Interview With Fitness Competitor Tina Marie Walsh

I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Tina Marie Walsh, a newcomer to fitness competition. Tina recently finished second in her very first contest so congratulations Tina! In this interview, you'll pick up some great tips from Tina on weight training, nutrition, motivation and planning all aspects of your fitness program.

Keep a couple of things in mind. Tina works and she's a mother!

And when you check out her pictures, keep in mind that she has a 15 year old daughter! Wow! If you want to stay young, both in how you feel and how you look, a proper weight training, cardio and nutrition program is the fountain of youth - not diet drugs, or dangerous surgeries. Look no further than Tina for proof of that.

1) Tina, was it easy for you when you got interested in fitness as far as staying motivated and disciplined to stick with your nutrition program and hit the gym on a consistent basis? With my readers and clients, I've found motivation and discipline to stick with a program to be their biggest obstacle. Did this come easy to you or were their tricks you used along the way to stick with your progam?

Tina's Answer: I don't think it's easy even for the best in the industry to stick to a consistant nutrition plan or workout routine and schedule. There are days when the alarm screams 4:40am...I want to pull the covers over my head and sleep some more, but I have dreams and goals to accomplish, and the only way to get there is to work hard, get up and go!!!!!

My biggest obstacle has to be cooking for my family and myself. My children 15 years old and 12 years old, think I am crazy to eat the way I do. I cook them all the great Italian meals, while I sit and eat my steamed chicken and broccoli!

Some days it gets really boring, but I then think about what I am trying to achieve, and just wait for my one cheat day a week! Some of my tricks include sugar-free fat-free pudding with a scoop of protien powder to stop my sugar cravings.......Raw almonds for that crunchy desire, and chocolate egg white omelettes! Yep!

2) How did you get started with your new liftestyle? In other words, what changes did you make, or planning did you do, to give yourself the best chance at success?

Tina's Answer: I have always been into fitness, and always dreamed of being the next Monica Brant or Jenny Lynn.... so I did my research, joined the INFB Organization, picked a show (6 months out) hired a figure posing coach and nutritionist to guide me through the whole process. My whole life changed for the next 6 months... I isolated myself from friends who went out to eat, drink and be merry... Didn't go out to eat with my family.... basically went to the gym twice a day towards the end.... totally focused, and sacrificed a lot...

3) Preparing for a figure or bodybuilding contest is a completely different world from regular old training and eating "right." Even the most motivated and disciplined people can struggle to stick with their plan.

Most people look at athletes and think it comes easy to them but even the top fitness and bodybuilding competitors can struggle with our motivation at times. What tips keep you motivated through contest preparation that the everyday person can use in their fight to get and stay in shape?

Tina's Answer: Stay away from processed foods, cook when you can... Drink LOTS of water. Hire a nutritionist and a personal trainer if you can...Stay focused on your goal... Most importantly, what helps me is putting pictures of my role models on my fridge! Monica Brant, Jenny Lynn, Elizabeth Lado are all on my fridge.... Just looking at them keeps me motivated! Get a goal for yourself and don't let anything stand in your way!

4) Many competitors have the same challenges everyone else has as far as time, yet you have to be more disciplined than the average person who just wants to get in shape.

What problems did you have to overcome in order to stay on track with your fitness program? Some of the popular excuses I've heard from people I've trained include "not enough time"(both for exercising and eating right), "eating healthy is too expensive", "don't see results fast enough", "weights will make me big and bulky", "have trouble sticking with an exercise routine".

Tina's Answer: I would have to say supplement purchases... they can be expensive. For me, I would have to say keeping my energy levels high all day without crashing by 3pm..

5) How did you overcome those problems? What specific techniques did you use to make your dreams a reality?

Tina's Answer: I knew how to eat clean, it's the only way I know, but to eat for a contest was a mystery for me...Seeking professiobal help was huge for me...Diet is 90% of the battle

6) Moving forward and knowing what you know now, what would you have done differently, if anything?

Tina's Answer: I would have started my meal plan a bit ealier than I did... I would have drank more water too!

7) What would you have done the same way, and will continue to do, going forward?

Tina's Answer: Being consistant with my workouts! That's my time and my time only! No chatting in the gym! I put my ipod on and get to work!

8) Do you feel that ongoing feedback and motivational tools would help in maintaining a fitness program? I always encourage my clients to take pictures periodically.

Tina's Answer: Absolutely! I look at my pics from 6 months ago up until the show....and see all the progess, and it motivates me to do even better the next time!!!

9) If you were to advise a close friend or family member how to follow in your fitness footsteps, what would you tell them?

Tina's Answer: Eat clean, set a realistic attainable goal, make each workout count, be HAPPY, enjoy what your doing, make it fun and challenging and most of all HAVE PATIENCE!!!!

10) What's a typical day for you when it comes to training and nutrition?

Tina's Answer: 4:40am, the alarm goes off....by 5am I am at the gym doing cardio for 45 minutes. I do the bike (which is great for leaning and sculpting the legs.... I then shower and train my own clients all day.... before 3pm, I am back at the gym to train 2 bodyparts for at 50 minutes... I do this 6 days a week....

11) What are your future fitness plans?

Tina's Answer: To compete again in the INFB Long Island Experience III in March of 2007.... I hopefully will achieve my goal of going pro in 2007....

12) If there's anything I missed that you'd like to share, you can put it here.

Tina: I would have to say enjoy the journey... write things down, keep track of your workouts and how your eating... I love looking back at my journals! Be humble, and gracious. I am so appreciative of all the help I got from people in this competitive industry, now I want to pass along ny knowledge and experience.... TeeBean.Blogspot.com

Thanks Tina!

You might want to read this interview again. Tina gives out a lot of very good advice for you to use in your own weight training and nutrition programs. And as you can see below it works for Tina. Wow!