Service and wellness help Vanessa Hernandez push boundaries

sergeant Vanessa Hernandez of the United States Marine Corps could be seen as the embodiment of fitness. Apart from completing it regularly Physical training (PT) exercises. that comes with her job, she is also a physical athlete - she competes in the NPC as part of both the Wellness and Figure divisions. She is an example of how you can train and perform for both show and go. That's because she knows how to push herself past the point where many others would quit.

“When your body wants to stop because of that “burning” feeling [not pain], train your mind to move past it. Your body will do what your mind tells it. Challenge yourself to go for it again," she said. She admitted that may not have been the case before she enlisted in the Marines.

“I was never really fit, I just enjoyed training and seeing what progress I would make,” Hernandez said. She entered college after graduating high school and one semester. Hernandez had no one in her family who served before her, making her a first-generation member of the armed forces.

A friend of mine told me first about joining, and the next thing I knew I was being shipped out," she joked. Her family was met with the news that she was registering with reservations.

“At first they didn’t like the idea of ​​the military and wanted me to go to school instead,” Hernandez explained. “When I showed them that I could do my schooling, they thought maybe it wasn’t so bad.”

Hernandez already has an associate's degree and is working toward her bachelor's degree. She is also working to advance in the rank of staff sergeant. Her commitment to fitness is also blossoming. Staying fit is part of what a Marine does, but the commitment became a passion while she was deployed.

"I was already good at running in a way, and I was really good at track. But when I was deployed, there really wasn't much else to do in the downtime other than training. So I just started learning more," she explained. “When I came back, I had my first bodybuilding show in California.”

The idea for the competition came about when another Marine took the stage. Seeing the possibility that an active-duty Marine could balance work and competition was all the inspiration Hernandez needed.

“I decided, ‘Okay, if she can do it, I want to do it too,’ and so I just went for it.”

She had other people who inspired her to get on stage and face the judges. Among them are wellness star Yarishna Ayala and 2021 NPC USA Wellness winner Julia Rene. She also credits her sister, Sandy Hernandez, as a key figure in her support. After winning her first show and moving to Washington, D.C., Hernandez threw herself into her sport. She worked with coach Zack Blackeney and they have been a cohesive team ever since. In 2021, Hernandez would compete in the prestigious NPC Armed Forces Nationals and the NPC Battle Royale in Alexandria, Virginia. She won Wellness Class A in both competitions. Being on a show specifically dedicated to members of the armed forces and their families made it more important for Vanessa Hernandez to win.

"I think it was a great experience to see other forces and other branches competing for the same thing on the same show. They all had the same passion and they were all able to do their job and do bodybuilding. It's not easy," she emphasized. "There are a lot of sacrifices and I give everyone props. We're all out here doing it. Being able to experience it with them gives you a sense of camaraderie."

One would think that the discipline and dedication that comes with serving in the U.S. military would make it easier to stick to fitness, but Hernandez explained that this is not the case. According to a specific training plan and Diet plan with food restrictions can be incredibly challenging. However, her ability to stick to both commitments at the level that she does has inspired those around her.

“They just admire my discipline,” Hernandez said. "When they see me eating my food, they also offer me some of what they had and I say 'no'. They admire that because it's tempting to eat what they had. They've actually started eating healthier and exercising more. I think it's influenced them and is helping them change their lifestyle."

This ability to inspire others to do what she did is now helping her launch another career. She has explored the possibility of coaching others based on their success. While she is still early in this process, she is already seeing the difference she can make.

“It's just been so crazy talking to customers and seeing how much their lives change, and they do make small changes that make her so happy. It touches me and makes me feel good.”

Her career as an athlete is far from over and she has her eyes on achieving IFBB Pro League status in the future. She has commitments with her full-time career that must take priority, but she and Blackeney feel she has the tools to win her pro card.

"I'm still training like I'm competing, but I'm not going to be as strict on the diet right now," she shared. She also mentioned that she also wants to become an officer in the Marines in the future.

Vanessa Hernandez has inspired athletes, soldiers, veterans and countless others by setting a positive example and showing that success can be achieved by anyone who is willing to put in the work and stay disciplined. For anyone else considering the military for their future, she offered sound wisdom that should be applied.

"It's definitely worth it. Take advantage of every opportunity you can. Volunteer whenever you can because you'll miss out on the opportunities you don't take," she advised. "Anything you put your mind to, you can achieve. It's okay to feel uncomfortable if you learn to push your limits."