Q. How long have you been training?
A. I began lifting actively with weights when I was 18. Prior to that I was a competitive track and field and cross country athlete

Q. What was your body like before you started training?
A. I was tall and thin, I did not carry much muscle at all on my frame.

Q. How do you keep yourself motivated and on-track through the grueling dieting in the last few weeks?
A. Sometimes it gets difficult to remain focused and on track when you’re constantly tired, hungry, and grasping for energy. I surround myself with positive people who support my goals, and I spend a lot of time praying, focusing, and visualizing the way I’ll look when I’m on stage. I have a vision board where I post positive quotes and photos of motivating physiques. I also leave myself notes all over the place, little post its on the fridge and on the bathroom mirror so that I’m constantly reminded of my goals.

Q. Do you get more attention from the people now that you are in such good shape?
A. I generate a very positive response from the general public about my physique.

Q. What is the one key piece of advice you could pass on to our readers?
A. That competing is not merely about the competition itself, and although winning is important, if that’s the only way you can validate what you do, you’ll always end up feeling empty. You need to dig deep and find a love and passion for the sport itself, the entire process- the dieting, the training, the cardio, ALL of it. Enjoy the journey, the people you meet on the way, and the incredible changes you can create in your physique.

Q. What is your favorite energy/pre-workout supplement? Protein supplement?
A. I swear by Celcius drinks pre workout. As far as protein goes I use Species Nutrition Isolyze.

Q. How many days a week do you work out?
A. Typically 6, I take one day a week out of the gym completely.

Q: How many exercises per body part do you typically do in a workout?
A: This really depends on where I’m at in my training and what I’m trying to achieve with my physique. If I’m pre contest I’ll do a higher volume of sets and reps with lighter weight, if I’m not preparing for a show I may allow myself to train a bit heavier.

Q: How much weight will you normally gain during the off-season?
A: I strive to keep it under 10 lbs.

Q. What kind of workout program do you follow?
A. I utlilize a combination of track and HIIT workouts, plyometrics, circuit work, steady state cardio, FST-7, you name it. I enjoy switching it up to continue to force change in my body.

Q. What do you wish you had known before you started doing shows?
A. How incredibly hard competing really is. It is all encompassing, it takes over every aspect of your life.

Q. Looking back on what you have accomplished so far, what is one thing you would change if you could, knowing what you do now?
A. The idea that I had to be “jacked” in order to do figure. I used to feel I had to keep gaining muscle and in order to do that I needed a big weight gain off season. With the direction of figure currently in the NPC there is NO reason for ANY figure girl to train or workout like a bodybuilder.

Q. What is one of the biggest sacrifices you’ve made, and was it worth it?
A. I cannot pick just one, but yes they were all worth it. I truly love this sport.

Q. What do you feel is the most important thing a bodybuilder/fitness/figure/bikini can have in order to be successful in this sport?
A. Resilience. You have to be able to weather the storm. You may not always place well, or place where you deserve, but you need to be able to withstand that let down and continue to come back for more in order to be successful.

Q. As a new bodybuilder/fitness/figure/bikini competitor, how should one select which organization or event to compete in? And what are the major differences between the numerous organizations out there?
A. I suggest researching the different organzations, including rules and regulations, show locations, etc. Do your homework and pick an organization that is right for YOU.

Q. Is it not very hard to exercise and lift on such a low calorie diet? I am talking about the pre-contest diet. I know you follow a very low calorie pre-contest diet. Don’t you get hungry?
A. Of course, but the hunger is a mental battle more so then anything else. Dieting is far more mental then it ever is physical. What the mind tells the body to do, it will do, so you need to have incredible mental strength in order to diet, so you CAN push through the hunger pangs and focus on your training and what you need to do in order to win.

Q. For someone who is currently a non-competitor, but wants to be as healthy and fit as possible, what would you recommend as far as diet ratios and workout plan (i.e. combination of weights and cardio, how many days, etc.)?
A. This REALLY depends. I do NOT believe in cookie cutter nutrition plans or workouts. Nor do I believe there is one way to train or one way to get in shape. What I do recommend is that the individual consults a coach or trainer and strives to find the way that works best for them. That includes frequency of training, type of training, and of course nutrition and dietary
breakdown.

Q. Does your social life include others that are not into fitness or competition?
A. Of course!

Q. Who is your favorite bodybuilder, fitness model, and/or athlete?
A. My favorite figure athletes out there right now are Ava Cowan, Jenny Lynn, and Erin Stern. As far as bodybuilders go I have always admired Sheila Bleck for her feminine lines and beautiful conditioning, and Jay Cutler. I think he is a prime example of mind over matter, of sheer determination, and of what it means to be a true athlete.

Q. What is your favorite healthy meal?
A. I love salmon, ground buffalo, egg whites, oatmeal, and sweet potatoes. I also LOVE veggies and eat a lot of them, whether dieting for a show or not.

Q. What is your favorite cheat meal?
A. Sushi or thin crust pizza

Q. What is your favorite exercise?
A. Right now I’m really enjoying training my legs- I love my plyometric days.

Q. What is that one body part that you just can’t seem to bring up or make it look like you want?
A. I struggle with getting my glutes to dial in properly.

Q. What made you get into Fitness and Competition?
A. A genuine love of lifting, training, and sculpting my physique. A friend of mine, who is a bodybuilder, told me that he thought I had the genetics to do figure. I did my first show when I was 20 and I haven’t looked back.

Q. What is the best asset of your physique/body?
A. My eyes or my smile.

Q. What are your methods for breaking through a plateau?
A. Rearrange your training- switch up your sets, reps, change some exercises, re-route your body! If this is hard for you to be creative with I recommend simply working backwards. Begin with the exercise you usually do last, first and work backwards.

Q. What are your future plans?
A. To gain my IFBB Pro Card in figure, continue to further my modeling career, and continue to work at marketing my company, www.alli-fitness.com