In The Gym with Cassandra Sawyer

Cassandra Sawyer - Natural Fit Mom

FFFC:  Please introduce yourself to our readers.

CS:  My name is Cassandra Sawyer.  I am a 34 year old, honored mother of two impossibly perfect children.  I work full-time as a Director of Human Resources, while running my own Personal Training business and working as a part-time Coach for RoxStar Fitness.

FFFC:  How did you get started in fitness and working out?

CS:  You know, I don’t really remember.  Like most women, I’ve been on and off every diet and workout craze there is.  I got serious about fitness, shortly before my son’s first birthday when I realized I couldn’t use the excuse that I “just” had a baby, anymore!  I was doing one of those popular fitness DVD’s when I dislocated my knee.  It was then that I went in search of ways to exercise that wouldn’t have any joint impact and I discovered bodybuilding.  I picked up a dumbbell and never looked back

FFFC:  How and why did you make fitness your career choice?

CS:  Being an HR professional, for many years, I have been intimately involved with the creation and maintenance of corporate wellness programs and love every second of it.  I then discovered bodybuilding in my personal life and felt uniquely blessed to have these parts of my life align.  This harmony has spoken to me and leads me to believe I have found my calling.

FFFC:  What motivated you to go IFBB pro?

CS:  Well, I’m not an IFBB Pro….yet!  I’m an all or nothing kind of person.  I’m either on or off.  There is no dimmer dial on me.  So, after my first show, I realized I loved this sport and decided to continue to compete.  I don’t see any option other than to follow this through until I go pro.

Cassandra Sawyer - Natural Fit Mom

FFFC:  How do you balance making time to get in your workouts with the demands of your career and personal life?

CS:  Well, I get up at the crack of stupid o’clock and half past insane….otherwise known at 3:30am, every morning.  I like to start my day off with my workouts, so that it sets the tone for everything else.  After that,

 While, some people may think that sounds boring or crazy, I find it liberating.  I try to live as much life as possible every day and by sticking to a schedule, I get to squeeze in a lot of  life!

FFFC:  What do you like most about working out?

CS:  My alone time.  De-stressor. The constant challenge.  The way it makes me feel.  The feeling afterward.  The affect it has on my body.  The mental clarity.  Get to eat more. Shall I continue?  LOL…

FFFC:  What is your favorite form of exercise?

CS:  I love old fashioned bodybuilding.  Picking up and putting down really heavy weights.  I love isolation exercises that allow me to really focus on the muscle I’m working.  It’s not the trend right now.  Most people are into compound and cardio-esque exercises.  I like to keep things simple.

FFFC:  What do you consider the most useful piece of workout equipment?

CS:  Hhhhmmm…..that’s a good one!  I’d have to say a dumbbell.  You can work ANY part of your body with a dumbbell.  They can be found and taken almost anywhere.

FFFC:  What do you think is the biggest misconception about fitness and bodybuilding and what you do?

CS:  Hands down the biggest misconception is that bodybuilding will make women bulky.  When the truth is far from it!  Lifting heavy will give a woman curves, lean muscle and the tightest body she could wish for.  The second misconception is that you can eat anything you want because you work out.  Well, I guess, technically you can, but you just won’t lose any fat!

FFFC:  What tips can you offer a woman trying to balance family, career and a fitness program?

CS:  

 Second, make them ALL a priority.  You aren’t being asked to sacrifice one for the other.  And believe it or not that making sure fitness is a priority helps you with being better at the rest!  Third, make a plan and stick to it.  No matter if you’re tired, grumpy or PMSing, just do what you said you were going to do and watch the results pay off!

Cassandra Sawyer of Natural Fit Mom and family

FFFC:  Do you have any words of wisdom to share with our readers who continue to struggle with poor diet choices?

CS:  My epiphany was when I understood that our health starts at a cellular level.  Our cells crave nutrition and what we consume either feeds or starve those cells.  I realized that most of the “food” we eat is not grown by a farmer or cooked by a chef.  It’s created by a chemist who is paid to make it look and taste like real food.  It’s then preserved and processed into bags, boxes and cans as “food”.  No wonder, I didn’t look healthy and fit….because I wasn’t.  My cells were craving real nutrients, but getting fake instead.  They were starving, malnourished, weak and sick.  Eating healthy became easier after understanding that.  It changed everything.

FFFC:  What new projects do you have coming up (i.e. events, appearances, shows, etc.)

CS:  Well, I’ll be competing through the end of July…a total of 4 shows this year.  I have a couple of exciting projects in the works that I hope to have fully finished by Fall.  Overall, it will be a very busy year, but I wouldn’t have it any other way!

Cassandra Sawyer of Natural Fit Mom

FFFC:  What would you say is your biggest accomplishment to date in the world of fitness?

CS:  While I’ve won awards and had great placings, I believe my greatest accomplishment was making the decision that I could do it.  Not only making the decision for myself, but having the guts to tell people I was doing it.  The fear of failure and judgment was very real, but I wouldn’t let it debilitate me.  And now, not even 2 years later, I cannot imagine my life without fitness.  THANK GOD, I didn’t let fear get the best of me.

FFFC:  Who is your fitness idol?

CS:  I don’t have just one.  There are so many phenomenal women in this sport that I look up to for different reasons.  Another reason I love it.  The most awesome of awesome women are bodybuilding competitors and I’m learning from them all, daily!

FFFC:  Where can our readers find you online to read more about you?

CS:  Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/NaturalFitMom

Instagram – http://instagram.com/naturalfitmom

Pinterest – http://www.pinterest.com/naturalfitmom/

You Tube – https://www.youtube.com/user/NaturalFitnessMom

Twitter – https://twitter.com/NaturalFitMom

Cassandra Sawyer of Natural Fit Mom

In The Gym Interview Series Stamp

8 Replies to "In The Gym with Cassandra Sawyer"

  • comment-avatar
    Deborah Davis
    Twitter:
    June 12, 2014 (5:06 pm)

    Wow, I can’t believe how amazingly fit and fabulous Cassandra is. Thank you for sharing her story. What an inspiration!
    o

    • comment-avatar
      Diatta
      Twitter:
      June 12, 2014 (5:14 pm)

      Oh yes she is.

  • comment-avatar
    Heather June 14, 2014 (5:29 pm)

    Such an inspiration! I love that you shared the two pictures at the same weight. It’s a perfect reminder that the scale is not everything!
    o

  • comment-avatar
    The Frugal Exerciser
    Twitter:
    June 16, 2014 (4:33 pm)

    Her body is awesome and such an inspiration, it makes me want to get that lean once in my life to say, that I did it. Loved her story and visiting from the #wowlinkup
    o

  • comment-avatar
    Stephanie
    Twitter:
    December 28, 2014 (11:49 pm)

    I have followed Cassandra aka Natural Fit Mom on Facebook for awhile now! Thanks for sharing her story, she is truly inspiring!
    o

  • comment-avatar
    Katrina
    Twitter:
    December 29, 2014 (7:27 am)

    What a neat perspective! I am so blown away by competitors and their discipline for workouts and nutrition WHILE working a full time job!
    o

    • comment-avatar
      Diatta
      Twitter:
      December 29, 2014 (10:29 am)

      Isn’t that impressive?

  • 2014 Year In Review December 31, 2014 (12:01 am)

    […] In The Gym with Cassandra Sawyer – What can I say about Cassandra?  She shows you how to be a woman who can do and have it all with a little planning.  She also set her sights on a goal to compete and smashed that goal and showed the world she is a force. […]