TCG: Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Shantee: My name is Shantée Cooley. I was born in Santo Domingo, D.R. raised in South Bronx, N.Y.  I’m 21 years old and have 5 older sisters, all raised like tom boys including me. I’m currently in college and enrolling into my junior year in Florida this fall.

TCG: I understand you were very athletic in your younger years, so how and when did you decide to get into weight training?

Shantee:   Starting my sophomore year in high school, I started weight training, kickboxing, and joined other sports such as volleyball and football. Junior year I played football, and it was football that made me realize, that I could do anything any man could.

In the summer of 08, a friend I met at my local gym introduced me to fitness competitions. I entered as physique competitor and fell in love with it. The whole fitness and sports industry made me realize “this is my true calling”.

TCG: I know most women do not like to discuss their bodyweight, but I still have to ask.

Shantee: I’m a lean athletic woman; I weigh 120 pounds, and a BMI of 21.

TCG: What is your favorite body part? And is there a body part that you are not too fond off/dislike?

Shantee: My favorite parts of my body are my legs and my arms. I don’t have a body part that I dislike but I’ll admit my shoulders and back are very ripped! I guess you can say I was born to be a physically fit person (hahaha) but it is no joke and its CHALLENGING.

TCG: What does your diet look like? I mean do you always eat healthy, or you occasionally pig out like the rest of us.

Shantee: The dieting part is what made me change my whole outlook on eating. I don’t personally follow a diet plan but I do follow the daily recommendations…okay sometimes. I do intake my veggies & fruits but I take in more carbs and dairy.

Out of all on the food pyramid I eat more protein than anything, during the gym and almost every time of the day. I choose to cheat twice to once a month and that is gorging myself with fast foods such as Chinese, Wendy’s, Burger King, no McDonalds, and pizza. I never had a problem with eating unhealthy because how I was raised so fast food wasn’t an issue.

TCG: Do you have an ultimate fitness goal? And how much time do you spend in the gym?

Shantee: I don’t have an ultimate goal in life but to just stay healthy and enjoy life. When I’m at the gym, I just go hard! Almost 85%-100% I use my energy and I get stuff done! “No reason to slack” I say and if there is, then I should have stayed home. If I’m not at the gym I’m definitely at home working out on the Wii or using my dumbbells.

I spend the most two hours at the gym four days a week and on Fridays and Saturdays I get my cardio in.

TCG: Are you taking any supplements?

Shantee: I’m not on any supplements, all natural for me, but I do drink protein, muscle milk, or WHEY protein. I love that stuff.

TCG: You really sound like a gym rat. Do you have a life outside the gym? What do you do for fun?

Shantee: The life outside the gym…oh boy it’s serious. I have had two jobs since I was in high school and I took care of my nieces and nephews all throughout the years. I did this while still going to school full time…so for those who say it’s impossible to raise kids while going to school and still find time to go to the gym, stop with the excuses because you can do it!

As a side hobby I like to go out and go dancing because even hard workers like me like to enjoy themselves and step out of the fast lane once in awhile. My mother and my friends say I’m always flocking around, you’ll be lucky to see me because I’m always on the go. It’s so funny but is so true. Like I always say,” I got to do what I have to do.”

TCG: So what do you say to the girls who want a body like yours but claim that they do not have the time to train?

Shantee: ” People ask me how do I keep up with fitness and how do I get a body like yours; I tell them I just find time. There’s always time for yourselves, instead of sitting home watching TV do crunches while watching it. Whenever there’s a moment where you’re not doing absolutely anything, do a little something that gets your body to move. The slightest movement does get your body to burn off calories.

Another thing is DETERMINATION. I like that better than motivation because it drives me to continue what I do best. It’s easy to be a motivator and to motivate someone but it’s the determination that gets you to the finish line. What I say to people is the next time they want to ask a person how did they get a body like that or what to do to get a body like theirs?...instead tell yourself this…I AM going to get a body like that. That way if you are so curious to find out, you go do it yourself and see that it’s not impossible. YOU CAN AND WILL make a change but not because of what you see in the media…but because of how YOU want to see yourself and then love it.