by Jake Thompson

Why I Compete: Pam Hysinger

To compete every day is to challenge yourself to do one more rep, t...

To compete every day is to challenge yourself to do one more rep, to go outside of your comfort zone, to act kinder, to love more, to work harder, and to be a better friend/child/spouse/sibling/partner/employee/leader.

1. Tell us a little about yourself.

Hi! I’m Pam Hysinger. I’m a doctor physical therapy, board certified in orthopaedics with a sports medicine background. I am the owner and creator of Pamcakes’ Pancakes, a high-protein pancake mix that launched in April 2016. I am also a national-level NPC bikini competitor, a wife, and a mom to two furbabies (our dogs Ginger and Heidi).  I’m originally from New York, but lived in Nashville, TN for 11 years, as well as Philadelphia, PA. We just moved to Cincinnati, OH in early July!

2. What’s a typical day look like for you?

I am up between 4:45 and 5:30 AM most days. I like to take 15-20 minutes while I wake up with my ridiculously oversized cup of coffee to enjoy some quiet, reflective time to myself. I journal in my gratitude book and recheck my to-do list for the day.  It’s off to fasted cardio for me before work, and then back at the gym to lift immediately after work, with competition posing practice thrown in during my season.  You could say the gym is my home away from home! I spend my evenings focusing on developing Pamcakes’ Pancakes, outlining online training plans for clitents, as well as baking and cooking new, healthful recipes for friends and family. My day usually ends around 11PM or midnight, and when I can’t turn my brain off, you can count on me relaxing and falling asleep to any nature documentary narrated by David Attenborough!

3. How did you get started on your current fitness journey?

I am not a “naturally gifted” athlete. In fact, I’m terrible at most traditional sports (though I’m a sports nut).  I got into competitive cheerleading late in high school, then college through grad school, and eventually into professional cheerleading.  I loved everything about cheering, but upon relocating cities, that chapter of my life came to a close.  My first friend in our last city brought me to a bodybuilding competition in August 2013 (the first I’d ever seen of the kind), and I fell in love with the bikini division that day.  I begged my friend to help me prepare to do a show, and he suggested that I wait until the spring of 2014. I insisted that I do one sooner, so 7 weeks later, I found myself (after not having lifted weights at all in over 3 years), at my first competition, at which I won my NGA Pro Card.  I was hooked ever since and have been chasing that elusive IFBB Pro Card through the NPC!  I’ve done 17 (7 of which have been national level) shows since October 2013.

4. What’s one goal you’re currently training for?

As noted, I’m on a mission to earn my IFBB Professional Card in the bikini division.  I will be attempting to go pro at The 2016 IFBB North American Championship on September 3rd, 2016.  This will be my 8th attempt at a pro qualifier, and I’m incredibly excited to have the opportunity to step onto that stage amongst so many other amazing athletes!

5. What’s one life goal you’re currently pursuing outside of fitness?

I’m working diligently to develop and grow Pamcakes’ Pancakes. I wake up with so much enthusiasm each day to make this company one that provides people with high-quality, yummy, affordable pancakes that are designed to better help you meet your healthful goals, whatever they may be.  I really want to help others stay on track for their purpose and passions in life!

6. What does it mean to you to Compete Every Day?

To “compete every day” means to beat yesterdays version of myself.  Ultimately, it’s to never settle and to constantly best the last “me.”  To compete every day is to challenge yourself to do one more rep, to go outside of your comfort zone, to act kinder, to love more, to work harder, to be a better friend/child/spouse/sibling/partner/employee/leader etc., to tackle any obstacle head-on no matter the odds – never accepting mediocrity or failure, and doing all of this to become the BEST you.

7. What is one thing you are proud you’ve overcome on your journey?

I’m incredibly proud of how resilient I’ve become on my journey; it would have been so easy to quit and throw in the towel on MANY occasions, yet I choose to grow and learn from each experience/each time I step on stage, and I keep coming back – relentlessly in pursuit of my goal because I will NOT take no for an answer. 

8. What/who do you compete for?

I compete to better myself, to push past my own boundaries, and to hopefully inspire others to lead healthful and fulfilling lives. I’m learning that by choosing to compete every day, you start to find your real potential, and that potential is virtually limitless. We are born to live up to our maximum potentials. What’s your maximum potential? YOU define it. See it. Believe in it. Then go set to achieve it every day.

Connect with Pam: Instagram | Website

The post Why I Compete: Pam Hysinger appeared first on Compete Every Day.

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