Last Visit: Yesterday, 9:29pm Last Forum Post: Apr 15, 2009 3:08pm Last Photo Upload: May 5, 2009 7:22pm Last Profile Update: Yesterday, 9:29pm Last Blog Post: Yesterday, 9:28pm
Overall Goal: I'm in the new OXYGEN Magazine and the new Muscle & Fitness for Her... Please check it out :) It's really cool and exciting!!!
Fit Status:
I'm ready to go to the next level.. Don't know what that is yet, but I'm going !!!
Motivation Level: 7/10
Personal Info And Background:
Real Name:
Shannan
Sex:
Female
Age:
33
Location:
Occupation:
Personal Website:
Gym:
I rotate between a few ;)
Gym Location:
Los Angeles
When I Started:
Jul, 1993
How I Started:
From a young age I wanted to be athletic and look that way. So, at 15 I asked my mom join me up at her gym and from there it was a love affair between me and the iron. I worked out whenever I could and became commited to the fact that we are in control of our bodies and we can shape and mold them to be whatever we want. I loved that I could make myself stronger and challenge myself. By 16 years old I got my first certification from IFPA and trained a few moms that I babysat for. I loved training people and teaching them how they can transform their bodies. I read everything I could and learned even more over the years by becoming my own guinea pig, trying everything out on myself first. I got my next certifications at 19 and 24 from ACE and NASM while I had been working full time as an independent personal trainer at an LA Fitness and an LA Workout gym. Training was the best thing that ever happened to me. I learned so much along the way.
Why I Love It:
The truth is, I love bodybuilding because it is for ME and me alone. It feels natural to me, as if it's in my blood. It's MY time to be strong, to be in the zone and make changes. I do it because it makes me feel whole and good on the inside as well as the outside. The confidence and comfort I feel in clothes and in my own skin makes it worth every grueling rep. I love it because it gives me a healthy long life to live, pain free and injury free. I am also very motivated by the mental changes in me when I am lean and strong. It changes my attitude positively towards everything and when I am happy (and I always am) I want to do more and learn more and BE more. I feel invincible (though I know I'm not) and that's a good enough feeling I could never stop.
How I Stay Motivated:
Age is a number my friends, means nothing unless you let it mean something. I want to be better with each day than I was the day before. I want to be consistant and always do a little more than I think I possibly can. I stay motivated by looking for new things that I can't do and learning to do them... Or, sometimes just by bettering my time on a run. I'm also inspired by failure. The process of defeat... Picking yourself back up again is the hardest thing in the world.
I am motivated by CHALLENGES... Challenge yourself as often as you can, it's the best medicine you can find. I also stay motivated by the goals I set for myself. Sometimes they are weekly goals and other times they are monthly goals. Whether I compete or not, "My body is my trophy"... so that's what keeps me going. I love competing when I do, it's an amazing accomplishment to get up on stage and know that I worked hard for it and that I belong up there regardless of my placing. It sounds cheesy to say, but it's about the journey, the path you follow, and the things you do and learn along the way that makes the biggest impact.
BB Accomplishments:
My 3rd place win out of 11 girls at my very first show, The Tournament of Champions in 2006 which qualified me to compete at The Arnold Classic Amateurs in 2007 where I placed 9th out of 26 women were fun and amazing accomplishments. What an eye opening experience and so much fun!!
My most important accomplishment was training myself on how to look for and choose very clean and healthy foods at restaurants. Learning to eat well for the long term and not just for a few weeks at a time or, during contest-prep. Once I learned how to eat out with my friends and family I realized that I didn't have to sacrifice my time with them OR my contest diet. Learning how everything I put into my body has a reaction and response, and will show itself in my performance as well as my physique made me put the breaks on eating the weekend junk foods. Truly realizing I have control over how I feel and that eating unhealthy foods will have consequences made the urge to eat them less strong. Don't get me wrong, I have the so called "cheat foods" every now and again but my focus is on performance, health and being lean and feeling good so, it's an every few weeks to once a month type of thing ;)
Got a little chunky for a couple years trying to add muscle and was just consuming sooo much food. I was in such great cardiovascular shape during this time, it's strange to see me so chubby yet physically so strong- This was when I lifted my heaviest & best weights.
The day after my 1st show. Ahh, what some tanning product can do for a physique ;)
I'm in the new OXYGEN Magazine and the new Muscle & Fitness for Her... Please check it out :) It's really cool and exciting!!!
Goal (Long):
I have several goals when it comes to my training and my physique... One is to always be lean, healthy and strong. Another goal is to achieve endurance. Endurance in my abilities to train harder & last longer, whatever it is I am doing in or. out of the gym while getting better with each workout. My main goal is to achieve 'MY' ideal body and weight... I have a vague idea what that body looks like and what weight that is but, I'm not sure it really matters as long as I am making headway. It's a work in progress still :) and I love every minute of it. Each week I try to challenge myself and better my body and mind by finding motivational things (mostly) in the gym to do. Whether it's trying a new workout, doing different cardio intensities, trying new healthy recipes, reading new mags issues and health information or, even finding people who motivate me and make me want to be a better athlete, or work harder in the gym. That's my physical/mental goal each week.
Becuz she rocks... she's a mom !!! Of like 1000... just kidding but anyone who has even 1 kid and can keep themselves in shape is an achievement in itself... it's hard enough for people do it just in general. She has a beyond impressive body and a gorgeous face. She is BUFF MOTHER !!!!
He has a big family, young children and a gorgeous wife... He works and workouts hard always trying new things to keep on top of it all :) i am impressed with his dedication for family and training... a real good guy!!
What tips would you give to others to help them stay motivated over the long-term?
As Nike says... just DO IT.
Even if you are eating poorly you still need to work out... and vice versa.
You'll be surprised how a good workout or cardio session can put you back on track.
- Updated Jan 31, 2009 9:03am
Do you track your workouts (exercises, weight, reps, etc.)?
Yes
If so, how do you do it? Workout log, software program, etc.? Why do you do it this way?
I write out my workouts so I know what I am to do when I go each time and so I know what I need to achieve... I also occasionally challenge myself by writing in extra things to do such as more reps, sets or throwing in a few supersets or, jumping jacks just to push myself harder. Somedays you might have more energy than others so take advantage of it-I write out my workouts so I know what I am to do when I go each time and so I know what I need to achieve... I also occasionally challenge myself by writing in extra things to do such as more reps, ...more
- Updated Jan 31, 2009 9:01am
Where do you mainly workout?
Gym
Why? What are the pros and cons of working out there?
It's a place to go to get the job done... there is nothing there that will interfere with that such as phone calls chores etc.
It truly is a place to GO TO that maintains my focus.
One can red kidney beans, drained and rinsed?
One can garbanzo beans (chickpeas), drained and rinsed?
2 cups cooked fresh green beans, ?
2 cups cooked bite-sized broccoli florets?
1 red and yellow bell pepper, thinly sliced and...
wow you are the real deal...very inspirational. i just had a quick question if you are not to busy plz answer it.. how hard is it to get a IFPA certification? i checked out the site but is it necessary to buy the courses? how did you do it?
Dear Oxygen, you should probably have Shannan in your magazine ALL the time. Permanently. If she can inspire an online website everyday, just imagine what she could do for your website! Love, Morgan
LOL seriously! Great Job!
you know something...your blogs are pretty inciteful. I get caught reading them at work on my phone and people are like "hey stop looking at porn" but i just tell him, "im reading shannan's blog. Needtheless to say they know what bb.com is. But anyway, good stuff and btw i was checking my thumbs
That means a lot comming from you, thank you very much. Now I just have to add a bit of mass to this lean frame. I am a natural extomorph so this makes it hard. But I have been known to be pretty stubborn...
got it, muscle and fitness for her, nice. you are smoken hot in this pic. they will have there hands full trying to beat you. wish i could be there. train hard, play harder. jeff xoxo
so maybe its best that i not worry so much about gaining weight now since my weight appears to be going down and jus wait till i hit 30 before the weight comes....
