Charise Parker
8
What’s the most comical or unusual comment someone has made to you? How did you deal with it?
There are so many weird comments I have heard that it is hard to pick the most comical. But just this morning I heard something pretty good from a young man whom I am mentoring as he prepares for his first bodybuilding show. He is still in high school and many of his peers are members at one of the gyms where we train. His friends saw us talking at the gym one day and they were astonished that he had the guts to approach me. Apparently, his friends are all afraid of me and commented to this young man that I “was huge” and “intimidating”.
I was a little surprised to learn that I scared the daylights out of the high school boys! I laughed pretty hard when I heard this!
Do you use a coach or nutritionist and how have they impacted your journey?
In 2014, I started working with Rick Blackwood and Donna Teimouri, the owners of Beach Bodies in Indialantic. While Rick is officially my Coach, Donna has also helped me a great deal with posing during the seminars offered at their gym and with moral support behind stage. Rick is an amazing Coach, which stems from the fact that he is an amazing person in real life. Both he and Donna are two of the most genuine and caring people you will ever meet.
They are truly concerned with the welfare of the athletes, whether or not those athletes have any affiliation with Beach Bodies. They have impacted my journey by teaching me through their own lives that winning in this industry is not about trophies collected or pro-cards earned. It is about being a good ambassador of the sport, encouraging others along the way, and having fun during the journey.
Do you have a couple mentors that help you keep track on your goals that you’d like to credit people close to you or that you look to for inspiration from afar?
Obviously, I have to give credit to Rick and Donna (see answer above). I also have to thank my first coach, Doug Cancel, who took me under his wing and taught me much of what I know about bodybuilding. Although it has been years since I trained with him in California, I always hear his voice in the back of my head telling me to “enjoy each rep”! Dana Linn Bailey is also a huge inspiration, and I watch her video blogs on a daily basis!
Share anything additional that you’d like people to know about you.
One of my ultimate goals in life is to work with teenage girls struggling with body image issues. I myself struggled with eating disorders throughout high school and many well-meaning people told me it
was something I would have the “battle” for the rest of my life. I am here to say that this is not true. There is a better way to live and there is hope for a FULL recovery for young women dealing with such eating disorders.
What is your favorite non-athletic activity?
Anything as long as it involves spending time with my husband, Anthony Robinson!
Stats: Height 5’2”
Weight Contest weight: 120-125 lbs
Off-season weight: ~130-140 lbs
Measurements: Waist In season 27”
Preferred Contact Info
Email [email protected]
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