Still stuck for a New Year resolution? Fitness models, influencers, trainers and competitors VICKY & NATE HAMPTON share their top tips on getting fit, staying healthy and working out with your partner…
Awesome to have you in MAXIM Australia, Vicky and Nate. What did you enjoy about your shoot with us?
VICKY: I enjoyed shooting at an outdoor gym on the beach – I got to do what I love, work on my tan and meet wonderful people who were there watching us doing the shoot.
NATE: I really liked that we were able to do a shoot and take care of our weightlifting session for the day at the same time.
Tell us a bit about yourselves.
VICKY: I work as a travel registered nurse and, on the side, I do modelling and some background acting. Before all of that I was a powerlifter and someone who was still trying to figure out what they wanted to be when they grew up. I have ongoing autoimmune issues, specifically Hashimoto’s Disease, which affected my anxiety and sometimes memory. Over the years, I have learnt how to be a healthier version of myself to where I no longer need to take any medications.
NATE: I joined the Air Force in 2011 and got stationed in England where I picked up mixed martial arts. There, I got a couple of Pay Per View fights and found my passion for fighting and weightlifting. Unfortunately, at my next duty station in New Mexico, I ended up with a series of botched intestinal removal surgeries that left me with lifelong medical issues throughout my body. This impacted major organs including my heart, liver and kidneys. So I began exercising religiously to stay as healthy and strong as I can be. Now my passion lies in fitness and bodybuilding.
Whoa. How did you two meet?
VICKY: Nate actually hired me to be his personal trainer and, at that time, I was in a relationship. But after I became single, I made the move on Nate. He was my gym crush during this whole time and still so!
NATE: Yes, I hired Vicky as my personal trainer when I was getting reinstated back into the military. I had a lot of medical issues and I heard that she was getting ready to go into nursing. Plus, she was my gym crush, too, so that was also a good way to talk to her.
What would people be most surprised to know about you?
VICKY: I feel like I’m always surprising people, but this one is fitting since this is MAXIM Australia. I got to do background acting for the film 12 Strong, which Chris Hemsworth starred in. I highly doubt he remembers me, as I was in an Air Force uniform for the role, but it was an honour to chat with him.
NATE: Since I have short bowel syndrome, most people don’t realise how much I eat. I have to eat anywhere between 5,000 to 7,000 calories to maintain my muscle mass. This is much less than a few years ago.
Why did you both decide to become fitness models and trainers?
VICKY: I first became a trainer back in Japan in 2015 because I truly wanted to help people better their health and go after their dream body. My goal even now is to show that you can build the body without having to do a bunch of plastic surgery. I like to call this the “poor man’s plastic surgery way” but now I focus more on my modelling and nursing careers as they give me enlightenment.
NATE: I started fitness modelling because I met Victoria and wanted to find something we could do together. Now I enjoy doing this also because I get to see both my body and confidence increase.
What do you love about your careers?
VICKY: The nursing side – I enjoy helping people and nursing them back to health. With modelling I enjoy the networking and watching my body change with each shoot.
NATE: I’m a retired veteran from the Air Force, but with fitness it’s cool to see how every person is built different and figuring out what works best for them.
How often do you work out together?
VICKY: We go to the gym about four times a week – it just depends on how our bodies feel.
What are some of things you should be doing when working out with your partner?
VICKY: Paying attention when spotting your partner so you and/or your partner doesn’t get injured. And don’t get mad if your partner has to train a little different to you, based on their goals.
NATE: Motivating your partner to keep going when they start to give up — encourage them to not quit the workout earlier than expected. And make sure both of you are on the same page about what to workout.
What’s the best couple workout regime to do and how long should a session last?
VICKY: We like to split our workouts. So, for example, on Monday we might just train all lower body. Tuesday Nate will focus on arms and shoulders while I focus on glutes and sprints. So sometimes we’ll go to the gym together but workout on different muscle groups. An example of our workout together…
● Warmup with super light lateral raises (4 sets of 20)
● Face pulls (5 sets of 15)
● Lateral dumbbell raises superset with front dumbbell raises (5 sets to failure)
● Seated dumbbell Arnold presses superset with standing bodyweight calf raises (6 sets of 10-12)
● Seated military barbell presses (4 sets of 10)
On supersets we tend to take turns and spot each other as needed.
Nice. What is the overall best advice you can give our readers on how to get and stay fit?
VICKY: Be patient when it comes to your progression and lifestyle changes. Too many people give up way too soon because the progress is not as fast as they’d like.
NATE: Listen to your body. If something hurts, find out why. And if it feels like it’s working the muscle you were wanting it to then it probably is.
What’s your best diet tips you could give us?
VICKY: Drink plenty of water, don’t restrict yourself too much on what you eat, otherwise you’ll burn yourself out and learn to listen to your body. For example, I used to have bad cystic acne with lots of belly bloating, so I found through process of elimination that I have food sensitivities to gluten, whole almonds and peanuts.
NATE: Try to eat your first few bites slowly – a lot of the times you aren’t really as hungry as you thought you were and your hunger can subside faster than you expected. Focus on making small changes to your diet and keep adding in small changes throughout the weeks. Don’t try to rush the results, the results will come, just be patient.
What is your best asset?
VICKY: Well, Nate says I have a bubbly personality, but I think he’s talking about my booty. So, I guess physically, my glutes. I’m also an empath and can really feel other people’s emotions, so I think that’s a great asset to have.
NATE: Vicky noticed my arms first, and people tend to ask for advice on building arms the most, so I guess arms it is. I also think I’m good at being able to relax and not sweat every little problem for the most part.
How have you been coping with COVID and these crazy pandemic times?
VICKY: For me, being a nurse in this pandemic has almost burnt me out. The
demands of the job, such as worsening nurse-to-patient-ratios and harder work
conditions, are straining for all nurses throughout the world.
NATE: It’s been really difficult to get used to many places having very limited hours and/or services. I’m so ready for things to be back to normal.
Have either of you ever travelled to Australia?
VICKY: No, but that’s definitely on our bucket list. We would love to someday visit Australia and do a photo shoot there!
NATE: We really have wanted to visit. Hopefully when the pandemic is over
travel may be a little easier. I have seen that there are some crazy guys out there in Australia willing to box with a kangaroo to save his dog – can’t say I don’t understand.
What’s next for you guys? Any exciting projects on the horizon you can share with us?
VICKY: We’re travelling to New Orleans, Louisiana at the end of April 2022 to compete for our first time in NPC (National Physique Committee). I’ll be competing in Wellness.
NATE: We also want to get back into starting our YouTube channel to at least show some of our travelling and maybe some food stuff, too. Stay tuned! ■
STATUS UPDATE
FULL NAME: Victoria Elizabeth Hampton
BORN: October 20
HOMETOWN: Abingdon, Virginia U.S.A.
CURRENTLY LIVES: New Port Richey, Florida U.S.A.
FIVE WORD SELF-DESCRIPTION: “Flexible, athletic, confident, fun, persistent.”
PHOBIA: “Rollercoasters – for some reason I just can’t handle them. I know, I’m no fun at an amusement park!”
LIFE MOTTO: “‘Take care of your body. It’s the only place you have to live’ by Jim Rohn.”
INSTAGRAM: @hamptonthoughts
STATUS UPDATE
FULL NAME: Nathaniel Rama Hampton
BORN: December 11
HOMETOWN: Rosamond, California U.S.A.
CURRENTLY LIVES: New Port Richey, Florida U.S.A.
FIVE WORD SELF-DESCRIPTION: “Introverted, hungry, consistent, thoughtful, strong.”
PHOBIA: “Spiders for sure. They’re so creepy looking!”
LIFE MOTTO: “Even if you’re scared of trying new things, it’s better to try than thinking what could have been.”
INSTAGRAM: @hamptonthoughts
Photographed by MOSAAB ALSARAY (IG: @MOSAABALSARAYART)
Interview By SANTI PINTADO (IG: @SPINTADO)
Produced by HOUSE OF PARADISE (IG@HOUSEOFPARADISE01)
Agencies: NEXT LEVEL MODELING (IG: @NEXTLEVELMODELINGAGENCY) & EM MODELING (IG: @EMMODELINGAGENCY)
Location: MUSCLE BEACH, SOUTH BEACH, MIAMI, FLORIDA U.S.A.
For the full article grab the February 2022 issue of MAXIM Australia from newsagents and convenience locations. Subscribe here.
