Model Daniela Laura

A Conversation with Daniela Laura

This month, 2Inspire welcomes INN health coach, personal trainer and WBFF Bikini Pro Model Daniela Laura. Dani was born in Brazil and moved to the United States in 2006. She’s been competing since 2015 and embraces the hard training that precedes a competition. Today, she shares some of the reasons she fell in love with competing.

Dennis Postema: Tell me about why you moved to the United States from Brazil.

Daniela Laura: I arrived in the U.S. in 2006, looking for a better life. I started working and met my husband in 2007. We had our first child, Isabella, in October 2008 and our son, Anthony, in 2012.

Dennis: So it’s been a busy decade for you— how did you get into the health and fitness industry?

Dani: When I first started training in 2010, I did it to improve my physical appearance. Once I started training and seeing my progress, I loved it. Then, about five years ago, fitness started to grow a lot on social media and I got the opportunity to see a lot of famous Brazilian athletes all over Instagram. This inspired me to begin training harder and start learning about the human body, proper nutrition and muscle growth.

When I first thought about competing and I entered a show, I was not sure if competition 18 was what I really wanted. But my view changed as soon as I arrived at the first event. Once I met the other athletes and stepped out onto the stage that first time, I realized that competition was something that I really did enjoy. Since then, I look forward to training hard so that I can show improvement every time I step onto the stage.

Dennis: With COVID, how are you able to work out effectively?

Dani: Thankfully, I have a little gym at home. During COVID-19 we expanded the gym and purchased a leg press and leg extension/curl machine. This allowed me to continue my training just like when I was training at the gym. However, I also discovered that I could train outside. I often went to the Jersey Shore and trained by the beach, using my gym mat and light dumbbells. I did mostly bodyweight exercises and was surprised that I could get such an effective workout. I still incorporate these outdoor training sessions into my routine several Dennis: What is a regular training day like for you?

Dani: I usually work out for 45 minutes to an hour. During my off-season I’ll add another 15 or 20 minutes of cardio. If I’m in competition mode, I add 30 to 45 minutes of cardio.

Dennis: Is there a big difference between the competition period and noncompetition period in terms of what you eat?

Dani: Yes. It changes a lot. My preferred diet is to eat foods high in protein and low in carbohydrates. I also eat a small amount of good fats and limit bad fats and sugars. When I’m prepping for competition, usually I eat five to six meals a day and it’s oats and eggs, chicken, sweet potato, vegetables, a lot of greens, Spanish arugula and protein shakes.

Dennis: How long is the competition season?

Dani: Usually 12 weeks, but because I’ve been doing this for so long, it depends on what my body looks like. The last prep, it took

seven weeks for me to be ready.

Dennis: Tell me about your personal training and health coaching.

Dani: I enjoy helping others, especially when it comes to teaching proper workout techniques and proper diet. I provide people with diets, nutrition and workout programs either online or in person. I currently train people in my home gym but during the spring and summer, I also trained individuals and groups outdoors. I just recently “went live” with a new fitness app.

No matter what I’m doing, my goal is to motivate and keep pushing people— make them believe that it is possible. I’m the example for them. I have two kids, and I always tell my clients what I’ve been through and I really make them believe in themselves.

Dennis: What made you want to be a competitor?

Dani: I wanted to see the maximum I could do. The minute I stepped on stage, I fell in love. I’m like, “This is what I want to do.” It’s always so fun. There’s always something good about competing; that’s what keeps me going.

Dennis: Was it scary the first time you stepped out on stage?

Dani: Oh yeah, it was. I messed up my whole presentation, I was very nervous.

Dennis: How long are you usually on stage during a competition?

Dani: It depends on how many girls are competing in my class. Usually, it’s 15 to 20 girls, so we just walk around for two minutes. You do your presentation and then you line up in the back while the others finish their presentation.

Dennis: What type of advice would you give others who want to compete?

Dani: I would say do it for yourself, because you never know what’s going to happen. No matter what, there’s always something good about competing. It’s you competing with yourself, and as long as you are better than you were yesterday, you are winning.

Focus on yourself and just do your thing and go out there with confidence and show your work and be proud of yourself. That’s what I do.

Dennis: What do you suggest for people who are trying to get down to their ideal weight?

Dani: They have to train and they have to diet properly. Stop eating so much junk and start doing a little exercise daily. It’s simple. You’ve just got to be consistent.

I don’t do anything crazy and extreme unless I’m close to competition. The last two weeks before competition, the diet gets pretty hard and you’re always hungry. But in my everyday life, I just try to eat healthily. I have my [cheat] meals on the weekend. I enjoy my life. I have a glass of wine. I don’t like to have rules. I think everyone is different and we have to enjoy life. It has to be a pleasure, not a sacrifice all the time.

Dennis: How many meals a day do you eat?

Dani: I usually have four to six meals a day when I’m prepping. When I’m off-season, I’m a little relaxed and my meals are bigger because I try not to be so extreme. I try to satisfy myself by eating three or four meals. When I’m hungry, I eat. And if it’s nighttime, I go to the foods that I know are good for my body.

Dennis: What advice would you give to a younger you, or someone just getting started?

Dani: Believe in yourself. Whatever you want to do in life is possible. Just believe in yourself, have the right mindset and go for what you love.

You can learn more about Dani by visiting her Instagram, @dani_ laurafit, or emailing her at danilaura32@gmail.com.

Everyone has heard of high cholesterol. Some foods contain higher cholesterol levels than others, and should be eaten in moderation. If you eat a lot of eggs and ice cream, cheeseburgers and macaroni and cheese, steak and fried chicken, your cholesterol level might be too high. You can alternately eat cholesterol-fighting foods like oatmeal, apples, pears, whole grains, beans and salmon to help lower your cholesterol level. But how do you know if you have an unhealthy level in the first place?

The first move you need to make is have your cholesterol level checked by your doctor or health professional. Once you get

that number, understand that maintaining a high level of cholesterol could lead to the following health dangers.

• Plaque buildup in your arteries • Pain in your jaws • Gallstones • A numbness in your legs • Bloody stool • Chest pains • Heart attack • Mental deficiencies • Hardening of the arteries • Stroke • Hypertension (high blood pressure) • Multiple heart diseases

These are just a few of the many physical problems that a high cholesterol level can contribute to. Fortunately, unless you suffer from familial hypercholesterolemia (FH), a genetic and inherited disorder, your cholesterol level can be positively and quickly affected by making some simple lifestyle changes. And even if FH is the cause of your heightened cholesterol, those same lifestyle changes can help lower your numbers to a more acceptable level.

Lose that extra weight

By practicing the 5 following smart cholesterol habits, you can lose excess fat and pounds. A simple 5% to 10% drop in body weight significantly reduces your cholesterol level.

Exercise for 2 to 3 hours weekly

If you can spare 2 to 3 hours a week for moderate to moderately intense exercise, spread out over 3 to 5 days, you can raise your good (HDL) cholesterol level.

Start eating heart healthy foods

Whole grains, fruits, vegetables, food rich in dietary fiber – these are all heart healthy foods which naturally regulate your proper cholesterol level. Processed foods, sugar, salt and white flour should be avoided. Stop chewing or smoking tobacco

Tobacco is not required in the human body. It causes increased levels of LDL, leading to an unhealthy cholesterol situation. Just 24 hours after you stop smoking or chewing tobacco your risk of heart disease is cut in half.

Enjoy alcohol … moderately

Drinking 1 or 2 alcoholic beverages 2 to 4 times a week can be healthy for you. Anymore than that can do serious damage to your liver, your heart and kidneys, and raise unhealthy levels of bad (LDL) cholesterol.

Get enough rest and drink lots of water

The amazing ability of the simple H2O compound to detox and purify your body is close to miraculous. Drink water several times throughout the day, and combine with plenty of proper rest at night. This basic one-two punch can pack lots of health benefits, including helping you regulate