Kim Saari won her WNBF pro card almost a decade ago, but the longtime personal trainer and strength and conditioning coach from Phoenix hasn’t lost her focus on what is really important about natural bodybuilding.
“I am all about promoting natural bodybuilding,” she says proudly. “The sport of bodybuilding - especially for women - has diminished a lot because of the association with steroids. The general public doesn't realize that there is a completely different sport of natural - and I do mean NATURAL - bodybuilding!”
“Competing naturally was the only option I ever thought of,” she explains. “Anything other than natural would be cheating in my eyes. I wanted to see what level I could get my body to at a natural level.”
San Diego has always been a special place for Kim. After all, she lived there for several years, and her son, Austin was born there. (Austin, 25, is currently attending school at Sofia University in Tokyo studying for his Master’s degree in Global World Political Science).
“I first saw pictures of female bodybuilders back when I was living in San Diego, and Rachel McLish and Cory Everson were big in the sport. It amazed and fascinated me that women could get their bodies to look like that. It made them look so strong both mentally and physically. I started working out a bit but just couldn't manage transforming my life to the point of being able to get to the level of fitness training, both physically and mentally, to compete at that time,” she admits. “Only after moving back to Phoenix and working out for years did I finally get the nerve to start competing.”
Kim started out years ago competing in the Galaxy Fitness competitions in 1999 and 2000 – a combination of obstacle course competition and stage physique - before transitioning to the International Natural Bodybuilding Federation (INBF) in 2001where she captured first place honors in both the lightweight and masters divisions of the INBF Muscle Showdown that same year. In 2005 she earned her WNBF pro card by winning the overall in the Best of the West competition and has since competed in three WNBF shows as a professional – twice competing in the WNBF Natural Universe in the Cayman Islands.
Still, Kim keeps things in perspective. “A person needs to make sure it stays a positive experience,” cautions Kim. “It isn't easy being judged by a panel of people you don't know. They are judging you by how you look, not who you are as a person, so you have to be sure you are doing it for yourself – not anyone else. Judge yourself against yourself. You have no control over who stands next to you on stage, and if someone is on stage next to you whom the judges feel is better, that doesn't take anything away from all of the hard work and training you have
“Moreover,” she warns, “I've met a lot of women who have body issues after competing. They expect their body to remain how they got it on show date and you just can't do that. It's not healthy to walk around at that state all of the time. They need to learn to eat for fuel and nutrition and not over-diet trying to stay too lean going through their day- to- day life. There's a lot of balancing to do, mostly mental, but that's part of life. Life is a constant balancing act!”
Born in Fort Worth, Texas, Kim moved around a lot as a youngster before settling in Phoenix and attending high school in Avondale (pop. 81,299) in the west Phoenix valley where she swam competitively through junior high school and part of high school. She also played several musical instruments and was a majorette. After high school, Kim graduated from paralegal school working in the legal field and specializing in bankruptcy law and domestic relations for the next 15 years.
Eventually she found herself working less and working out more, so the proverbial writing was on the wall. She earned her personal training certifications through the International Fitness Professionals Association (IFPA) and JR Iron Body and quit the legal profession entirely to begin working as a personal trainer and strength and conditioning coach in the Phoenix area.
What does Kim do for fun? “My hobbies include mountain biking, hiking, kayaking, wake-boarding with my 19-year old grandson, triaithlons, adventure racing, sand boarding, just to mention a few. Oh, and bodybuilding once in a while, of course. I also enjoy riding Harleys with my hubby.”
Her husband Doug is not into working out, but to each his own – right, Doug!?! “He is into his toys – meaning anything with a motor, Harleys, sandrails, boats, fast cars, etc,” chuckles Kim. “He attended one of my shows once and told me point blank” – “I love you to death but I'll never go to another one of those!”
But, what the heck – they’ve been together almost 15 years, and they both like Rottweilers, so they’ve got something in common. “We’ve always had at least one,” says Kim. “They say people's pets reflect the type of person they are, and Rottweilers are strong and tough on the outside - they hold their own - but they are loyal and loving to those close to them.” That says it all.
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