Scottsdale Health July 2019

competition and challenged
her to join
him. A competitive
woman by nature,
she was up for the
training – two or
three hours a day,
seven days a week in
the gym and a strict
diet to follow while
working her full-time
job. She competed
in the AZ Copper
Classic all-natural
entry-level bodybuilding
show and won
first place.
“I honestly
didn’t expect to win
my very first show.
But for me, winning
isn’t everything
instead it’s about
attaining important
values through the
experience.”
edge to others.
“It all started
when my dad (who
walks everyday) had
a heart attack. He is
alive and well now,
but the thought of
losing him made me
realize how much
diet affects one’s
quality of life.”
Houser currently
works out three or
four times a week in
group fitness classes
and follows a flexible
macro-counting diet,
eating three or four
meals per day. She
is currently working
on cookbook that will
feature healthy and
culturally authentic
regional cuisines.
“I came up with
this idea because I
a US citizen but still
appreciates her origin
country – doesn’t
face any of the same
obstacles today
as she did when
she first came to
America.
“I am surrounded
with people
who love and accept
me. I am who I am
today because of my
roots,” she says.
Her parents
gave up everything
they had in the
Philippines to create
a better future for
their family, determined
to change
their lives for the
better. Houser’s ultimate
goal is to share
her story in hopes of
inspiring others and
act with people. The
once-shy caterpillar
morphed into a social
butterfly when at the
gym.
Once confident
enough to go up to
people to converse
and ask questions,
Houser set out to
meet new people
outside of the gym.
Though she was
intimidated, she
already understood
English and spoke
enough of the language
to get by
thanks to her schooling
back home. She
enrolled in a community
college to
improve her English,
determined to meet
new people and
make friends – and
she did.
“As far as the
culture goes, I am
still adjusting up to
this day. I married
an American so I
am always learning
something new,”
she says.
A TURNING
POINT
Houser continued
to work out and in
2008, her husband
entered a fitness
The show
served as a turning
point in her life, leading
her to a career
as a personal trainer.
Then, after five years
helping others reach
their fitness goals,
she was offered an
opportunity to work
as a medical sales
representative and
shifted her focus. She
currently specializes
in the spine, making
sure the implants
she reps are being
utilized correctly by
neuro and orthopedic
surgeons in the operating
room.
Houser has also
recently taken to
eating better, educating
herself first and
becoming certified in
nutrition so she can
pass on her knowl-
have always struggled
with following
a specific diet plan
since most plans
are catered toward
the American diet,”
she says. “Having
been born and raised
in the Philippines, I
am used to eating
a certain way (e.g.
rice for breakfast,
lunch and dinner)
so I started cooking
healthy Filipino and
other Asian foods
and I was absolutely
loving it.”
LOOKING AHEAD
Though she will
always miss celebrating
Christmas Eve
in the Philippines
with delicious food
and the company of
her 40-plus cousins,
Houser – who is now
follow in her parents’
footsteps of creating
a better future for
others.
“I want people
know that there
are no limits on the
amount of success
that one can have,”
she says. “About
13% of the US
population is made
up of people who’ve
been born outside the
country and one of
the biggest struggles,
aside from adapting
to the culture and
learning a new
language, is finding
a way of connecting.
Fitness paved that
way for me. I want
to be a stand for
fitness being for
everyone, regardless
of body type, skin
color, age, etc.”
07/19 ScottsdaleHealth 51