Terry Blassingame – Male Fitness Model Statistics
- Name: Terry Blassingame
- Height: 5’10”
- Weight: 190 pounds
- Date of Birth: 5-4-1975
- Hair Color: Black
- Eye Color: Brown
- Location: Clemson, South Carolina
Terry Blassingame – Male Fitness Model Interview
What is your background?
Terry Blassingame is a national certified fitness instructor and trainer. He has participated in the fitness and health industry for over 15 years. Before Terry began dedicating his life to training, he was drafted into the NFL in 1999 to the Seattle Seahawks, played for the North Carolina Energy and also ranked 7th among the leading rushers at Fort Hays State University.
His overarching mission is motivating, educating, and promoting the adoption of a healthier lifestyle for all. Terry endorses the fitness philosophy that states that results should be measured from a functional standpoint (i.e. your appearance, how your clothes fit, and by the way you feel) rather than by arbitrary numbers on the scale.
Terry started his fitness journey inside a gym before he started branching out and started his own business “King of Weight Loss”. In 2006, Terry partnered up with Chic-Fil-A to start a kid’s fitness program to motivate, educate and get kids moving. Terry has worked with several athletes such as Quinton Warner (Washington Redskins), Brittany Sweeney (Runner up for Miss South Carolina); he was invited to work with models in New Jersey from Black Women Magazine, as well as other profile individuals.
Terry Blassingame is all about health and fitness. Terry’s workout video is about friends and family coming together to stay healthy. All ages and sizes are encouraged to come together to support each other in achieving their personal fitness goals.
How did you get started in the fitness field?
Working out has been a part of my lifestyle, since I was 12 years old. As a former athlete (high school, college, professional football) working out was mandatory, but I also loved doing it. After my career in football, I continued to keep myself in top shape. I began to attract a lot of attention from the community pertaining to fitness training. I actually began training people at no charge. I loved every minute of it, because my clients were getting results from my workouts and nutrition regimen.
What is the #1 thing you like best about being into fitness?
The best thing I like about being into fitness are the benefits you receive by working out. It relieves stress, increases your energy level, improves your physical appearance, you’re able to sleep better, and it prevents a lot of illnesses that a sedentary lifestyle creates or worsens.
What has been your biggest accomplishment in the fitness field?
The biggest accomplishment in the fitness field that I’ve received has come through my clients. I feel like my work is not completed until my clients have reached their fitness goals and have begun to believe in themselves again. I get so excited when I look at how their lifestyles have changed. I continue to encourage them to keep pressing even when they want to give up.
What is the best way to get started in the fitness modeling industry? Should I just contact the photographers directly or should I use an agency?
My recommendation would be to use an agency.
Please describe a typical day for you. What is your daily routine like?
From 5:30AM -6:30AM I have group training outdoors at a park. I have another session from 8:00-9:00AM. After I teach these sessions, I make time for myself to workout. This includes heavy cardio routines and abdominal training. I go home around noon and eat a powerful lunch. At 3pm, I have training at the track. My last training session is at 5:30pm. After that session, I’ll eat a healthy dinner. Then I’ll go back to the gym for strength straining, followed by 15 minutes in the sauna.
I don’t have that much time during the day to workout, so I really want to burn major calories in a short amount of time. What is the #1 “bang for the buck” cardio exercise I should do to burn serious calories?
Circuit training would be the ideal workout for this person. It’s called High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT). Burn-Baby-Burn. Example: Pick 8 exercises, for 30 seconds get as many repetitions of an exercise possible, then rest for 20 seconds. The workout session should last about 20-30 minutes. A few examples of some exercises are: push ups, high knees, sit-ups, jumping jacks, body squats, side shuffles, lunges, and butt kicks. Rest for 1 minute, then repeat 2 more times.
How much weight (pounds) should I focus on losing every week? What is a safe amount to make sure I keep it off?
To be safe, I recommend losing 2-4 pounds per week depending on your weight loss goals.
What type of food or supplements should I take before and after my workouts to help me see results in gaining lean muscle and losing fat?
Make sure you power up with foods that will give you energy one hour before you workout. Examples: plain rice cake with peanut butter, 2 boiled egg whites, a handful of strawberries, and water. After your workout: grilled tilapia (2 pieces), mixed vegetables, and lemon water. You want to eat every 3 hours to help speed up your metabolism.
How do you deal with cravings for junk foods, sweets and salty food? I can stay on a diet for maybe a few weeks but I eventually get really bad cravings and binge on snacks and fast foods.
Make yourself a healthy fruit smoothie with natural sugars. A small serving of mixed nuts are good too.
I’m trying to create a healthy shopping list to stick with. What are some of the main foods I should include to maintain a lean and muscular physique?
- Fresh veggies: kale, spinach, asparagus, green beans, squash, zucchini, romaine lettuce, cucumber, celery.
- Fresh fruit: avocado, bananas, blueberries, strawberries, kiwi, apples, etc.
- Meats: Fish (Tilapia, Cod), chicken breast, 93% lean beef.
- Dairy: Almond milk, low-fat cheese, Greek yogurt.
- Liquids: Always drink water.
I’m about 35 pounds overweight. I have never started an exercise program and really don’t know where to start. What tips can you give me to get started on the right track?
Before you start with any exercise program, you should always check with your physician. Assuming that everything is well, you should begin a clean eating regimen. Start walking first and then begin to mix it with running. Continue with this run/walk routine for about 1 mile 3 times a week. Gradually start adding (10-20 each) push ups, sit ups, and body squats into your routine. After about a month of consistency, you should begin to see and feel the difference.
I tend to eat out most of the time and really don’t know what healthy foods to order from the menu. What tips do you recommend for eating out at restaurants to make sure my diet will not suffer?
Try to stick to the basics; no foods high in starch, no fried foods. Order grilled foods only, and a mixed green salad on the side.
What exercises do you recommend for getting a bigger, rounder and fuller butt?
Deep squats, “step ups” on a bench or chair, plyo squats, dirty dogs, and running stairs.
What is the most challenging thing you deal with about consistently staying in top shape?
The most challenging thing that I deal with about consistently staying in top shape is the long working hours that I have. Sometimes I may have to stay over because I’ll have to sign-up a new client, or a client may want to speak with me about personal matters. The time that I spend working over with my clients varies, and I may or may not have packed enough snacks for myself during these times.
Please describe your normal diet. What do you eat in a typical day to stay in shape?
- Breakfast: 3 egg whites, bowl of fresh fruit.
- Mid-Morning Snack: Smoothie blended with fresh fruit, spinach leaves, raw oatmeal, and almond milk.
- Lunch: Grilled chicken salad.
- Mid-Afternoon Snack: Apple and mixed nuts.
- Dinner: Chicken or fish with sweet potatoes and mixed vegetables.
What type of exercises do you include in your routine to stay in shape?
- Strength Training Exercises: dumbbell swings, single arm dumbbell cleans, dumbbell squat press.
- Cardio Exercises: at least 200 burpees, swimming.
- Additional Training: plyometric and calisthenics.
What are the top 5 tips (specific exercises, diet advice, etc) you recommend for developing toned and defined arms?
1. Burpees.
2. Jump rope.
3. Push ups.
4. Chin ups.
5. Fish and chicken (protein).
What are your top 5 tips for losing unwanted body fat?
1. Running stairs.
2. Clean eating regimen.
3. Burpees.
4. Small burst of sprints (30-40 yards).
5. Standing abdominal crunches.
What are your top 5 tips for gaining lean muscle mass?
1. High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT).
2. High reps.
3. Stay hydrated.
4. Supersets with strength training.
5. Increase protein with each meal.
What are the top 5 tips you recommend for staying motivated on a fitness plan and truly making a healthy lifestyle change?
1. Continue to “eat clean” daily.
2. Find an accountability partner.
3. Set small goals every 2 weeks and stay on track to achieve them.
4. Once a month, try on a smaller pant or dress size.
5. Remember that you are trying to prevent a host of illnesses, especially cardiac issues.
What is your training routine like? (Please include a few details – training split, sets/reps, exercises, types of cardio, etc.)
Monday: Chest & Triceps
- 20 minutes of cardio on elliptical
- Bench Press (5 sets of 12-15 reps)
- Incline Press (5 sets of 12 reps)
- Cable Flys (3 set of 12 reps)
- Close Grip Bench (3 sets of 12 reps)
- Dips (3 sets of 20)
- Triceps Extensions (3 sets of 20 reps)
- Push Ups (5 sets of 20 reps)
- Crunches (1 set of 200 reps)
Tuesday: Legs
- 20 minutes of cardio on elliptical
- Leg Press (5 sets of 20 reps)
- Leg Curls (5 sets of 15 reps)
- Leg Extension (5 sets of 15 reps)
- Box Jumps (3 sets of 15 reps)
- Single Leg Squats (3 sets of 10 reps)
- Crunches on Machine (3 sets of 20 reps)
Wednesday: Bodyweight Exercises
- 200 reps of burpees
- Pull-ups (3 sets of 15 reps)
- Triceps dip (3 sets of 20 reps)
- 1 mile on elliptical
- 15 minutes in sauna
- 15 minutes of abdominal crunches
Thursday: Back and Biceps
- 20 minutes of cardio on elliptical
- Seated row (5 sets of 15 reps)
- Up right row (5 sets of 15 reps)
- Back extension (5 sets of 15 reps)
- Abdominal twist (3 sets of 15 reps)
- Dumbbell curls (3 sets of 12-10-8 reps)
Friday: Legs and Abdominals
- 15-20 minutes on stair stepper
- Step up on bench (3 set of 15 reps)
- Hamstring lifts (3 sets of 15 reps)
- Hanging abdominal crunches (3 sets of 20 reps)
- Oblique crunches (3 sets of 25 reps)
- Single leg push down (3 sets of 20 reps)
- Leg lifts (3 sets of 50 reps)
Saturday: Light stretch
- 15 minutes in sauna
- Rest
Sunday: Rest
What are the top 5 tips (specific exercises, diet advice, etc) you recommend for losing fat around the stomach and developing a toned and defined midsection?
1. Run steep hills.
2. Burpees.
3. Leg raises.
4. Crunches.
5. Eat super foods (kale, spinach, sweet potatoes, parsley, dates, nuts, celery, and cucumbers).
What are the top 5 tips (specific exercises, diet advice, etc) you recommend for toning the thighs, hips and butt?
1. Jump squats.
2. Lunges with weights.
3. Hamstring lifts.
4. Hip adductors and abductors.
5. Leg curls and extensions.
