Interview with Bodybuilder Lisa Boushard

I am pleased to be able to present this interview with bodybuilder Lisa Boushard.

Hi Lisa! Can you give us some background on yourself?

Hi Paul, I started competing in 2001 and got my national qualifier in 2005. I recently placed 2nd at the Masters 2009 and then 4th at the USA's 2009. I am a Light Heavyweight, and plan on doing the North Americans and Nationals next year. I had hernia repair surgery October 5th which has to be in recovery until the end of December before I can hit the gym again, but can do cardio right now. I am 43 years old and live in St. Louis, Missouri. I work at the Powerhouse Gym of St. Louis as a operations manager and have a website: www.lisaboushard.net. I am married, with 3 cats. I work with Dave Palumbo for show prep and am a sponsored athlete and featured on his website.

What was it that first attracted you to bodybuilding?

The thing that attracted me to bodybuilding is the amazing physique you can transform with hard work and dedication to the sport. I also like the way it builds one's self esteem and confidence.

You’ve been doing this for a little while now. How have you seen bodybuilding change over the years you’ve been involved with it?

I feel that when I first started competing in 2001 the look was: the bigger and harder you were the better. Now it has changed to be more soft but yet conditioned, and they want a fbb to have a more complete package with pretty hair and make up to make the presentation the best one she can offer.

What sort of work do you do as Operations Manager for Powerhouse? Are you actually in the gym, or doing planning sorts of tasks from an office?

I do everything at the gym. I train people, enter all new members, changes to their accounts and settle all payments due. Daily transactions with balancing the payments and sales for the workout day. I also enter all the products we carry in the pro shop. We all go the extra mile to make everyone's experience at our gym a good one.

Do you have any particular training philosphy that you follow?

I have been following the DC style training for sometime now. This is a high intensity low-rep style of training that is a rest pause program with a 2 day split. I love this type of workout because you are in a contest with yourself. I keep a journal and with each training session I have to either beat my weight or reps I did in the prior workout. This drives me to do better each time.

What would you say is the high point of your bodybuilding career so far?

Well, I have a few but I guess the best one so far would be winning 2nd place at the Masters Nationals this year. Then placing 4th at the USA's with 16 in my class. Some of the other competitors were half my age. This gives me great pride and drive to get better and better.
The other point was in 2005 when I won the “Most Conditioned Award” given by 4 time Ms. Olympia Kim Chizevsky at the Missouri State Bodybuilding show where I also won the Masters and the Overall award.

What is your favorite bodypart to train? Your strongest bodypart?

My favorite bodypart to train would be my back. I feel that this is my best asset to my physique. I would say it is a toss up on the strongest between my back and legs. I have surprised myself with what I have been able to do in the gym.



What kinds of feedback and reactions do you get from friends and colleagues, regarding your bodybuilding?

I get really good feedback from friends and colleagues the same. I feel that during contest prep and during the time that I get really lean for the show I tend to get a lot more stares from people, and that is simply because the average person does not walk around that lean and they haven't seen a female bodybuilder in person. Guys are usually “thumbs up and think it is great”. Women sometimes snarl at me, simply cause they are jealous. It all comes with the territory. You have to hold your head up high and know you look your best and you are very proud of your accomplishments. No one else matters really.

Do you try to stay close to contest weight in the off-season, or allow yourself to "bulk up"?

I am always trying to build my body for the next year's competitions. In my off season I try to stay within 25 pounds of my show weight. I do allow myself a bulk up time to build more muscle in the areas that need improvement.

Do you have a favorite muscle-building food or supplement that you can tell us about?

I usually eat the basics in the muscle-building food area. Mostly lean proteins, essential fats and carbs are a minimum for the workout fuel and recovery. I use all of the supplements that are made from Species Nutrition and Dave Palumbo. I use protein powder, joint formulas, omega fish oils, Juice Plus and Vitamin E to complete my nutritional formulas daily.

What advice would you give to a woman who is just now thinking of beginning to compete in bodybuilding?

I would say to stay true to yourself and create a work of art with your body that you love!! Not to do anything they will not be proud of or regret. Bodybuilding is so unique and the physique can be so beautiful if created properly. Find someone to help you with your contest prep that has experience working with female bodybuilders and that will listen to your goals and concerns in every aspect of the sport. I feel that this sport takes a special type of person with a lot of drive and dedication to become the best they can be.

Thanks, Lisa. We wish you a speedy recovery from your surgery, and a great year competing in 2010!

Interview with Bodybuilder Sherri Gray

It is my pleasure today to interview bodybuilder Sherri Gray. Hi Sherri! Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I am 38 years old, married with 2 children, ages 10 and 7. I work full time and stay pretty busy with the kids' activities and my training. I started competing 3 years ago but started in Figure. I did win a show and placed 2nd in another, but the following year I was being told I was too muscular for the physique they were trying to direct Figure to. They suggested Bodybuilding. So, I started training to compete in BB and did my first show this past April. I won my class and the overall. I also did Jr.USA and placed second.

Anyway, I truly enjoy the challenge of BB and watching my body change by how I train and eat excites me! I love it and hope it sets a good example for eating clean and staying healthy for my kids, family and friends.

Wow, you look amazing for someone who only discovered Figure/Bodybuilding 3 years ago! Were you already in good shape before that?

I suppose you could say I was in good shape. I would say I looked “average”. I wasn’t overweight, I went to the gym, and played in a recreational softbalI league. I have always been athletic and stayed active. When my son was about 5 years old, he began to get involved in sports and other activities so I decided it was time to hang up my cleats and support and cheer him on! Now my daughter is also involved in different things, so I love watching both of them in their activities. I stay pretty active and love going to the gym.

I sure didn’t look like I do now, but I like to think I do not look like the “Average” woman any more either, and I like that. I love having muscle and as I approach 40 years old, I feel like I am in the best shape of my life!

As a mom of 2 kids, how (and when!) do you find time to train?

I try to plan my training around family time. I get up at 5:00 am to do some cardio so I can get ready for work and see the kids off to school. Luckily, my husband gets the kids up and ready for school so that is a big help. My job is fairly flexible so I do my weight training on my lunch break. That leaves my nights to spend with my husband and children. I may run up to the gym to do cardio at night if I don’t get there in the morning but that is after the kids go to bed usually.

Saturdays, I get up so I can be at the gym when it opens and go ahead and knock out my workout and cardio so I can get back home to spend the day with them. Sundays are usually my day off, so we relax, run errands or whatever we need to do. I love to train but I also don’t want to take time away from my family. I never want them to think that bodybuilding is more important than they are to me. Luckily, they do know how much I love it and they all support me, which means a lot.

I think they benefit from my training as well, it keeps me sane, lowers my stress level, and hopefully will help me live a longer, fuller life to be able to watch them grow up.

Where do you train?

I train at the Gold’s Gym here in town. There are actually 3 locations here and one happens to be right across the street from my neighborhood. It’s convenient to run over there in the morning to do my cardio and my Saturday training. I mainly do my weight training at the larger Gold’s. With it being bigger, it has more equipment and some newer pieces that I like to use for certain exercises. There are quite a few competitors that go to that gym, so it’s good to keep each other motivated.

Do you have any particular training philosophy that you follow?

My training usually stays pretty consistent because I think I have found what works for me. Although I do change it up with different exercises and such, I tend to stick to the following training regimen. I rotate between lifting heavier with fewer reps for a few weeks and then switch to doing an initial set of 20 reps with lower weight, then follow it with a drop set. I do this for almost every exercise. This has been a good change for me that hopefully will help me continue to put on the size I am trying to achieve. As competition gets closer I try to keep my weights as high as possible with a mid-rep range to continue to stress the muscles. I also like to throw in supersets to change things up a little.

How important is eating/nutrition for sculpting your body as you have?

Nutrition is the key, I believe, to any good training program. Taking in foods that your body can use when it needs it is very important. If you don’t keep your diet clean, all the hard work you do in the gym will not be seen. I have changed my body so much I think over the past 3 years and most of it is due to changing my eating habits. I still like to have a cheat meal every now and then, but I feel the best when I eat clean, and I know it’s the best thing for my body. I know my body is using the nutrients to grow and help me achieve the physique I am striving for.

What sorts of foods are you allowed to eat when you are prepping for a contest?

The nutrition plan changes about every 4-6 weeks depending on how I look. It also depends on how far away from contest date I am. It may add in something, take something away, or just rotate things to be eaten at different times. It really just depends. Luckily, by the rotating every 4-6 weeks I rarely get tired of eating the same old thing.

My diet usually consists of proteins such as eggs, fish, chicken, flank steak, or other lean red meat. Vegetables are normally asparagus, green beans and spinach. Fruits, typically I stick to blueberries, grapefruits and apples. Healthy fats come from peanut butter, almonds or flax seeds or the fish, did I mention PEANUT BUTTER?? Carbs are sweet potatoes, rice cakes, brown rice, oatmeal, cream of rice or wheat or even English muffins with sugar free jelly.

I sometimes also get to eat Sugar Free Pudding or Popsicles; that helps curbs my sweet tooth!

How did you first discover bodybuilding? Was it something that appealed to you immediately, or did it have to "grow" on you?

I would say that bodybuilding was something that I was interested in, but wasn’t sure how to approach it. I never knew anyone who competed and had no idea what all was involved. Not until I changed gyms and met a few new people who had competed, did it start to intrigue me more. After my experience with figure, I knew that switching to bodybuilding was the right choice for me. I feel more comfortable with it and if fits my personality much better. I feel I am truly being judged on my physique, conditioning and symmetry.

What kinds of feedback and reactions do you get from friends and colleagues, regarding your bodybuilding? Do they ask you for training/nutrition advice?

I get a mixture of reactions. Friends will ask me how my training is going and when my next show is. The big question most of the time is… “Can you eat this or are you dieting?” That one really starts to get to me. Most of the time, the stuff they want me to eat, I wouldn’t eat now anyway because I have changed my eating habits so much that it just doesn’t appeal to me any more. I enjoy and feel good about the way I look, therefore I choose to eat the way I do and that is fine with me. Others are the ones who seem to have an issue with it. I haven’t quite figured that one out yet.

I do get a lot of questions about nutrition, and I really don’t mind answering them and telling them what kinds of foods I eat. I just wish more would listen and try to eat healthier to make a change for themselves. You definitely have to want it for yourself; no one else can do it for you.

When it comes to training, people do approach me and ask me about certain exercises and what would be the best to develop certain muscles. I’m always happy to answer them and I hope it motivates them to try something new. I try to switch up my training routine every other week or so with different exercises. I enjoy seeing people doing some of the exercises we do and then telling me, hey that really works.

You started in Figure, and in such a short time at Bodybuilding, finished 2^nd at the Jr. USAs in 2009. That has to be considered a successful crossover. Did you initially have any doubts about switching from Figure to Bodybuilding?

After competing in Figure for 2 years and getting the feedback from the judges that I was too muscular, and actually telling me I should consider bodybuilding, I thought it was time to make the change. I was nervous about it because it seemed so much more involved, coming up with a routine, learning more poses, I had no idea where to begin. Once I got settled down and learned the poses I really had fun with it. I’m definitely glad I made the change and it fits my personality and physique so much better. I would consider it a successful crossover and I hope it continues to be successful in the years to come. Finishing 2^nd at Jr. USA’s was a thrill and I hope with the hard work and dedication I put into my training it will continue to be successful.

What is your favorite body part to train?

To be honest, shoulders used to be my favorite to train because they seem to respond quickly, but actually I enjoy training legs more so now. They are what I have been focusing on lately to bring up, mainly my hamstrings and glutes, so I put a lot into my leg workout. Due to an old back injury, there are a few exercises I can’t do so trying to come up with something to hit certain muscles in different ways keeps me challenged. When I see changes, it excites me and keeps me motivated to train even harder!

Growing up I really didn’t like my legs. I thought they were big and ugly for a lack of any other words… Now that I have gotten into bodybuilding, they are an asset and I love to work them to make them even better. When I get compliments on my legs now it brings a smile to my face. It may sound funny, but when guys tell me they would love to have legs like mine, I am speechless.

Do you try to stay close to contest weight in the off-season, or allow yourself to "bulk up"?

My nutritionist believes that “Off-Season does not mean Out of Shape”. I love that line!! I have done a pretty good job at staying somewhat lean in the off season while still putting on quality muscle. I am usually about 20 pounds heavier than contest weight in the off season.

What are your plans, if any, for a next bodybuilding competition to enter?

I am planning on doing the Arnold Amateur in March 2010.

I would love to do one of the National shows during the year, maybe USA’s, or North Americans possibly, but don’t have one set yet. I like to play it by ear and see how the first one goes and if I need more time to make improvements, then I want to take that time. I want to bring my best physique to the stage and make an impression! 2009 was a great year for me but I’d like to make 2010 a year to remember.

Encounter with a Fast Woman

In case you didn't already know: as men grow older, they tend to retain their vanity, expanding it whenever possible. Though greying or balding, with ridiculous bags of fat hanging pendulously from every section of their bodies, they retain the fantastic notion that they remain attractive to women. Even young women.

I recall an episode from my days in The Episcopal church. Our parish Men's Club was enjoying an evening of billiards and food. Our waitress was a hot, young Asian girl of perhaps 23. Many of us aging male Episcopalians were ogling her beauty. The more circumspect among us might have described this activity as opening our eyes to behold God's gracious hand in all his works; that rejoicing in his whole creation, we might learn to serve him with gladness (1928 BCP, p. 596). But one among us put it in more earthy terms: "Just because there's snow on the roof, it doesn't mean there's no fire in the fireplace."

Indeed.

Which brings me to this morning's frantic dodge down I-696 and the Southfield Freeway, in which I flatter myself that a very attractive woman flirted with me. Given what has been discussed above regarding the vanity of old men, I accept that the entire episode may have been a fabrication of my own vain mind.

She had jet black hair and raven eyes that looked directly into mine as she slid her low-slung silver Mercedes into an empty pocket in the traffic, directly to the left of my menacing black Marauder. Her features struck me as being Italian in origin. As our eyes locked, she gave me a mischievous grin. I was thinking how the two of us would look in a black-and-white movie ... her glistening black hair, her silver coupe, my silvering hair, and my big black Mercury. We played tag in the slow crawl on I-696, and on the faster jaunt down M-39. Sometimes I pulled directly behind her, to look at her in her rearview mirror. Sometimes, she pulled up behind me to do the same.

We were both advancing through the traffic. Not racing, not taking chances, just efficiently cutting through the sea of Toyotas and other similarly soulless automotive appliances. Once, on Southfield, as I roared down the left lane, she pulled left to follow, but an ancient red Aerostar minivan cut her off. She'll catch up, I thought. And by Warren Road, there she was, right on my bumper again. I pulled over to let her past. She didn't go past, but tucked in behind me.

I was impressed by her driving. Fast, but not showy. Efficient, calculated, immensely confident, but always safe. Competence is sexy, I think.

I managed to maneuver myself behind the sleek silver Mercedes one more time before she pulled off at Ford Road. I got behind her to look at her license plate number, to see if she had a vanity plate.

No. All the vanity was with me.

The R. Crumb Genesis!

I don't have this volume in hand yet, but I plan to soon. Yes, that icon of Lowbrow Art, R. Crumb, has published an illustrated volume based on the Biblical book of Genesis. For a number of reasons, this is tremendously exciting to me.



For those who don't recognize the name "R. Crumb", this might refresh your memories:



I knew from a pretty early age that R. Crumb and I were kindred spirits in a lot of ways. His description, in word and drawing, regarding his career as a school kid, made me like him right away.

In high school, the cartoonist was a nerd who could not get a date. As his autobiographical drawings of his high school days illustrate, he was permanently wounded by his adolescent peers' rejection.

Later I learned that, like me, he had experimented with LSD, and was a fan of female bodybuilders.



So, I have a lot of reasons to be interested in the work of R. Crumb. And I love the Bible, including the book of Genesis. So, the confluence of these two streams in the release of an R. Crumb Genesis Illustrated is just an amazing thing to me.

I will be very interested to see how he treats subjects like the destruction of Sodom.



Crumb's reasons for being interested in Genesis are probably complex, but would certainly include the lurid, earthy nature of the stories in Genesis:

HUGHES: Is God going to look like Mr. Natural?

CRUMB: Nah. He has a white beard but he actually ended up looking more like my father. He has a very masculine face like my father. My problem was, how am I going to draw God? Should I just draw him as a light in the sky that has dialogue balloons coming out from it? Then I had this dream. God came to me in this dream, only for a split second, but I saw very clearly what he looked like. And I thought, ok, there it is, I've got God.

HUGHES: And what did she look like?

CRUMB: I went through that whole thing too; maybe I'll draw God as a black woman. But if you actually read the Old Testament he's just an old, cranky Jewish patriarch. It's a lot of fun doing Genesis, actually. It's very visual. It's lurid. Full of all kinds of crazy, weird things that will really surprise people.

I will give a report on this volume after I've had a chance to look it over for myself.

A Re-run, But Well Worth Watching!

I've posted this before, but I cannot help posting it again. It is SO good!

Thingie Fest 2008 - Slot Car Drag Racing

I am only about 11 months late in processing this drag racing video, a grudge match between my Anglican Beach Party Anglia, and Eliot's Royal Oak Public Schools S'Cool Bus.

Lying and Evangelism

Before I "asked bodybuilding into my heart" I used to be a runner. I did a lot of 5K and 10K races, and even ran the Los Angeles Marathon one year. To get ready for the races, of course, I had to train a lot. This meant running on local streets.

In those old days, despite having no gift for running, I used to push myself pretty hard, certainly to the point of discomfort, on every run. But I developed a habit of smiling as cars or pedestrians passed me. My idea, which seems crazy to me now, was that I didn't want to be a "bad witness" for running. I didn't want pain on my face to dissuade anyone from taking up this healthy activity.

I believe that we Christians often do the same thing in our lives. When in the presence of unbelievers, for whose conversion to The Faith we pray, we often mask our pain, our disappointments. We want our unsaved friends to know that if they follow Jesus, they will be well taken care of, free of trouble and concern. Sometimes, though, this amounts to lying. Just like I lied with my face when I was running.

I now believe that more good would be done were we to be always authentic with our friends, believers and unbelievers alike. The fact that God's will for us may be to be in difficulties and pain does not refute His lordship. If we lie to make converts, and we succeed, what will our friends think of us or of God when they face difficulties as new Christians ... difficulties we pretended not to face?

My sense of this is that you cannot advance God's kingdom by deception.