Melissa's getting closer and closer to her first contest of the year, and shes looking great! For pics of her at 2 weeks out, as well as a written update, go to http://melissacunninghamifpapro.blogspot.com/2011/04/2-weeks-out-sneak-peak-pics.html.
Almost there, Melissa!! :)
Monday, April 18, 2011
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Sharing a TenSpot with...Amy Yastremski
Amy Yastremski is a figure competitor who's quickly making strides in figure, aiming for her pro card. She just competed last year, making her debut at the NPC Mid-Atlantic Classic in Charlotte, North Carolina. She would end up winning her class and the overall title, as well as Best Presentation. If 2010 is any indication, expect big things from her going into 2011 and beyond.
FitGems Nation: Let’s kick this off by telling us a bit about yourself.
Amy Yastremski: I am a 30yr old ER nurse with a 3yr daughter, and have been married to my husband Jeff since Oct 2007.
FitGems: When did you first start competing?
Amy: I started training for my first competition, the NPC Mid-Atlantic Classic in the summer of 2010
FitGems: What is your strategy when you head to the gym? Is it mostly weight-training, mostly cardio, a balanced mixture of the two, or something else?
Amy: I do all weight training. I hate cardio!! Any cardio that I do is at home on the treadmill
FitGems: Due to your muscularity, has anyone mistaken you for being in something OTHER than physique competitions (MMA fighter, boxer, pro wrestler, track and field runner, etc?)
Amy: No, I have not had anyone think that. Usually people just say “you must workout”, and that is when I explain to them about competing in the figure class.
FitGems: With women’s physique and bikini now part of the NPC and IFBB, do you feel that there’s now a division for every female who wants to compete?
Amy: Definitely. I think that the new physique and bikini divisions allow for a greater variety of female athletes to compete.
FitGems: Along those same lines, where do you personally see the direction of figure in the long haul? Do you think it will remain in a “soft” state where there are those that say that it’s dangerously close to drawing a line between figure and bikini, or do you see it going back to a somewhat harder look, like when Davana Medina was queen of figure during its birth?
Amy: The shows that I have been a part of have leaned towards a harder look, but I would like it to remain “soft”. I would rather the physique and figure classes look similar, than the bikini and figure classes.
FitGems: If you weren’t a part of the female physique world, what would you be doing right now as your profession?
Amy: I do work as a nurse in the ER full time. Competing is only a hobby at this point. I like the idea of having competitions be for “fun” right now.
FitGems: What (if anything) would you change about any of the IFBB female divisions?
Amy: I again have only just started competing, but I would like to see the figure division be on the softer side, physique be in the middle, and bodybuilding division obviously have the hard look. I wonder were to draw the line between figure and bodybuilding.
FitGems: Which competitor (past or present) you look up to the most for your inspiration?
Amy: My trainer Kisha Wilson, and Quincy Roberts have been instrumental in getting me to were I am today.
FitGems: What are your future plans heading into 2011 and beyond, and where do you see your career after you’re done competing?
Amy: I am looking forward to competing in my first national show in the summer of 2011, and would like to obviously earn my pro card. I would love to be able to do some fitness modeling, and one day make the cover of Oxygen Magazine, or any of the other fitness magazines. I just want to enjoy myself.
For more on Amy, visit her website at www.amyyaz.com, And search for "Amy Yastremski Figure Competitior fan page" on Facebook. We wish you best of luck in future competitions, Amy!!
 |
| Photo provided by Amy herself |
FitGems Nation: Let’s kick this off by telling us a bit about yourself.
Amy Yastremski: I am a 30yr old ER nurse with a 3yr daughter, and have been married to my husband Jeff since Oct 2007.
FitGems: When did you first start competing?
Amy: I started training for my first competition, the NPC Mid-Atlantic Classic in the summer of 2010
FitGems: What is your strategy when you head to the gym? Is it mostly weight-training, mostly cardio, a balanced mixture of the two, or something else?
Amy: I do all weight training. I hate cardio!! Any cardio that I do is at home on the treadmill
FitGems: Due to your muscularity, has anyone mistaken you for being in something OTHER than physique competitions (MMA fighter, boxer, pro wrestler, track and field runner, etc?)
Amy: No, I have not had anyone think that. Usually people just say “you must workout”, and that is when I explain to them about competing in the figure class.
FitGems: With women’s physique and bikini now part of the NPC and IFBB, do you feel that there’s now a division for every female who wants to compete?
Amy: Definitely. I think that the new physique and bikini divisions allow for a greater variety of female athletes to compete.
FitGems: Along those same lines, where do you personally see the direction of figure in the long haul? Do you think it will remain in a “soft” state where there are those that say that it’s dangerously close to drawing a line between figure and bikini, or do you see it going back to a somewhat harder look, like when Davana Medina was queen of figure during its birth?
Amy: The shows that I have been a part of have leaned towards a harder look, but I would like it to remain “soft”. I would rather the physique and figure classes look similar, than the bikini and figure classes.
FitGems: If you weren’t a part of the female physique world, what would you be doing right now as your profession?
Amy: I do work as a nurse in the ER full time. Competing is only a hobby at this point. I like the idea of having competitions be for “fun” right now.
FitGems: What (if anything) would you change about any of the IFBB female divisions?
Amy: I again have only just started competing, but I would like to see the figure division be on the softer side, physique be in the middle, and bodybuilding division obviously have the hard look. I wonder were to draw the line between figure and bodybuilding.
FitGems: Which competitor (past or present) you look up to the most for your inspiration?
Amy: My trainer Kisha Wilson, and Quincy Roberts have been instrumental in getting me to were I am today.
FitGems: What are your future plans heading into 2011 and beyond, and where do you see your career after you’re done competing?
Amy: I am looking forward to competing in my first national show in the summer of 2011, and would like to obviously earn my pro card. I would love to be able to do some fitness modeling, and one day make the cover of Oxygen Magazine, or any of the other fitness magazines. I just want to enjoy myself.
For more on Amy, visit her website at www.amyyaz.com, And search for "Amy Yastremski Figure Competitior fan page" on Facebook. We wish you best of luck in future competitions, Amy!!
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Sharing a TenSpot with...Mishon Shore
Mishon Shore is a NPC bikini competitor who just competed last year. A beautiful woman from the inside and out, Mishon took the time out of her busy schedule to conduct and interview with us.
FitGems Nation: Let’s kick this off by telling us a bit about yourself.
Mishon Shore: Let me first say thank you for this interview! My name is Mishon Shore. I’m a 25 year old NPC national level bikini competitor. I’m also a bartender and hairdresser! I bar manage my boyfriends night club also. So needless to say I stay pretty busy! I’ve been blessed with a wonderful family, great friends, and a supportive boyfriend who all stand behind me with my competing.
FitGems: When did you first start competing?
Mishon: I started competing in October 2010. I’ve always been interested in competitions but never really knew how to get into them. I started training and started a diet and competed in my first show in Charlotte NC in October. I placed first in my class and won the overall! From that moment on I was hooked!
FitGems: What is your strategy when you head to the gym? Is it mostly weight-training, mostly cardio, a balanced mixture of the two, or something else?
Mishon: I have a set plan for every day. I have a certain schedule mapped out for each gym session. I do weight-training and cardio every day. It’s a good mixture of both. I absolutely love going to the gym and training. I feel like I’m one step closer to my goals with each rep and set.
FitGems: Due to your muscularity, has anyone mistaken you for being in something OTHER than physique competitions (MMA fighter, boxer, pro wrestler, track and field runner, etc?)
Mishon: HAHA, funny you should ask. I always get asked what I do when I’m bartending at the club I manage. I actually received a 100 tip to have a flex off with a smaller guy. I thought it was hilarious! Its fun to have fun with what you do, and definitely get acknowledged that your in great shape. Most people just think I’m a gymnast or something along those lines.
FitGems: With women’s physique and bikini now part of the NPC and IFBB, do you feel that there’s now a division for every female who wants to compete?
Mishon: Absolutely. I love that they’ve added women’s physique to the mix. I feel that it gives every female a place that they feel they fit in and also a physique class that’s attainable for them.
FitGems: For those that don’t see bikini as a real division in the NPC and IFBB, what would you say to them to try and change their mind?
Mishon: Bikini is a tough class. Its very competitive. There are so many things that go along with this class. I think its rather hard to find a nice balance between being fit and tight and not overly conditioned. There’s a fine line between bikini and figure in some competitors. You have to really find out what’s best for you in training and dieting. I’m lucky and tend to be very lean naturally so my diet is a lot more relaxed. I train every day just like any other class would. So I hope that someone that didn’t think bikini was a real division could somewhat understand that it definitely isn’t as easy as one would think.
FitGems: If you weren’t a part of the female physique world, what would you be doing right now as your profession?
Mishon: I’m a full-time hairdresser. So I imagine I would be focusing on opening my own salon. I’d love to even get my personal training certificate and fit that in somewhere. It’s just so hard for me to even begin to imagine not being in this industry. It’s such a way of life for me now!
FitGems: What (if anything) would you change about any of the IFBB female divisions?
Mishon: I always thought there should be a class between figure and womens bodybuilding, but after they added the new physique class I honestly can’t think of anything I’d change.
FitGems: Which competitor (past or present) you look up to the most for your inspiration?
Mishon: I absolutely love Nicole Nagrani and Amanda Latona. I always look to see how there physique looks because I think they set a great standard for the bikini division.
FitGems: What are your future plans heading into 2011 and beyond, and where do you see your career after you’re done competing?
Mishon: I’m heading into my first competition of 2011 with the best feeling. I’m 10 days away from our NC state show and I’m feeling like a million bucks! I would love to attain my pro card this year and that’s definitely at the top of the list of goals for 2011. Plan is NC states, JR USA, then every national show till I win!
 |
| Photo provided by Mishon herself |
FitGems Nation: Let’s kick this off by telling us a bit about yourself.
Mishon Shore: Let me first say thank you for this interview! My name is Mishon Shore. I’m a 25 year old NPC national level bikini competitor. I’m also a bartender and hairdresser! I bar manage my boyfriends night club also. So needless to say I stay pretty busy! I’ve been blessed with a wonderful family, great friends, and a supportive boyfriend who all stand behind me with my competing.
FitGems: When did you first start competing?
Mishon: I started competing in October 2010. I’ve always been interested in competitions but never really knew how to get into them. I started training and started a diet and competed in my first show in Charlotte NC in October. I placed first in my class and won the overall! From that moment on I was hooked!
FitGems: What is your strategy when you head to the gym? Is it mostly weight-training, mostly cardio, a balanced mixture of the two, or something else?
Mishon: I have a set plan for every day. I have a certain schedule mapped out for each gym session. I do weight-training and cardio every day. It’s a good mixture of both. I absolutely love going to the gym and training. I feel like I’m one step closer to my goals with each rep and set.
FitGems: Due to your muscularity, has anyone mistaken you for being in something OTHER than physique competitions (MMA fighter, boxer, pro wrestler, track and field runner, etc?)
Mishon: HAHA, funny you should ask. I always get asked what I do when I’m bartending at the club I manage. I actually received a 100 tip to have a flex off with a smaller guy. I thought it was hilarious! Its fun to have fun with what you do, and definitely get acknowledged that your in great shape. Most people just think I’m a gymnast or something along those lines.
FitGems: With women’s physique and bikini now part of the NPC and IFBB, do you feel that there’s now a division for every female who wants to compete?
Mishon: Absolutely. I love that they’ve added women’s physique to the mix. I feel that it gives every female a place that they feel they fit in and also a physique class that’s attainable for them.
FitGems: For those that don’t see bikini as a real division in the NPC and IFBB, what would you say to them to try and change their mind?
Mishon: Bikini is a tough class. Its very competitive. There are so many things that go along with this class. I think its rather hard to find a nice balance between being fit and tight and not overly conditioned. There’s a fine line between bikini and figure in some competitors. You have to really find out what’s best for you in training and dieting. I’m lucky and tend to be very lean naturally so my diet is a lot more relaxed. I train every day just like any other class would. So I hope that someone that didn’t think bikini was a real division could somewhat understand that it definitely isn’t as easy as one would think.
FitGems: If you weren’t a part of the female physique world, what would you be doing right now as your profession?
Mishon: I’m a full-time hairdresser. So I imagine I would be focusing on opening my own salon. I’d love to even get my personal training certificate and fit that in somewhere. It’s just so hard for me to even begin to imagine not being in this industry. It’s such a way of life for me now!
FitGems: What (if anything) would you change about any of the IFBB female divisions?
Mishon: I always thought there should be a class between figure and womens bodybuilding, but after they added the new physique class I honestly can’t think of anything I’d change.
FitGems: Which competitor (past or present) you look up to the most for your inspiration?
Mishon: I absolutely love Nicole Nagrani and Amanda Latona. I always look to see how there physique looks because I think they set a great standard for the bikini division.
FitGems: What are your future plans heading into 2011 and beyond, and where do you see your career after you’re done competing?
Mishon: I’m heading into my first competition of 2011 with the best feeling. I’m 10 days away from our NC state show and I’m feeling like a million bucks! I would love to attain my pro card this year and that’s definitely at the top of the list of goals for 2011. Plan is NC states, JR USA, then every national show till I win!
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Women's Physique Division Interview: Kerri Bolen
As you all know, women's physique will be making its debut in the NPC in a few weeks at the Jr. USAs in Charleston, SC on May 21. No one knows the look for the new division, so it's going to be interesting to see how things play out. Between now and May 21, FitGems Nation will be posting interviews from those that will be competing in women's physique. Our first women's physique interview is with Kerri Bolen, a former lightweight bodybuilder and figure competitor from Williston, SC. What better way to debut in women's physique than close to home!
FitGems Nation: Thank you for taking the time to do this interview with us! If you could, may you tell us a little bit about yourself?
Kerri Bolen: I am a Christian wife and mother - I have a wonderful, supportive husband and two good boys: a son, Dalton who is 19 and a step-son, Cullen
who is 22. I'm very active. I enjoy working out, competing, water skiing, hunting, fishing, horseback riding,playing the guitar, and
singing.
FitGems: What made you decide to get into female muscle competitions in the first place?
Kerri: Initially my uncle, Edward Givens, got me interested as he was real big into lifting. After that, I picked up every issue of "Muscle and Fitness" magazine I could get my hands on. I loved the way the female bodybuilders looked - the pioneers like Cory Everson, Rachel McLish, and Carla Dunlap - that sparked my desire to compete.
FitGems: What are your feelings about the NPC/IFBB having a women’s physique division?
Kerri: I am very excited about the new division - I think it will be a good fit for me. There are a lot of other ladies that aren't
big enough for female bodybuilding but are too muscular for figure that may also fall into this category.
FitGems: What are your expectations of the new division?
Kerri: I would expect the new division to be a good "middle ground" between the figure division and the female bodybuilding division because there is obviously a big gap there.
FitGems: Which show(s) are you competing in this year?
Kerri: I am definitely competing at the Jr. USAs in Charleston, SC this May. After that, I am not sure - I may take a short break.
FitGems: What kind of preparations (weight-training/cardio) have you done to prepare
for women’s physique?
Kerri: I weight train 4-5 x a week (kind of heavy), cardio 6 x per week, and practicing my posing routine, also.
FitGems: Who do you feel needs to compete in women’s physique in the IFBB?
Kerri: I like Lori Steele's look. I'm not sure of any other competitors, right off hand.
FitGems: With the new women’s physique and bikini added to women’s bodybuilding, fitness, and figure, do you think every woman who wants to compete FINALLY has a division to their liking now?
Kerri: There may have been enough divisions already if more of a distinction between bikini and figure had been made; so surely there are enough now.
FitGems: Along those lines, do you see each division eventually having a clear distinction as to an “ideal” look? There are some thinkingthat the winning looks for figure and bikini are dangerously close to being the same, while there's a somewhat clear look for women's bodybuilding and fitness.
Kerri: I feel like the physique division will be distinct and I'm hoping there will be more of a difference between the bikini and figure divisions because yes, it is getting mighty close between those two.
FitGems: What made you decide to compete in the women's physique division?
Kerri: From what I have heard, they might be going for a softer look in figure this year. I like the look I get from lifting heavy, however, I don't have the size for female bodybuilding. I believe I may have found the division where I will be a "perfect fit".
FitGems: Are you a new competitor in this sport or have you competed in a different division prior to women's physique?
Kerri: I have competed in women's bodybuilding several times and placed well in the lightweight division. Last year I competed in in three figure shows and placed real well in that, also. But I feel my style and appearance are better suited to the new physique class.
FitGems: Some people think that eventually women's physique will indeed replace womens bodybuilding going forward. Do you see that happening or do you see the division remaining separate for the time being?
Kerri: I hope female bodybuilding is not eliminated. But who knows? It will be interesting to see how all that plays out.
FitGems: What's one thing that most people would be surprised to know about you?
Kerri: My husband and I sing at church on a fairly regular basis and my husband plays the guitar for me.
FitGems: How would you convince people to join women's physique or any female muscle division for that matter?
Kerri: I would tell them that competing in any of the divisions takes a lot of hard work and sacrifice, but having a goal to work towards keep you motivated and on the right track throughout the year and it's a lot of fun!
FitGems: How big do you see women's physique becoming (as in participants and growth - not necessarily the size of the competitors)?
Kerri: I think there will be a big turnout, even for the first show (the Jr. USAs) coming up this May. A lot of the figure competitors thathave too muscle will end up competing in this division and I believe some of the female bodybuilders that are really too small for the bodybuilding division will be able to come down and compete in the physique division.
FitGems: How can people contact you if they want to know your upcoming plans and/or sponsor you in the near future?
Kerri: They can contact me through my email address: kerri.bolen@yahoo.com
Any help is appreciated, but I especially could use some help with competition expenses such as entry fees, etc. I would also like to thank Shawn Beach from ChizzledWear for sponsoring me with awesome workout gear (www.chizzledwear.com) and Kristal Richardson from Top Secret Nutrition (www.topsecretnutrition.com) for sponsoring me with some amazing supplements.
FitGems: Once again, thank you for taking the time to do this interview. Good luck in womens physique
Kerri: Thank you very much - I enjoyed doing the interview!
Once again, we would like to thank Kerri Bolen for taking the time to conduct an interview for us. Kerri will be part of history next month at the Jr. USAs!!!
 |
| Photo provided by Kerri herself. |
FitGems Nation: Thank you for taking the time to do this interview with us! If you could, may you tell us a little bit about yourself?
Kerri Bolen: I am a Christian wife and mother - I have a wonderful, supportive husband and two good boys: a son, Dalton who is 19 and a step-son, Cullen
who is 22. I'm very active. I enjoy working out, competing, water skiing, hunting, fishing, horseback riding,playing the guitar, and
singing.
FitGems: What made you decide to get into female muscle competitions in the first place?
Kerri: Initially my uncle, Edward Givens, got me interested as he was real big into lifting. After that, I picked up every issue of "Muscle and Fitness" magazine I could get my hands on. I loved the way the female bodybuilders looked - the pioneers like Cory Everson, Rachel McLish, and Carla Dunlap - that sparked my desire to compete.
FitGems: What are your feelings about the NPC/IFBB having a women’s physique division?
Kerri: I am very excited about the new division - I think it will be a good fit for me. There are a lot of other ladies that aren't
big enough for female bodybuilding but are too muscular for figure that may also fall into this category.
FitGems: What are your expectations of the new division?
Kerri: I would expect the new division to be a good "middle ground" between the figure division and the female bodybuilding division because there is obviously a big gap there.
FitGems: Which show(s) are you competing in this year?
Kerri: I am definitely competing at the Jr. USAs in Charleston, SC this May. After that, I am not sure - I may take a short break.
FitGems: What kind of preparations (weight-training/cardio) have you done to prepare
for women’s physique?
Kerri: I weight train 4-5 x a week (kind of heavy), cardio 6 x per week, and practicing my posing routine, also.
FitGems: Who do you feel needs to compete in women’s physique in the IFBB?
Kerri: I like Lori Steele's look. I'm not sure of any other competitors, right off hand.
FitGems: With the new women’s physique and bikini added to women’s bodybuilding, fitness, and figure, do you think every woman who wants to compete FINALLY has a division to their liking now?
Kerri: There may have been enough divisions already if more of a distinction between bikini and figure had been made; so surely there are enough now.
FitGems: Along those lines, do you see each division eventually having a clear distinction as to an “ideal” look? There are some thinkingthat the winning looks for figure and bikini are dangerously close to being the same, while there's a somewhat clear look for women's bodybuilding and fitness.
Kerri: I feel like the physique division will be distinct and I'm hoping there will be more of a difference between the bikini and figure divisions because yes, it is getting mighty close between those two.
FitGems: What made you decide to compete in the women's physique division?
Kerri: From what I have heard, they might be going for a softer look in figure this year. I like the look I get from lifting heavy, however, I don't have the size for female bodybuilding. I believe I may have found the division where I will be a "perfect fit".
FitGems: Are you a new competitor in this sport or have you competed in a different division prior to women's physique?
Kerri: I have competed in women's bodybuilding several times and placed well in the lightweight division. Last year I competed in in three figure shows and placed real well in that, also. But I feel my style and appearance are better suited to the new physique class.
FitGems: Some people think that eventually women's physique will indeed replace womens bodybuilding going forward. Do you see that happening or do you see the division remaining separate for the time being?
Kerri: I hope female bodybuilding is not eliminated. But who knows? It will be interesting to see how all that plays out.
FitGems: What's one thing that most people would be surprised to know about you?
Kerri: My husband and I sing at church on a fairly regular basis and my husband plays the guitar for me.
FitGems: How would you convince people to join women's physique or any female muscle division for that matter?
Kerri: I would tell them that competing in any of the divisions takes a lot of hard work and sacrifice, but having a goal to work towards keep you motivated and on the right track throughout the year and it's a lot of fun!
FitGems: How big do you see women's physique becoming (as in participants and growth - not necessarily the size of the competitors)?
Kerri: I think there will be a big turnout, even for the first show (the Jr. USAs) coming up this May. A lot of the figure competitors thathave too muscle will end up competing in this division and I believe some of the female bodybuilders that are really too small for the bodybuilding division will be able to come down and compete in the physique division.
FitGems: How can people contact you if they want to know your upcoming plans and/or sponsor you in the near future?
Kerri: They can contact me through my email address: kerri.bolen@yahoo.com
Any help is appreciated, but I especially could use some help with competition expenses such as entry fees, etc. I would also like to thank Shawn Beach from ChizzledWear for sponsoring me with awesome workout gear (www.chizzledwear.com) and Kristal Richardson from Top Secret Nutrition (www.topsecretnutrition.com) for sponsoring me with some amazing supplements.
FitGems: Once again, thank you for taking the time to do this interview. Good luck in womens physique
Kerri: Thank you very much - I enjoyed doing the interview!
Once again, we would like to thank Kerri Bolen for taking the time to conduct an interview for us. Kerri will be part of history next month at the Jr. USAs!!!
Melissa Cunningham at 4 Weeks Out from her Show
Melissa Cunninghan is getting closer and closer to stepping on stage for her first show this year! She recently did a blog with her at 4 weeks out, with some progress pics to boot! Visit her blog at http://melissacunninghamifpapro.blogspot.com/2011/04/posing-4wks-outprogress.html and let her know how well she's doing! :)
5wks out-Dont think about it,JUST DO IT! (Melissa Cunningham's Journal Entry #9)
5 and 6weeks (35 and 42 days) out from show days!!! where is the time going???
eeeeep!
i have been feeling "off" my game this week,but have pushed through the workouts and cardio anyways. today i was really not feeling the gym mojo. maybe it was because i knew i had to get in a BRICK session,i knew i had to get an under 21 5k...and i wasn't in the mood to run,or bike,or lift. i just wanted to go back home and sleep.
i put my head down and plowed through a not fun workout.
4x10 pullups ss w
4x10 dips
4x15 lat pulldowns
4x15 straight arm lat pulls ss w
4x30 dirty 30's
4x15 close grip rows
4x12 reverse flys
4x15 overhead extensions ss w
4x12 DB kickbacks w twist
towards the end of the workout,i stalled and stalled.....
and then i told myself......
Melissa,
dont think about it, JUST DO IT!
so i finished the workout strong and got in a GREAT BRICK session
bike-9.5 miles in 31 minutes..
IMMEDIATELY jumped on the TM and cranked out a 5k in 20:48.....
mile 1: 7:13...felt very comfortable
mile 2: 6:38...still felt good
then finished the last mile going from 6:30 down to 6min mile pace....
:D
3 weeks until triathlon
5weeks until WNBF Pro qualifier
6weeks until first Pro show of the year, World Cup qualifier
7weeks until Marine Core 1/2 Marathon.......
i must be crazy.....
eeeeep!
i have been feeling "off" my game this week,but have pushed through the workouts and cardio anyways. today i was really not feeling the gym mojo. maybe it was because i knew i had to get in a BRICK session,i knew i had to get an under 21 5k...and i wasn't in the mood to run,or bike,or lift. i just wanted to go back home and sleep.
i put my head down and plowed through a not fun workout.
4x10 pullups ss w
4x10 dips
4x15 lat pulldowns
4x15 straight arm lat pulls ss w
4x30 dirty 30's
4x15 close grip rows
4x12 reverse flys
4x15 overhead extensions ss w
4x12 DB kickbacks w twist
towards the end of the workout,i stalled and stalled.....
and then i told myself......
Melissa,
dont think about it, JUST DO IT!
so i finished the workout strong and got in a GREAT BRICK session
bike-9.5 miles in 31 minutes..
IMMEDIATELY jumped on the TM and cranked out a 5k in 20:48.....
mile 1: 7:13...felt very comfortable
mile 2: 6:38...still felt good
then finished the last mile going from 6:30 down to 6min mile pace....
:D
3 weeks until triathlon
5weeks until WNBF Pro qualifier
6weeks until first Pro show of the year, World Cup qualifier
7weeks until Marine Core 1/2 Marathon.......
i must be crazy.....
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
A Meeting Seven Years in the Making
As far as I know, everyone has that one person they look up to, that one idol that makes them strive to be better and go that extra mile in their lives. Well, this past weekend, I got to meet my idol, someone who've I've been a fan of for years. I planned the very first fitness festival at my university, and I wanted to pick someone special to be the guest speaker; someone I felt would be a great inspiration to her audience as she was to me. Without hesitation, I contacted Christine Pomponio-Pate, and she gladly accepted my invitation.
For those that are unfamiliar with her, let me give you a background history on Christine. She's a IFBB Athlete (formerly competed in figure) from Denver, Colorado. She's competed in various Arnolds and Olympia in figure, placing in the top 6 each time, being as high at 4th place in both. At one time, she was the top-ranked figure competitor in the world. In 2007, she semi-retired from competition to have a baby boy named Riley. The baby weight came off of Christine like nothing, and many people say that she could return to stage if she wanted to. There might come a day where she will step on stage once again, but time will tell.
Her journey to getting to the festival was, to put it mildly, nuts. Her and her family (husband Jim and son Riley) left early in the morning as her husband needed to get some work done somewhere close to the festival anyways. Everything was hunky-dory for a bit. It was looking like they were going to come to town and spend the night, then wake up and head to the festival and kick it off. Didn't work out the way any of us intended. I checked the morning of the festival to see if they had checked in, but they never came. There was a reason; car trouble. To make a long story short, they were one state away from the festival and had to wait a bit until they could get a rental car. This was going to call to change the festival plans a bit. So we changed the festival a bit and it worked itself out. Oh, did I mentioned that it was storming as well? Exactly, as if things couldn't get any more crazy.
We decided to contact the Pate family to see about their whereabouts. Personally, I suck at directions, but from what they told me when I called them, they were close. In fact, they were better than close; they had arrived. They were in the same town as the festival. As we were trying to get directions straightened out...my phone died on me. To quote the Miz "REALLY?!?!" Of all the times my phone could have died, it chose that one. -____- Good thing I saved the number and gave it to our organization's president. She took care of the rest, and from that point on, it was making sure everything was set inside.
Christine's husband came in first, and we introduced ourselves. He's a great guy to be around and just a very cool person. We talked a bit, got stuff situated, and went to get Christine and Riley while our group finished setting up. Set-up was just about done, then they they all walked in. I saw it for my own eyes, but couldn't believe it. The woman who's career I've followed and supported for seven years was at my university. But more importantly than that, this was the first time we've seen each other face to face. I couldn't believe it. I was composed on the outside; but inside...inside was an entirely different story. Couldn't believe how composed on the outside I was, to be honest with you. Obviously, I thanked her for being at the festival and whatnot. We got the final touches together and Presto! It was time for Christine to speak at the festival.
I won't go over all the details, but I'll cover a few things of interests: She mentioned a new exercise technique I never heard of before called Tabata exercises, which is periods of 20 seconds of high intensity training and 10 seconds of rest. It goes 20-10-20-10-20-10-20-10, etc. Three guys tried it and did better then expected. Another activity took place by having three volunteers attempt to throw a small ball in a small trashcan...blindfolded. She also spoke on her career as an IFBB athlete, her journey to living healthier and being closer to God, how her son has been part of her workout routines, and how life starts today rather then putting it off. That and how at one point she devoured 18 creme-filled donuts from Krispy Kreme in ONE SETTING after a contest. Sure enough, that shocked the heck out of everyone. 18 donuts...filled with creme even?! That shook the football players in attendance, and those boys can EAT! Overall, it was a great speech, and I think everyone took something away from it. Whenever I can get the camcorder working, I'll be posting the video for people to see. It's a bit lengthy (almost an hour), but well worth the time to watch it.
All in all, despite everything I typed here, words can't express how much her appearance meant to those that attended the festival and how it meant to me. Christine, I can't thank you enough for not just being a part of the festival, but for supporting me and FitGems. You have my undying support for whatever happens next in your life.THANKS FOR EVERYTHING, CHRISTINE!!!
For those wanting to view more pics of the festival itself, click here.
 |
| Seven years....well worth the wait. Thank you Christine!!! |
For those that are unfamiliar with her, let me give you a background history on Christine. She's a IFBB Athlete (formerly competed in figure) from Denver, Colorado. She's competed in various Arnolds and Olympia in figure, placing in the top 6 each time, being as high at 4th place in both. At one time, she was the top-ranked figure competitor in the world. In 2007, she semi-retired from competition to have a baby boy named Riley. The baby weight came off of Christine like nothing, and many people say that she could return to stage if she wanted to. There might come a day where she will step on stage once again, but time will tell.
Her journey to getting to the festival was, to put it mildly, nuts. Her and her family (husband Jim and son Riley) left early in the morning as her husband needed to get some work done somewhere close to the festival anyways. Everything was hunky-dory for a bit. It was looking like they were going to come to town and spend the night, then wake up and head to the festival and kick it off. Didn't work out the way any of us intended. I checked the morning of the festival to see if they had checked in, but they never came. There was a reason; car trouble. To make a long story short, they were one state away from the festival and had to wait a bit until they could get a rental car. This was going to call to change the festival plans a bit. So we changed the festival a bit and it worked itself out. Oh, did I mentioned that it was storming as well? Exactly, as if things couldn't get any more crazy.
We decided to contact the Pate family to see about their whereabouts. Personally, I suck at directions, but from what they told me when I called them, they were close. In fact, they were better than close; they had arrived. They were in the same town as the festival. As we were trying to get directions straightened out...my phone died on me. To quote the Miz "REALLY?!?!" Of all the times my phone could have died, it chose that one. -____- Good thing I saved the number and gave it to our organization's president. She took care of the rest, and from that point on, it was making sure everything was set inside.
Christine's husband came in first, and we introduced ourselves. He's a great guy to be around and just a very cool person. We talked a bit, got stuff situated, and went to get Christine and Riley while our group finished setting up. Set-up was just about done, then they they all walked in. I saw it for my own eyes, but couldn't believe it. The woman who's career I've followed and supported for seven years was at my university. But more importantly than that, this was the first time we've seen each other face to face. I couldn't believe it. I was composed on the outside; but inside...inside was an entirely different story. Couldn't believe how composed on the outside I was, to be honest with you. Obviously, I thanked her for being at the festival and whatnot. We got the final touches together and Presto! It was time for Christine to speak at the festival.
I won't go over all the details, but I'll cover a few things of interests: She mentioned a new exercise technique I never heard of before called Tabata exercises, which is periods of 20 seconds of high intensity training and 10 seconds of rest. It goes 20-10-20-10-20-10-20-10, etc. Three guys tried it and did better then expected. Another activity took place by having three volunteers attempt to throw a small ball in a small trashcan...blindfolded. She also spoke on her career as an IFBB athlete, her journey to living healthier and being closer to God, how her son has been part of her workout routines, and how life starts today rather then putting it off. That and how at one point she devoured 18 creme-filled donuts from Krispy Kreme in ONE SETTING after a contest. Sure enough, that shocked the heck out of everyone. 18 donuts...filled with creme even?! That shook the football players in attendance, and those boys can EAT! Overall, it was a great speech, and I think everyone took something away from it. Whenever I can get the camcorder working, I'll be posting the video for people to see. It's a bit lengthy (almost an hour), but well worth the time to watch it.
All in all, despite everything I typed here, words can't express how much her appearance meant to those that attended the festival and how it meant to me. Christine, I can't thank you enough for not just being a part of the festival, but for supporting me and FitGems. You have my undying support for whatever happens next in your life.THANKS FOR EVERYTHING, CHRISTINE!!!
For those wanting to view more pics of the festival itself, click here.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Sharing a TenSpot with...Julia Hubbard
Julia Hubbard is a top international figure competitor from the United Kingdom. Next weekend, she will take part in the British Bodybuilding Grand Prix and Expo and will be have a training session with the legendary Rich Gaspari at that same expo. Juila's a great person to know, inside and out.
FitGems Nation: Let’s kick this off by telling us a bit about yourself. When did you first start competing?
Julia Hubbard: I started competing in 2010, i did a local show last April to see if i liked competing and got the bug! I was so nervous about being on stage in a bikini, but once i was up there i loved it! I see it as a chance to show off the hard work i put in! 3 weeks after my first show, i was back onstage at at UKBFF (UKs IFBB)qualifier and came 2nd and got an invite for the UK Champs, i competed there in October for experience but i wasnt really ready for the big stage yet, i learned a lot about preperation though! A week later i decided to take part in the first qualifier for the 2011 UK Champs, The Hercules Show, and as its held only a week after the UK Champs, its a popular and high quality competition. I came 2nd again and got my invite to the UK Champs 2011, so now I have a whole year to put in some work and make the improvements i need to try and place highly at the UKBFF national champs!
FitGems: What is your strategy when you head to the gym? Is it mostly weight-training, mostly cardio, a balanced mixture of the two, or something else?
Julia: Well my background is in Sprints and Bobsleigh which are both speed / power sports, so i have always weight trained, i do a split routine training a seperate body part each session. I dont really go for traditional 'cardio' i prefer to do circuits and sprint training (which is basically HIIT) for my conditioning. Pre contest i keep the weight training the same and just add in an extra session of cardio and may do some lower intensity cardio, if im dieting and lack the energy for a high tempo session!
FitGems: Due to your muscularity, has anyone mistaken you for being in something OTHER than physique competitions (MMA fighter, boxer, pro wrestler, track and field runner, etc?)
Julia: I am actually also a Track competitor, I have started to compete in Masters Track and Field this year and am heading to Sacramento in July for the World Masters Track and Field Champs!
FitGems: With women’s physique and bikini now part of the NPC and IFBB, do you feel that there’s now a division for every female who wants to compete?
Julia: I think Physique, Figure and Bikini give us 3 clear classes so a woman can choose the look she would like to achieve. Bikini class is seen as more attainable for most women and will undoubtably get more girls into competing. In the UK we have only just introduced Bikini class and its already proving to be popular.
FitGems: Along those same lines, where do you personally see the direction of figure in the long haul? Do you think it will remain in a “soft” state where there are those that say that it’s dangerously close to drawing a line between figure and bikini, or do you see it going back to a somewhat harder look, like when Davana Medina was queen of figure during its birth?
Julia: I would like to see figure keep its softer look, more muscular and with lower bodyfat than the bikini girls, but not the level of muscularity and bodyfat as the physique girls have. It needs to be somewhere in the middle, but a clear class of its own. Maybe a maximum height to weight ratio could be introduced, to limit how muscular the figure girls can achieve would help prevent the class 'outgrowing' itself. Feminine and athletic!
FitGems: If you weren’t a part of the female physique world, what would you be doing right now as your profession?
Julia: Im a personal trainer, so id still be involved in the fitness world. Im passionate about health, fitness and sports, so i will always be involved in some way!
FitGems: What (if anything) would you change about any of the IFBB female divisions?
Julia: We have 3 clear divisions to suit whatever look you want to achieve!
FitGems: Which competitor (past or present) you look up to the most for your inspiration?
Julia: Monica Brant, she has had (and still has) such a distinctive career in competing and fitness modeling, she is proving that age is not a limiting factor and is a fantastic role model. Balancing a competition, modeling and fitness career with style! She is definately the female competitor that has inspired me the most!
FitGems: What are your future plans heading into 2011 and beyond, and where do you see your career after you’re done competing?
Julia: At the moment I have two main goals for 2011.
The UKBFF UK Championships in October is my main goal and i intend to compete at the Hercules comp the week after again, as it was such a fun competition last year!
My second goal is to win a medal at the World Masters Track and Field Championships in July.
Beyond 2011, my goal is to compete internationally in Figure competitions and medal at the World Indoor Track champs in 2012.
I am currently involved in preparing the GB Bobsleigh Youth Team as they train for the Winter Youth Olympic Games. Once I am not competing any more, I would like to continue to work with athletes and help develop the next generation! and I would like to develop my Personal Training Business further too.
We like to once again thank Julia for taking this time to do an interview with us! If you would like to know more about Julia, check her out on Facebook at her personal profile or her Personal training / modeling / fitness fanpage. You can also follow her on twitter at http://twitter.com/juleshub1.
 |
| Photo provided by Julia herself |
FitGems Nation: Let’s kick this off by telling us a bit about yourself. When did you first start competing?
Julia Hubbard: I started competing in 2010, i did a local show last April to see if i liked competing and got the bug! I was so nervous about being on stage in a bikini, but once i was up there i loved it! I see it as a chance to show off the hard work i put in! 3 weeks after my first show, i was back onstage at at UKBFF (UKs IFBB)qualifier and came 2nd and got an invite for the UK Champs, i competed there in October for experience but i wasnt really ready for the big stage yet, i learned a lot about preperation though! A week later i decided to take part in the first qualifier for the 2011 UK Champs, The Hercules Show, and as its held only a week after the UK Champs, its a popular and high quality competition. I came 2nd again and got my invite to the UK Champs 2011, so now I have a whole year to put in some work and make the improvements i need to try and place highly at the UKBFF national champs!
FitGems: What is your strategy when you head to the gym? Is it mostly weight-training, mostly cardio, a balanced mixture of the two, or something else?
Julia: Well my background is in Sprints and Bobsleigh which are both speed / power sports, so i have always weight trained, i do a split routine training a seperate body part each session. I dont really go for traditional 'cardio' i prefer to do circuits and sprint training (which is basically HIIT) for my conditioning. Pre contest i keep the weight training the same and just add in an extra session of cardio and may do some lower intensity cardio, if im dieting and lack the energy for a high tempo session!
FitGems: Due to your muscularity, has anyone mistaken you for being in something OTHER than physique competitions (MMA fighter, boxer, pro wrestler, track and field runner, etc?)
Julia: I am actually also a Track competitor, I have started to compete in Masters Track and Field this year and am heading to Sacramento in July for the World Masters Track and Field Champs!
FitGems: With women’s physique and bikini now part of the NPC and IFBB, do you feel that there’s now a division for every female who wants to compete?
Julia: I think Physique, Figure and Bikini give us 3 clear classes so a woman can choose the look she would like to achieve. Bikini class is seen as more attainable for most women and will undoubtably get more girls into competing. In the UK we have only just introduced Bikini class and its already proving to be popular.
FitGems: Along those same lines, where do you personally see the direction of figure in the long haul? Do you think it will remain in a “soft” state where there are those that say that it’s dangerously close to drawing a line between figure and bikini, or do you see it going back to a somewhat harder look, like when Davana Medina was queen of figure during its birth?
Julia: I would like to see figure keep its softer look, more muscular and with lower bodyfat than the bikini girls, but not the level of muscularity and bodyfat as the physique girls have. It needs to be somewhere in the middle, but a clear class of its own. Maybe a maximum height to weight ratio could be introduced, to limit how muscular the figure girls can achieve would help prevent the class 'outgrowing' itself. Feminine and athletic!
FitGems: If you weren’t a part of the female physique world, what would you be doing right now as your profession?
Julia: Im a personal trainer, so id still be involved in the fitness world. Im passionate about health, fitness and sports, so i will always be involved in some way!
FitGems: What (if anything) would you change about any of the IFBB female divisions?
Julia: We have 3 clear divisions to suit whatever look you want to achieve!
FitGems: Which competitor (past or present) you look up to the most for your inspiration?
Julia: Monica Brant, she has had (and still has) such a distinctive career in competing and fitness modeling, she is proving that age is not a limiting factor and is a fantastic role model. Balancing a competition, modeling and fitness career with style! She is definately the female competitor that has inspired me the most!
FitGems: What are your future plans heading into 2011 and beyond, and where do you see your career after you’re done competing?
Julia: At the moment I have two main goals for 2011.
The UKBFF UK Championships in October is my main goal and i intend to compete at the Hercules comp the week after again, as it was such a fun competition last year!
My second goal is to win a medal at the World Masters Track and Field Championships in July.
Beyond 2011, my goal is to compete internationally in Figure competitions and medal at the World Indoor Track champs in 2012.
I am currently involved in preparing the GB Bobsleigh Youth Team as they train for the Winter Youth Olympic Games. Once I am not competing any more, I would like to continue to work with athletes and help develop the next generation! and I would like to develop my Personal Training Business further too.
We like to once again thank Julia for taking this time to do an interview with us! If you would like to know more about Julia, check her out on Facebook at her personal profile or her Personal training / modeling / fitness fanpage. You can also follow her on twitter at http://twitter.com/juleshub1.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Sharing a TenSpot with...Jessica Jordan
Jessica Jordan is one of the top up-and-coming stars in NPC Figure today. A very beautiful woman who's competed for only 2 years, but has done well in those two years. With her impressive resume, it's only a matter of time before she is part of the IFBB. To me, it's WHEN she will get her pro card, not IF.
FitGems Nation: Let’s kick this off by telling us a bit about yourself.
Jessica Jordan: I am a Cal State Long Beach Alumni with my degree in Kinesiology and my emphasis in Exercise Science. I am 26 years old, I run my own personal training business in Orange County, CA I also prepare contest preps for figure and bikini girls and run and online training/diet program. I am very busy and I strive off of it. I am an NPC National Level Figure Competitor and plan to shortly acquire my IFBB status I have an amazing family and group of friends that I love dearly and whom support me in everything I do!
FitGems: When did you first start competing?
Jessica: My very first time on stage was at the 2008 Flex Bikini Model Search at the “O” there I was told “you need to go into figure, ” So 3 months later I competed in my first Figure Comp at the 2008 Excalibur where I placed 1st in my class, it was exhilarating!
FitGems: What is your strategy when you head to the gym? Is it mostly weight-training, mostly cardio, a balanced mixture of the two, or something else?
Jessica: Always BOTH! It also depends on where I am at with my preps. If I am in my off-seaseon, I still do my cardio, but I do a little less, however, I am lifting MUCH heavier than during a prep. I like to split everything up too, I will do my early round of cardio and then train a bit later and if I am in prep mode I will do my 2nd bout after my weights or later in the day, it all depends on how I am feeling that day!
FitGems: Due to your muscularity, has anyone mistaken you for being in something OTHER than physique competitions (MMA fighter, boxer, pro wrestler, track and field runner, etc?)
Jessica: I am actually on the smaller side, I am a Class A, shorty, I measure in at a whopping 5’1/2’’ So size is difficult for me in my upper body, my lower body does not suffer from this, my quads can grow if I look at weights, haha! So to answer the question, I only get asked if I am gymnast, which I am not!
FitGems: With women’s physique and bikini now part of the NPC and IFBB, do you feel that there’s now a division for every female who wants to compete?
Jessica: Absolutely, especially with the way they changed the Figure regulations the last few years. When I was first thinking of competing, I thought to myself “I can’t, because I didn’t have the size necessary to step on stage,” but then things changed and now the figure look is right up my alley!
FitGems: Along those same lines, where do you personally see the direction of figure in the long haul? Do you think it will remain in a “soft” state where there are those that say that it’s dangerously close to drawing a line between figure and bikini, or do you see it going back to a somewhat harder look, like when Davana Medina was queen of figure during its birth?
Jessica: I think they have figured it out, I believe (and hope) they will keep the smaller, hard yet not TOO hard look! I still come in a little too hard at times, but it allows me to eat a bit before the show Although, I would not mind if they go a bit harder, but then I feel there will be an issue with it looking too much like Physique. At the end of the day this sport is subjective and open to a lot of interpretation and as a competitor you have to know and understand this or you will be let down at some point.
FitGems: If you weren’t a part of the female physique world, what would you be doing right now as your profession?
Jessica: Well my current profession fits right in with what I am doing with my competitive career. If I weren’t competing though I would probably have joined some type of competitive sport, maybe a soccer league or track/running league. I love competition; it keeps the rest of my life in order!
FitGems: What (if anything) would you change about any of the IFBB female divisions?
Jessica: I think they should have a cap at the amount of girls allowed per class, sometimes these classes become so large it is very exhausting or if they split the comps into 2 separate days like at the National Level Shows. It allows for more excitement when you aren’t waiting around for hours to step on stage.
FitGems: Which competitor (past or present) you look up to the most for your inspiration?
Jessica: This is a hard one, I have a few – My best friend Erica Fuerst, another great friend of mine Deena Walsh who just went Pro last year and my favorite amateur (whom I compete against, but love to death) Wendy Fortino!
FitGems:What are your future plans heading into 2011 and beyond, and where do you see your career after you’re done competing?
Jessica: I am very excited for my 2011 year! My current plan is to compete at the Greater Gulf States in New Orleans in June as a little prep show for Team Universe in New Jersey in July and then USA’s at the end of July if Team U doesn’t go as planned. After that, it is all up in the air depending on the other comps. I am really working on my fitness-modeling career as well and hoping each one of these stepping-stones will land me closer and closer to some amazing coverage, magazine publications, covers, ect…
For more on Jessica, visit her website at http://www.jessicaryanjordan.com/ and also check her out on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/jessica.r.jordan
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jessica-Ryan-Jordan-Competitor/165408453480512
According to her website, she will be competing at the NPC Greater Gulf States in June of this year, and at the NPC Team Universe (which is a pro qualifier) a month later. We at FitGems wish Jessica best of luck this year!
FitGems Nation: Let’s kick this off by telling us a bit about yourself.
Jessica Jordan: I am a Cal State Long Beach Alumni with my degree in Kinesiology and my emphasis in Exercise Science. I am 26 years old, I run my own personal training business in Orange County, CA I also prepare contest preps for figure and bikini girls and run and online training/diet program. I am very busy and I strive off of it. I am an NPC National Level Figure Competitor and plan to shortly acquire my IFBB status I have an amazing family and group of friends that I love dearly and whom support me in everything I do!
FitGems: When did you first start competing?
Jessica: My very first time on stage was at the 2008 Flex Bikini Model Search at the “O” there I was told “you need to go into figure, ” So 3 months later I competed in my first Figure Comp at the 2008 Excalibur where I placed 1st in my class, it was exhilarating!
FitGems: What is your strategy when you head to the gym? Is it mostly weight-training, mostly cardio, a balanced mixture of the two, or something else?
Jessica: Always BOTH! It also depends on where I am at with my preps. If I am in my off-seaseon, I still do my cardio, but I do a little less, however, I am lifting MUCH heavier than during a prep. I like to split everything up too, I will do my early round of cardio and then train a bit later and if I am in prep mode I will do my 2nd bout after my weights or later in the day, it all depends on how I am feeling that day!
FitGems: Due to your muscularity, has anyone mistaken you for being in something OTHER than physique competitions (MMA fighter, boxer, pro wrestler, track and field runner, etc?)
Jessica: I am actually on the smaller side, I am a Class A, shorty, I measure in at a whopping 5’1/2’’ So size is difficult for me in my upper body, my lower body does not suffer from this, my quads can grow if I look at weights, haha! So to answer the question, I only get asked if I am gymnast, which I am not!
FitGems: With women’s physique and bikini now part of the NPC and IFBB, do you feel that there’s now a division for every female who wants to compete?
Jessica: Absolutely, especially with the way they changed the Figure regulations the last few years. When I was first thinking of competing, I thought to myself “I can’t, because I didn’t have the size necessary to step on stage,” but then things changed and now the figure look is right up my alley!
FitGems: Along those same lines, where do you personally see the direction of figure in the long haul? Do you think it will remain in a “soft” state where there are those that say that it’s dangerously close to drawing a line between figure and bikini, or do you see it going back to a somewhat harder look, like when Davana Medina was queen of figure during its birth?
Jessica: I think they have figured it out, I believe (and hope) they will keep the smaller, hard yet not TOO hard look! I still come in a little too hard at times, but it allows me to eat a bit before the show Although, I would not mind if they go a bit harder, but then I feel there will be an issue with it looking too much like Physique. At the end of the day this sport is subjective and open to a lot of interpretation and as a competitor you have to know and understand this or you will be let down at some point.
FitGems: If you weren’t a part of the female physique world, what would you be doing right now as your profession?
Jessica: Well my current profession fits right in with what I am doing with my competitive career. If I weren’t competing though I would probably have joined some type of competitive sport, maybe a soccer league or track/running league. I love competition; it keeps the rest of my life in order!
FitGems: What (if anything) would you change about any of the IFBB female divisions?
Jessica: I think they should have a cap at the amount of girls allowed per class, sometimes these classes become so large it is very exhausting or if they split the comps into 2 separate days like at the National Level Shows. It allows for more excitement when you aren’t waiting around for hours to step on stage.
FitGems: Which competitor (past or present) you look up to the most for your inspiration?
Jessica: This is a hard one, I have a few – My best friend Erica Fuerst, another great friend of mine Deena Walsh who just went Pro last year and my favorite amateur (whom I compete against, but love to death) Wendy Fortino!
FitGems:What are your future plans heading into 2011 and beyond, and where do you see your career after you’re done competing?
Jessica: I am very excited for my 2011 year! My current plan is to compete at the Greater Gulf States in New Orleans in June as a little prep show for Team Universe in New Jersey in July and then USA’s at the end of July if Team U doesn’t go as planned. After that, it is all up in the air depending on the other comps. I am really working on my fitness-modeling career as well and hoping each one of these stepping-stones will land me closer and closer to some amazing coverage, magazine publications, covers, ect…
For more on Jessica, visit her website at http://www.jessicaryanjordan.com/ and also check her out on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/jessica.r.jordan
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jessica-Ryan-Jordan-Competitor/165408453480512
According to her website, she will be competing at the NPC Greater Gulf States in June of this year, and at the NPC Team Universe (which is a pro qualifier) a month later. We at FitGems wish Jessica best of luck this year!
Women's History Month is here: STILL NEED YOUR INPUT!!!
As you know, Women's History Month is this month, and we at FitGems Nation wants to celebrate this special month with you all. With the Arnold over and gone with, we can now focus fully on this. No disrespect, but it's kinda hard to have a Women's History Month celebration without anything to celebrate with. This month is for YOU, so I need YOUR submissions.
What do I want from you? Whatever you want to provide. Here are a few suggestions to help you out:
What do I want from you? Whatever you want to provide. Here are a few suggestions to help you out:
- Videos (your workouts/competitions/advice to aspiring and current competitors)
- Poems
- Guest Articles
- Artwork
- Podcasts
- Contest Experiences
- Interviews (email/audio/video)
- Etc.
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