Age:                    35 – Pisces

Height:                5’5 3/4"

Weight:               140 off season, 130 contest

Status:                Engaged

Division:             NPC Fitness Athlete, Figure Athlete

Location:            Bellevue, WA

Hometown:        Issaquah, WA

Gym:                  LA Fitness, Bellevue, WA

Contest History:

2012 Arnold Amateur Tall Fitness, 5th Place
2011 Excalibur Class E Figure, 5th Place
2003 Emerald Cup Fitness, 4th Place
2003 Vancouer Natural Fitness, 2nd Place
2001 Emerald Cup Figure, 12th Place
2001 Vancouver Natural Figure, 10th Place
2000 Ironman Natural Fitness, 7th Place
2000 Northwest Fitness, 9th Place

 
Occupation:

BSN Inc. Field Sales Rep
Independent Certified Personal Trainer, Sports Nutrition

Fitness, Figure & Bikini Competition Coach

Regional NPC Judge

Events & Talent

Seminar Speaker

Photographer Assistant

Writer, Blogger

Sites:

http://shannongill.com

http://blog.shannongill.com

http://twitter.com/ (Trainer Shannon)

http://facebook.com (TrainerShannonGill)

http://bodyspace.com (TrainerShannon)

Training:                               Since 1998

Favorite Exercise:                Anything  Legs :)

Favorite Body Part:             Quads

Favorite Diet Food:              Orange Roughy & Asparagus

Favorite Cheat Food:          Sushi Maru Restaurant! 

Favorite Workout Music:    Metal, Techno, Dance, Hip Hop...all things!

Sports Background:

                                                Jr. Athletics: Tack, Volleyball

                                                High School Co-Captain Dance/ Drill Team

                                                High School Record Holder in Weight Lifting

How I got started:

My dear sister, IFBB Fitness Pro – Sandy Grant, invited me to watch her “fitness routine practice” one day, and I had an epiphany right there while watching! I wanted to do this too. We had always watched the Fitness America Pageants, Miss USA & Cheerleading competitions on ESPN2. When Sandy started to prepare for her first show, I can honestly say I was a bit skeptical, but Sandy had always followed a strict eating plan, so I had some idea what it entailed. But I had no idea what dieting and training can do to a woman's physique! Sandy won....many times since then as well!

She got me in touch with her nutritionist and fitness coach at the time, and I began completely changing my lifestyle. I had grown accustomed to late nights out with friends and fast food on the way home. Integrating healthy balanced meals with early morning cardio was tough at first. I took progress pictures every month, and I was truly amazed with my transformation. Sandy was with me every day in the gym, teaching me how to lift properly, motivating me to keep going when I was tired or discouraged, and was my ultimate cheerleader and best friend throughout my contest prep.

Finding myself a very shy person, my fitness coach helped bring out a fun and funky personality that I had always held back on. I was hooked on the sport once I began my actual Fitness Mandatory Routine. All of my joy and passion went into my performances.

After my 2003 contests, I was in a car accident, and my injuries kept me from prepping for the 2004 Nationals that I had originally had planned on competing in. I came to rely on famed Contest Suit Designer, Merry Christine (http://merrychristine.com), to help me with my rehabilitation. She helped get me to walk normal, start lifting again, and changed my life forever. She became a great friend and mentor to me.

I started training Fitness and Figure Athletes in 2002, and haven’t looked back! I find great joy in “Paying it Forward”. My sister helped me find my joy in life in fitness. I hope that by guiding others, they too can find the happiness of leading a healthier lifestyle, and look fantastic while doing it.

Sandy and I have since moved onto different Trainers, Nutritionist & Choreographers… but we never forget about the people that helped raise us in the sport. I currently train with Mike Davies of the Fitness Factory (http://mikedaviesfitness.com) and am looking forward to each new season.

I fell in love with my Fiancé, Jim Wallingford (http://jimwallingford.com), in 2002. We saw each other in the gym  every morning since 1999. He is the ultimate gentleman. We have been inseparable since then, and he is with me at every show, as he is a Photographer at the bodybuilding, fitness/figure contests. Check out his site.

AS FOR YOU....

Everyone is different, and that's the best thing. I learned that it's okay to try new things. Try different training types. Try a different way of eating. Explore what your body reacts positively to. See what you can stick to!  I had to make some pretty hard decisions on changing my lifestyle, or so I thought at the time. It turned out that by giving up my destructive lifestyle and moving on - past the folks that were holding me back from my potential, and getting my tush off the couch - was the easiest choice I could have ever made. I am no longer a victim of my own making, of my surroundings.

GET UP AND GET GOING! LIFE IS SHORT!

We are all incredibly strong, inside and out, and sometimes, a tough workout can go a long way, empowering a once weak mind.

I hope that with my experiences, I can lead you on YOUR Fitness path and give you the tools necessary to continue on, so you in turn, can pass the gift of fitness.

You will make it okay for someone else in your life to finally reach THEIR fitness goals too.
 
I am an intense trainer that get's in your business. I want to make sure that we identify bad habits and nip them in the bud! I insist on training a particular way, to get a particular result. Stick with me, and you'll get there!

You spend just a bit of time with me and you're on your own for the rest of the day, and hopefully, with encouragement, you make good choices and constantly strive for success.

Everyone's got their own story, their own backgrounds, their own dreams and goals.

Let's get you to yours and beyond.  

You are never alone...

~Trainer Shannon