Age: 30-something… okay, okay, I’ll be 40(!) on June 7, 2008

Occupation: Wife and Hot Mama to five precious children… NPC Figure Competitor… Fitness Model… Aspiring writer… Future NSCA-CPT.

Contest history:

• 2007 Carla Sanchez Fitness Fiesta, 1st Hot Mama Model Search, 1st Fittest Couple Model Search, 3rd Figure Masters 35-39, 4th Figure Novice Class B, 5th Figure Open Class C

• 2008 Northern Colorado Championships, 2nd Figure Open Class E, 4th Figure Masters 35-39

Number of children and ages:
I have five beautiful children: William is 12, Chelsey is 10, Danny is 8, Joey is 6, and Ben would be 2 (he died when he was five hours old from hypoplastic left heart syndrome).

How much weight did you gain while pregnant?
Between 35 and 50 pounds… every time!

How did your body change during pregnancy?
I gained weight everywhere, from my face to my feet.

Describe your workout program while pregnant:
When I was pregnant with my first, William, I enjoyed aerobics and a little weight lifting. I stayed pretty active, playing golf, hiking, and — two days before giving birth — I biked a couple of miles to play a couple sets of tennis. (The rule was that my husband had to hit it directly to me because I could barely move!) For the next four babies, my “workout program” was taking care of my children… I had the first four in less than six years, so I was pregnant or nursing most of the time.

Did you experience any medical complications while pregnant or while in labor:
Yes… the most memorable was when I was pregnant the third time, with Danny. For a while, he was breech and somehow pressing on a nerve which created horrible pain down my leg. One day it hurt too much to walk, so I crawled around on the floor while taking care of my one- and two-year-old children Danny came out “sunny side-up,” which is supposedly the more painful way to deliver a baby, plus he weighed over nine pounds. I still vividly remember his broad shoulders coming out of my body. Fun.

How long after you gave birth did you resume exercising?
I did not “resume exercising” until after my fifth baby, Ben, who died soon after he was born. My doctor wanted me to wait until I was six weeks postpartum, at which time I hired a personal trainer to help me lose my weight. I was extremely depressed, not eating, and on my way to being very unhealthy. Looking back, working out changed my life… I experienced not just a physical transformation, but a mental and emotional one, too. I believe my intense depression translated into intense discipline and motivation in resistance training, cardio and eventually, clean eating. I started seeing shapely muscles on my body and, more importantly, started smiling again. I ran two 10Ks and two half-marathons and eventually read about Carla’s Performance Ready Team in Oxygen Magazine. It was a dream of mine to be on the PR Team, so I am currently living the dream! Never would I have imagined I would become a figure competitor — at age 39! — but the journey has been incredibly exciting, fulfilling and rewarding And I feel like I’m just beginning.

Share your post-pregnancy exercise routine.
I met with my personal trainer at least three times a week for resistance and strength training As a bodybuilder himself, my trainer was very knowledgeable and the perfect motivator for me. He worked me very hard and taught me a great deal about the body and nutrition. I will always be grateful for the profound impact he had on my life. I also started running quite a bit and LOVED attending a kickboxing class twice a week.

How did your diet change while you were pregnant?
The only way it changed is that I ate MORE of everything I wanted! I never wanted to deprive my baby of any nourishment, so I ate plenty of healthy foods, but believe me, I have a major “sweet and salty tooth,” too. I felt no guilt in satisfying those cravings as well!

What supplements did you take [if any], while pregnant?
I always took a prenatal vitamin, but I didn’t even know what a “supplement” was!

What types of foods did you crave while pregnant?
With William, big, amazing salads. With Chelsey, Baskin Robbins Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream. With Danny, homemade chocolate chip cookies. With Joey, Chee-tos. With Ben, I learned he had a fatal heart condition when I was 20 weeks pregnant, so food cravings aren’t something I remember.

How long did it take you to lose your ‘pregnancy weight?’
I don’t recall exactly, but because I nursed my first four babies, I think I lost all my weight typically in about six months. At the most, nine. It was always very important to me to get back into my little jeans.

Describe your post-pregnancy diet and how it helped you lose the ‘baby fat.’
Honestly I felt hungrier while I was nursing than I did while pregnant… and I was very hungry pregnant! Carla would cringe at the “diet” I used to have… many York Peppermint Patties, cookies, brownies, candies, etc. I ate whatever I wanted, just controlled my portions I guess. Boy is my diet different now! Protein is a very important part of my life.

Did you get stretch marks following your pregnancy?
By the grace of God, no.

Did you follow a specific skin care or nutritional regimen to prevent stretch marks? If so, please describe:
No, I didn’t.

Being a HOT MAMA takes work! How do you balance family, work, and friends while pursuing your fitness goals:
For the most part, my time is given to my family, my workouts, and taking care of the endless aspects of “life.” My best friends I really don’t see that often, but we connect mainly through e-mails. When I do see them, talk to them or even more infrequently EAT with them (!), it’s very special. I enjoy the friends I see regularly because of my kids’ schools or teams. My PR Teammates have become very good friends because we understand each other like no one else can. And most importantly, my faith in God is core to my being and, I believe, keeps me “balanced”… I pray that everyday God will enable me to be a blessing to others around me.

Describe your schedule on a typical Monday:
Wake up at 5:15 and to the gym by 5:45ish for cardio. (I love cardio!) Home by 7:00 to have breakfast with the kids, get everyone ready for school and out the door without bedhead. Spend the morning with Joey, doing schoolwork and playing. Take Joey to Kindergarten at noon and head straight to the gym for 1 1/2 hours of resistance training. (Which I also love!) Go to the grocery store or other quick errands before picking up the kids from school at 3:00. Have snack/homework/play time before getting William and Joey to soccer practice at 5:00 (different fields) and Chelsey at 5:30. Come home to make dinner; friends, my husband or I pick up the kids from soccer at 6:00, 6:30 and 7:00. Believe it or not, except for Chelsey on this night, we eat dinner together! Every night we read and pray together as a family before the kids go to bed around 8:00. For the next couple hours I do my “work,” whatever it might be for that day, including the kids’ stuff, my stuff, clean-up, making lunches for the next day, etc. I try to be in bed by 11:15 so I can get six hours of sleep.

What HOT MAMA tips can you offer to new moms trying to get super fit?
Just do it! Every day is a new beginning, so get going! Find a personal trainer you love, who will work you hard, and who wants to help you achieve your goals, whatever they may be. As Carla taught me, “muscle knows no age,” so you can always improve your body. Also, learn what to eat and when to eat it… that probably makes the biggest difference in what you look like.

What are your current health & fitness goals?
At almost 40 years old, I am in the best shape of my life! I cannot exaggerate how good this feels, and I am exceedingly grateful for my health. I only want to get better… stronger, harder, tighter and more sculpted. I want to win a figure competition locally, and I want to place at Masters Nationals in July. I have loved the modeling I’ve done and hope that aspect of my life will blossom. I am studying to become a NSCA-CPT, and I hope that credential will help me in writing articles for fitness magazines. Down the road I would like to train women and children at my own gym. A long-term goal is to write a book about my personal journey. Finally, I’m hoping to complete my first triathlon in September 2008. I’m a busy girl… and have another goal of getting more sleep!

What is your upcoming competition schedule?
I am planning to compete in the Masters National Figure Championships in Pittsburgh on July 18-19. Can’t wait!!!