Q. Lets start here, what is your name?
A. Nicole Kreiser
Q. How long have you been training?
A. I have been training for 14 years now. I started training after I finished therapy for a bad neck injury due to a car accident.
Q. What was your body like before you started training?
A. I have always had an ‘athletic’ body type. Training for figure competition taught me to train more specific muscle groups and I love my overall look now. Feminine muscle is HOT!!
Q. How do you keep yourself motivated and on-track through the grueling dieting in the last few weeks?
A. I have an awesome Coach and motivator, Jason Phillips. It’s really important to surround yourself with positive influences!! Especially when prepping for a show. No matter how passionate you are about competing or how much you love it, there are always those tough days.
Q. How do you handle the stress of it all?
A. I handle any stressful situation in my life with prayer!!
Q. What do you feel is the most important thing athlete can have in order to be successful in this sport?
A. The passion for the sport, a great Coach and supportive family/friends.
Q. What is your favorite energy/pre-workout supplement? Protein supplement?
A. I sometimes work with Met-Rx so I like to use their whey protein, protein jello and Amplified shooters. I also really like Optimum Nutritions whey protein. They have awesome flavors which help with cravings!
Q. How much weight will you normally gain during the off-season?
A. I like to stay within 10-12 pds of my stage weight. I do video work with Muscular Development/Fitness Rx, so I like to try and stay in shape year round. It also makes prep ‘somewhat’ easier if I don’t gain to much weight.
Q. What is your philosophy on diet?
A. To me it’s not dieting, it’s a way of life. I do have my cravings, don’t get me wrong. But I just feel better when I eat clean. My body appreciates it.
Q. What about working out while you are on the road?
A. I always tell my clients that there is NO excuse to not work-out. Just because you may not be able to make it to the gym doesn’t mean you can’t get a great work-out in! Resistance bands, plyos, yoga, TRX…there are so many fun ways to get exercise in these days.
Q. What is one of the biggest sacrifices you’ve made, and was it worth it?
A. I sacrifice a lot of time with friends and family, which can be really hard. Socializing usually revolves around eating and drinking. So usually it’s just easier to stay home so the temptation is not there. Sometimes the closer the show gets, the more tired I become so going out doesn’t even sound worth it. I have missed out on some fun times, but it’s all in how bad you want it. Sacrifice!
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. People who truly care about your well being and want to see you succeed.
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. Being hungry is a good thing. It means your metabolism is in full drive. It sucks, but it’s what you want to have happen. My coach keeps me on high carbs all the way through. So it’s not the calorie restriction that makes lifting hard, it’s being so lean which makes me tired.
Q. Does your social life include others that are not into fitness or competition?
A. I have close friends that are in the sport and not. It really helps to keep me grounded. I have the support of friends that understand what I go through with prep. Along with friends that give me that loving reality check that there is more to life than competing LOL.
Q. What is your favorite healthy meal?
A. I love my oats and whey. Rolled oats mixed with Met-Rx vanilla whey…yum!
Q. Favorite guilty indulgence?
A. This one is easy. A juicy bacon cheeseburger cooked medium rare with sweet potato fries!!!
Q. What is your favorite exercise?
A. Walking lunges with kick backs
Q. What is the best asset of your physique/body?
A. Legs and shoulders
Q. What do you want our readers to know about you that they couldn’t find out from seeing you on stage or in print?
A. I enjoy giving back to the community and being involved with my church family.
You can reach Nicole at: [email protected]
