thing. I went from having a trainer with me every single day and having people doing the same thing I was to coming home. But when you come home, it's about having a support system. Find it at home, whoever it is or whatever it is. I have a wife and kid at home that support me all the way. Or, find a gym that has group classes. A lot of people are scared to go in the gym and lift weights. Well, you don't have to do that if you go to the gym that has group classes.
What's your work out routine right now?
I do a group power class at Genesis. I do it three times a week. It's a full body weightlifting class where we hit every muscle group and it's only an hour. And I do cardio at least five to six times a week, if that's running on the treadmill, running outside, maybe it's doing some box jumps or plyometrics or something like that, and I try to do abs three times a week.
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Terra Hall can be reached at terra.hall@kshb.com.
You can also follow her on Twitter.
