Athlete Spotlight: Hilda “HP” Perales
Interview by Kim McLaughlin
We are in the middle of our 2014 Look Good, Feel Good Challenge and I was recently given the opportunity to get to know a little more about one of our fierce competitors. In her short time at Invictus, Hilda “HP” Perales has become a rockstar in the 6:00 am class at our Downtown location.
Kim: So tell us HP – how long have you been a member of Invictus?
HP: I joined back in September of 2013.
Kim: What has been your favorite part of your Invictus experience so far?
HP: The ability to challenge myself day-to-day.
Kim: What’s your previous athletic background?
HP: In high school I played tennis, basketball, and softball. I also played college softball and basketball.
Kim: Are you a San Diego native?
HP: No. I was born in Los Angeles and lived there until October of 2002. I have been here ever since.
Kim: What are your favorite activities/hobbies outside of CrossFit?
HP: I enjoy standup paddle boarding in the summer. Actually, I enjoy doing anything that involves water. A perfect day would involve packing a lunch and taking a hike with my partner at Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve. I like this hike because at the end of the hike it drops you off right at the beach. Overall, I also enjoy getting together with family and laughing.
Kim: What movements would your ideal workout include?
HP: Bench press, back squats, shoulder press, and deadlifts.
Kim: What are your goals for the LGFG challenge?
HP: Lose the excess luggage! You know the junk in the trunk… 🙂
Kim: What do you think is the biggest challenge you face when trying to reach those goals?
HP: Learning portion control!
Kim: Do you like to cook?
HP: Yes. I grew up helping my mom in the kitchen and I learned a lot from her. Everything we cooked was by feel and taste. We never used measuring cups.
Kim: What do you do for food prep?
HP: On Sundays, I like to grill a bunch of chicken breast for the week. As I’m grilling the chicken, I usually put a steak and some turkey patties on the grill for dinner. So there’s a little bit of prep but I cook throughout the week as well.
Kim: What did you eat for breakfast this morning?
HP: Two boiled eggs but this is not what I typically eat. In fact, during the week, I often don’t eat breakfast but on the weekends my typical breakfast is two eggs and bacon.
Kim: If I was to hand you 1 million dollars right now, what’s the first thing you would do or buy?
HP: The first thing I would do is help my family financially. After that, I would spoil my partner for a few days. Then, invest the money wisely.
Kim: Do you have any hidden talents?
HP: I do competition shooting at a local firing range.
Kim: Whats your favorite motivational quote?
HP: “When you say ‘It’s hard’, it actually means ‘I’m not strong enough to fight for it’. Stop saying its hard. Think positive!” -Unknown
Best of luck in the challenge, HP! Keep up the hard work!
I see my competition is hard at work. 😉 Looking good. Keep it up!