ATHLETES (aka... BamBody Babes)
Kelly Newton
(The OG Athlete)
Kelly was born and raised in Monterey, California. A beautiful, yet small, coastal town. She has been a "year round" athlete since a small child, focusing on field hockey, volleyball, basketball and softball.
She met her husband in 2007, whom got her into the gym for the first time. She started working with a trainer in 2008/2009 and worked with him until he relocated. Lost without him, she switched to "at home" workouts, like Insanity by Shaun T.
In 2014, she was inspired by her husbands competitive powerlifting journey and decided to start training with a powerlifting trainer/coach. This was the first time in her life where she "weighed" everything she ate and meal prepped based on a meal plan. She learned to LOVE lifting heavy, and actually enjoyed reading food labels and eating "clean".
Being the "All or Nothing" type, Kelly knew her body was capable of more, which is why she was drawn to bodybuilding. She started prepping for her first Bikini show at the end of Jan 2015 and competed at 2 Spectrum Fitness Production shows in the NPC Bikini Open Division (March and May). She was fortunate enough to place 2nd and 4th in Open Bikini.
Again, knowing her body was capable of more, she dabbled with the idea of moving into Figure. However, in the fall of 2015, a big move to Las Vegas and career change became the priority, and Nationals were put on the back burner.
These days, Kelly mainly focuses on BALANCE... And training because she loves it, overall health, and most importantly, FLEXIBLE DIETING! Her more-than-full-time gaming career and role with BamBody Nutrition keep her very busy, and offer very little time to keep up with the ever-evolving bodybuilding industry. Her goal is to get back to the stage one day soon.... But for now, she is admiring the bodybuilding industry from afar.
Try Kelly's favorite treat: PEANUT BUTTER EXPRESS
Ariel Sloan Vargo
"In 2015 I stepped on stage for my very first time. I had spent 12 weeks in my first prep. It was the first time I had ever been to the gym, ever meal prepped, or ever poured my heart into anything so deeply. Body building saved me. For many years i had been in toxic relationships, had an awful relationship with food, and felt empty. After competing for the first time, i fell in love - not just with the glitz & glam of the stage but with the sport itself. I loved building on becoming a better person. Physically, mentally - every day being a better me.
In 2017 I stepped on stage again and earned my ANBF Pro card. That day changed my life forever. Since then competing has become not just a hobby but something I truly want to do with my life. I’ve now competed in 6 shows and can’t wait to take the stage again and will be putting all of my efforts into earning my IFBB Pro Card.
Thankfully my dear friend, Casey Samsel did a 12 days of Christmas giveaway in which i won my first Bambody treat pack. From the moment i had my first one i was hooked. As an Athlete and someone who takes their health/diet very seriously nutrition is KEY. I am also a coach and want to recommend only the highest of quality to my clients, friends, and family. Bambody has truly made the term “treat yourself” mean something and i feel so blessed to be a part of a Bambody Nutrition team! Diets don’t have to be boring and food that tastes good doesn’t have to be “bad for you”! I recommend these brownies to anyone whom will listen and I truly love them. They taste better than any homemade brownie I’ve ever had. The best part - other than the fact they taste amazing they are high in protein, and fiber, but low in carbs, fats, and have ZERO sugar.
My favorite to date is the S’mores Brownie - but, there’s not a Bambody I’ve ever had and didn’t like! Treat Yourself!"
Try Ariel's favorite treat: S'mores
Megan Van Vleet
"My name is Megan – I am a national level NPC Bikini Athlete, a wife, a lifestyle coach and I work full time in Clinic Operations for a not-for-profit healthcare system. I was born and raised in Oregon, where I still live with my husband and 3 fur-children. I have been an athlete my whole life – including gymnastics, ballet, softball and now bodybuilding. I have always loved being active and involved in athletics, but after college found myself in an unhealthy place and lost – I had no direction for myself, no passion. I was struggling, and knew that I wasn’t taking care of my body the way I needed to for my health.
I finally took on the challenge of learning about nutrition and cleaning up my diet – focusing on whole foods and more balanced intake. As someone who had struggled with disordered eating in the past, this was such a key component of my journey – and one I feel like we are never done improving on. BamBody has allowed me to continue this focus while still enjoying the process of eating for my goals!
In 2012, I checked off my first goal, and ran a half-marathon with my then fiancé, now husband. Crossing the finish line together was a memory I will never forget! We got married in October of that year, and ran our second half-marathon a week later!
Finally, with his encouragement & inspiration from my younger brother, I began prepping for my first NPC Bikini Competition in January of 2013. I stepped on stage for the first time that June – and I fell in love. I found my outlet, and a passion and I have been competing ever since. A proud natural athlete, I now have more than 15 NPC competitions under my belt, and was so honored to place at every national show I competed at in 2018. I love being able to show through my journey that any goal that you set your mind to is attainable – and what hard work, patience and believe in yourself can do. My goal is to earn my IFBB Pro Card in the bikini division, and make my place on the professional stage!
I discovered BamBody Nutrition over a year ago and have been addicted ever since! As someone who could live off all things sweet – BamBody has created a way for me to get my sweet-tooth fix while keeping my goals in mind. Knowing that every order is made fresh – and seeing the care and love that has been put into every item – BamBody Nutrition has opened the doors to making eating healthy and eating for your goals sustainable and enjoyable. My FAVORITE treat are their brownies – and I have turned down other’s “normal” brownies to enjoy the ones BamBody makes instead – THEY ARE THAT GOOD. I have told anyone and everyone I can about them – and particularly love sharing them with my lifestyle fitness clients!
One of my all-time favorite combinations is a frozen BamBody Brownie – with Mint Chocolate Chip Enlightened and some chocolate peanut butter on top!"
Try Megan's favorite treat: Brownies
Taeler De Haes
Alexa Hotaling, IFBB Bikini Pro
Alexa, was born and raised New York girl, but loved the heat and hated the cold, so she decided to take her talents to south Florida. She attended college at the University of Miami, where fitness became her passion.
Alexa decided to take a dive into the bodybuilding scene in 2012 while living in NYC and won her division! She continued with a national show in Las Vegas where she came in 3rd, missing her Pro Card by a few points. After some adjustments, she went to Miami Nationals and won her class and turned pro at 20 years old.
After competing in 5 pro shows with two top 5 placings, while double majoring at the University of Miami, Alexa decided to hang up the suit and heels and make fitness a love and a hobby and focus on graduating and her career.
After graduating University of Miami, Alexa went back up to the cold streets of NYC and started working for her family business, The Hotaling Group, a Private Insurance Brokerage. She is heavily involved on many levels and has an office in Miami, so she can escape the winter months.
Alexa knew Stef from the IFBB bikini world, but did not discover BamBody until 2018 where the obsession began! She ordered multiple treats a month and got all her fitness friends and family hooked on the delicious guilt-free sweets!
Alexa is still a nutrition and fitness fanatic, wakes up at 5AM every morning to get her fix of barbells, boxing or Barry's Bootcamp before she starts her work day!
Alexa’s favorite treat(s) are pumpkin bread and CinnaShred bread! She also loves gooey blondies and warmed up PB Express. Alexa is so happy to be a part of the BamBody Team, as this is a company she truly believes in and a product she does not go a day without!
Celeste Rains-Turk
Celeste is an NPC Bikini competitor, podcast host, best-selling self-help author of ‘Believe your way to Badass’, and a public speaker.
After struggling with depression, anxiety, disordered eating, & abuse of exercise she committed to overcoming her unhealthy relationship with food and her body so she could finally gain freedom and love for herself. In this process, her purpose was revealed to her and Celeste made it her mission to help others Build More than Just a Body™ too.
She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and during that time she immersed herself into research, reports, projects, and studies on eating disorders, body image, self-concept, mindfulness, personal growth, and other self-affect related issues.
With an evergrowing passion, she is now working toward a M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling to become a Licensed Professional Counselor
She launched into the competition world with her well-known podcast, ‘Confessions of a Bikini Pro’ to have real, raw, and vulnerable conversations with IFBB Bikini Pros to show all competitors that even the most elite professionals have their ups and downs.
This is actually how her obsession with BamBody Nutrition began! She invited Stefanie onto the show as a guest. Before the interview, she saw a special package on the porch from the brownie boss herself, a treat pack, and it was love at first bite!!!
So, Celeste dove head first into the BamBody community; attending Facebook Lives, participating in crazy giveaways, following all the BamBabes for inspiration, and sharing with everyone she possibly could (while always keeping her own secret stashes of course). Since the moment she knew the BamFam existed, she knew she wanted to be a part of it and is so grateful to be surrounded by the strong, funny, and selfless people within it.
Every time Celeste tries something new she questions if she has to pick a new favorite! She enjoys a treat almost daily and picking a favorite is nearly impossible for her. She is team Blondie (straight out of the freezer!) but loves an OG brownie heated up. She longs for a comeback of lean lemon or the STP Chocolate covered strawberry
