Six weeks after my son arrived, I decided it was time to get my body back. I was going to do something insane; I was going to go to the gym. Nervously, I placed both of my children in the “child watch” center and I ventured into the gym wilderness. I immediately mapped out the “safe” areas which left me with the cardio machines and the group fitness classes. I tried many classes including Zumba, Aerobics, and Step. I wasn’t particularly enjoying myself in these classes nor was I very good (once the step instructor had to stop the entire class because I was so off-tempo)! I persisted and finally found a class that I actually enjoyed and did not require any K-kick, jump over step or grapevine combos. The class taught basic weightlifting, and I gradually moved my way up from the 2lb dumbbells. Over time, I began to feel more comfortable and I took the next step. I ventured out of my “safe” zone and into the machine area.

I started going to the gym in July and by October I had exhausted my training knowledge base, but still craved more, so I hired the gym’s personal trainer. She suggested that I set a goal for myself, and I very naively decided to compete in a Bikini competition the following March. The more I trained, the more I fell in love with the sport and the harder I pushed. I started taking progress photos and they added fuel to my fire. Eight weeks before my competition, I decided to switch divisions and set my sights on competing in Figure and I made what has come to be one of my fitness journey’s greatest decisions; I hired Dave Liberman as my trainer.

Our short timeline meant Dave had to teach me a completely new way of looking at fitness and nutrition, and quickly. (Needless to say, it was a tough 8 weeks.) This is when Dave introduced me to the incredible Beverly International products. Combining my new meal plan, lifting style and Beverly products, I was able to achieve the leanness necessary for Figure in eight weeks.

Through the process of leaning down it became apparent that there had been some serious damage to my abdomen from my pregnancies beyond the normal abdominal separation. The leaner I became, the more pregnant I looked. If I laid on my side my abdominals would sort of slump over in a mushy mass. Many hours were spent sobbing in frustration. I was in the best shape of my life but there I was looking 3 months pregnant and about to step on stage! I consulted with a surgeon and discovered that regardless of how many abdominal exercises I did, the damage could only be repaired surgically. He actually said that he had never seen a patient with this much damage but who could also flex their abdominals into a six pack.

Despite the abdominal difficulties, I had committed to a goal and was going to follow through. My daughter, who was 3 at the time, had grown to recognize my change in lifestyle. I wanted her to see her Mommy as a strong and dedicated woman. I hit the stage for the first time weighing 94lbs on March 23, 2012 and again one week later for the NPC Natural Ohio. I had followed Dave’s training, the nutrition schedule, and supplementation with Beverly International precisely and came in looking in the best shape of my life!

I finished 10th out of 12 girls. I stepped off stage after being in the last call-out, destroyed a chocolate chip cookie (or a dozen) and cried. What made it worse was that I still had to go back on stage for the night show. (Bodybuilding competitions are broken into two parts, the morning prejudging and the evening awards show.) I could have left, but I couldn’t let myself not finish. I took the afternoon to lament in self-pity. I pulled myself together and went back to the evening show with the attitude that it was time to celebrate my accomplishment of stepping on stage in the best condition of my life!

Two days after competing in the NPC Natural Ohio, I was rolled into the operating room for an abdominal-plasty. As it turns out, my abdomen had not only separated medially, but also horizontally. Originally, we thought that I had a hernia, but it was discovered that the abdominals surrounding my belly button had completely torn apart as well. The surgeon had to stitch my abdominal wall back together twice during surgery. It had been almost a year exactly; I was once again wrapped in an abdominal support band just as I had been after my C-section. Right then and there I committed to stepping on stage again, but only after I had appropriately healed and trained for a significant length of time.

Dave had designed an off-season bulk nutrition, supple-mentation and training program for me. I stepped back into my iron cathedral in May 2012 to implement his plan. My training split was 6 days a week, training a different muscle group each day and my lagging muscle group twice. Here’s a sample of my workout program. I’m sure that any female who is trying to develop more muscle mass will benefit from it.

Training schedule

QUADS*
Leg Extension: Warm up
Superset Wide Stance Leg Press / Hack Squat: 5 sets 12 reps each Leg Extension: 5 sets 12 reps
Walking Lunges: 4 sets 15 reps

CHEST
Incline Dumbbell Press: 5 sets 12-10-8-8-8 reps
Incline Flyes: 5 sets 10-12 reps
Barbell Bench Press: 5 sets 10-8-6-6-6 reps
Cable Crossovers: 5 sets 12 reps

BACK
Lat Pulldowns: 5 sets 12-10-8-8-8 reps
Bent Over Barbell Rows: 5 sets 12-10-8-8-8 reps
Seated Cable Rows: 5 sets 10-12 reps
Deadlifts: 5 sets 10-8-6-6-6 reps

SHOULDERS
Standing Barbell Presses: 5 sets 10-8-6-6-6 reps
Lateral Raises: 5 sets 10-12 reps
Rear Delt Raises: 5 sets 10-12 reps
Shrugs: 5 sets 12 reps

LEGS (Workout #2)*
Leg Extension: 5 sets 12 reps
Squat: 5 sets 12-10-8-8-8 reps
Superset Leg Curl & Stiff Leg Deadlifts: 5 sets 10-12 reps each

ARMS
Barbell Curl: 4 sets 12-10-8-8 reps
Skull Crushers: 4 sets 12-10-8-8 reps
Preacher (or Machine) Curls: 3 sets 10-12 reps
Seated 1-DB Triceps Extension: 3 sets 12 reps
Alternate DB Curls: 3 sets 12-10-8 reps
Triceps Pushdowns: 3 sets 12-10-8 reps

*Work abs and calves on your leg days. Pick two exercises for abs and two for calves. Perform 3 sets of 25 reps on each exercise.

It is very important that you track your workouts when trying to add muscle mass. Start a little lighter than you think you should. Work on perfecting your form. Once you get the form down it’s time to start building muscle. In order to build muscle you’ll need to gradually increase the amount of weight you are able to use. Add weight to the exercise whenever you are able to perform all your sets for the prescribed reps in good form. For example on the Incline Dumbbell Press you might be using 25x12, 30x10, and 35 for 3 sets of 8. At first, you might not be able to get 8 reps on each of the last 3 sets. But, keep working and when you successfully get 8 reps on each of those sets in good form, increase the weights the next time you do that exercise.

Nutrition and Supplement Plan

In order to successfully build the muscle necessary for Figure, I had to put on some bodyweight. Here is a sample nutrition plan from the Beverly website (www. BeverlyInternational.com) for a female who is trying to add muscle mass.

Meal #1 (choose 1 of the following)
Option A: 3 egg whites, 1 whole egg omelet with 1 or 2 ounces cheese; 1 slice whole-grain toast with almond butter.
Option B: 2 whole eggs, 5 ounces lean beef or 1/2 cup cottage cheese; 1/2 cup oatmeal

Meal #2
Protein Drink: 2 scoops Ultimate Muscle Protein; 1 tbsp. healthy fat source (olive oil, flax oil, almond butter) or heavy cream. – Optional: 1 serving low carb fruit.

Meal #3
6oz ground turkey; 2/3 cup cooked brown rice (or other complex carbohydrate source).
Optional: 1 or 2 servings of low carb fruit or vegetables.

Meal #4
1 can tuna or 4oz chicken breast, 1/2 cup cottage cheese; 1/2 cup pineapple (unsweetened) or 1/2 cantaloupe
Option B: Protein Drink with two scoops Ultimate Muscle Protein; 1 tablespoon healthy fat source (olive oil, flax oil, almond butter or heavy cream).

Meal #5
6oz beef, chicken, turkey or fish; 6oz baked potato or sweet potato; 1-2 cups vegetables or salad.

Meal #6 (Optional)
Protein pudding – mix one or two scoops Ultimate Muscle Protein in a bowl with just enough water
to make a pudding texture. Add one tablespoon of almond butter, walnuts, or heavy cream.

Dessert Saturday and Open Diet Sunday:
On Saturdays I had a dessert with meal #5 and skipped Meal #6. Sundays were my “open diet days”. I tried to keep portions within reason, but was al-lowed to eat whatever foods I wanted.

Muscle Building Supplement Plan

Fit Tabs: 2 tablets with meals #1 and #5
Ultimate Muscle Protein: As noted in nutrition plan
Mass Aminos: 3 tablets with each meal
Ultra 40: 3 tablets with each meal
Optional: Creatine Select & Muscle Synergy

While most of your off-season weight gain is muscle, you may gain a little fat in your quest to add size. This fat had to hit the road for me to step on stage and we began my prep for the Spring of 2013 in early October. The plan was for an incredibly slow-paced lean-down in order to preserve as much muscle as possible. We adjusted my off-season nutrition plan in steps, so it was a very manageable progression. My in-season plan has turned out to be incredibly similar to my off season plan.

Contest Prep Nutrition Schedule

Meal #1
6 egg whites; 40g oatmeal

Meal #2
4oz lean ground turkey; 3.5oz sweet potato

Meal #3
8oz chicken breast; 1/3 cup cooked brown rice; 170g asparagus, salad

Meal #4
4oz chicken breast; salad

Meal #5
6 egg whites

Pre-Contest Beverly Supplements

Once again, the cornerstone to my contest prep was the use of multiple Beverly International supplements. I researched the entire line and with the recommendations from my coach, we incorporated the following into my supplement schedule:

7-Keto MuscLean: 3 capsules twice daily
Lean Out: 2 capsules with each meal
Density: 3 tablets with each meal
Muscularity: 2 capsules with each meal
Glutamine Select: Before and during training, between meals whenever I started getting hungry

It is with complete honesty and sincerity that I say these prod-ucts absolutely helped me to lean down AND preserve my muscle mass. As an added bonus, the Glutamine Select also helped curb any bouts of hunger I encountered between meals. I followed the recommended guidelines for dosages of each product and stacked them with my meals and training sessions.

Cardio

As a result of my nutrition schedule and the use of the Beverly International products, my cardio schedule was adjusted in manageable stages. At the height of my season I was doing fasted cardio 6 days a week for 35 minutes on the elliptical at a comfort-able pace. While I had to say goodbye to my beloved “Dessert Saturdays” and “Open Diet Day Sundays” earlier than the com-mon 12 week prep, I will forever allow more prep in this slow and steady fashion.

Back On Stage

I stepped back on stage on March 30, 2013, exactly one year later and 5lbs heavier. I competed at the NPC Natural Eastern and placed a very close first runner up in Open Figure Class A! I was elated. The feedback I received was that I came in too “hard” and needed to soften up a bit. The following week before the NPC Natural Ohio Dave adjusted my peak week cycle daily. I stepped back on stage April 6th, fuller and slightly softer and won Open Figure Class A! One year ago I had been sobbing in the back of the car binging on cookies over being in last call outs. This year I was sobbing in happiness over winning! My dream has literally become a reality. This season has been filled with such incredible positivity. The beautiful sentiments that have been expressed to me from family, friends and even complete strangers have exemplified even more how beautifully a blessed life can be. These kind words fuel me, they inspire me, and they lift me up when I’m struggling.

The following summer I began working with IFBB Pro Mike Ely. After another year of intense training and adherence to my nutritional plan I stepped on stage at the 2014 NPC Junior USA’s and won Open Figure A! I missed my IFBB Pro Card in the Over-all by one place! Two weeks later we tried again at the NPC Junior National’s where I placed second in Open Figure A! For the IFBB North American Championships, we made the necessary tweaks to bring my best package to date! All of our time and efforts had paid off; I placed first in my class and earned my IFBB Pro Card. This has been an incredible journey and I truly would have never thought I would be where I am today.

Nicole’s Contest Prep Tip:

Organization! Schedule and chart everything, it makes your day less stressful knowing you are pre-pared and have appropriated the proper amount of time for all of your tasks. And most importantly, listen to one person. It is easy to be overwhelmed in this industry by a myriad of different training and nutrition styles. Follow your coach’s plan; you hired them for a reason!

I studied exercise science at the University of Dayton because I wanted to learn all I could about working out and the science behind being my best and helping others feel their best. After college, I went on to do a couple of sprint triathlons, half-marathons, and two marathons. I thought running marathons would make me the most elite athlete mentally and physically. However, I noticed that I would run for hours and then want to eat everything in sight. I soon realized that I needed to change my routine to achieve the balance and physique I wanted.

I began reading Beverly's No Nonsense magazine and started changing my nutrition and training. I began using Beverly supplements, following some of the nutrition and training protocols and recipes in the magazine. I soon realized that my physique was improving, and my clothes were fitting much better. I liked the shape and the definition I saw in my body.

I realized that I was not eating enough protein to support muscle recovery, ward off hunger, and keep me satiated. I began adding more strength training to my routine and additional Beverly International supplements. My physique was transforming. My friend Mary encouraged me to step on stage to do my first competition in 2009. I worked with Jen Hendershott, who was a great inspiration and coach! From there, I worked with Jason Theobald at Scooby Prep and placed 6th in my class at Jr USAs in 2011. I took a couple of years off and again qualified for nationals at the Kentucky Muscle in 2015. From there, I took five years off to build more and round out my legs. I decided to make a comeback in 2020 with See You Later Leaner, Adam Atkinson.

All my years of pushing hard in the gym paid off! The pandemic hit during my prep, and all of the gyms shut down. My husband and I put our home gym to work. I began doing pull-ups on a bar over my doorway and squats at every conceivable angle to build my quads. I gave up stops for coffee after work and did tons of walking in my neighborhood with my husband. We got creative with workouts, and I kept my head focused on my goal sticking to my diet through all of the frustrating, isolating days of the pandemic.

It all paid off when I took the top of my classes and Masters Overall Champion at the Natural Ohio in Cleveland. Then, I won my first Open Figure Overall at the Kentucky Natural! 2020 became the year I sparkled and reached what I set my mind to do! All the years of training and nutrition paid off!

Diet

Food preparation is vital for success. I religiously prep my food on the weekends and pack my food for the day, whether in-season or off-season, because I crave these healthy foods and feel best when I eat them. I have noticed that our bodies have food patterns, and I get hungry nearly the exact times each day for the same foods. Healthy habits are essential, and bodybuilding has helped me ingrain these habits, so they are a lifestyle.

Meal 1

One egg yolk, 100g egg whites, 1 cup spring mix, 30-40g oats, 1 scoop Beverly International Glutamine Select, 2-3 EFA Gold, 2 FitTabs or a Super Pak

Meal 2

3oz flank steak, 100 calorie pack walnuts/almonds, grapefruit

Meal 3

3-4oz 99% lean ground turkey, 250g cucumbers, 4 mini peppers, 35g brown rice

Meal 4

4oz tilapia, 7 Light and Fit rice cakes, 15 asparagus spears

Meal 5

1.5 scoops UMP, ¹⁄₂ c blueberries or zucchini, 2 tsp MCT oil or Flaxseed oil, 4 tbsp cocoa powder, 4 tsp cinnamon

Supplements

I highly recommend Beverly Supplements because they are high quality, and I notice improvements in my physique, adherence to my plan, and mental clarity when I use them.

Glutamine Select: I love adding Glutamine Select into my cream of rice or oatmeal with a dash of cinnamon, nutmeg, and french vanilla stevia. This helps me keep sweet cravings down all day! I also take a scoop before training at night or to combat cravings in the evening.

Quadracarn: Take 3 upon rising for mental clarity, sense of wellbeing, and to feel great for the day and 3 more before training for energy and vascularity.

Lean Out: I take 1 capsule with each meal and 2 with the last meal of the day to help with any cravings into the evening.

Density: I start with 3 tablets upon arising and 3 tablets before workouts. As the show day comes closer, I increase to 6 tablets pre-workout. Density is a definite help when calories are low, supplying my muscles with building blocks they need to get through another lifting session.

Cardio

I would start all my cardio workouts with an intense warm-up on my Concept 2 rower in my basement of 2500 meters in around 10 minutes. This really gets the blood pumping!

Burner workouts were put out during COVID quarantine times by my team, See You Later Leaner, and I would do these in my basement with my husband (CrossFit style workouts). I did these about twice per week.

As my show got closer, I switched to walking 20 minutes in the morning before work and another 20 minutes with my husband after work.

1-2 times per week, I did five sets of HIIT training, 45 seconds on and 15 seconds off of the following:

Tuck jumps - Squat jacks - Burpees - Mountain climbers - Kettlebell swings

Training

I like being in the gym so much that it was tough for me to learn to take "off" days. I've listed an advanced workout that I use when preparing for a contest. I perform 3-4 sets of 8-15 reps for each exercise listed in contest mode. For an intermediate workout, choose four exercises for legs, back, shoulders, and glutes, and two exercises for biceps and triceps. If you are unsure how to perform any of the exercises listed, Google them. You might find something new to add to your workout.

Day 1 Quads

• Squats Feet elevated squats toes straight ahead, knees over toes
• Squats Feet elevated squats toes out, knees over toes
• Ball Squeezes for inner thighs
• Wall Sits 1-2 minute holds
• Jumpies
• Single Leg Step Downs
• Sumo Squats
• Bulgarian Split Squats

Day 2 Shoulders

• Upright Rows
• Bent-Over Reverse Flyes
• Lateral Raises
• Empty Can Raises
• Front Plate Raises
• Shoulder Press
• Urlachers
• Banded Shoulder Exercises
  for rear delts

Day 3 Back / Biceps

• Upright Rows
• Bent-Over Reverse Flyes
• Lateral Raises
• Empty Can Raises
• Front Plate

Day 4 Off

Day 5 Chest / Triceps

• Incline Chest Press
• Chest Flyes with Bands
• Push-Ups
• Decline Push-ups
• Front Raises with bands- squeeze chest
• Svend Press
• Tricep Dips
• Tricep Kickbacks
• Band Tricep extensions standing or bent over (various grips including reverse grip)

Day 6 Glutes /Hams

• Step-ups
• Sumo Squats
• Bulgarian Split Squats
• Narrow Squats (deep)
• Nordic Curls
• Single-leg Hip Thrusts
• Ball Pull-Ins
• Banded Walks
• Ankle Weight Hamstring Curls
• Various Donkey Kicks etc. for glutes

Day 7 Off

Presentation Tips

Posing and stage presence are key. "Head up, chin up," Fran Chot Thomas (of See You Later Leaner) told me, and I will never forget that before going on stage. Remember to face the judges, even if you are at the end of the line on stage. You want to angle your body so you face the judges and not the audience. I focus on practicing vacuums and pulling my lats out. Always smile, as that is your best attribute- I would tell myself to have fun and SHINE! I felt more comfortable practicing at home than I did at the gym.

In Closing

Mindset is crucial, and as a wellness coach, I tell my clients and patients to write down their goals and WHY. You must believe in yourself and do the small behaviors that create the big changes over time. You must see yourself succeeding before you actually do. Visualization is key! My friend Mary used to tell me, "fake it till you make it."

I cannot thank my husband enough for his support during my prep. He purchased several items for our home gym that made it possible to fit my workouts in no matter what-even now! Coach Adam Atkinson held my dream and believed in me even when I doubted myself. His positive coaching helped me stay positive throughout my long year of prepping for my comeback to the stage.

Here is what she recommended for me:

Meal 1: Protein Pancakes (1 scoop Vanilla UMP, 4 egg whites, 1/2 cup oatmeal and ¼ cup blueberries); mix together and cook like a pancake

Meal 2: Grapes and almonds

Meal 3: 4oz lean beef hamburger on a high fiber English Muffin, Small sweet potato, 2 cups broccoli

Meal 4: Low Carb Greek Yogurt and String Cheese

Meal 5: Steak, Fajita veggies (peppers and onions), 1/2 avocado all on top of a Large mixed greens salad with olive oil and vinegar dressing

Meal 6: 1 scoop UMP mixed into a pudding

Julie was also very precise in prescribing a supplement regimen that would work for me. She wanted to make sure that I would add some shapely lean muscle to my runner’s frame, while reducing excess fat that I was carrying. Here is how I put her supplement recommendations into practice:

UMP - I usually take 1-2 scoops daily. I always incorporate UMP into my meals whether I am prepping for a show or not! I absolutely love having UMP as part of my meal plan because of how versatile it is! Vanilla UMP is great for protein pancakes and any kind of baking.

I've used it to make muffins, protein fudge, brownies, Julie's yummy chocolate chip cookies... the list goes on! I also have the other three flavors, which are: Cookies & Crème, Chocolate, and Rocky Road. Whether it’s grabbing a quick shake, or mixing them into a pudding, UMP always helps to curb my sweet tooth!

Fit Tabs - 2 in the am and 2 in the pm, to help cover all of my bases with essential vitamins, minerals, and micronutrients.

Lean Out - 2 with each of my 5 meals per day- Other than UMP, Lean Out is one of my favorite supplements. It assists my body with using stored fat and turning it into energy. This helps me lose the body fat I need to while maintaining the lean muscle I've worked so hard to build!

Glutamine Select - 1 scoop during training mixed with 10-12 oz. of water. I get the BCAA's that I need to help preserve my muscle, and love how much it helps reduce post-workout soreness while aiding in recovery.

Preparing all of my meals ahead of time is key when in contest prep, but I've also found that it really helps me stay on track and with my off-season fitness goals as well. Preparing meals and eating healthy has become more of a lifestyle change instead of just a "diet" for a contest. I usually designate one day each week to prepare all of my meat, etc. Being an ER nurse, my schedule is always hectic and I'm often very busy while at work. Having all of my meals prepared and packed ahead of time allows me to stay on track throughout the day.

Even after I became a wife and mom, I never stopped showing up at the gym; it was a part of my life no matter what. In my late 20's and early 30's, I competed in NPC figure and bodybuilding contests. I won my class at multiple shows and was even featured in Beverly's No Nonsense magazine. But by 2010, I was burned out. Our family was stationed overseas, and it seemed like the perfect time to try something new. Long-distance running became my new athletic activity. I completed three half marathons in Europe, and by the time we moved stateside to Colorado, I had the running bug.

Colorado is a hotbed for long-distance trail running, and it did not take long before I finished my first full marathon. My next challenge was ultra-running. I had completed both 50k and 50-mile races by 2014.

Now I was in my 40s and ready to go back to figure competition, this time in the figure masters division. I contacted Rachel Wade at Focused Fitness for guidance. Rachel had helped me with nutrition, training, and Beverly supplement plans when I first stepped on stage. Even though I have been a practicing NASM-CPT for the past 17 years, I needed someone to help me stay accountable. Even the coach needs a coach!

We discussed expectations and agreed that I couldn't compare myself to my condition more than a decade earlier. I had a lot of work to do. Muscle loss had ramped up in my late 30's. While my diet was solid, I knew I needed to add more protein to improve my body composition. I needed to gain muscle and lose body fat, so I started with what I call the "Baseline Bev Stack." I took UMP twice a day every day along with Ultra 40, Mass Aminos, FitTabs, Lean Out, and Glutamine Select.

During the first six weeks, I made significant progress combining my "Baseline Bev Stack" with a 5-day training plan and some cardio. It was March 2020, I was right on track and had picked out a few local summer shows in Colorado to make my 10-year return to the stage. What could go wrong?

Then Covid-19 showed up!

The local gyms closed up. I had no choice but to move my training to my garage. Fortunately, my husband, Lucas, and I had some equipment set up in the garage, including a squat rack, resistance bands, barbells, plates, and a set of dumbbells from 5-45 pounds. I had to become creative and modify my workouts to fit my equipment. Lucas is handy with welding equipment, and he quickly made me a pulley system to replace resistance bands on my heavier exercises. For cardio, I had an old exercise bike and the local school track to get it done.

As the weeks clicked by, I started adding some HIIT sessions at the track. In mid-May, I was performing a sprint session and tweaked my hamstring. I modified my training a little to let it recover. It was coming along fine until one day when I was playing with my son in our backyard. I planted my foot to run and felt pain shoot up my leg. My leg was swollen, bruised and the pain was unbearable. Later that week, it was confirmed that I had torn my hamstring in three places. I was angry. I had made so much progress. Just a few days ago, I was on top of the world. I was in the nutrition zone; I could even see my abs! Now I was injured badly and would need weeks, if not months, of rehab before I could train my legs and glutes.

There was a ray of light in my misfortune. My scheduled shows were canceled due to Covid restrictions. The contests' cancelation gave me breathing room to heal and be ready to compete by late fall. I shifted my training to a six-week gaining cycle. My favorite training schedule for muscular weight gain is what I've dubbed the "Coat Rack Plan." I cut my reps in half, doubled my sets, and added weight every week to add as much upper body size as possible. See page 10 for a complete illustration of the "Coat Rack Plan."

I used the designated leg day to do additional therapy work. I treated rehabbing my hamstring like it was my job. I spent nearly all of my free time in the PT facility doing compression therapy, red light treatments, and balance exercises. Soon I was able to get back on the bike for moderate therapy and light leg work. My nutrition plan was crucial during this time for healing and to limit fat gain. I upped my Ultra 40 and Glutamine Select, switched from Mass Aminos to Density, and added Muscle Synergy to assist my muscle gains and healing.

I had pretty much recovered by August and was ready to crush the last 12 weeks of contest prep for the OCB Natural Viking. I added sessions of outdoor stair climbing on a set of 310 steps built on the side of a mountain 15 minutes from my home. I burned hundreds of calories on those stairs while giving my glutes and legs the extra work they needed. The local gyms started reopening, and I was able to add leg presses, power squats, and traditional leg machine exercises back into the plan. I upped my reps and increased cardio each week as my body grew leaner, harder, and more muscular. I began practicing my posing 3-4 days a week for 15-20 minutes, plus traveling to Denver to work with posing coach, Nick Natt once a week.

Finally, it was contest time. I was now 41years old and had never looked better. My husband, son, and I flew to Minneapolis, MN, and I competed in the 2020 OCB Natural Viking. I entered both the Open and 40+ Masters divisions. With Covid restrictions in place, the contest flew by. Before I knew it, I had won my OCB Masters Figure Pro Card and finished 3rd in the Open division against six other women, some half my age. I was thrilled, but it was over so quickly that it was difficult to take it all in.

Despite my success, I decided to take the stage one more time in 2020. By the time I returned to Colorado, I had entered the OCB Natural Tampa and went right back into contest prep mode. My celebration meal would have to wait. I was pretty sure that the OCB Tampa show would have some of the absolute best natural figure athletes in the country. When I hit the stage in Tampa, my intuition was proven right. These ladies looked incredible. Pre-judging was intense. We were compared for over 25 minutes, quarter turn after quarter turn. Boy, was I glad I had put so much time into my posing practice! When pre-judging ended, I felt like I had done an hour of cardio. However, I had also secured myself a placing in the top 3 in both divisions. It was a terrific day, and for the first time, my daughter Deirdra was able to be my backstage helper. What a fantastic way to wrap up my year!

Since Tampa, I have wasted no time getting right back to training, my "Baseline Bev Stack," and slowly adding protein and carbs to my diet to accommodate another growth phase. I plan to make my 2021 OCB pro debut at the 2021 OCB Yorton Cup Pro Championship. With my "tough as nails" mindset, I know that I will be bringing my best all-natural figure package to the stage in 2021.

Meal and Supplement Plan

Carb Cycling works best for my body. I keep my carbs low five days a week, and then I eat a carb meal in place of Meal 5 on Monday and Thursday to replenish glycogen.

Meal #1: 3 egg whites, 2oz chicken, ¹⁄₂ grapefruit, coffee

Meal #2: 4-5oz chicken or whitefish, 4 cups salad veggies, 1tbsp oil and vinegar dressing

Meal #3: 1-2 scoops UMP

Meal #4: 4-5oz chicken or turkey breast, 4 cups salad veggies or 2 cups green beans/zucchini, 1 tbsp oil and vinegar dressing

Meal #5: 1-2 scoops UMP

Monday and Thursday (in place of Meal 5): 4oz sweet potato, 4oz green vegetable, ³⁄₄ cup oatmeal, 1tbsp butter, and 4oz banana

Baseline Bev Stack

I started with my "Baseline Bev Stack" of UMP (per my meal plan), Ultra 40 Liver tabs & Mass Aminos (3 with each meal), FitTabs (2 with meals 1 and 4), Lean Out (2 with each meal), and 1-2 scoops Glutamine Select (pre and intra workout).

Stage Worthy Beverly Stack

At eight weeks out, I continue my "Baseline Bev Stack" (substituting 3 Density for 3 Mass Aminos at each meal), take 1 Multiple Enzyme Complex with each meal, and add the following supplements to complete my "Stage Worthy Beverly Stack."

Upon waking: Three 7-Keto MuscLean, 2 Energy Reserve, one scoop Muscle Synergy powder, and 6 GH Factor

Pre-workout: Three 7-Keto MuscLean, 2 Energy Reserve, one scoop Muscle Synergy powder

Before Bed: Six GH Factor

I also mix 1-2 additional scoops of Glutamine Select in a blender with ice and Mio water enhancer for a fantastic "Muscle Slushie" after training or whenever I need to ease my hunger pangs.

Workout Plan

Ladies, DO NOT BE AFRAID TO LIFT HEAVY! I've made the most progress by far by embracing what I call the "Coat Rack Training Plan." I have used this plan off and on for years to add size and strength, especially in my upper body.

Day 1: Chest, Shoulders, Triceps

• Incline BB Press 6x6
• Flat DB Press 6x6
• High Pulls 6x6
• Heavy Laterals 3x8 each (front, side, rear)
• Triceps Pressdown 6x6

Day 2: Legs

• Leg Press 6x6
• Squat 6x6
• Hack Squat 6x6
• Leg Curl 5x8
• Leg Extension 4x10

Day 3: Off

Day 4: Chest (light), Shoulders, Triceps

• Incline Speed Bench Press 8x3 (50-60% of Day 1)
• Flat DB Press 6x6 (85% of Day 1)
• Shoulder Press 6x6
• Lying French Press 6x6
• Incline Dumbbell Kickouts 4x8

Day 5: Back, Biceps

• Reverse Grip BB Row 6x6
• Lat Pulldown 6x6
• Seated Good Morning 6x6
• Barbell Curl 6x6
• Preacher Curl 6x6

Days 6-7: Off

Notes

• The key to the success of this program is that you DO NOT start too heavy. On 6 x 6 exercises, begin with a weight you could perform 12 reps with on week one, but only do the prescribed amount.
• Progress at a pace that allows you to continue to get all 6 reps on all 6 sets each of the first five weeks. Do not increase the weight by more than 5% or at most 10% any given week.
• The final week is an all-out max effort! (If you reach failure before week 6, you started too heavy or tried to progress too fast.)
• High Pulls – this is a powerful and explosive version of upright rows. Start with the bar just above your knees and explode the weight up above your sternum – keeping your elbows high.
• Speed Bench Press – Lower the bar in a controlled manner and explode up as fast as possible with the bar. Speed is the real key to this exercise – it is far more critical than weight. Rest no more than 45 seconds between sets.
• Dumbbell Kickouts on Incline Bench – lay on an incline bench face up. Start with the end of the dumbbells resting on your chest with your palms facing down towards your hips. Extend the dumbbells with your triceps. In the finishing position, your arms should be extended as if they are at the finish of an incline barbell press. Lower to your chest and repeat. This workout focuses on Bulk and Power, emphasizing shoulders, chest, and pressing strength, aka your "Coat Rack."

I’ve now evolved to a fitness competitor with the Fitness America organization, while also continuing to compete in the NPC. I competed in my first fitness competition at the Ohio Valley Fitness America show in the fall of 2013 placing 1st. One month later I competed in the NPC Kentucky Muscle and placed 1st in bikini class A. So far in 2014 I have one competition under my belt - the Natural Indiana – where I placed 2nd in bikini class A.

All in all, this past year has truly been amazing. I would not change a thing in my show preparation or contest performance. In the remainder of this article I’d like to present the components of my contest prep. I hope that you’ll be able to incorporate my diet, supplement, and training templates into your own physique improvement schedule. Embrace your journey and learn from it each day!

Contest Prep Tips

Prepping for shows has now become a lifestyle with small tweaks as I get closer to a competition. At the beginning it was quite a challenge to eat 6 times a day. Even harder was thinking that I needed to eat chicken
at every meal and be in the gym hours upon hours. But, after a week or two I quickly learned that planning ahead was key in making healthier choices and that I could have fun with my food. Instead of plain chicken I made stir-fry chicken or swapped the chicken for beef. I was never in the gym longer than an hour and a half.

This passion to be strong and active turned into sports and horseback riding in high school, running marathons in college, and finally into a career. I became an Exercise Physiologist and a Licensed Physical Therapist Assistant.

I still lifted occasionally but it wasn't until after I had my first daughter that I turned to the weights more seriously. I can still remember the first time I noticed my bicep muscle. I was like a "yes!" That just fed my desire even more to get stronger and "bigger." My idea of the perfect physique was to feel AND look strong! I started making up my own lifting programs and setting goals. Then eventually I heard about "Figure" and started competing.

I am now starting my 4th year of competing and I have learned a lot. I have learned what my body is capable of and how to use food and workouts to change my physique. I REALLY struggled to put on muscle though. I started using Beverly International supplements and my physique and muscle mass improved greatly. Now, I am absolutely hooked. UMP, Muscularity, Muscle Synergy, Lean Out, Density, and 7-Keto MuscLean are in my daily meal plan and I'm always telling people about these products! My coach, Dave Uhlman also helped me to increase my calorie intake over the last couple years which helped me put on size.

My first figure show was the Kentucky State in August 2011. I placed 1st in my class and 2nd in the overall. I went on to compete in the Northern Kentucky in March 2012 and placed 3rd in a very large class and 6th in Masters. I competed last year in the Michigan Nicole Wilkins show July 13, 2013. I placed 1st in my class and won Reserve Grand Champion in the overall! I told everyone backstage about Beverly!! I also did Dave Lieberman’s Natural Northern USA on Oct 5th and placed 2nd in the open. This spring I did the Kentucky Derby and won my class in the masters division.

Diet & Supplement Plan

Wake at 3:30 a.m: Water and 6 Density, Glu-tamine Select and 2 caps 7-Keto MuscLean; 50 min cardio plus abs and some high intensity intervals

Meal 1: 1 scoop of UMP made into a pudding with 2 rice cakes; 2 scoops Muscle Synergy

Lift/Train

Meal 2: Protein waffle made w/ 1 scoop UMP, 4 egg whites, & ¼ cup oats; Lean Out

Meal 3: 4oz chicken, 4oz sweet potato, ½ cup red peppers; Lean Out

Meal 4: 6oz Orange Roughy, 8 asparagus, ½ avocado, ½ cup berries; Lean Out

Meal 5: 4oz chicken with 1 cup veggies

Meal 6: 4oz chicken, 2 cups spinach, 1 cup veggies for salad, 2 tbsp salsa; Lean out

Food Prep: Being a single mom with a full time job makes food prep a "must be organized" essential. I am always on top of having my refrigerator stocked and I cook a ton of everything on Sundays and Wednesdays and measure it all out! My girls eat 3 meals and 2 healthy snacks a day and all of this is packed as well. So food prep is a family affair.

Supplements

I can’t say enough about Beverly supplements!

UMP is my favorite for many reasons. First and foremost is the taste is AMAZING! Another great thing is that I can make “treats” for my girls with UMP. We make brownies, cheesecake, muffins, waffles, and protein bars. I even made a peanut butter UMP pie when entertaining people once. It is low in carbs and calories and high in protein. There is no reason NOT to have UMP daily!

Muscularity: I have gone back and forth between Beverly’s Density and Muscularity and I love both. Right now I am using both because I am trying to build, and build quickly! Muscularity has a higher concentration of leucine and Density contains all 8 of the essential amino acids. Studies show that taking leucine with protein and carbs before and after workouts result in the greatest improvement in protein synthesis. That’s why I always take Muscularity before and after training. I take 6 Density each morning and occasionally use it before bed as well to help me build muscle all night long.

Muscle Synergy: This product is fairly new to me. Confession… I was scared to try it! But I’m glad I did! The IMMEDIATE gains I made in the gym were astounding! My strength has improved greatly! The first workout I used it on I went up on all my weights that day. Plus, it gives you this amazing ‘pump’ that makes you feel like a beast.

7-Keto MuscLean: I don’t use a lot of preworkouts or fat burners but this one is so natural that I don’t feel anything but energy…. NOT jittery. It keeps my metabolism running, helps give me that extra push for morning cardio, and it also helps mid-afternoon when I’m dragging or wanting to snack.

Lean Out: I use this after 3-4 meals a day to help transport fat into the mitochondria to be burned for energy and it also helps to keep my insulin/sugar levels in check.

Cardio

5 days/week; 50 minutes per session right now, since I’m 2 weeks out from a show.

3:30 a.m.??? No, I’m not crazy! I get up then because I have these two wonderful little girls who are my whole world. I made a gym in my basement and I get up early so I can get it all done before they wake up. That way I have each and every night with them after work. And it’s worth it! This is how I balance my passion for competing and still enjoy my 2 most favorite joys in the world.

I believe cardio should be fun so I always try to mix it up! I alternate between plyos, sprints, homemade Crossfit workouts and the elliptical. On Sundays my girls and I go to the track when it’s nice and I mix it up between sprints, running the stadium steps, and flipping tires. Most mornings I do cardio in my basement. I usually make up a “Crossfit” type workout using the equipment I have and I do it for time.

Example: 4 or 5 rounds of the following:

• 20 Kettelbell swings
• 10 Pullups
• 20 Burpees
• 20 Bench Hops
• 12 Ab Wheel

I also love doing sprints on the treadmill with the treadmill off and the incline fully up. I manually push the treadmill for 20-30 seconds for 8 to 10 rounds.

 
Anyone who knows me knows that when I walk in the gym I have my workout journal and a list of strength goals. I never just go through a workout. I always aim to improve my numbers or the weight I can lift. I make goals for 4 weeks at a time. Hitting PR’s and seeing my strength improve is just as important to me as placing in a show! When I began taking Muscle Synergy, I saw these PR’s come much more easily! I felt stronger in the gym. Now I use it EVERY workout! I always encourage the women I work with and those that work out with me to make a goal in the gym at every workout! It is empowering to see people realize they have potential to lift more!

Presentation

Poise, Grace, Confidence….these are the words that I think of when I think of presentation. They are the key elements that I feel are important on stage. I try to walk and move with grace. I try to make every movement smooth. I constantly practice my poses and walking. My daughters think it’s normal to go around hitting your back pose and my 5 year old even has her own. Posing is just like training your physique. You gotta work at it to make it stronger!

Being on stage is such a “high” for me. I don’t ever have to worry about not smiling because I am so happy to be up there! As hard as we all work to be up there on that stage, I think we should ALL be grinning from ear to ear! Standing on stage is saying that we made it. We dieted. We drank water! Water! Water! We ran. Lifted. Pushed. Pulled. All of that love for our sport should shine from us on contest day!

Mental Prep

One of the most important parts of contest for me has nothing to do with my diet or workouts. I believe that to give 100% to my lifting, cardio, and dieting, I must be mentally strong. Getting up at 3:30 and expecting my body to push its hardest is sometimes a mental game! In addition, fit-ting it all in while working full time and trying to be the best mother I can, can sometimes seem stressful! To help with this I make sure I am always concentrating on practicing my mental strength. I frequently read or listen to books on sports psychology and self-help books which keep me motivated and teach me about my strength and weaknesses. It helps me to identify when I’m struggling and to overcome and stay on track! I would recommend this to all as it has helped me greatly!

Experience

Competing in Figure has allowed me to continue my passion for fitness. But it has done more. It has also helped me to become a stronger and more confident person. It has taught me what I am capable of. The pride I feel from completing a contest prep and stepping on stage gives me the strength to help get through many other obstacles in life. Competing has also allowed me to meet the most amazing people that I now call friends and has allowed me to become a better role model for my daughters.

I started playing sports at age 5 and continued throughout my school years. During high school, I ran track, played soccer, and cheered. I played fast pitch softball and volleyball in college
between classes and working a few part time jobs. Even though I had a strong athletic background, I never really had a structured training program or nutrition regimen. I ate pretty much whatever I wanted and whenever I wanted. I was constantly on the go and luckily, my mediocre diet didn’t have much of an opportunity to catch up to me. Once I was out of college, I still played a little indoor soccer, but the opportunity for organized team sports certainly diminishes once you are out of school.

Life seemed to slow down for a quick minute when I started working my first full time job as an Emergency Dispatcher. It was a sedentary desk job on 2nd / 3rd shift. I still ate what I wanted but I started to notice that my energy was lacking. I stayed thin, but lost a lot of strength and stamina. I was tired.

Fast forward a couple years and I found myself a single mother of 2 at age 23. I no longer had time to be tired, but I was…very. After the birth of my daughter in 2008, I joined the local YMCA and began my first attempt at an exercise regimen. It’s interesting how far down on the list of priorities you will allow ‘taking care of yourself’ to fall once your world revolves around your children. Having the Childwatch program at the YMCA allowed me to take some time for myself without feeling guilty because my kids enjoyed their time there as well. Happy Healthy Mom = Happier Healthier Family.

Within a couple years I had put on some muscle and started wondering how much further I could push myself. While continuing to work full-time, I attended the Police Academy and began working toward getting on the other side of the radio. While in the police academy I began to focus more on building my strength as it was now more important than ever. It was during this time that I discovered Beverly Inter-national and their amazing line of supplements when I was given a copy of their No Nonsense magazine by a friend.

I became a full time Police Officer in June of 2012. I am recently engaged to my fiancé, Matt, whom I met in the academy and is also a full-time Police Officer. My children are now 5 and 7 and are active in their own sports. We are just as busy as I re-call my childhood being and though it can be stressful at times, I love it. Training has become my outlet. I mention all of this because it is my hope that the other seemingly over-whelmed mothers that work full time and have busy families know that it is possible to still take time for their self and go after their own goals. In fact, it is important that you do! After all, we are now set-ting the example for our children.

I discovered Julie Lohre’s nutrition and training programs through the No Nonsense magazine. I had been contemplating competing and knew that I had taken my physique as far as I could on my own. I needed professional guidance. I contacted Julie in August of last year and she got me started right away. She’s helped me to work my meals around my crazy schedule and plan ahead for when I would be stuck at a ballgame, or in my cruiser on a call. In just a few months’ time, I’ve gained strength and confidence. I have now competed in 2 figure competitions. I took 1st place in my class at the Fitness America Ohio Valley in October 2013. I went on to compete in the Kentucky Muscle in November, but I didn’t do nearly as well there. In fact, I was on the other end of the placements. However, I am hooked and enjoying the experience along the way… and now training for my next stage appearance as I write this.

Here is my current program designed to lose fat while building a little more lean muscle.

Daily Meal Plan

Planning and preparation was the hardest part when I first started but it does get easier with experience. I love to cook, but am obviously short on time, most of the time. For me, I’ve found that it helps to prep a few meals at a time, a few times a week. I really en-joy cooking a meal for us all to sit down and enjoy together. I’ll usually cook more than I need to feed my family for dinner and then use leftovers to prep a few extra meals for myself. While this may not be as efficient as a massive prep day where I make several meals solely for myself, our meals together at the table is something I value.

Meal 1 1 whole egg, 3 egg whites, ½ cup veggies (to make an omelet), 1 slice
turkey bacon; ½ cup oatmeal

Meal 2 1 scoop UMP protein shake; ½ grapefruit

Meal 3 4oz chicken breast; ½ cup avocado; large salad with mixed veggies; 1
tbsp olive oil & vinegar dressing

Meal 4 2 scoops UMP shake or pudding; 1 tbsp almond butter

Meal 5 6oz white fish; 1 cup mixed veggies

Meal 6 4 egg whites; ½ cup veggies

That was just a sample day. I substitute quite often as I get bored easily when eating the same foods. I usually try to incorporate whatever my family is eating and then make adjustments so that it fits my plan. We also use Green Bean Delivery so that we have fresh organic produce on hand at all times. I love this service for its delivery convenience, but also because it has broadened my family’s fruit and veggie selection from the everyday apples and cucumbers.

Daily Supplement Plan

Fit Tabs: 2 in the AM, 2 in the PM

Density: 3 tablets, 3x’s a day

Lean Out: 2 before my first 5 meals each day

7 Keto MuscLean: 3 in the AM, 3 with lunch Glutamine Select: 1 scoop before training

UMP: 3 scoops per day

This seemed like a lot of pills when I first started. However, I drink a gallon of water a day, and taking the supplements throughout the day also helps me get in all my water at the same time.

In closing, I am so thankful for the FITBODY Contest Prep Figure & Bikini Team! With my teammates and Julie’s help, I am not alone in competition prep. This journey (though I feel it is still just the beginning) has already given me so much… a better under-standing of my nutrition, knowledge of the competition scene, a supportive team of women that are now also my friends, and a bangin’ body to boot!