I am a fitness professional whose journey began as an overweight child. Honestly, I am glad it happened that way. As I struggled with food and inactivity, I began to research nutrition and exercise. I had to because I didn’t receive a lot of support from my parents. No fault to them, it just wasn’t their thing. As for me, I had to. My mother was a diabetic and my father has high blood pressure. I didn’t have a choice. I also didn’t want to end up with those health conditions so I decided to change my eating habits and activity level. That is when I started to work out on my own. First it was running, then kickball and before I knew it I was participating in every school sport I was eligible for. As I got older, I found myself playing male dominated sports in high school like soccer and softball. Track was my favorite. I enjoyed running sprints the best. I never knew why until my father told me about Mark Crear. He tells me that Dr. Crear is a double Olympian medalist. Not sure if that is 100% accurate but it does explain my love for running, track and athleticism. Apparently there is a gene pool I haven’t even tapped into!
Another thing about me most people don’t know is that I sing and draw. I can also dance. I inherited my ability to draw from my father. My love of song and dance comes from my mother. I remember my brother, sister, and I having little talent shows in the kitchen. Since I was always performing at home, I eventually joined the school choir. My mother tried so hard to get me to enter so many talent shows. Back in the 70’s and 80’s, we didn’t have American Idol or the Voice. If we did, who knows where I would have ended up. After graduating high school, I briefly attended art school during the day and then performed at night. That only lasted for about two months. I had to drop out and return home.
Even though my art and dance didn’t happen, I understand that it is fitness which proved to be the path I would follow. When I returned home from art school, I worked little jobs here and there but always found a way to workout. It wasn’t the way I workout now, of course, but it was good enough to help me pass my physical fitness test for enlisting in the US Army. Throughout my military career, I always passed my tests but always failed the weigh-ins. The remedial PT during my tour improved my endurance. Looking back, I see it was definitely a blessing.
Moving forward, I want to compete in the CrossFit Games. In doing so, I know I will have to change accordingly to meet my needs. I may even do another figure competition. I looked at a few of my earlier pics and I started to get the itch to do one. I even tried on my competition suit and it fits better than it did the first time! Most importantly, I want to help empower women and help them understand that if I can do it, so can they. It’s time to dream and dream big!
Certifications:
- CrossFit Level 1
- Les Mills International
- BODYPUMP
- BODYJAM
- BODYCOMBAT
- BODYLOW
- CXWRX
Services I Provide:
- Coaching Classes
- Personal Training
- Nutrition Consultant
My Videos:
- How To Do a Kettlebell Swing – Exercise Guide with Video
- How To Deadlift – Exercise Guide with Video Instructions
- How To Do Pull-Ups – Exercise Guide with Video Instructions
- Box Jump Exercise Guide Part 1 – Video Tutorial with Photos
- Box Jump Exercise Guide Part 2 – Video Tutorial with Photos
- Mobility Drills and Exercises To Increase Flexibility
- Effective Exercises Using a Bench and Your Bodyweight
- Modified Handstand Pushups with Plyometrics Strength Drills
My Articles:
- Winter Workouts – How To Stay Motivated Over The Holidays
- Why Lifting Weights To Build Muscle is The Fountain of Youth
- Importance of Mobility – Tips To Increase Workout Performance
Contact Information:
- Email: shellanedemarest@gmail.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/foy1966
- Facebook: facebook.com/FOY1966
