“Most people see the sport as being all about vanity, and while for some that may be true, for me and my household it’s about being healthy and living a long life. The HOT body is just icing on the cake!”
A quote stolen from the introductory letter sent to RX Muscle by one of our original fans, figure competitor Shonte Turner. As it happens, Shonte is quite an ‘action woman’ having served ten years active service in the military. She is also a wife and mother of a 12 yr old. Oh…and let’s not forget a personal trainer, a full time employee of an engineering company and a student!
Given all these facts my very first question had to be…Would you accept the label of ‘workaholic’? “I don’t think so, but most would disagree. I love to stay busy…I’m definitely more of a busy body than a workaholic! I don’t consider my passions as work I guess, but I’ve been labeled as worse things….so I’ll take it!” You have said that you really started working out when you joined the Air Force but did you have an interest in sports when you were growing up? “No not really. I was truly a girlie girl. I didn’t like to sweat or do anything that I couldn’t be cute doing! Vain I know…but to know me is to love me! I did dance in school and that was it. I joined the Air Force right out of High School, so I’ve been working out since I was 18yrs old and I started getting really serious about weight lifting at 19.” “Wow…..I remember it like it was yesterday! When I turned 30 I wanted to do something that was just for me. Something I could call mine and just truly indulge myself. I love working out & eating what I thought was clean at the time. In August 2007 I met up with a friend in LA to party! She was getting ready for her first show, she convinced me to do it since she knew how much I love the life style. I competed that following Nov 2007 and got 3rd in my class. That was my first show; I did my own contest prep. When the show was over it was bitter sweet, I was glad to eat and get my life back, but I missed everything about the stage! I was hooked.” Do you think that having the discipline needed for service in the military helped you remain strong and focused during contest prep? “Most definitely! In the military you get used to the here & now. You deal with the sacrifice before you because everything had an expiration date. So when I get in my mind, I’m dieting for 12wks I really focus on that. I know once I step off stage the hard sacrifice is over and it’s time to set new goals!” What was the most difficult aspect for you when it came to that very first competition? “For me it was trying to see yourself for what you really look like. I knew very little about the sport at the time, I was my own trainer and I didn’t have a buddy. It’s hard to be objective when looking in the mirror. Since then I’ve worked with wonderful trainers & will never do my own contest prep again.” “No because we keep it changing constantly. We hit each body part once a week & my cardio is around 30mins a session. The 6th day is typically ply metrics.” Do you work with a trainer or do you train yourself? “I have a trainer. I’m with Team Bombshell now, Shannon Dey & Rob! I’ve been with them since Feb of this year.” When it comes to your diet I would guess that you are pretty strict all year round….right or wrong? “WRONG…lol. Or at least I didn’t used to be, but now being a part of Team bombshell they like to keep us in shape all year round. Before I would always stay within 10-12 lbs of contest weight though. Now that I’m with them I stay between 5-7 lbs of contest shape in between shows.” What is your biggest weakness when it comes to food? “I love junk food, chips, nachos, hot wings, pizza etc. Dieting for me is hard because I love junk! I’m just disciplined enough to get through it.” As a wife and a mother, do you find it easy to fill these demanding positions given your hectic lifestyle? “Some days yes. We have a very structured life style, my husband has retired from the Air Force, and only having one child helps. We pretty much have a set schedule; it’s like ground hog day every day…lol. But it’s not as bad as it sounds. I do go out and hang with my friends plenty & I make time for my family….because that is what’s most important to me.” What does Shonte Turner do to relax? “This may sound crazy, but I’m a TV addict! I don’t have time to watch TV during the week so I record everything. My Sundays are my relaxation days. My husband and I get our snacks (or protein pancakes during contest prep) around 8am, our favorite blankets and go to our media room. We snuggle & cuddle half the day watching our recorded shows. That is my weekly get away and a must!! Outside of that I love movies & dinner with family & friends. I LOVE to eat!” “I wouldn’t consider bodybuilding because I simply don’t and can’t hold that kind of muscle. I’m 5’9 so building is a challenge. My goals are to turn pro when it’s my time and hit the Olympian stage one day. I will be doing a lot of shows this year, and at least 3 will be national level…so I’m working and training hard all year. Hopefully I will be able to wow the judges with my hard work and dedication!” What are your thoughts on the new bikini division? “I think it’s great! It gives those girls that don’t want to hold the leanness & muscle figure girls do a chance to show case their hard work. Also, I think now figure can go back to the look that was intended.” There seem to be more figure and bikini competitors these days than bodybuilders; do you think this is the way the sport is heading? “Perhaps to gain more general acceptance….. Yes I do. I think the personal desire is still there for a lot of girls as far as bodybuilding but the figure & bikini girls seems to get more coverage; which gives the impression it’s more acceptable. That may be the point…but time will tell.” Tell us something about yourself that may surprise us? “I’m afraid of the dark. I don’t like to stay home by myself and rarely do. I don’t go out at night by myself either. YES….GI Jane is a scary cat!” And finally tell us something that I am sure many people reading this want to know….how to contact you! My email: [email protected] 
When would you say you were bitten by the competitive bug?
When it comes to your training, you train six days a week and also do cardio on all of those six days. So your work ethic seems to spill over into your gym life. Does this ever lead to you suffering from overtraining? 
What are your future goals within the sport and would you ever consider making the move to bodybuilding?
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