Fitness Models - Photos of Top Figure Competitor Heather Hentschel

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See This Fitness Model's Diet Plan & Exercise Routine

I was born Heather Renee Hentschel on October 9, 1985 and raised in the bay area. I live in ever so posh, Pleasanton CA for about ten years. I was the youngest out of three sisters, Sharlee my sister and Melissa the middle sister. I was the outgoing, the rebel, the free spirited child. I had an imagination that I got lost in. I was always outside with the neighborhood kids or playing with my large collection of Barbie's (this is where I think my love for fashion began). My parents never set us girls down in front of a TV for entertainment; we always were outside till sundown. I could say I had a fantastic adventurous childhood. Pleasanton holds very many dear memories from concerts in the park to Sunday service with my family. My childhood was filled yearly camping trips, incredible birthdays and around the clock fun.

I was always wanting to do a new sport or hobby even when I was I tiny tot. I was in tap, ballet, swimming, karate, basketball and gymnastics all before the age of 12. I never could make up my mind in what I wanted to do; I swear I had a new interest every week. As years went on I grasped on the sport of gymnastics. It was my first true love. You could never get me off the floor when class ended. It's the one sport were it all came so easy for me to get, plus I always got new leotard and that was a huge plus for me(It was like shopping). I was a gymnast for about 5 years; I stopped at the age of 14 because I wanted to get back into dancing, which I never did.

I regret the day I walked away from gymnastics, because I no I would have still been doing it to this day. At the awkward age of 13 after my middle school graduation my parents told me and my sister Melissa (Sharlee had gone off to College) that we were moving two hours away to the small town of Auburn Ca. I was heart broken. I didn't know anyone there besides my 3 boy cousins Kyle, Matt and Mike, but I took advantage of the situation and figured being the new girl I would make friends easily, oh how I was wrong. It seemed all this kids grew up together. Everyone knew everyone and all had their own groups. So for the first couple months I hung out with my older sister or walked home for lunch. As months went on I found more friends and became a little more comfortable in the small town. As a school year came to an end and a new one started went I longed to belong to something other than a click.

That's where I found my sophomore, "the debate team" aka JSA, sure it was known for being one big party but at times debating was interesting and at times insightful. Then I became part of the swim and golf team. I very much enjoyed these sports; was not the best on my team I'd have to admit but they gave me a sense of belonging and purpose. Sophomore year was the year I got into a lot of trouble. Its were I experienced my first party, my first alcoholic beverage, first boyfriend, first heart break, first police phone call to my parents and my first job..(The first of many, I've had over 17 jobs in my lifetime.) Sophomore year was the year were I learn what not to do, but didn't care to learn from my mistakes. The next two years were the years that I stopped caring what other people had to say about me. I had my 5 best girlfriends at that time and we just lived it up.

Getting away with whatever we could. Parties, dances, boys and sneaking out. You name it me and my girls did it. School just seemed like something to do to past the time. During the years were I stopped caring, well I stopped caring about myself. I was not in any sports, I never worked out, and I gave up on wanting to be a model. I just wanted to have fun and live life. So when graduation came up and I graduated with a 3.5 and received my diploma all I could ask myself at 18 years old was now what? I was not prepared for the life after high school. So I enrolled in junior college with the dreams of becoming a fashion designer (it was something close to the modeling word). I was a full time student with a full time job doing my general California requirements classes and more. I was trying to keep active and took lifeguarding classes, two swimming classes and a health and fitness class while doing my fashion classes all in one year.

Two years went by and I was half way done and a had the brilliant idea to move out on my own with one of my girlfriends' and quit college and get a better paying job. So at the age of 20 I did all that. I was in my own place and having that much freedom... well let's just say I was always having parties at my apartment, I was always going out with friend's, my diet was all fast food because I was on a budget. Then one day I woke up, with no energy had gained 15 pounds in 8 months and I knew it was time for a change. I put on my running shoes and ran half a mile and thought I was going to pass out, but I didn't give up. For the next month I tried to eat better and went on mile runs about 4 days a week. That still was not enough, so I decided to get a gym membership at fitness19 were my guy friend was a personal trainer.

It was a sunny afternoon and I even remember what I was wearing. I walked into the gym signed up for a membership and personal training sessions. That day was the beginning of my new life. I was training twice a week and going to the gym 5 days a week. My trainer who was my friend helped me out with everything, from how I should work out to what I should eat. As months went on our relationship went outside the gym. We became closer and about 3 months later started dating, so I basically had a personal trainer at my finger tips. As months of training went on I saw my body sliming down, saw a toner stronger physic, had more energy and was more confident with my outer body appearance. It took about another 4 months of pushing and testing myself to get real results.

It took over a year and a half to work off 20 pounds of fat and turn it into muscle. From not being able to run a half a mile to running 3 miles a day was a huge accomplishment. The process was hard, I had many weak moments were I wanted to give up and just let myself go. There were times were I got so obsessed with my body I was going to the gym twice a day 4 times a week. Times were I and my boyfriend were having problem and I let myself go and ate anything I wanted.

There was true struggle to losing weight and dealing with life, but in the end I saw that working out helped relive stress and made me more confident not only outside but inside as well. Having the confidence I got from working out made my passion for modeling come back and it was only about 7 months ago when my body was at it best that I wanted to take my two passions and combined them. I wanted to become a fitness model. For weeks that's all I could think about; the thought consumed me.

So I did anything to put myself out there. I tried out for Maxim, Oxygen and Women's health magazine, got an agent and I started doing photo shoots and charity fashion shows for local designers. I told myself never give up; it took to long to get to this point. I came abusing my body by drinking and parting all the time to cleansing and respecting my body with clean foods and daily workouts. I have transformed my body, mind, soul and my life at the age of 24 and I'm happier than ever.