Olicious Life sat down with member BeanBabe after finishing her first figure competition with a successful second place winning. One thing is for certain: BeanBabe has mastered her lifestyle as an athlete. She teaches us that by accepting nutrition and training as a part of your daily life, you will always come out a winner.

OliciousLife: Let’s start out by learning a little bit about you. Where were you born and where do you live now?

BeanBabe: I was born and raised in a small town outside of Edmonton, a farm girl at heart. I ended up moving into the city a couple years after I attended post secondary school.

OL: Was your family health-conscious growing up? If so, how did this affect your views as an adult? If not, when did you decide to make changes?

BB: I always remember my mom going on these yo-yo diets where all she would eat is oatmeal and salad. My dad, like me, has a huge sugar tooth so there were always goodies in the house. I remember eating cake for breakfast many times. Although I never struggled with a weight problem, I wouldn’t say I was a petite kid. I actually weigh less now then I did in high school. I wanted to start saving money so I started to pack lunches. I noticed that the weight was coming off and I liked the way I felt and looked. After that I really started to educate myself on what I should be eating to stay healthy and lose weight.

OL: What has been your greatest fitness/health accomplishment? How did you feel when reaching this goal?

BB: Stepping on stage for my first show was an amazing experience, but I have to say that is not my greatest accomplishment. After years of trying to find balance in my training and personal life, I finally found it about two years ago. I realized that life doesn’t end if I miss a workout and, believe it or not, I will not lose any muscle.

I realized that my entire life shouldn’t be about eating clean meals every three hours. If I have an ‘off meal’ with my fiancé it’s ok because I know I can get back on track and there will always be another meal, so I don’t need to binge. With this mindset I completely changed my physique and started training/eating clean because I LOVE it not because I have to.

OL: Were you active or an athlete as a child? If so, did this stick with you all the way through, or did you have a period when you were inactive? If not, when did you decide to start training?

BB: I can’t say I was all that active as a youth. I played softball growing up, but that would be about it for sports. I started going to the gym in my senior year of high school because I wanted to look good for graduation. I can’t say I really knew what I was doing though. I just knew that I liked lifting weights and I didn’t like doing cardio.

OL: Is your family supportive of your goals? If so, in what ways? If not, how do you overcome this obstacle?

BB: My family is 100% supportive. My fiancé also competes and its something we love to do together. Dieting together for this last show brought us closer together then I ever thought it would. Although my parents are supportive, they have a hard time understanding the diet and why I do what I do. They ask a lot of questions every year and are my biggest cheerleaders at my shows.

OL: What has been the biggest challenge with your fitness and dieting goals? How do you stay focused?

BB: The biggest challenge has to be living the lifestyle while working shift work. On days when I am working I have 12-hour shifts and that leaves little or no time for training and making food. I really have to budget my time and make getting to the gym a priority.

OL: Where do you see yourself in the future of fitness?

BB: My goal is to earn my WNBF pro card in figure. After that I am not sure: one goal at a time, I guess.

OL: What is your favorite clean eat?

BB: Oatmeal for sure.

OL: Do you have an irresistible cheat?

BB: Cookies, its like they call my name.

OL: What is your favorite workout day? Why? Describe a typical training regimen in that day.

BB: Back day for sure. It is my strongest body part and I feel empowered when I train it. I never do the same workout twice, so things are always changing. A must have on back days are deadlifts and a lot of rows from different angles.

OL: What do you do for peri-workout nutrition?

BB: Creatine/glutamine for my pre-workout. If I am tired I will use a pre-workout drink, but I try not to use a stimulant often.

OL:. Do you have any favorite supplements? If so, what are they and why do you take them?

BB: I have to say I made a lot of gains once I started using creatine. I had it in my diet through my entire contest prep as well. I also love Scivations BCAA. It helps repair muscle and tastes great.

OL: What is the best compliment you have received since you started training?

BB: What really sticks with me is when people comment on my drive and commitment to the lifestyle. Eating clean and training hard does not come easy to most people and it takes a lot of internal motivation.

OL: Do you have any websites, blogs, or event dates you would like to share or promote?

BB: 2010 is a busy year for me. Highlight being my marriage in September, that is for sure. A lot of my focus is on planning that right now.

OL: Is there an event in your life that you can attribute to your success?

BB: It has to be meeting my fiancé. I remember before we started dating I asked him for help in the gym. He really showed me how to train, but also how to find balance. I am still learning from him and taking in as much information as I can.

OL: What is a quote that inspires you?

BB: Every athlete knows that the last few weeks of contest prep are hard. When I would train I just kept saying in my head, “nobody out trains me.” It kept me going knowing that other athletes out there are pushing hard too.

OL: Is there anything else you would like to share to help empower other women?

BB: Mostly to take pride in your body. Train because you love it, not because you think you have to look a certain way. Your self-confidence should not come from compliments from other people, it should come from within yourself.