Daphney Carter | Perfect Your Weaknesses

What got you into fitness and working out?

I've always been athletic. I've done track and field, I've played basketball. Track and field was always my main sport. Along with the training came weight training. It wasn't to strenuous, but we did it to stay conditioned. I've always been interested in fitness and active in some way.

How do you find time to balance work, the gym, meal prep, etc?

Being a mom to two girls and dealing with meal prep, I fit the gym in wherever can. There are some days where I'll go in at 4:30 before work and there are some nights where I go as late as 10:00, but I go every day. It helps me deal with every day stress and really just stay focused in order to get things done. It actually is therapeutic to me. I have a great appreciation for the world of competing as far as physique and fitness competitors. That's something I've wanted to do the past couple of years. That is something I plan on doing someday, but my plate is pretty full right now. As for meal prep, I rely on a meal delivery system that has been great. I started with them in December, and they helped me stay on track and balanced. I keep no junk food in the house, except for the girls. It's nothing I like so the temptation doesn't exist for me.

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In regards to weight training, can you give an overview of your week?

Weight training for me, like I mentioned is every day. A workout consists of 45 minutes of cardio on the treadmill on a high incline, a spin bike or an elliptical machine. My best asset would be my arms (I get complimented on those a lot), second my abs, and third my legs. That's my most challenging area with regard to muscle development, but I have been pushing a lot hard to work on that.

What has been the highlight of your fitness journey?

The highlight has been having people reaching out to me, asking what it is I'm doing. I've had people ask for advice. I've had people ask me questions about how I do it at my age, being a full-time mom, working, and how I'm managing it. The highlight is being able to inspire and motivate people to get active and do something. It has inspired me to also look at being a physical trainer as well.

What is your favorite muscle to work out and why? What is your most impressive body part?

My favorite muscle to work out are my legs simply because they are the most challenging. The idea is to perfect my weaknesses and make them a strength. That is why I work on them a lot. Upper body has never been a weakness for me so it's my most impressive. Once again, I get complimented on it a lot. It took my time to develop that area.

What is the number one philosophy you live by?

This is one my dad always told us. He is no longer with us. He said "Do to others what you would want done to you". I believe in karma, I believe that what you put out in the universe, you will get in return. It's important for me to treat others with respect, and I instill that philosophy on my kids.

What advice would you give to someone just starting to get into the gym?

Don't pay attention to what other people are doing. I have a lot of people who tell me 'I want to workout but I hate going to the gym because I think people are looking at me'. No one is looking at you. When I'm in the gym, I get into the zone. That's my space and I just go. I just tell people to just do it. Just tune people out, and know why you're there. I have had people ask me how to use machines, I've shown people YouTube videos about form. If you want to see change, you're just going to have to do it. Don't be afraid to lift. You aren't going to look like a man by lifting weights.

Most women shy away from working upper body because they don’t want to bulk. What advice would you give these women?

It's a myth. It all depends on how heavy you lift, and how muscular you want to be. I love my arms, it's not being boastful. I like getting a pump and looking at them sometime. I think I've definitely been an example to a lot of women that I work with, showing them that being muscular as a woman isn't manly. You can still be feminine and have a little tone to you. I've been my own walking advertising, because people see my arms and ask me what I do. It's becoming inspiring to them to want to do something. I think they see that just because you lift doesn't mean you'll look like a man.

What is some advice you’d give your daughters about lifting weights and being active?

On the weekends I do take the girls to the gym with me. They are only 3 and 5 so they usually just watch. I do encourage them, I give them 5 pound weights and they curl them with both of their arms. If it's something they want to try, and it's safe. I encourage them to get active whether it's dance, in the gym or a sport.

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