Dhashi Perera

Today we meet a power train taking our little island to the world!  She is Dhashi a fitness competitor. Dharshi was born and bred in Sri Lanka. In 1989 she left to Toronto Canada with her family to start a new life. And she has transformed into a mean machine winning many fitness titles.

We caught up with her for an interesting chat.



Full name : Dhashika Shehani Cecille Perera-Bartholomeusz

Nickname : Ducky, Dashi, Dash

Education in brief : St. Lawrences's Wellawatte, Ave Maria Convent Negombo, Winston Churchill Collegiate Institute Scarborough Canada, Centennial College Canada Hotel and Hospitality Management, Sheridan College - Project Management, CanFit Pro-Personal Training Specialist

In love? Yes, married to a wonderful man Russel Bartholomeusz and have one son Kyle Bartholomeusz

Life’s motto? "Never underestimate yourself, as your strength comes from within"

Awards won- 2nd place Masters Fitness Model, 5th place Novice Fitness Model at the IDFA World Championships and Amateur Pro Universe (International Drug Free Athletics)

Bust : 34"

Waist : 24"

Height : 5'2"

 

What made you enter the fitness world?

I came into the fitness world by choice. I play a lot of sports therefore, in order to keep up with my sports, to build strength, stamina and cardio I decided to hit the gym daily. And I got very interested in weight training. So I decided to study Fitness Management and get certified as a personal trainer as I was intrigued how the mind, body and soul worked through diet and exercise. Once I got certified as a personal trainer I worked at a few commercial gyms as a Personal Trainer and later as a Fitness Manager.

The more and more I trained the more I saw my body change and I didn't want to stop. Training at the gym became a routine and I trained every day doing weight training, cardio and flexibility training.  A few years later I wanted a challenge and decided to enter my first competition in 2012.

At my first competition I was placed 4th and then I became hungry for more.. as I knew I can get better and develop my body with more hard training and diet. I am also blessed to have some amazing fitness professionals in my life who constantly support and motivate me.

Top 3 at Open Masters Fitness Model competition. Dhashi clinched the second place.!



"Muscular women don’t interest guys" – do you agree with this statement?

I know it's all about personal preference but it occurs to me than 'some' guys don't prefer girls to be muscular simply because they're not muscular or fit themselves.

I would say it also depends on how muscular the girl is. I see it as a line where their body starts to resemble a man’s figure taking away the attractive feminine body shape with curves. This does not happen with weight training. Women don't look like men if they weight train.. It's the added supplements or steroids that make women look like men.
 
I have come across many men who are very intrigued by hardworking, dedicated and focused women who embrace fitness as a lifestyle. At the same time there are other men who totally shy away from fit and muscular women just because they think women should be just skinny, or thin. It’s the society that makes them think like that.

In Canada fitness is a huge industry and you see more and more men and women training just to stay fit and be healthy. Most importantly, I feel that, only the men who are into fitness will appreciate a fit and defined woman. Because they know how much hard work and dedication is required to build a physique of that level.

 

Tell our readers about your diet?

My diet is usually pretty clean. I eat very healthy 6-7 meals a day and these mostly consist of lean proteins, complex carbs and lots of green veggies. I start my day with oatmeal, skim milk, a teaspoon of peanut butter and scoop of whey protein. This is something I cannot go without.

And then basically I eat every two hours and these meals consist of egg whites, brown rice and chicken breasts, or sweet potato and tuna; and a bowl of pasta and lean ground turkey before training at night. And a protein shake post workout.

At the moment I am in my bulking phase as I am getting ready for the next competition in July. Therefore, my calorie intake a day is at 2500 as per my trainer and nutritionist, which means I’m eating more and lifting heavy. When the competition draws close, the caloric intake reduces and I’ll start my cutting phase.

 

Dhashi at the competition

Dhashi in the Top 5 of the Novice Fitness Model competition
 

How do you train?

My daily training routine is simple. I break down my muscle groups into different days.

One day I train only arms which will include biceps and triceps and lifting my max (heaviest) 5-8 reps with 3-4 sets, and the next day I will focus on legs, and then again on upper body shoulders or back.

I train 3 days in a row and take 1 day’s rest, targeting every single muscle group. In order for your muscles to grow, rest and good sleep is necessary. So I try to abide by this as much as I can. Also during my bulking phase I stay away from cardio and focus only on strength training (weights) and flexibility training.

I start  cardio again during my cutting phase which helps me hold on to my muscle and cut the fat.  During my cutting phase sometimes I have to do cardio 2-3 times a day - once early morning on an empty stomach, once midday and once at night.

My training times varies.. it all depends on my work schedule. Some days I train at 6am and some days I train at 8pm. So therefore, there's no set time for me. Regardless, I make every effort to stay focused and motivated and train myself.

Dhashi with her trainer Jesvy Paratholil


 

Do you encourage other women to follow you?

I encourage other women to follow their own dreams and aspirations.
 
My goal is to inspire and educate South Asian women that there's no barrier to staying fit. You can stay fit at any age if you really want to. And at the same time not to shy away from weight training as it is one of the main components of fitness.  I want them to know being thin and starving yourself does not constitute being fit. They need to be educated that in order to stay fit and healthy they need to eat a well- balanced diet and exercise regularly.

Despite your marital status, age, or race everyone should make an effort to take care of themselves and stay healthy. Eating clean and exercising shouldn't be a chore.. It's a lifestyle.

I am a wife, a mother, a career woman and I still make time for myself. If you don't make that effort for yourself no one will.


 

Has your strength come in handy other than in winning competitions?

Certainly my strength has come in handy.. More than my physical strength, my mental strength. The strength to stay focused, strength to stay motivated and strength to never give up at difficult and hard times.
It also has enhanced my performance in all the sports I do.

 

If you were in Sri Lanka will you have the same success you enjoy now?

When I was in Sri Lanka, I never heard of gyms. All we did was play sports for school, clubs and in the streets. I must say that I am very fortunate to live in a country where there is so much support and great facilities all over the country and the freedom to pursue our dreams and goals.

However, the more I chat with Sri Lankans nowadays, the more I realise people’s concern for gyms and working out constantly. So I'm sure training and fitness in gym facilities have improved tremendously now than from 25 yrs ago.

 

What’s your life plan for the next 3 years?

My plan for the next 3 years is to keep training and improve my physique at every competition and take it to the next level. I want to be able to visit Sri Lanka and educate and empower women on how to train without fear and train the right way with proper form and technique to achieve their fitness goals and to use me as example that even with family, son and a full time job I am still able to do what I do. My goal is also to get my pro card in fitness within the next couple of years and then I can finally say that I have successfully accomplished something.

 

Interview by Jayantha Fernando
Images provided by Dhashi