"We elves try to stick to the four main food groups: candy, candy canes, candy corns and syrup."- Buddy the Elf


So lately I've been searching for my identity. I once thought I was an upcoming girl boxer who could punch with the strength of a 800-pound Gorilla in pink gloves. Now...I wonder if I'm an Elf or Santa Claus because like Buddy, I'm liking the four main food groups, haha. It's just that time of the year I guess, that and Winter, the time your body naturally wants to store for warmth and survival. But after a little time off from 2-a-day workouts at LA Boxing and a very restricted diet, I am ready to start my New Year's Resolution. Yep, now or else I may become Mrs. Claus! I have continued working out and have watched what I have ate, but I have not been in Pageant training status! The thing about pageants is that what you train down to really is a very difficult size to maintain. The moment a pageant is over all the girls head to IHOP! Not because we love IHOP, but because it's really the only thing open that late, and the abundance of sugar and carbs we all crave makes it a good deal. My lifestyle and hobbies really require me to always be at my best, pageant or not. So after some time of relaxing and the holidays you find yourself working hard again to get back to what you once were. You know what I love? Muscles have memory!! So, one of my main New Year's Resolutions is to turn up my training again and find my ideal weight and shape that my body can maintain at a set point based on a lifestyle and not a bikini competition. I love exercising, so this will be a fun yet challenging goal for me. Other general goals for me include taking my NASM CPT (National Academy of Sports Medicine Certified Personal Trainer) test next week, learning a foreign language, and world peace! Haha, I had to throw that last part in for pageant sake. About the CPT above, I decided in my many years of pageant training I'd like to really learn about how it was affecting my body. So I decided to get my trainer certification to be more knowledgeable about my health and fitness even if I never use it in a gym setting. It's fascinating how the body works! I also wanted it to be a personal accomplishment. So I asked our trainers at LA Boxing about the different certifications available and really have pursued one of the best out there!! It's not fluff! I even had the opportunity to talk some with U.S. Navy Lieutenant Commander Andy Baldwin from the Bachelor about it!! Thanks Twitter! He's a M.D. and athlete and agreed it was a cool pursuit. I'll let you know how it goes! I have been studying since June, but got behind with all the pageant training.

I guess this time of the year we all should just remember many of us are in the same boat. We are all wanting to better ourselves in one way or another and we all need motivation and support in the process. I assure you, I WORK for every single pound, goal, etc. I'm not a waif model by any means!! So whatever your New Year's goals may be, lets all encourage each other and know that it can be done successfully! DO WORK SON!!

Merry Christmas!
*Natasha*

Self-Defense at LA Boxing

So I'm sitting here resting for a minute and icing a knot/bruise on my right shin, a battle scar I'm very proud of. This morning I went to a 4 hour self-defense seminar at LA Boxing. I admit, at first I was dreading such a long class! When I got there I was the only person, but soon my friend Kelly arrived. We had a few laughs at the thought that these four guys that teach tactics to military and police officers were going to beat up on just the two of us! Thankfully more women arrived and we had a good size group to be tortured. In the end, it was a lot of fun! And the four hours went by relatively quick for the amount of information they were trying to teach us. I would highly recommend a class like this to any female! It's just smart to be prepared, plus you can try the moves out on your husband! It's one good way to remind him to take out the trash! Haha, I'm just kidding guys!


I believe the group of instructors were from Close Quarters Tactics. The two most useful tools I have are the Index Palm and the Spear. It was great learning how to ultimately establish distance from an attacker and "get home safe." I learned everything from breaking a choke hold, eye gouging, and had the chance to throw in some of my boxing moves as well. Which leads me back to my opening point. We had a few simulations where we had to close our eyes and let one of the instructors surprise attack us so that we would know how to react in a stressful environment and handle the adrenaline dump. The adrenaline dump is about the first 30 seconds in a fight or flight situation. I hear it's the same for fighters in the ring. They have to learn how to control the initial flood of adrenaline and then sustain from there for the remainder of the fight. If you don't handle it right, you become exhausted very quickly as it starts to drop off. If you can control it, you usually are the victor. After about 3 rounds of that, I am exhausted from all the stress, adrenaline highs, then recovery! In my final and more advanced simulation, the guy closely grabbed my left arm approaching from behind and the side. Immediately I turned and faced my attacker in my stance and in pure adrenaline blurriness I got in a forceful knee, kick, and right hook? I had been nailing the guys with palms and kicks most of the day, but being caught up in the moment, when he went down from the knee I just right hooked him right in the jaw! He was 6'5 so this was my only chance to reach him it seemed, haha. OOO's and AHHH's cheered out from the other guys as I started to apologize for turning my open palm into a fist. I was happy! That was my first right hook to an actual person's face, which I won't do again unless needed. In the end, I executed the drills well, beat up a few guys, was told I had good technique, and ended up with a nice swollen shin to say a kick well done! The funniest part, after class was finished I got asked, "...and you're a beauty queen or something right?" That's right, Barbie hits hard! HAHA, DO WORK SON!

*Natasha "the Pink Ninja" Johnson

3 Tips to get you Motivated for the Holidays!

There's no easy way out. If there were, I would have bought it. And believe me, it would be one of my favorite things!" - Oprah Winfrey on exercise

That's right! It's that time of the year again. It's the holidays and time is crunched to get that last minute shopping in, stress is high, and food adorns our tables, refrigerator, counters, thighs, and midsection. Really, it's in these moments we should have the gym somewhere on the agenda because our body is on overload. I'll be one of the first to admit I'd rather be decorating the Christmas tree, eating freshly baked cookies, and watching Elf than at the gym sweating; This has happened at least once this week:D That's where I need to draw on extra motivation. Whether it be banquets, Christmas parties, and even New Year's Eve, at least for the ladies, we have that cute little black dress we will be slipping into soon and I know having CinnaBUNS weren't quite on the invitation. So, below I compiled a few tips that personally help me stay healthy and in shape during the holiday season and all year round!

1. Music moves the soul and those hips!
Me, I am hugely motivated by music. I won't even step near a treadmill without my iPod or the gym speakers on. I'm the one asking the instructor to "Turn It Up!" Music seems to give me that little boost of energy to keep me moving throughout the workout. And during LA Boxing's workouts, I may look like boxing Barbie with my pink gloves, but with the help of the gym's rock or rap music, I feel so legit! Haha. I suggest making a new gym playlist consisting of your favorite tunes, the ones that will get your feet moving! Also, to prepare myself for the task at hand, I blast my favorite "amper upper" songs on the way to LA Boxing so that I'm ready to DO WORK when I get there. Last week's amped up song was "Becoming the Bull" by Atreyu. My favorite lyric is, "the best path is the hardest earned." It's not easy, but the results will be worth it! Today, YOU become the bull!

2. Accessorize to Exercise!
Guys are saying, "huh!?" It's true! When you feel your best you seem to be more confident and work harder. I know it's always an extra motivation to go to the gym after I've bought new workout clothes, athletic shoes, or even have new music on my player to jam to. Ladies, it's the same concept for when you buy those cute high heels or Guys, when you get that new electronic or sports like toy. You want to show it off! And what better place to show it off than at the gym! Having a smile during your workout will only increase the enjoyment of the activity and create positive feedback that may make that next trip to the gym a little less dreaded!

And finally...

3. Two is more fun than one!
This is the time of the year I think our thoughts and focus is more on family and friends, so why not bring a loved one or friend to the gym with you? While you should be listening to the instructor calling out punch combos if you're in a boxing class, hehe, there's still time for smiles and joking with your class neighbor. Even having someone to talk to on the treadmill next to you or help encourage you with those dumbbell reps always makes the time fly by faster! Trust me, I hate even 10 minutes on the elliptical trainer, but when I have a friend to talk to, 30 minutes suddenly becomes less burdensome. Plus, here's a bonus. I know my LA Boxing is offering Christmas specials and I am sure yours is too! Christmas shopping, check. Easy gift wrapping, check. A great gift that can be used to fulfill your New Year's Resolution of getting in shape AND spending more time with the family, double check! It's the gift that keeps on giving!

Well, those are a few of my favorite tricks to keep me active, but I am always needing more! I'd love to hear some of your tips and I'm sure others wouldn't mind the suggestions either. So put down that cookie and get to typing already! Christmas will be here before you know it!!

*Natasha*

First LA Boxing Introduction

"Hard training, easy combat; easy training, hard combat"
- Marshal Suvorov


My name is Natasha and my life is heels, racing, and boxing. Simple? Hardly. I just got home to Tulsa, Oklahoma after spending last weekend competing for the title of Miss Oklahoma USA 2010, the official state title for the Miss USA/Miss Universe Organization. It was a very hectic, crazy, fun, exciting, electric, nerve-wracking, awesome weekend. I competed as Miss Tulsa USA and after days of rehearsals and preliminaries, I made the finals Sunday evening. From there, the finalists re-competed in Swimsuit, Evening Gown, and On-Stage question. In the end, I was not crowned your new Miss Oklahoma USA, but I feel like I received my own crown for all my hard work and training in the 6 months leading up to the pageant. Obviously, you can see the "Heels" connection.

Next, I am an avid NASCAR and dirt racing enthusiast. I have several friends who work or drive in racing which only fuels my love for the sport even more. Since this is a subject I could elaborate on for months, I won't go any further, haha. Lets just say I am a female who knows about cars, well, at least racecars! From lugnuts to sway bars, I love my racing and the many wonderful experiences and friends it has provided along the way. It's hard to believe, but it's a lot more than cars going in circles, I promise.

And finally, boxing! LA Boxing to be exact. It is LA Boxing that ties all this craziness together. From my love of competing in pageants to walking down pit road, LA Boxing has helped me prepare for it all! I started LA Boxing of Tulsa in February to help me prepare then for the Miss America pageant system. I saw more results in my first week of boxing than I did in 6 months of training with a personal trainer! I soon stopped competing in Miss America because I aged out. Yes, being 24 years old is "too old" for something, haha. In April, I watched the Miss USA pageant and felt my competing was not over. I started the process all over again and was named Miss Tulsa USA. From April to November, I used LA Boxing as my main form of training for Miss Oklahoma USA! Kickboxing, boxing, Mixed Martial Arts, and Weight training, I did it all.

Actively competing in pageants one year ago, I still was around 130-135 pounds. I have always carried more muscle from being an athlete. With the help of LA Boxing and their wonderful trainers, I was able to reach my goal of 110 pounds for Miss Oklahoma USA. Please keep in mind, this is pageant weight. A very firm, toned, and healthy body for me. It wasn't about being skinny, it was about being healthy, strong, and confident. I would like to personally thank LA Boxing, my wonderful trainers, and the awesome LA Boxing family of members for all their help, encouragement, wisdom, and dedication in seeing me fulfill my goals. I honestly could have not done it without you.

As you can tell, I can have a lot to say at times, haha. I wanted to give you an introduction and hopefully give you an idea about what makes me "me". In the future I would like to share more with you about my training in boxing and how my workouts helped me get bikini ready for my Miss USA competition. Here's a hint, YOU too can be in the best shape of your life. The next few months I will be focusing on finishing my certified personal trainer program with NASM and volunteering with Kids Against Hunger, a very close organization to my heart. If you want to hear more about anything specific, please let me know! I want to have a conversation with you, so lets get talking!

*Natasha*