1) What's your fitness background? |
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My fitness background is unfortunately less than glamorous. As a child my ability to focus on one sport was futile due to my hyperactivity. My parents tried to direct me into a variety of sports without success. My older sister suggested synchronized swimming when all other attempts failed. Upon entering high school, I decided to enroll myself in a variety of activities such as track, cheerleading, and snowboarding. |
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2) How did you get started in the fitness industry? |
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I developed a passion for fitness while trying to change to a healthier lifestyle. I would purchase as many fitness magazines as I could, attend fitness shows and events and scour the internet for more information.
The stage performances inspired me and I decided that I wanted to be up there one day. Finally, a breakthrough came when I saw a web page for FAME Canada which was being hosted by World Natural Sports........ 10 weeks later I was there and amazingly came in first place out of approx. 140 other competitors. |
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3) What do you feel is your biggest fitness-related accomplishment? |
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I think that my biggest accomplishment would have to be that I taught myself how to lead a healthy life in regards to exercising and eating well. My biggest challenge was the fact that I had no idea how to eat properly; I ate to satisfy my emotions not my physiological needs. |
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4) Is fitness modeling/competition your full-time job? If not, what else do you do? |
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It is a big part of my life as I travel frequently for shoots but I am also a personal trainer, medical radiographic technologist and fitness consultant. |
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5) Please describe your normal diet. How do you eat to stay in shape? |
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I try to have a high level of protein in my diet from natural sources of foods.
I don't drop my carbohydrates significantly and try to eat all my complex carbohydrates during the day.
Drink at least 3-4 liters of water a day.
Eat 5-7 small meals a day.
My caloric intake is around 2000-2500 calories a day depending on my activity level.
Here is one example of how I eat in a day
#1
1 cup egg whites
1 serving oatmeal
½ cup fruit
#2
Protein shake
#3
Chicken breast
½ cup brown rice
1 cup mixed veggies
#4
Chicken breast
3 oz yams
1 cup mixed veggies
#5
Protein shake
#6
1 serving of fish
¼ cup nuts
Salad
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6) What supplements do you use? |
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Slimquick EXTREME
Protein
Glutamine
Variety of Vitamins
Flax/hemp oil
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7) How do you motivate yourself to get/stay in shape? |
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The people that write to me through my web site are a great inspiration and encourage me to keep going.
Since fitness modeling is a career, I have to stay in shape to keep working so I schedule my workouts like meetings. |
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8) What are a few of your favorite fitness and health-related web sites? |
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Oxygenmag.com
Slimquickextreme.com
Nautilus.com
Fitday.com
Lululemon.com
Bodybuilding.com
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9) What tips would you give to someone who wanted to get into the fitness competition/modeling industry?
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The entire process is very rewarding. You can travel quite a bit but be prepared to fund the cost on your own. There is a lot preparation but you meet many like minded individuals/fitness professionals and can learn so much from them.
Here are some helpful tips when starting out:
Attend a fitness competition to see how it runs and to see what you need to do to bring your body into competition form
Watch competition videos
Get into and stay in photo ready shape
Get some good pictures done by a photographer you trust and who's photographic style you like
Send pictures and resume to fitness magazines and fitness companies you like
Follow up like you would with any job application
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10) If someone you knew asked you how to lose weight and get into shape quickly, what would you tell them? |
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It won't happen quickly, you have to set some short and long term goals and stick to them. It is important to be prepared and consistent or you will never achieve your dreams. You have to remember that working out for 6 months is not going to give you the body you want for a lifetime.
Fitness is a lifestyle change to achieve/maintain the body shape you are looking for. There is no easy road and this takes hard work and dedication. |
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11) What do you feel differentiates you from other people in your field? |
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That is a very difficult question to answer because every person is different no matter what field you are in. Everyone has their shortcomings and positive features and I don't feel that I stand out among my peers. I would like to be seen as a positive, easy going and accepting person who is willing to help out when ever there is a need. If I had to pinpoint one differentiating factor I would have to say it is my height, I am just over 5’9”. |
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12) What are some of your favorite recipes? |
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I am pretty creative when it comes to eggs so here is my favorite breakfast recipe
1 cup egg white
¼ cup oats
Stevia to sweeten
1 tablespoon peanut butter
cinnamon or pumpkin spice
Mix all items together in a nonstick large frying pan and scramble together on med-high heat till fully cooked
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13) What are some of your favorite abdominal exercises? |
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I always train my core/abs with some sort of additional resistance and always keep my tempo at a 2 count or higher. Here are some of the exercises that I perform on a regular basis
Medicine ball crunches
Rope crunches
Hanging leg raises
Plank on a stability ball
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14) What does your training schedule look like? |
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I always do 1 hour of cardio in the morning on an empty stomach 6 days a week. When preparing for a competition I will add an extra short cardio session at the end of the day
My resistance training split is as follows:
Day 1 Legs
Day 2 Shoulders Abs
Day 3 Back
Day 4 Arms
Day 5 Chest and leg plyos
Day 6 Off
Day 7 Cardio Abs
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