Figure, Fitness & Bikini

The world of competitive bodybuilding takes more than just physical endurance—it takes a great deal of mental fortitude and dedication.

Wow… as I write this, I’m just 10 days away from the prestigious Mr. Olympia! I am so honored to say this will be my second year gracing the stage!

This post has been written over the last two weeks. Within these two weeks, I hit some highs as well as some lows. I want you to see what a week on the down is like and a week feeling great is like. It truly is incredible how quickly motivation and self-confidence can shift from up to down.

It’s a phrase we’ve all heard before— “Age is nothing but a number.” And it’s women like Mary Dent, age 53, who are proving that to be true every day.

The downside of working a restaurant job is that the hours can be quite demanding and make meal timing less than ideal. I have been struggling to get in the calories and macronutrients needed each day, because there is about 6 hours during my workdays when I am unable to eat. The only thing I can usually manage to consume during a shift is a protein shake, but not until my shift is three-quarters of the way over.

We are now directly in the middle of my off-season training. The weights are getting heavier, and the calories are increasing. With this being my first “off-season,” I am still trying to find the balance between lifting, cardio and caloric intake.

What does “off-season” training mean? Well, it depends on how you want to present yourself at the next competition. After speaking to many other competitors, most have something they want to improve on....

Nicole Wilkins—three-time Figure International and two-time Figure Olympia Champion—returns to the stage this Saturday, May 25th at the IFBB New York Pro. Having opted out of the 2013 Figure International, this is the longest break between shows Nicole has had since she began competing in the IFBB. A champion in every possible way, I knew that she spent that time wisely—so, I was eager to learn what she’s been up to and how she’s approached this prep.

If you know Gen, you know that her prowess as a Mom and Coach far exceeds all that she has accomplished as an athlete. Eager to learn a few pointers for stage, training and life success (and to get our hands on one of her amazing recipes), Team FitRx caught up with Gen after this past weekend’s win in Detroit. Here’s what she had to say…