Rebecca Boyer Interview

This is the part where I introduce the person I am interviewing. Try and tell a little about their story. Basically let you know who you are about to read about. I'm not going to do that here. I don't feel I can give justice to Rebecca Boyer's story. Believe me I tried. I wrote out this nice long intro, and then read it, and said "this is not adequate". You see, Rebecca has an amazing story. It isn't a story of a girl who decided to work out and then compete. Rebecca competed way before she got on stage. She competed with cancer, she competed with many things, and she won every time. To me, Rebecca wasn't getting on stage at the Contra Costa to try and win. She was getting on stage to show she already is a winner. So read this, and let Rebecca do justice to her story, and tell it how it should be told.




Q: First, Rebecca, I want to thank you for taking the time to do this.
A: Thank you Jason for allowing me to give this interview. What an honor to be among the women that are apart of the Promoting Real Women page!

Q: Can you start out by telling a little about yourself.
A: I am from a small town in Ohio called Mt. Gilead where my parents still reside. I have an older sister and brother, which makes me very much the baby of the family in every way! Up until a year ago I too lived in Ohio then we packed up what we could fit in the old Durango and drove 2300 miles to a town called Morgan Hill in California with my husband and children. I am currently the Health and Wellness Director/Personal Trainer at the Centennial Recreation Center.

Q: Before the gym were you an especially athletic person? Play any sports or anything?
A: My father was our high school football and basketball coach. So in our family being active wasn’t an option it was a given. I played basketball, flag football, swim team, dive team, cheerleader, soccer, summer softball, and was on the track team (hurdles and high jump) Like I said, being active was a given! So I guess you could say yes I was an especially athletic person from the time I was born.


Q: What initially led you into the gym?
A: I spent a good part of my life trying to live up to an expectation that second place was first loser. I wanted to be the best at what I did. I didn’t like when someone told me I couldn’t. I knew in high school that I loved the weight room. I was one of only five girls that really went into the weight room back then. I loved the dark cold dirty feeling of it. The sound of the weights hitting the floor, the loud music, typically Metallica back then and the feeling I got when lifting! I felt larger than life and I knew that in some way this had to continue!

Q: Was training something you picked up fairly easy? How long before you started to see results?
A: I am told that I am a bit of a genetic freak…. Training makes sense to me on a muscular level. I can visualize what I want to work and really tap into that body part. I think my F YOU attitude helps because if you tell me I can’t, I’m going to do it and prove you wrong. I work hard every day to get the results I want. It doesn’t come easy and my life is diet and the gym.

Q: You just competed for the first time. What show did you do and how did you do?
A: I competed in the 2011 Contra Costa Body Building, Figure and Bikini
In the Masters Figure B class 35+ I placed 2nd and in the Open Figure F class I placed 3rd

Q: Is competing something your family and friends supported?
A: Two years ago when I found out that I had cancer I made a goal for myself to get on stage. My husband deserves a BIG thank you!! He is my rock and his support has been amazing! I have a full time job and a family and he was responsible for training me and making all of my food and really keeping me focused. With out his support keeping me on track I don’t think I could have done it. I also had amazing support from my friends, co- workers and in laws. Another big supporter through all of this and someone who has become very much a part of the family is Kat Ramirez. She is amazing at what she does and I am blessed to know her!


Q: Was competing what you expected or did anything surprise you about it?
A:Totally shocked the hell out of me!!! My goal from the beginning was just to get on stage, to show people that what I went through didn’t mean I had to settle for being miserable. I wanted to inspire people to work hard and I never really thought that for my first show it would turn out like it did. The experience was a good one. I sat back and took it all in. Was gracious to the other competitors, and thankful for being able to stand on stage next to all of them. The science behind the diet intrigued me from the beginning and it was a really cool experience to see what my body did and how it reacted when given certain foods.

Q: Is competing something you plan to do more of?
A: I am now prepping for USA’s in 11 weeks in Vegas. So for me this continues. I think I am a little more focused now and really want to see where this can go.

Q: As far as body parts, what do you feel is your best one?
A: Shoulders for sure!

Q: Do you have a part you most like to train or favorite exercise?
A: I don’t really have a favorite, which I know may sound weird but I truthfully like them all. I love gym time. Nothing better than putting in the headphones and getting under some iron! It all geeks me out! I dread NO day in the gym.


Q: What is your normal training routine and diet like and how do you alter it for contest prep?
A: My normal training routine is weights and cardio 5 days a week. My diet is a lot of chicken, fish, veggies and yams broken up into 6 small meals a day. I have Celiacs disease, which means I can’t eat glutens so I get creative with my foods. For contest prep I up weight training to 6 days a week so I am able to work on any lagging body part I need to and my cardio everyday for an hour. My contest diet is a modified Keto diet. But basically I eat what my coaches tell me!


Q: When someone sees your physique or hears you compete for the first time, what is the most common reaction? More positive or negative?
A: Living in California in a community that is very fitness and health oriented, I get more positive than negative reactions. I have found that for most it has been motivation for them to get healthy so I am happy to see that.

Q: When they see it that first time, what is the one question or comment you are most sick of hearing?
A: I have found that most people get really confused with the no gluten thing with me so I get a lot of “ Are you aloud to eat that?” on foods like potatoes, rice and for some reason people think nuts are glutens…. So I find I am constantly saying wheat, rye or barley those are glutens! Rice is not gluten.

15. What is the biggest misconception about women who train and compete or the one thing you wish people understood?
A: For me it’s that I can go into the gym and train like the guys. My training for this show was old school lifting. Hard sweaty and dirty! So the misconception is that women have to do a ton of plyo and cardio type exercises to shape their bodies. I do however think and recognize that people are different and that you need to find what works best for you.

Q: What is the best and worst part of training for you?
A: The best part for me is watching my body transform. The worst part and I’m not going to lie is the cardio! My motto in the gym is “I only run when chased” so cardio kills me I dread it!

Q: Do you have any favorite competitors or any you admire?
A: Katherine Ramirez and Larissa Reis to name two… Kat was my inspiration to continue, my support when I needed it and someone I look up to and am proud to call a friend. Larissa because she is who she is and I like that about her.

Q: Do you have a favorite cheat food?
A: My gluten free pancakes and Denny’s!



Q: If another woman told you she wanted to start training, what is the one piece of advice you would most want to give her?
A: I would tell her to set realistic goals and to stick to it. That change doesn’t happen over night and it takes a life style change to do this. I didn’t just wake up 2 weeks before and say I think I’ll do a show. My prep started a year ago for this. You have to be disciplined and some of your friends or even spouse isn’t going to understand. You have to really want to do this and if you are miserable at any point then it’s not for you.

Q: Do you think its becoming more common to see women using the weights in the gym as opposed to just doing cardio and things?
A: Absolutely, I see more and more women in the free weight area every day. It’s not for everyone and that is okay but I think more and more women are getting the confidence to weight train and they are realizing that building muscle helps burn fat.

Q: Outside of training, any other hobbies or activities you enjoy?
A: I love the beach and if I’m not in the gym I’m at the beach with my family playing in the sand and the ocean. Thinking now that we are so close I’m going to learn to surf with the kids!

Q: Can you describe a typical day in the life of Rebecca Boyer.
A: Well I am not a morning person so I like to wake up before everyone and have my coffee in silence. This is when I piece together my day and get my morning cardio in. I multi task while making breakfast and get all of my meals packed for the day because once I’m out of the house I’m not back until late. Most days I am at the gym for 10 hours. I train anywhere from 3 to 5 clients a day, teach a pilates class in between meetings and providing member service. I eat every 3 hours so when my alarm goes off everyone knows to get out of my way. In the afternoon I get my workout in and if time permits some more cardio. In the evening when I get home I spend time with the kids and dinner is always spent as a family. For me spending time as a family in the evening is the most important because I am so busy. My husband is very much my personal assistant throughout the day so it is nice to just be us in the evening. My weekends are all about family. My husband is my best friend. We don’t do much without each other or the kids.

Q: Describe Rebecca Boyer in five words.
A: Another person that has supported me has been Cindy Legare and this just about sums it up so I’m going to borrow this because I’d like to think that I am a DURTI Girl!!!
~DETERMINED
~UNSTOPPABLE
~RELENTLESS
~TENACIOUS
~IRRESISTABLE

Q: What is one thing people would be surprised to know about you?
A: That I have given birth to three kids, had major neck surgery and have lived through cancer.

Q: Any set plans for the near future as far as competing or anything else?
A: I am in full prep for the USA’s in Vegas on July 29th. After that we will see

Q: Anything you want to take this opportunity to plug or promote?
A: IFBB Pro Katherine Ramirez… xoxoxo you are my inspiration and I love you thank you for all your support and most importantly your friendship!
~Jerry Beck for the support and love on this journey and the kick ass IA gear I get to pimp in the gym! Keep drawing and inspiring the beast within!
~ Richard and April Stone at TKO Nutrition, thank you for encouraging my dream and for the support!
~Cindy Legare and Legare Wear, Keep it DURTI and keep it real! Xoxo
~My husband and family for supporting me like no other and for putting up with me! I love you!
~And last but certainly not least Jason Adams and the Promoting Real Women page for believing in me, encouraging me and supporting me every step of the way and for giving me the opportunity to tell my story.


Q: Are you looking for sponsors? If so how can they reach you and what are they getting in Rebecca Boyer the athlete and competitor?
A: As a new athlete I am always open to sponsorships. I can be reached by my facebook page Rebecca Iron Chick Boyer or by email at boyerfitness@gmail.com. What they would be getting is a hard worker, I live this life and I am not afraid to work hard for what I want. My goal is to inspire people by showing them that I am real, I’m not perfect but my work ethic is like no other and I am thankful for everything in my life.

Q: Rebecca, again, I thank you for taking the time to do this and congrats on your first show. Very happy and excited for you. Any last words before you go?
A: Thank you Jason for giving me this opportunity to share a little about myself and to all the readers dream big and don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t! Had I listened to the doctors two years ago I’d be miserable today. Adapt and Overcome and you can do anything you put your mind to!!!