Name: Jennifer Rebekah Rankin
Height/Weight: 5’7 1/2″
Nickname(s): Jen, Jen-Jen, Jenny-Poo, Texas
Website: www.jenrankin.webs.com
Q. How long have you been training?
A. I have been involved in sports since I was 5 and even throughout college. I have only been bodybuilding since 2008.
Q. What was your body like before you started training?
A. My body has always been pretty lean and athletic looking. But adding the diet and more of a structured strength-training program has definitely made a huge difference!
Q. How do you keep yourself motivated and on-track through the grueling dieting in the last few weeks?
A. I try and surround myself with positive people and positive thinking. It definitely gets tough, but staying focused on my goals get me through it!
Q. Do you get more attention from the people now that you are in such good shape?
A. Definitely! For the most part it is positive and many people say that I am inspiration. That is the best feeling in the world!
Q. What is the weirdest piece of advice you have heard in the gym?
A. That I should try the “Shake Weight.” I was also told once that I am unhealthy and need to eat some chocolate cake.
Q. What is the one key piece of advice you could pass on to our readers?
A. Have a vision and make it REAL and personal. Having a vision is like having a road map (or now a Garmin/ Tom-Tom) for a road trip. If you don’t know where you are going, you’ll probably end up somewhere else!
Q. What is your favorite energy/pre-workout supplement? Protein supplement?
A. Pre-workout: Optimum Nutrition’s Amino Energy & Vassive-NO. Protein: ON’s Hydro Whey!
Q. How many days a week do you work out?
A. I workout 5-6 days a week
Q: How many exercises per body part do you typically do in a workout?
A: 3-4
Q: How much weight will you normally gain during the off-season?
A: About 10 pounds
Q. What kind of workout program do you follow?
A. Split routine (heavy weights, 4 sets, 10-12 reps) with some circuit/plyo training. High intensity spin classes for cardio.
Q. Do you believe in workout programs like Insanity or P90X?
A. I do. I have tried the P90X and it was a intense!! I think it is a great option for a home workout.
Q. What competitions have you participated in and what were the results?
A.
2008 West Texas Classic Figure A 2nd Place
2008 Dallas Europa Figure F 5th Place
2009 Junior Nationals Figure F 10th Place
2010 LoneStar Classic Bikini B 2nd Place
2010 Jr USA’s Bikini F 1st Place
Q. What is one of the biggest sacrifices you’ve made, and was it worth it?
A. I guess the biggest sacrifice is spending less time with my family & friends and not being able to enjoy some holiday meals and special occasions. But, overall it has been totally worth it. My family and friends are very supportive and are very proud of me. And in the long run, this lifestyle and the choices I have made are only making me a healthier, stronger person and I will be able to look back and be proud of the accomplishments I have made. These sacrifices are the kind that build character and it will serve me better now and in my future than indlugeing in every single birthday cake or holiday pie!
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. I think the athletes in this sport need vision, dedication, drive, discipline and unending determination. Being competitive plays a role, as well as good sportsmanship and staying humble.
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. For me, I don’t start losing too much strength and energy until a couple weeks out from my contest. It is important to keep your proteins/carbs/ fats in check so that way working out doesn’t become dangerous. This sport isn’t about NOT eating. Its about eating the right things at the right times and listening to your body. I definitely get hungry, but I have to remember that I am eating at least 6 times a day…so I’m definitely not starving!!
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. Strength training at least 3 times a week and cardio 5 times a week for at least 30 minutes. Dieting also plays a huge role. Eat clean, reasonable portion sizes 4-6 times a day.
Q. Does your social life include others that are not into fitness or competition?
A. Yes. Not many others around me have chosen this lifestyle.
Q. What is your favorite healthy meal?
A. My father-in-law makes the absolute BEST grilled cedar plank salmon. YUM!!
Q. What is your favorite cheat meal?
A. Mexican food or Italian food.
Q. What is your favorite exercise?
A. I love working back and legs because there are so many different variations.
Q. What is that one body part that you just can’t seem to bring up or make it look like you want?
A. Glutes!!
Q. What made you get into Fitness and Competition?
A. I had a friend at the gym tell me that I should do it!
Q. What are your methods for breaking through a plateau?
A. Changing up my routine and/or my diet. Sometimes I just need to take a day off from the gym and rest. My fave ways are by getting a massage, taking my dog for a walk, swimming, or going for a bike ride.
Q. Do you like the whole competition process? And how does it feel to be on the stage in the front of the hundreds and thousand people?
A. I do enjoy the process! Sometimes it gets overwhelming and I wonder why I am putting myself through it all….and then I think about that feeling of being on stage and being in my best shape ever. I think about how proud I will be
when make it to the end. It is thrilling, exciting, nerve-racking, stressful and fabulous! It really is like a roller coaster ride, but that’s why its fun!! 
Q. What are your future plans?
A. My future plans are to compete at Nationals in October and try one more time this year for my Pro Card. I also plan on working with the Bikini RockStars for this show and hope that together we can bring my ultimate package to the stage! After that I will be done competing for the year and I will start an off season program to prepare for next year.
You can also catch me at the Olympia where I will be representing ON/ABB ~ Optimum Nutrition and American Bodybuilding!
ON/ABB Athlete
NPC National Figure & Bikini Competitor
Fitness Model & Personal Trainer
Please Visit Jennifer Website:
Jennifer facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jen-Rankin-Official-Fan-Page/138813409462913?ref=ts
