Just by reading this quote I knew Reachelle was someone I had to know. As an IFBB Pro Figure Competitor, International Fitness and cover model and Deputy Editor for The New Zealand Fitness Magazine, Reachelle still sees her most important role as being a mother to her 3 beautiful children, Dior-Rose, Carlos and Annaliese. After building her own home gym she decided her children needed a "gym" of their own, so she built them a playground! I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to chat with Reachelle and now have become such a fan! What an amazing lady! Read below to find out more about this amazing New Zealand Pro and stay tuned to RX Muscle for Reachelle's IFBB journal leading up to the Pittsburgh Pro!
Would you please tell us a little bit about yourself?
My name is Raechelle Chase I am 32 and I am from Auckland New Zealand. I am married and have been for 7 years in June this year. I have 3 beautiful children who constantly keep me on my toes and make life thoroughly entertaining with their crazy antics, that at times make me laugh my head off, and other times drive me absolutely crazy, but I wouldn't trade it for the world. Annaliese (11 yrs) is in an elite cheerleading team, she will be competing in LA in The World Championships next month. Carlos (5yrs) is perhaps the most beautiful boy in the world, and Dior-Rose (4yrs) my little princess, who lives up to her name every day with the funny things she says and her ridiculous demands.
Tell us about your competition history. When did you earn your Pro card?
I got my Pro card in November 2009 and didn't waste any-time using it. I competed in The Sacramento Pro 2 weeks after getting my Pro card and placed 10th out of a line-up of 26 competitors. 2010 was The California Pro- 13th, The Houston Pro 10th, and The Fort Lauderdale Pro (no placing) as I slept through the night show!!
Seriously it was so crazy, I was so jet lagged it was unbelievable; I had only slept for about 6 hours in 4 days. I felt like the guy off the movie ‘Fight Club! It felt like I was walking around in a dream, such a crazy experience! I did the pre judging and then took a nap... a really long nap and woke up at 9pm!Florida is about as far from New Zealand as you can go, I don't think I will be going there again anytime soon! LOL...
I am jealous of your home gym! What made you decide to build such a huge gym and how has that made your life easier?
We live out of town on 5 acres of land so it was really time consuming just driving to and from the gym, we had the land and the money so we decided to build our dream gym. It consists of every piece of equipment we could ever need or want and nothing we wouldn't use. It's totally tailor made to suit our style of training, and since then it was finished just 3 months ago and it's become our playground. Then we decided the kids needed one just as big, that's another elaborate story!! 
What's currently on your iPod?
I don't use an iPod, since there are only 2 members in our gym, I can play whatever I feel like listening to super loud and there's no-one to complain! Its wonderful!
In the gym I listen to a variety of music, just whatever I feel like at the time.
What show are you currently preparing for?
As I write this I am sitting in a first class cabin on an Emirates flight on my way to Melbourne to compete in ‘The Melbourne Classic Pro Figure Show'. The cabin is amazing, it has a plasma TV and a mini bar along with a desk with a lamp and the chair even gives you a full body massage...heaven! Next weekend on March 19th it's the NZ Pro figure and then I will be competing in The Pittsburgh Pro on May 7th.
Tell us a little about how your contest prep has been going.
Prep for this show has been super hard. I got diagnosed with adrenal fatigue 3 weeks ago, I seriously thought I wouldn't be able to go through with this show. But following my doctors' advice and eating copious amounts of supplements has helped amazingly. I lowered my calorie intake so I could decrease the amount of cardio I was doing and like a trooper I made it though and here I am on my way.
Would you please tell us a little about your workout schedule? Contest and during the Off-Season. Does it vary much?
No it doesn't change much. I concentrate more on my hamstrings and glutes close to a competition since my butt is always the last body part to join the party. This time round I stopped training shoulders completely about 3 weeks ago, since they are my dominant body part, and I think this made me look a little unbalanced, so I worked more on my arms this time to try to create a more balanced look. I always try and lift as heavy as I can on every rep regardless of the season and I do 30 minutes cardio after training 3-5 days a week in the off season, and up to 2-3 hours leading up to a competition depending on how I'm looking.
How has your perception in regards to training and life changed since you have become a Pro?
My training has become more of a priority since I started competing as a Pro. I train even when I don't want to because I want to improve from show to show and it's the off season when these changes are made. Competition season is the time to shed the layers and see the changes in your physique. It's like opening a present that takes a really long time to undo! Like pass the parcel!
What advice do you have for women who would like to get involved in and compete in the sport?
It's a pretty crazy sport and one that requires a lot of sacrifice and self-discipline. I think it's a good idea to have a picture in your mind of how you want to look, and don't be disheartened if that's not the flavour of the month when you step on stage. You have to be happy with how you look even if that's not what the judges are looking for. If you feel you look your best and continually improve from show to show, that's what matters most. You have to do it for yourself because there is too much time and money invested in it to do it for anyone else.
What is your favorite quote?
I don't know how you balance 3 children, a husband and all the jobs you do. What is a day in your life like?
My days are jam packed, most of the time I'm too busy to even take a phone call! Luckily I'm not some-one that needs a lot of sleep, so I get some extra hours in the evening when everyone else is sleeping to answer emails, write articles and often train when I probably should be sleeping. It's not easy trying to fit everything in, and after my recent 6 weeks of experiencing adrenal fatigue and everything feeling so dam hard, it goes to show that unfortunately, I'm not super women and I guess it was my body's way of forcing me to slow down and take a break.
I wouldn't be able to do it if it wasn't for my amazing husband who encourages me to be the best that I can be, we work as a team..."Team Chase" J
What does your family think of you competing?
I did my first contest when Dior was just 10 months old and Carlos had not long turned 2, so it's all they have ever known. Annaliese's cheerleading schedule is really extreme and at the moment she is training 15 hours a week leading up to The World Champs, so she understands that you have to work hard to be the best you can be. We often talk about how our quads or abs are so sore. She is a machine, she is only 11 and she has delts and a 6 pack!
In closing, is their anyone you want to thank or mention? How can we get a hold of you in the future?
www.raechellechase.com
http://twitter.com/RaechelleChase
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