Physical fitness trainer Nontanutda Ammart hasn’t let fame get the better of her.
In less than three years, the 33-year-old has catapulted from a run-of-the-mill gym instructor to one of the most sought-after trainers by Thai film stars, celebrities and the rich and famous. All with the desire to have a figure that would be the envy of many.
Nontanutda, who is better known by her nickname Cherry, has an Instagram following of close to 30,000. Here one can feast their eyes on a string of photos of her celebrity clientele, including actress Araya “Chompoo” Hargate and talk show host Patcharasri “Kalamare” Benjamas, who only seem too willing to show off their well-toned figures and six-packs to the camera. The photos might drive her popularity and demand, but Cherry is adamant to remain grounded by accepting clients from all walks of life.
Besides being a freelance physical fitness instructor for most of her life, she is also a devoted national athlete who has made a name for herself in bodybuilding.
Juggling both her passions with professionalism, she claims that what motivates her most is the drive to encourage the public to pay more attention to their health. Despite their age, a leaner and more attractive figure is possible if one pays attention more to what they eat, Cherry said.
Dressed in casual gym gear and slight make-up when Muse caught up with her at The Lab, a new concept fitness training gym, Cherry’s down-to-earth, candid personality made chatting with her a treat. She easily opened up about her popularity and the need for women to not starve themselves to become thin.
“When I began in this industry, I wanted to get popular enough to promote the sport of physique fitness,” began Cherry. “It was never all about me. The experience of being in front of the camera is all too daunting for me. I am a people person so I enjoy giving interviews to the media, but when it comes to television I sort of shy away.
“I find Thai women too skinny nowadays. My philosophy is simple. Going to the gym five times a week or for that matter starving yourself will not make you fit and firm. The weight you lose in this manner is only detrimental to your health.
“I promote having a balanced lifestyle. While hitting the gym is important, but it will not benefit you to overdo it. It is more important to keep a balanced diet and nutrition. We largely put on weight because of what we eat. If you can manage this and have a proper training regime everything else pretty much falls into place.
“Training and diets vary from one body type to the next. Each person has a different set of requirements, so it is difficult to give general training tips.”
Cherry’s shot at fame came when a student of hers won the “Fit Mom” project, which brought together mothers of various age groups to contend for the best figure. Popular TV personality Kalamare was interested to bring Cherry on her show to explain how a mother in her 40s would be able to achieve a six-pack toned figure. After the show, one thing lead to another and soon she began training the chatty talk show host, who has a huge following herself.
Cherry worked with Kalamare on her nutrition and training regime to build muscles. Soon, the public could see a major change in her appearance. Kalamare was pleased with the results and ever since then started to endorse Cherry. Out of all her celeb clients, Cherry picks Chompoo as the one she had to be most patient with.
“Chompoo is used to having salads everyday so she did not understand why I was putting her on a meat diet. In the past, she worked out seven days a week, but I told her that this was not necessary. At first, she was not completely sold out on my training method. I told her to give it a shot, and discontinue my services if she wasn’t happy. When she began to comply with my training method, Chompoo saw a marked improvement.”
Cherry claims that she does not offer her celebrity customers any special treatment. They have to fit in her schedule and not vice versa. Popular starlet Davika Hoorne had shown an interest in having her become a full-time trainer, a request she had to decline because of other commitments.
During a flashback moment, the Thai shared that it was veteran female national bodybuilder Apiporn Chomsomboon, whom she modelled herself after, that played a pivotal role in her aspirations to follow her dreams.
Cherry relived her humbling beginnings, and how being with the Thai national squad helped her to gain the know-how she needed to assist the public in achieving a healthy, fit body.
“To generate additional income during my university days, I used to work as an aerobics instructor,” said Cherry, who is often invited to celebrity weddings and functions.
“At the time, all I wanted to do was find enough cash to complete my bachelor’s degree in economics. While I taught aerobics to do this, I was never happy with my thick figure. I searched on the internet about how to get a six pack.
“At the time, I lived near the Thai-Japanese stadium, which has a fitness centre. I had been working out there for a couple of weeks when I had a chance meeting with a group of national bodybuilders who were using the venue to train.
“Thinking I could get tips from them to have a better figure, we became friends. When an opportunity arose to join the national squad, I was a little hesitant, but then decided to join as one of the perks was free education. The rest is history.”
Cherry has come a long way since than, and life could not be better. While she endeavours to one day own a gym, the witty personality is in no hurry to capitalise on her popularity.
The sports talent confessed that while she could not be happier with the way her career as a physical fitness instructor has taken off, her ambition is still be in the world championships.
“I would say I have reached the pinnacle of my career as an instructor, so I hope to now concentrate on bringing the world championship trophy to Thailand. In a way, I became a physical fitness teacher so I could tell the public more about bodybuilding.
“That the sport is not just about big muscles, but rather a fit physique which everyone, regardless of their age, can acquire with the correct food and fitness training.”
