Katuri Kaye
When people ask me how I got involved in NPC Bikini competitions, my answer is simple – I was tricked by my personal trainer “B.” As background, I originally joined B’s gym and became a regular in his morning boot camp class. I grew up very active, including years of gymnastics and dance, but I started to notice that my career of being a full-time attorney had contributed to me becoming a very inactive adult. I wanted to change things and thought that boot camp would be a great jumpstart. Plus, B had an amazing Group-on deal at the time that couldn’t be beat.
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I really enjoyed taking boot camp with B. He had a great personality and was focused on helping others, and I saw results. After a year or so, I decided to step it up a notch and take personal training sessions with B. I complained a lot, but B continued to have the same great personality and effectiveness. Over some time, I noticed B training women for NPC Bikini competitions. I told him that I would love to have the commitment but NOT compete. He made a deal with me that we would start training and get me in the position that I “could” compete in a show if I wanted to.
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A few months later, B “casually” mentioned that there was an upcoming show in the local area, and that he felt I “might as well” enter, since I’ve already been training for it. Or course my immediate response was no, but after a few sessions of him nagging me, I finally committed. We focused our training for the next few months and implemented my meal plan, and before I knew it I was on stage doing my signature “Katuri-dip.”
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In hindsight, I can honestly say that I am glad B tricked me. Doing the competition allowed me to push my body in ways I never imagined, and opened me to a much healthier lifestyle that I walk-in everyday. Plus, I’ve made lifetime sisters out of my amazing team of BT Fitness Athletes, who I would not trade for the world.
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The journey to the stage wasn’t a cake-walk, but it is worth it!
Erica Tyler
In October of 2014, after six months of travelling nonstop, I found my way to a Boot Camp class on Quaker Lane. I’ve always played with the idea of getting a trainer and becoming serious about my body. However, the thought of weight training terrified me. I was convinced that I would start to become ‘bulky’ or ‘manly’ and lose the lovely lady bumps figure I had fought for years to have. The day I let go of that fear, picked up weight-lifting, and started getting serious about results, was the day my life completely changed for the better.
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Two years later being proud of my results, I didn’t want to stop there, so I made new goals to build a better me, to see how far I can push myself. During this time, my wonderful trainer lured me into entering my first fitness bikini competition. One of the greatest moments in life was realizing I finally had REAL ABS, like the ones from fitness ads, and I worked for it. The journey was tough, but well worth it.
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Until we meet again stage……..
Sarina Motahedin
A few years ago, I was scrolling on Groupon looking for something to get me out of my thoughts, and the self-image I had of myself. I came across BT Fitness. I started attending Berhane’s Bootcamp classes, and I came back month after month, because it was that amazing, to be surrounded by positive, judgement free, and caring people. Yet shortly after, I fell back in my own bubble again, stopped coming to classes and just thought, I can never look good no matter how hard I tried.
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June 2017 was when I got tired of people advising me I should sign up at a gym. I got tired of lying on bed and wish I looked better. I came back to Berhane, with a different goal this time. I told him, “I can’t be on my own, I need your help to keep me on track”. Berhane didn’t hesitate to squeeze me in his personal training schedule, and he also gave me a meal plan to follow. Fast forward a few months, and few pounds down, Berhane suggested Bikini Competition.
To be honest, I had mixed feelings about competing. I had no idea what kind of commitment it required. I almost jumped into it without knowing a bit about NPC. Therefore, I read and watched many videos to get into the world of competing. In November 2017, I officially started preping towards an NPC show for April of 2018. I loved and hated prep time, but Berhane and the rest of the BT Fitness family were there to encourage and keep me on the positive side. Show day came, and I absolutely loved the experience. Over the past year, I have learned that I can do anything if I put my mind into it. I learned how to be my own motivator to get tasks done, not only in fitness but also in other aspects of life. It has become a lifestyle, which I’m looking forward to share with others. Don’t rely on others, be your own motivation, be proud of yourself!
Nami Russom
After attempting to shimmy into my jeans winter of 2016 to no avail (literally could not get my jeans over my thighs), I knew I had to get it together. Not only did I refuse to size up in jeans but I also knew that I wanted to feel more energized and alive. I finally went to see the infamous B, who my friends would rave about. We started with once a week, 1:1 and slowly inched into boot camp which I was terrified to do at first. The idea of working out with others at your worst physically did not sound enticing.
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A year in, I was feeling and looking entirely better. B volun-told me to compete in my first bodybuilding competition. I was curious, wanted to see how hard I could push my limits physically, but the idea of it felt so scary that I fought to get out of it for the first month. I eventually fully committed to the program, started meal prepping and posing alongside a phenomenal team of BT Fitness Athletes who were also competing for the first time.
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When I started with B I was nearly 150 lbs and 28% body fat, I stepped on stage in April 2017 at 128 lbs and 20% body fat and a year later (April 2018), I am 126 lbs and 18% body fat. What started as an attempt to fit into my clothes, and have the scale reflect a number I was comfortable with, has completely shifted into a complete lifestyle change. I pay attention to what I put into my body and working out has become apart of my daily routine. I feel energized and happy all the time! And the icing on the cake is being able to do it with such an amazing BT Fitness community, because really this gym is like your family.
Jamie Formosa
Jamie has always had a love for fitness and was very active in sports as a kid. However, as she got older managing her weight was a struggle. It was hard for her to find a balance between food and fitness goals. In 2015, she was fed up with the endless diet rollercoaster and decided to get serious. Her competitive side took over, and she made the decision to set a goal that she could not turn away from and registered for an NPC Bikini competition. Announcing her goals to friends and family kept her motivated to give it her all. She had 30 lbs to lose in only 3 months. She took to the stage with so much confidence and rocked it! The experience taught Jamie so much more than the importance of fitness, exercise form, and nutrition plans. It taught her discipline, self-love, and most importantly that she could do anything she wanted no matter the obstacles. Staying committed to her goals and staying consistent got her to where she is today. Since that moment she has dedicated her life to fitness and helping others through fitness training, nutritional planning, posing lessons, and moral support. Her mission is to reach as many people as possible through fitness so they too can be the best version of themselves.
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– Jamie Formosa