Future Freaks #Fitspires of the Week: Inspiration Through Fitness Interview With: Derek “Tarzan” Phillips – 100% Dedication!
#Fitspires of the Week: Inspiration Through Fitness
Derek “Tarzan” Phillips – 100% Dedication!
What gives someone the right to consider themselves a successful fitness model or personality in the industry? Is it the amount of covers one can land because of their physique? Could it be how many sponsors they are able to grab to help support them? Or is it the amount of money one can make between different modeling/ fitness gigs?
Everyone will tell you something different, but if there is one thing that is hard to disagree with, it’s the ability to promote and market yourself to others. Social media has begun to play a huge role in self marketing as an athlete, competitor, fitness model or personality in the Industry. These days, you don't need a modeling agency to help promote you, or a company to take you on as a sponsored athlete in order for you to be seen in the industry.
Someone who once could have been just an average fit person, now has the ability to transform themselves into a “Social Media Fitness Star!” If you put in the time, the effort, and truly have a passion for fitness, you can change yourself from just a face with a body, to a bona fide personality – someone able to inspire and motivate others on their own fitness journey!
Derek Phillips a.k.a. Tarzan, age 20, and hailing from Salt Lake City, Utah, is proof that if you put in the time, effort, hard work in the gym AND the kitchen, and use social media as a tool to self-promote, you can turn your average health/fit lifestyle into a network that reaches out to endless amounts of people who want to take the time out to follow your journey.
Q: Tell me about your competitive history.
A: I played sports since I was 6 years old, and continued to play sports up until midway through high school, where I stopped and focused full-time on lifting and aesthetics.
Q: When did you get started on your fitness career/journey? What made you want become more than just the average person living a healthy and fit lifestyle?
A: I started to do push-ups, sit-ups, and pull-ups when I was 8 years old because my dad wanted me to start getting ready for football. When I first started to do these exercises, I immediately felt a connection with the burn and pain in the muscle and fell in love. I would wake up every morning and make sure to do my exercises.
I would say it all started from there. When I began to see results quickly, I knew this was the life I wanted to live and I never looked back. I continue to only look forward on this journey, and seeing how far I have come only adds to the passion I have for this sport and that is why I live this lifestyle.
Q: Being that you have a loyal social media following, what is some advice that you would offer someone wanting to increase their popularity in the Fitness industry? What tip can you give someone to help them build their following as well?
A: My number one and only advice I can give to anyone with a dream is to keep on chasing and don’t ever stop. Too many people stop chasing what they truly want. They think that it won’t be possible, but I’m here to tell you that it is possible and your dreams are worth it.
Q: Do you consider this as your part/full time job or a hobby?
A: I don’t consider fitness/aesthetics as a job or a hobby; I consider it as my life. When it comes to this sport you have to be willing to make it your religion, because it is a 24-hour, 365-days-a-year sport, and you won’t get out what you want from it until you are dedicated to your grind 
100 percent.
Q: There are many people that motivate and are inspired by you. How does that make you feel knowing that there are people who take the time to see what you are doing day to day?
A: It means more to me than I can explain. Having a support system is one of the greatest blessings in the world. I can only hope that I continue to motivate and inspire as that is what I truly do all of this for.
Q: Is there anyone who has motivated or inspired you to become the person you are today?
A: My family of course, but a big part of who I am today comes from my friends/team who I have been working out with since the beginning. I have been working out with the same group of kids for five years now and we always push each other to be the best we can every day.
Q: How does your family feel about your lifestyle? What would you say to someone whose family does not support their lifestyle?
A: My family supports my lifestyle to the fullest, however my mom does get annoyed that I’m constantly in the kitchen making messes after she has cleaned up from my last mess, but she knows that with this lifestyle comes 6 meals a day and she understands. For someone that is in a situation where their family doesn’t support their decision in embarking on the fitness road, I say continue doing it and the results that you continue to get will eventually motivate and inspire not only friends around you but your family as well.
Q: Of all the social media outlets (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.), what do you think is the most effective to use in order to market yourself in this industry?
A: I think that Instagram is fitness’s best friend, because there isn’t anything better for someone in the fitness industry than a social media site based off of pictures and videos. We all love taking pictures of ourselves and our food and there isn’t an easier way to share, than Instagram.
Q: What is your diet like? Do you eat clean all year round?
A: My diet consists of high protein, moderate fat and moderate carbohydrates. I incorporate cheat meals, especially in my off season, as my metabolism is fast and I train hard year-round.
Meal 1: 1 cup of Oats with Berries & 6 Whole Eggs
Meal 2: 8oz. Chicken, 1/2 cup of Nuts, 1 cup of Rice & a large Salad with Olive Oil
Meal 3: 8oz. Steak & 1 cup of Rice
Meal 4: 2 scoops Protein, 2 tbsps. of Peanut Butter
Meal 5: 8oz. Fish, 1 cup of Rice & 1/2 cup of Nuts
Meal 6: 2 cans of Tuna & 2 tbsps. of Almond Butter
Q: What is your favorite cheat meal? How do you control yourself from going overboard when you decide to treat yourself?
A: My favorite cheat meal is by far Papa Murphy’s “tai chicken thin crust pizza.” The flavor of the pizza is beyond amazing and tops the charts for me. To make sure I don’t go overboard on cheat meals, I eat until I’m satisfied and then I stop. I don’t make a limit to my cheat meal, because if I do and I am not satisfied with the amount I ate, I continue thinking about cheating for the rest of the day. And that can cause problems. So what I say when it comes to cheating, is cheat, enjoy yourself. Make sure you’re satisfied and move on from that cheat meal. This will help tremendously with staying on your diet.
Q: Do you take any supplements? What do you think is one of the most important supplements someone should take who is training constantly?
A: Supplementation is so important in weight training and bodybuilding for immune function, muscle building, fat burning and overall health.
My basics are:
Mul
tivitamins
Protein Powder
Omega supplements
Pre-workout Supplement
Q: What’s your social media/contact information?
A: Instagram: @derek801phillips
Special thanks to Dean Michaels for hooking me up with 360CUT and this interview.
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