You’ve probably seen her lifting in the Student Life Center, sitting in ESS classes, hanging out with her sorority sisters, or simply walking around campus. It’s just hard not to notice her. The campus cutie of the week is none other than Katie Baretela.
Seriously, this girl is dynamite. She’s a senior studying Exercise & Sports Science major, planning to “help people acheive their goals and be happy with themselves and their health.” With a graduation set for Spring 2017, Katie is making the most of her last years by staying involved on campus. She’s a member of Alpha Phi and you’ll often find her with her sisters in the third row of the MUSS. She’s in training for her second NPC Bikni competition and she’s recently begun taking clients.
Taking time out of her camping trip in Washington state, Katie gives us a window into her fit lifestyle.
HCU: So obviously you went through a huge lifestyle change. What inspired that?
KB: I was honestly really unhappy. I was unhappy with myself and how I looked. I really missed competing and being healthy how I was in high school and when I was doing gymnastics. So I decided that I wanted to lose weight and do something competitive!
HCU: There’s absolutely no doubt that you’ve been really successful in that. What did you do to lose weight and get in shape?
KB: I got a personal trainer because I was so lost and had no idea where to start! Once with the trainer I started out lifting three days a week and adjusting my diet by counting and tracking my Micros and Macros.
HCU: How long was the prep for your first show?
KB: Well in reality I started back in January because that’s when I originally started losing weight. Your first show prep is always the longest because when you first start you most likely aren’t in perfect shape. Usually the normal amount of time for show prep is 12 to 20 weeks, but it depends on the person. I mainly did a 12 week prep.
HCU: That’s amazing! How did the day leading up to your show look?
KB: It was so nerve racking! I love performing but I was so nervous! Backstage you are surrounded by all these beautiful and tiny women, it makes you feel so intimidated! The day before I was late to check-in. I read the times wrong so I started freaking out, because I thought they wouldn’t let me compete. Luckily they were really nice when I got there and got me checked in and made sure I was ready to go. I had to get this spray tan that was literally ten times darker than my skin tone. It felt really weird and I for some reason kept messing it up. The next morning I had to be up at seven so I could get ready and get my hair and makeup done. It was kind of like getting ready for prom or a beauty pageant.
HCU: There’s a lot of preparation to get you up on that stage. The spray tan alone… What was posing on stage like?
KB: At the competition I was so nervous that I wasn’t lean enough or I just didn’t look good enough. When it was my turn to go, walking out onto that stage was so different. It was fun being out there showing off all your hard work! I got first call outs for both divisions I competed in! That night I found out I placed fourth in novice (which is basically for first time competitors)! I was so proud of my accomplishments!
HCU: Holding that trophy had to have been a great moment! You’re competing in Las Vegas in November. What are you doing differently? Are you training yourself?
KB: I am not doing too much different just staying on my diet and lifting four to five days a week. I do a lot of the workouts by myself. But my trainer Lynndsey still keeps me on top of my nutrition and makes sure I am on the right track!
HCU: What advice would you give other collegiette women who are looking to make a similar lifestyle change?
KB: My advice is, when starting a diet, to not cut out your favorite foods completely because that makes it ten times harder. Learn to eat those foods in portions. If you eat healthy and well most of the time then enjoy your favorites once in awhile you will be so much happier! Cardio is good, but women need to lift those weights too! Building muscle will help boost your metabolism which helps you lose weight! If women are afraid of looking “manly” or bulky, building muscle and losing fat actually makes you look smaller and gives you more of a hourglass figure in the end!
HCU:With all this fitness experience when can we expect you to start taking clients?
KB:I am actually taking clients now! I do anything from group classes to one on ones. The group classes are more affordable for college students since the amount of the hour is split between those in the group. Besides training, I also help with nutrition plans and competition prep.
HCU: How do interest parties contact you for that?
KB: Contact me directly through my Instagram @k_baretela and Facebook. Or they can go online to fitblissfitness.com