Meet Your 2016 Bodybuilding.com Spokesmodels!

Every year, thousands compete to become Bodybuilding.com spokesmodels. Voted on by you, our readers, a small batch of people make it to the semifinals, and then an even smaller group—five men and five women—become finalists. From there, the annual Bodybuilding.com Spokesmodel Contest culminates in a whirlwind of photo shoots, interviews, and a competition held at the LA Fit Expo.

This is the story of Michael Gonzales and Katrina Freds, your 2016 Bodybuilding.com Spokesmodel Contest winners!

Meet Our New 2016 Bodybuilding.com Spokesmodels!

Watch the video - 8:58

Man on the Move

Michael Gonzales has been into fitness his entire life, but it's never been his entire life. He played college soccer alongside a full course load, and even after he graduated, he managed to balance his traveling work as a national sales manager with a healthy lifestyle. "Being open to constantly evolving has been what influences my lifestyle," he says.

Because Michael is on the go so much these days, travelling fit is especially important to his success. To eat well on the road or in the air, Michael travels with frozen meals he's prepped at home. This way, his food stays cold, and he eliminates the need for a huge cooler on flights. Michael also makes sure he knows the go-to spots for whatever city he's about to land in.

"While traveling, I like to research the city I'm going to and look up healthy meal-prep services or markets in the area," he says. "That way, I can pick up healthy options for the week once I land."

"I keep myself motivated by surrounding myself with like-minded individuals who are also constantly trying to improve. That way, if I'm slacking, my friends are around to kick my butt into gear."

When he's in contest-prep mode, Michael follows a strict daily diet comprising 320 grams of carbs, 270 grams of protein, and 70 grams of fat. "I choose foods that I like and make sure their macronutrient breakdown fits into my nutrient targets for the day," he says. Chicken, pasta, eggs, and peanut butter are among the foods you might find on this athlete's plate.

More than anything, Michael wants readers to know that they, too, can balance fitness with a busy career. "You know, there are some days when I'm just not motivated, and I don't want to go to the gym," he says. "I want to use this platform to show people that models on the magazines aren't always happy-go-lucky. I work a corporate job like most people out there who aren't focused solely on fitness. I want everyone to know they can be healthy and make smart choices."

Keeping Up With Katrina

Katrina Freds echoes Michael's hard-worker mentality. A small-town country girl from Hamilton, Indiana, she grew up surrounded by corn and bean fields.

"My life isn't very glamourous," she says. "I think a lot of people assume everyone in the fitness industry gets meals shipped to them or gets paid to do this. I just want to remind the average Joe or Jane that they can accomplish anything as long as they work hard, set goals, and work to achieve them."

In the end, Katrina says, achieving your own goals comes down to state of mind. "You might feel like you can't do it, but remember that every time you say 'I can't,' you're really saying 'I choose not to.' You have to train your mind to keep pushing even when it says stop. Most of all, have fun."

"You might feel like you can't do it, but remember that every time you say 'I can't,' you're really saying 'I choose not to.'"

Katrina uses this mindset to approach her own training, nutrition, and burgeoning fitness career. "My approach to my training is constantly evolving through trial and error," she says. "I want to constantly grow, improve, learn, and turn my weaknesses into strengths."

In her daily life, Katrina works as a custodian, but she's also a bow hunter who relies on a combination of strength and endurance to master her sport. "You need control over your breathing to make an accurate shot when you heart rate is elevated," she says. "To do this, I mix outdoor 'country workouts' of tire flips, wood splitting, weighted sled drags, and battle ropes along with more cookie-cutter gym workouts to improve fitness for every goal."

Katrina loves heavy, fast-paced workouts that elevate her heart rate. Time is also a major consideration, because she's a busy lady with diverse interests. "Supersets are great because they reduce the duration of my workouts while keeping them intense," she says. "They're a great way to burn more calories without having to do a long cardio session after strength training at the gym."

Want to lift—and look—like Katrina? Try one of her signature arm workouts!

Supersets for Super Arms

Superset

Dumbbell Bicep Curl

3 sets, 8-12 reps