Shante Little is one of Telos Food's first users. She is active in the figure competition world, and uses Telos in her training. Get to know Shante!
FIRST THE EXISTENTIAL Q: WHO IS SHANTE?
I live just outside of New Orleans, LA and am a program manager for a nonprofit think tank. I always find it hard to craft bios because I feel like I've lived so many lives. As of right now I am a dog mom of 2, avid coffee drinker, weight-lifter, tarot reader and wannabe writer. My list of activities changes daily but these seem to be the most constant.
YOU COMPETE IN FIGURE COMPETITION NOW, BUT WERE A T&F ATHLETE, HOW DID THAT TRANSITION COME AROUND?
The first time I competed in the NPC was as a "bikini competitor" in 2016, following my early retirement from track & field due to injury. I had sustained stress fractures to my L5 as an elite hurdler and despite taking 2 months off for recovery, never made the transition back. I learned a lot about myself during that off period, including what did and didn't make me happy.
I ultimately made the decision not to return to the track. I'm a competitive person by nature and I've always loved lifting so the transition to bodybuilding felt seamless. I ended up competing in two shows, winning my novice class and placing Top 5 in the open classes.
After taking some time off to move (back) across the country and get settled into my new life, I reached out to Coach Marques Caudle of Team CTN. The NPC recently added a new division for women called "Wellness" which prioritizes muscle development in the lower body and favors athletic builds. I started training with his team in November and am looking forward to when we finally get to step back on stage.
BEFORE COVID SHUT EVERYTHING DOWN WHAT WERE YOU TRAINING FOR?
I was training for an April 4th re-entry into the world of bodybuilding at the NPC BorderKlash show in Aiken, SC.
HOW HAVE YOU CHANGED YOUR TRAINING?
I'm still training, albeit from home. The goal is to compete this summer (depending on decisions from the CDC) which means I have to do my best to maintain the level of conditioning I've attained over the last 20 weeks. Without being able to go to the gym, I've been using resistance bands at home to supplement workouts and getting realllll comfortable with bodyweight exercises. I've also been making an attempt to get outside and walk my dogs most days for some mental respite and additional movement.
HOW DO YOU USE TELOS IN YOUR TRAINING?
Every day! As a bodybuilder, it's important for me to keep my protein intake high. Through this competition prep, I've been aiming for at least 115g of protein per day. Telos has been an easy way to log an extra 10g in my morning coffee while also supporting my overall health. I'll also add it to protein shakes or oatmeal if I need the extra boost.
WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE TELOS?
The Vanilla Collagen Booster - hands down! It's incredibly indulgent and pairs well with everything. I'll take it plain with my standard oat milk or if I'm feeling really ambitious I'll add honey, cinnamon and/or lavender to it as well.
FOR SOMEONE WANTING TO GET INTO LIFTING HEAVY, ANY ADVICE?
For those new to lifting, I'd say to focus on form first. Oftentimes people want to start off by pushing bigger weights but if your form is compromised you won't see nearly as many results and may potentially injure yourself. For women specifically, there can be general apprehension towards lifting weights because of the stigma of becoming "bulky". I think it's important to know that building muscle makes you strong (most important) and is responsible for creating a lot of the shape and tone women desire.
If you're feeling uncomfortable trying new exercises or equipment, check out videos on IG or YouTube - both are great resources!
Be sure to follow Shante on IG, she's at @shantelittle.