Featured Fitale – Danielle Wetenkamp

FFFC: Please introduce yourself to our readers (i.e. your name, occupation, hobbies, etc.).

Hi. I am excited to share my journey with you!

My name is Danielle Wetenkamp from Port St Lucie FL, I am 36. I have been married for 15 years and we have six kids. Yes, you read that right, SIX kids. Five boys and one baby girl! Our oldest is now 14, and our youngest is now 2. I am currently a stay at home mom, a representative for www.pure28nutirition.com, and also working on my certification through NASM to be a certified personal trainer. We were just transferred to Florida from Central Wisconsin in February 2017! I enjoy working out, especially with my older sons. All five of my sons are wrestlers. I have been a wrestling mom for a long time!

FFFC: What sparked your weight-loss transformation journey?

Being a wrestling mom is what spurred my weight loss and fitness journey. I was sick and tired of the flabby “mom” belly and out of shape “mom” bod. Sitting through so many wrestling practices and tournaments all over the country, and watching my sons workout for so many years, I knew what had to be done and how to do it. As a wrestling mom of so many, I have had to learn a lot about proper nutrition over the years. They need to make weight! Unfortunately I had never applied the concepts to myself, only to the kids. One day it hit me. I can do this to. Now I tease my oldest son that I have bigger muscles! I applied the same chemical free, all natural approach I have used for my kids, to myself! What a difference it has made!!!!

FFFC: What was your beginning and current weight or measurements?

I started my journey at 132 lbs. Over just a few months, from June 2017 to November 2017, I was able to cut my body fat and build lean muscle and I hit the stage this November at 104 lbs! My “offseason” weight is 110.

FFFC: Which physical activities did you participate in during your weight-loss journey?

When I started my journey I had no intentions of competing. I didn’t even know I could. I started by simply signing up at a gym that offered group fitness classes, and I walked into a Zumba class! The first six weeks I would take two fitness classes a day.

FFFC: What inspired you to start competing on the stage in the Bikini category?

Finally, a gym trainer asked if I had ever considered competing. It was then that I decided to move out of the classes and begin actual training. I found out about a local show and started to train for the show. I trained for six weeks and I took third at my first show! Not too bad after six pregnancies, the last of which had me on total bedrest for SEVEN months. I just competed in my second, and much larger, show two weeks ago and brought home fourth.

FFFC: What does your typical workout routine look like as you prepare for your competitions?

When training for a show I hit the gym twice a day for exactly 58 min each time. Once in the morning, and again in the evening. Having six kids means I need to be creative with my time. I start each work out with 15 min of cardio, then I move on to a full body workout that I designed myself. I like to start with hand weights and target my arms and upper body, then work legs, glutes, and back. From there I move to the machines and target abs and more targeted leg and glute workouts. From there I spend 10 min in the sauna. I do the same routine twice, seven days a week.

FFFC: What do you typically eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner as you prep for the stage?

he saying “Abs are made in the kitchen” is so true. When prepping for a show I stick to a diet I also designed myself with input from a local trainer. I eat every three hours. I cut fat, calories, sodium, and carbs. As an example my pre morning workout “meal” is four egg whites, three hours later two more egg whites and a quarter cup of spinage and asparagus, three hours after that Ill have four oz of a lean protein (chicken, fish), Ill repeat that until “dinner” which is another lean protein and a veggie of my choice. I drink 130 oz of water per day and nothing else. Clearly this is not a diet built for the long term, this is only in preparations for a show. I am a natural competitor. As a mom I do not want to fill my body with chemicals that could harm me. All of my supplements and proteins are plant based, all natural from pure28nutrition.com.

FFFC: What is your favorite fitness activity?

My favorite fitness activity is just an overall total body workout. I really love pushing my body and seeing what results I can get.

FFFC: What is the best thing about competing?

love being on stage. Up in WI I owned Furniture and Mattress stores, so I am used to being in front of strangers. I love being able to show the world that having six kids does not mean you have to “look” like you have had six kids. At one point I had three different Drs tell me I could never lose the stomach without a tummy tuck…..turns out they were wrong. Being on stage gives me the opportunity to share that and hopefully inspire more moms to do the same! I have had so much success with an all natural, chemical free approach that I am proud to represent that lifestyle on stage!

FFFC: What would you say is the most challenging about competing?

The most challenging aspect to being on stage is my own mind. Its amazing how your mind can play tricks on you. The truth is that after a show, as you slowly see the scale climb, it hurts a little bit. You put in so much hard work and now the numbers climb. Its unrealistic and unhealthy to live at stage weight, but those first few days are rough!

FFFC: What advice do you have for other women interested in competing in bikini?

I would tell any woman, especially fellow moms, that if you are interested in taking the stage you should go for it. Often times moms are told we must focus all of our energy on being a mom, but in reality we can be great moms and also improve ourselves. Yes our children are our world, but just as we want to bring our best “package” to the stage, our children deserve our best package as well….. A happy and healthy mom!!

FFFC: What future shows do you have coming up and how can folks find you on social media?

I can not wait for 2018! I am planning on stepping on stage at the Europa Games Orlando in April, along with The Ultimate Fitness Championships in Miami in June, and of course our own Treasure Coast Classic in Port St Lucie FL in August! With more shows T.B.D!! Please follow my progress on Instagram @sixkidslater, or visit www.pure28nutrition.com. You can receive an amazing 10% discount on all products using my special promo code, fitale10, designed especially for Femme Fitale Fit Club!!!!!!