Puppies, Big Butts, 5am Workouts

Q & A with On Repeat Sports' Executive Assistant & Brand Ambassador: Manuela Velasquez

ORS: When and why did you start lifting? When do you feel like you became a serious lifter?

Manuela: I started lifting in high school, because I was unhappy with the way my body looked. I feel like I became a serious lifter during the Covid-19 lockdown. Before that, I was going to the gym frequently, but I did not have a plan or a goal. When gyms reopened for outdoor operations, I got serious about lifting, because I had gained weight from not exercising. I became more comfortable with weights and started lifting heavier and trainer harder than I had ever before.

ORS: What time of day do you train and why?

Manuela: I train at 5am every day, because it fits with my work and school schedule. I also feel more energized throughout the day if I start my day with a workout.

ORS: What do you listen to on repeat at the gym to get you into beast mode?

Manuela: I don’t necessarily listen to anything on repeat at the gym, but anything with a fun beat gets me in beast mode.

ORS: Do you have a favorite exercise?

Manuela: My favorite exercise is the hip thrust. Hip thrusts are my heaviest lifts, and nothing is better than working to grow the glutes!

ORS: What is your main fitness goal for the coming year?

Manuela: My main fitness goal for the coming year would be to increase my strength. I feel like I have hit a dead end in some of my lifts, and I can’t seem to go up in weight. I am working to find ways to become stronger.

ORS: Do you write down your goals?

Manuela: I don’t write down my goals. I keep myself on track with my goals by reminding myself everyday what they are and how to accomplish them.

ORS: What has led to the biggest improvements in your training or physique?

Manuela: Being consistent in the gym and doing research on fitness and nutrition have led to the biggest improvements in my training. Eating more and clean has definitely helped me get closer to my ideal physique.

ORS: Who inspires you in the gym? Do you have a hero?

Manuela: My boyfriend, Bryan Christy, inspires me in the gym. Originally, he taught me everything I know about the gym and helped me become comfortable in a gym environment. Bryan trains extremely hard and accomplishes everything he puts his mind to, when it comes to his fitness goals. He is my hero, because he recently completed a triathlon and trained hard every day in order to perform well. Even though it was his first triathlon, he finished 17th out of 156 people and 4th in his age group, which is so amazing, and I am so proud of him!

ORS: What is most overlooked when it comes to getting the results you want in the gym?

Manuela: Being knowledgeable. I feel like many people, including myself when I first started working out, go into the gym blindly doing workouts that won’t get them to where they want to be.

ORS: What advice would you give someone new to the gym?

Manuela: Ask for help. There is nothing wrong with asking for advice, because we all start somewhere. Working in a gym for 3 years made me realize that anyone new to the gym should work with a trainer, even if it’s only for a month. Training can be pricey, but you can’t really put a price on your health.