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Blood, sweat, tears and brocolli

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Nicole Sikorski
  • 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. --  As she walks through the door, a smile emerges on her face as she hears the sound of the clinking iron and sees the familiar faces of those who give it everything they have under the bar.

Her dark brown hair, twinkle in her eyes and peppy walk, seem to change the atmosphere when she enters the gym. Almost everyone seems to know her. It's from her frequent attendance and outgoing personality, regulars say.

With her "buds" in her ears, listening to Terror or Guerilla Biscuit on her music player, Rachell Davis, retired U.S. Air Force weather meteorologist, National Physique Committee bikini and power-lifting competitor, and lifestyle coach, finds solace from her hectic life during her escape to the gym.

"It is evident to me every day that this is what I want to do and this is where I want to be," said Davis.

Davis began her fitness career three years ago when she was introduced to power lifting by a close friend.

"I was 108 pounds when I got out of basic military training, and a friend had asked me to lift with him. I fell in love with it the second I got under the bar (referring to the metal barbell bar)."

Her new-found love of fitness did not stop with power lifting. Davis earned her master certification from the International Sports Sciences Association and has been a personal trainer since 2011.

"When I get to the gym, it is bliss," she says. "There is nothing like it, no love, no color and no flavor."

Specializing in fat loss, off-season contest preparation and contest preparation for body building, she considers herself a lifestyle coach.

Davis has competed three times in the past two years in physique competitions and three times in power-lifting competitions.

Along with her 13 clients, she manages her own workouts and nutrition. On average she spends about 10 hours creating a diet and training plan for each individual athlete.

"I've worked with dozens of people and never have I copied and pasted a diet; it's not going to happen," Davis said. "Nutrition is very important because food is measured in calories and that equals energy. It's like putting gas in your car; if you put gas in your car, it will go, but if you put soda in it, that thing is not going to move."

According to Eric Wilson, NPC bodybuilding competitor and a client of Davis, her attention to detail is extremely effective.

"She was absolutely amazing and extremely detailed," said Wilson. "She customized a program to my body and I saw results within the first week."

The desire to give to others is what drives her.

"Having the opportunity to help people reach their goals is so fulfilling," said Davis. "Given the right guidance and encouragement, people will do anything to reach those goals."

According to her attitude and her experience as a coach, ". . . People are really capable of anything."

"Pick a goal, and stick with it," she said. "When you start something new, that can be difficult when you do not immediately see the results. You sometimes see changes that you are unfamiliar with. The most important thing is to follow through and trust yourself."

As far as her future goals, she hopes to finish a doctorate of physical therapy, and to go pro as a fitness competitor and become an elite power lifter.

In addition to the motivation that comes from helping others, Davis is driven by the memory of her father and making him proud.

Davis decided to join the Air Force to honor her father who passed away from diabetes. He could not serve because of his condition, but she followed in his plan.

"My dad and I (were) best friends," she said.

Along with her father, her athletic role models are Nathalia Melo and Amanda Latona, both International Federation of Bodybuilding bikini pros.

According to Davis, she would one day like to earn her stripes in the ranks of the pros.

"With body building, a lot of people see the outside," she said. "If you are not participating, you see the muscles, the tan, the broccoli and the supplements, but it's the intangible things like the mindset, the emotion and the willpower that is going to get you far. If you aspire to reach a goal, forget everything on the outside. Your mind is going to get you there quicker than all of these tangible things. That is what separates the amateurs and the pros. Every action starts with a thought."

Every day as she leaves the gym, she can leave knowing that she has given it her all, and will continue to push others to give it theirs.