Confessions of a Bikini Pro

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MOTHER'S DAY SERIES ft. YESHAIRA RIVERA ROBLES May 13, 2020

Show notes

In this episode Celeste speaks with Yeshaira Robles Rivera, a 6x pro champion who has been competing since 2011 and has stepped on both the Arnold and Olympia stages, designer for her husband's clothing line Conviction Bodybuilding apparel and mother. Celeste kicks off the episode the way she always does by having Yeshaira share with listeners her pre stage ritual. From there the women discuss Yeshaira's vulnerability on her social media platforms and what made her decide to share the triumphs and struggles of her journey as well as the wins and successes. Celeste and Yeshaira then talk about body image and how Yeshaira's perspectives have changed over the years since having children. Yeshaira also talks about her journey of going back and forth between competing and deciding to have her first and second child. The conversation transitions to Yeshaira's struggles with staying consistent with working out and eating healthy in between shows and what drove her to put on her game face and prep hard for the Arnold this past March. Yeshaira also shares details from her application to the Arnold and why competing at that show, especially as a mom, was so important to her. Celeste then asks about Yeshaira's experience competing at such a prestigious show without an audience. From there the conversation transitions into Yeshaira's relationship with her husband and she tells listeners the story of how they met, what made her decide to compete, and what it's like being coached by her husband. Celeste opens the conversation to the topic of body image and relationships with food and how Yeshaira approaches those subjects with her daughters and also how Yeshaira herself approaches these topics while living her "new normal." Celeste asks Yeshaira about competing and all things posing and stage presentation even with diastasis recti, or the separation of the abdomen, from her pregnancies. Yeshaira and Celeste discuss the evolution of the bikini division between 2010, when Yeshaira first got into the sport, and now, and how her training and nutrition has changed over the years. From there Yeshaira shares more about her relationship with her husband, how they keep things fun after being together for so long, and how she became apart of his clothing line, Conviction Bodybuilding apparel, and the vision her husband has for the community. Yeshaira also shares what it was like growing up in the ghetto in the Bronx, New York. Celeste asks Yeshaira what her normal day to day looks like and how she finds balance and prioritizes time with family despite having such a busy schedule. Celeste concludes the episode by asking Yeshaira for her best advice for women who are afraid to take time away from competing to become moms, as well as for mothers who are looking to get their start in competing. CONNECT WITH YESHAIRA https://www.instagram.com/yeshaira/ CONNECT WITH CELESTE https://www.instagram.com/celestial_fit/ Episode Time Stamps [2:00] Yeshaira shares her pre-stage ritual. [5:08] Celeste asks Yeshaira what made her decide to share the triumphs and struggles of her journey as a pro on her IGTV. [8:35] Celeste asks how Yeshaira's body image has changed over the years with competing and having her two daughters. [12:00] Yeshaira talks about her journey of going back and forth between competing and having children over the years. [14:30] Yeshaira opens up and talks about her experiences and struggles with eating and working out after and between shows. [15:50] Yeshaira talks about what drove her to put her game face on and prep hard for this past Arnold. [19:00] Yeshaira shares a part of what she wrote on her application to the Arnold and why competing at that show was important to her. [25:10] Celeste asks Yeshaira what it was like to compete at the Arnold without having an audience. [27:15] Yeshaira talks about how her and her husband met and how they both got starting in bodybuilding. [32:30] Yeshaira answers a listener's question about having received any doubt or judgement of her success, or felt less privileged than other competitors because she is from the Bronx. [34:00] Celeste asks Yeshaira what it's like to be coached by her husband and how they maintain boundaries between the different roles they play. [40:10] Celeste asks Yeshaira how she approaches the topic of body image and nutrition with her children. [44:50] Yeshaira opens up on what she believes to be her "new normal" in terms of her body image and relationship with food. [48:40] Celeste and Yeshaira discuss what it means to "enjoy yourself" and the ups and downs with diet culture. [51:00] Yeshaira shares about her diastasis recti that came from her pregnancies and how that affected her posing and stage presentation. [57:50] Celeste asks Yeshaira her thoughts on the development of the bikini division between 2010-2020. [59:40] Yeshaira talks about how she changed her training and nutrition approach for her physique as the bikini division developed over time. [64:00] Celeste asks Yeshaira about how her and her husband keep their relationship fun after having been together for so long and having gone through so much over the years. [68:30] Yeshaira talks about working with her husband, the beginnings and the roll she has taken on in their clothing line Conviction Bodybuilding wear. [70:17] Celeste asks Yeshaira about her experiences growing up in the ghetto. [74:10] Yeshaira shares what her normal day to day routines consists of. [77:23] Celeste asks Yeshaira how she prioritizes time with her family despite her busy schedule. [78:20] Yeshaira gives advice to women who want to become moms but are afraid to take time away from competing and for moms who want to get into competing.

MOTHER'S DAY SERIES FT. INDIA PAULINO May 12, 2020

Show notes

In this episode host Celeste Rains- Turk connects with IFBB Bikini pro India Paulino for a special Mother's Day series episode. India is a holder of 15 professional championships with 3 Arnold Wins as Ms Bikini International and multiple Olympia appearances. She is the podcast host for RAW and travels as a speaker while running her online training business. India focuses her work on personal development coaching and conscious parenting. India talks about her personal development rituals and the importance of doing self-exploratory work. Her personal development was inspired by going through her own experiences and dark places. She explains the importance of getting to know yourself your perspective changes and begin to be insightful about our self. She reflects on the importance of gratitude and accepting your worth. She states that through personal development we are not losing ourselves but shedding the parts we had originally built to protect our self in the past. Her work focuses on the importance of recognizing reactions to situations and knowing when to reach out for help. The theme of self-exploration and personal development continues as India reflects on being a mother and how she experiences motherhood. India explains the importance of taking care of yourself mentally, physical, spiritually and emotionally. She states, "Motherhood brings up a lot of our old stuff." She mentions how she dealt with emotions during her pregnancy even when her birth plans did not go as she had originally planned. India talks about her unplanned birth story and how she coped with the last-minute changes to her initially well thought out plan for birth. Indian emphasizes the importance on taking time to process and reflect, mentally and physically. As a parent, India explains her natural approach to parenting. India states that her and Whitney were ready to have a child, so it was time to step away from the stage to focus on family. She had no issues getting pregnant after years of competing at such a prestigious level. In an inspiring journey from competitor to new mother, India discussed her approach about postpartum and not putting stress on herself to lose the weight. India stresses the importance of talking to your doctors. To be careful because the body is in a different state. To not feel pressured to look a certain way and more to focus on honoring yourself while creating healthy boundaries through your process. India restates the importance of focusing on mental health first and not to hurt yourself to obtain a body type if your mental health isn't there. India shares her insights on parents and the connection between your child and yourself, while also respecting your child's unique self. Her conscious parenting style focuses on self reflection and identifying triggers to remove our Ego while responding to the child's needs. Respect is something she mentions frequently and understanding that your child should be encouraged to live their life in a way free from preconceived expectations of the parents. India reiterates her emphasis on raising her son in a natural way. She explains the differences in plant-based diets and veganism. She was met with minimal resistance and skeptics when she expressed raising her child vegan. The importance is about eating from a variety of sources and education about proper nutrients. While being a businesswoman, athlete, and mother India explains how she balances her schedule by prioritizing tasks and executing them. India states that the important aspect is scheduling time for yourself and self-care. She explains about the importance of asking for help and not feeling like everything has to be done at once. She concludes the episode by reflecting on her 3 time Ms. Bikini International title and the unreal experience of being able to accomplish so much through her career. She alludes to a special upcoming announcement in the next few months, yet India doesn't have a definitive plan in place currently for competing. India expresses her opinions on sponsorships and how having a title, winnings or certain athletic standings doesn't guarantee income or fame. India expresses her happiness regarding her achievements and that all the hard work was worth it, but that the title wasn't magically life changing for her. Ultimately in the industry, it is important how you represent yourself. India explains her views on being a good role model and establishing a unique brand for yourself not to rely on your looks or athletic shape to make you successful in the industry. If you want to make a career through the industry then you need to begin well before you achieve a title. She reiterates that an athlete should wait for a winning or title to begin something they are passionate about. The episode concludes with India's feelings about the look of bikini. She believes the look of bikini has changed and became very different compared to when it first started. She expands on the timeline of bikini and how the sport has evolved over the years including new competitors entering the sport as the physique evolves. India reflects on her years of competing and her experiences as the sport has changed into what it is today. In this inspiring, motivating and heart felt episode, India reflects on her journey to help encourage, motivate and assist woman through their own personal development journey and path to self-love and acceptance. CONNECT WITH INDIA:INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/indiapaulino/ YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZj2n_-Yz-ceDahWRahmrLw EMAIL: coach@indiapaulino.com CONNECT WITH CELESTE: INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/celestial_fit/ WEBSITE: WWW.CELESTIAL.FIT EPISODE TIME STAMPS [2:12] Prestage Ritual [3:30] Personal development/ daily [7:37] Inspired personal development [10:00] Identifying triggers [15:14] The most important aspect in accepting your goals and results [17:10] Self Worth and self awareness [19:54] Being the best Mom she can be [23:50] Becoming a Doula through pregnancy [25:15] Birth Story [31:44] Birth process and reflect [32:30] What inspired a home birth [35:00] Stepping away from the stage to start family [37:25] Ready to start a family [37:50] No complications getting pregnancy [38:24] Coming back from unhealthy training and coaches [44:15] Eating enough and postpartum weight loss [44:51] Post partum journey and reflection [46:00] Personal training through Push app [47:40] Why we need to stop Mom shaming [50:35] Breast feeding [55:00] Conscious parenting [1:00:29] The social disconnect between parent and child [1:03:32] Relationship with your partner as being a conscious parent [1:07:16] Push back as raising her child vegan [1:11:31] Setting yourself up for success [1:12:00] India's passion for animals and her special needs animals [1:16:24] Ms Bikini International reflection [1:22:47] Making a career out of bodybuilding [1:26:00] Current state of bikini [1:32:00] Where people can connect with her

MOTHER'S DAY SERIES FT. CHANTEL HALL May 11, 2020

Show notes

In this episode host Celeste Rains-Turk sits down with Chantel Hall, a mother of a five-year-old and a three-year-old who has been competing since 2012 and went pro at USAs in 2019. She is an online coach for lifestyle and competition clients and she recently relocated to Arizona during her prep for USA's. Since her competition debut in 2012, Chantel discusses coaching herself for several years until she decided to bring on a coach after she earned second place and was disappointed. With her coach's guidance, Chantel shares how she learned to properly peak, ate a lot more and was pushed to lift more and more weight. She quickly learned that succeeding as a bikini competitor wasn't just about being lean, it was about having the muscle to show when she leaned out. As the episode progresses, Chantel opens up about the importance of refeeds for both herself and her competitors. She explains how, in her experience, she finds refeeds tend to be "more crucial the leaner you get," and goes even further to explain when she chooses to utilize refeeds with her own clients based on their hunger levels as well as biological and mental cues. Chantel then talks about the importance of eating intuitively. She shares how her diet of primarily whole foods has benefited her during her season and how it continues to benefit her in her offseason when she lets go of the macros and feeds her body what it needs. Chantel explains how she chooses food based upon not only her love for the food but because of what the food does for her in terms of the taste and health benefits. Being a mother, Chantel shares how she talks with her children about the food they eat. Although her children are young, she explains food choices in ways they can understand such as eating protein to make them strong. She feels strongly that if you want to manage work, children, being a wife and her own needs, a mother will learn how to prioritize her time to make everything fit, even if it includes bringing her children to the gym daycare. After pregnancy, Chantel talks about the changes she experienced in her physique, including ab separation and an umbilical hernia. She stresses the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle which includes lifting weights during pregnancy and how she believes it caused her to "snap back" quicker from her pregnancy. She shares how she didn't experience stretch marks in her pregnancies and attests this to continuing to exercise, eating whole foods and keeping her protein levels up. As the episode draws to a close, Chantel shares her best pieces of advice, with a spin on the usual questions. First, she shares advice to future moms who are currently competing but want to start a family of their own and then she talks towards the new moms who want to compete or get back to competing. In this insightful momma episode, Chantel shares the importance of routine, structure and building muscle all while holding the best job in the world: being a mom. CONNECT WITH CHANTEL: https://www.instagram.com/chantelhall_ifbbpro/ CHANTEL LINKS: https://linktr.ee/hushfitness CONNECT WITH CELESTE:https://www.instagram.com/celestial_fit/ EPISODE TIME STAMPS [2:39] Pre Stage Rituals [5:45] Journey to USA's [9:55] Chantel's first show after hiring a coach [11:03] Chantel's first national show, leading to thoughts of turning pro [13:25] Utilizing Refeeds [20:54] Applying her knowledge as a coach to improve her own physique [21:04] Practice Peak Weeks [23:02] Reversing into her pro card [26:20] Staying Consistent on Prep [28:42] Intuitive Eating after a Show [34:19] Talking to Kids about nutrition [36:18] How her kids perceive competing [38:55] Structuring family meals around prep [41:27] Facing children's complaints on their mom's competitive career [42:50] Prioritizing different areas of your life [45:15] Managing work while being a mom [49:58] Taking a break from competing to have children [54:04] Changes to her physique after competing [57:24] Chocolate microwave cake [1:02:26] Coming back to competing after pregnancy [1:07:30] What sets a pro apart from an amateur [1:12:47] The importance of an off season [1:15:25] Personal Goals [1:19:13] Maintaing structure during the COVID-19 outbreak [1:22:14] Best Advice to Future Moms/Current Moms [1:25:45] Connect with Chantel

MOTHER'S DAY SERIES; A Group Discussion May 10, 2020

Show notes

In this second ever group episode Celeste has the pleasure of talking with three IFBB Bikini Pros, moms and best friends, Robyn Maher, Sarah Devore and Valerie Lusvardi about their personal experiences as mothers and athletes; managing expectations, getting the most out of their time, Having body positive & healthy eating conversations with kids, and so much more. Celeste kicks off the episode by having the ladies share with listeners how they all met, how they became close friends, and how important their common interests and friendship has been to each other over the years. From there the competitors share how they got started in the sport given their various stages in the process of building their families. Celeste then asks if the women had any changes in mental or hormonal health postpartum that impacted their competition prep approach, and Valerie opens up and shares her experiences with postpartum depression and how the gym helped her overcome her struggles. Then, Celeste asks Robyn about the impact parenting took on her approach to accomplishing her own personal career and fitness goals. Sarah opens up and shares how she transitioned from being a working mom at the cancer center at UCSD to become a stay at home mom. Celeste then opens the floor for the competitors to discuss a question asked by listeners surrounding the topic of timing; how did they know it was the right time to put competing on pause and start a family? When is the right time to come back to competing after having children? From there the competitors discuss strategies they've learned over the years about time management and scheduling since starting their families and some unrealistic expectations they may have had about motherhood before actually becoming moms. Robyn talks about her experiences as a single mom have affected her personal and career goals and from there the three women transition into an open discussion about how they approach the topics of body image and relationships with food with their children, as well as how they prepare meals and foods for their families. Celeste then asks how the competitors describe or explain the sport to their children and the moms share valuable teaching opportunities that bodybuilding has given them as mothers and role models to their children. Robyn, Sarah, and Valerie talk about working out with their children and share experiences of their kids attending their shows. The competitors also share insights as to how they stay present with their families while taking time to focus on themselves during competition prep. Celeste then wraps up the episode by asking the competitors if they could go back in time and change anything about their experiences using the knowledge they have learned since starting their journeys in competing and motherhood. CONNECT WITH THE ATHLETES: SARAH DEVORE INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/sjanedevore/ ROBYN MAHER INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/slcgirl.robynmaher/ VALERIE LUSVARDI INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/vavoomvscfit/ CONNECT WITH CELESTE: INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/celestial_fit/ WWW.CELESTIAL.FIT Episode Time Stamps: [1:00] Celeste introduces the three IFBB Pros, moms and best friends that she will be speaking with today. [1:50] Celeste asks Robyn, Sarah and Valerie how they all met. [5:20] Robyn, Sarah and Valerie share how important it is for them to have each other's friendship as well as common interests. [6:15] Celeste asks each of the women individually about how they got started in the sport or what influenced them to get into bodybuilding after already having kids. [9:00] Celeste opens the floor for the competitors to talk about any changes in hormonal or mental health postpartum that impacted their approach to prep over the years. [11:00] Robyn shares how parenting impacted or influenced how she approached her own personal goals. [14:00] Celeste asks Sarah how she went about her transition from working at the cancer center when she decided to start a family. [15:00] Valerie shares how breast feeding during prep impacted her nutrition, training, and schedule. [17:00] The competitors answer a question from the listeners on timing: when is a good time to pause competing to have a family? When is it the right time to compete after having kids? [20:15] Celeste asks the competitors what they've learned about scheduling, time management, and adapting after starting and continuing to grow their families. [27:07] Robyn, Sarah, and Valerie discuss some unrealistic expectations they may have had about motherhood. [30:08] Celeste asks the competitors if they think coaching themselves would be easier given their schedules as moms and athletes. [32:15] Celeste asks Robyn how being a single mom has affected her personal and business goals over the years. [36:10] The conversation transitions into body image and food relationships and Robyn, Sarah and Valerie address how they approach those topics with their children. [43:30] Celeste asks the competitors how they approach preparing meals for their kids while they are prepping. [48:35] Celeste opens the floor for the ladies to share how they explain the sport to their kids and the teaching opportunities it gives them. [53:48] Robyn shares her approach to exercise and working out with her children and how their interest has changed over the years. [57:00] Robyn, Sarah and Valerie talk about if they've had any of their kids attend their shows. [60:10] Celeste asks the ladies about their skin care routine during pregnancy that they found beneficial. [62:00] The competitors talk about how they stay present with their kids while doing something for themselves - competing. [64:50] Celeste asks the competitors if they would go back and change anything, using the knowledge they have now.

MOTHER'S DAY SERIES FT. SHAYLA HUBBARD May 09, 2020

Show notes

Celeste kicks off the Mother's Day series talking to Shayla Hubbard, an IFBB Bikini Professional who has a mission to inspire others to be happy and healthy, loves to teach others how to eat out is possible while sticking to their goals, and is currently 35 weeks pregnant with her first child! Celeste starts off the episode by asking Shayla about her pre-stage ritual and before diving into the topic of pregnancy, Celeste asks Shayla about her experience with thyroid cancer. Shayla shares what led her to find out she even had cancer to begin with and how that inspired her to decide to pursue competing and the effect that her cancer recovery had on her competing career over time. Next, Celeste asks Shayla about her strategies and tips for eating out while staying on track with her health and fitness goals. Shayla goes into how the "If It Fits Your Macros" approach has helped her and how to go about incorporating that into your lifestyle even during a diet period. Shayla talks about the importance goal setting has in her day to day and how she uses those goal setting practices to help her succeed and not feel overwhelmed or compare herself to others. Celeste then asks Shayla about how her priorities and expectations of her circumstances have changed since becoming pregnant. Shayla shares what drove her decision to start family planning and becoming pregnant shortly after earning her pro card and the journey and experiences she and her husband went through with infertility, discussing the mental and emotional tolls it took on the both of them. Shayla opens the conversation to the topic of her menstrual cycle and how her experiences with losing it because of competing could have affected her ability to get pregnant. From there, Celeste and Shayla dive into a vulnerable dialogue of each individual's experiences with the loss of a period or continuous bleeds and the steps they took to get it back, the emotions involved and the mental work they had to do to stay positive and assure themselves they were making the best decisions for their health. Shayla discusses how she uses the strategy of goal setting and affirmations to help keep her calm and focused on what she can control to have the best possible outcome during uncertain situations. Celeste then asks Shayla about her feelings of being pregnant while dealing with the coronavirus situation. Shayla concludes the episode by sharing with listeners her best advice for newbie competitors and girls on their road to pro. CONNECT WITH SHAYLA: https://www.instagram.com/shayhubfit/ CONNECT WITH CELESTE: https://www.instagram.com/celestial_fit/ Episode Time Stamps: [1:30] Shayla shares with us her pre-stage ritual. [2:30] Celeste asks Shayla to share how her experience with thyroid cancer inspired her to pursue competing. [8:10] Celeste asks Shayla about how her practices and habits since cancer recovery affected her bodybuilding career over time. [11:40] Shayla gives her insight as to the importance of a proper reverse diet and off season. [13:30] Celeste has Shayla dive into the topic of IIFYM and eating out while adhering to your fitness & nutrition goals. [15:25] Shayla dives into goal setting and shares her best tips and strategies she uses. [19:00] Celeste reiterates important points Shayla mentions about goal setting as well as shares important insights on habits and the affect they have on our lives. [23:00] Shayla talks about how she's adjusted her expectations based on her circumstances during her pregnancy. [24:30] Celeste asks how Shayla's training and nutrition has changed or been impacted because of her pregnancy. [28:00] Shayla talks about what made her decide to start family planning instead of continuing competing shortly after becoming a pro. [34:10] Shayla shares her experiences dealing with infertility and the steps her & her husband took to get pregnant. [38:20] Celeste asks about the emotional and mental toll of both Shayla and her husband while dealing with the infertility. [44:00] Shayla talks about how her fitness and competing goals have shifted or changed since becoming pregnant. [48:00] Shayla opens the conversation about her menstrual cycle and competing, the possible effects it could have had on her getting pregnant. [51:00] Celeste and Shayla dive into a deep and vulnerable conversation about hormonal changes, the loss & regain of a period, emotions attached to their experiences with that and competing in terms of how it could affect their future fertility. [55:00] Shayla asks Celeste to share her experiences with the loss of her period and the steps she took to get it back. [59:06] Shayla shares her plans of how she will approach body love and steer away from feelings of self loathing. [65:15] Celeste asks if Shayla has any practices she is currently using to stay calm and mentally prepare herself for the future. [72:20] Celeste and Shayla talk about Shayla's experiences being pregnant during this time with the Coronavirus. [76:24] Shayla gives her best advice for new competitors and for girls on their road to pro.

LEXUS REDMOND Apr 24, 2020

Show notes

In this episode host Celeste Rains-Turk sits down with IFBB Pro Lexus Redmond. This Las Vegas native is a posing coach, a trainer, holds a bachelor's degree in neuroscience. Lexus talks about her personal struggle with depression and how after watching her aunt compete in 2009 she decided that it was something she wanted too. Her aunts glowing confidence and happiness was what drove her towards the gym. Lexus talks about being diagnosed with depression in her childhood and by working out with her aunt she found happiness in a way she did not expect. Lexus made the decision to forego her anti-depressants in favor of movement to help her depression and she found it worked better than any medication she had been prescribed. After taking third place at her pro debut and collecting Olympia points, Lexus and her coach had devised a plan to get her to the Olympia stage but it was quickly disrupted with the COVID-19 cancellations. Lexus talks about the new plan she and her coach have devised for her to step on that stage and how the lack of the gym has affected her depression. In an incredibly unsettling story, Lexus shares how the coach she worked with for four years, and had known on an intimate level, completely disappeared from her life, almost overnight, while they were making decisions about pursuing her pro card at North Americans. Lexus demonstrated her tenacity as she pushed forward, however. Although she missed the cut off for North Americans, Lexus talks about how she decided to take on the Amateur Olympia without a coach. She did so with flying colors and ended up taking home her pro card and a huge sense of pride in herself. Like most competitors, Lexus has faced backlash from her family regarding the pictures she chooses to post on social media showcasing all the hard work she put into her physique. Lexus talks about how she internally combats the disapproval, particularly from her grandmother, and how she copes with family members who don't understand the bodybuilding lifestyle. "I'm not going to let someone who doesn't like me or what I'm posting get to me," Lexus says as she acknowledges the level of pride she experiences from seeing her hard work displayed. As the episode concludes, Lexus shares her best pieces of advice for competitors in all different stages in the body building journey, from stepping on stage to striving for a pro card. In this insightful, inspiring and meaningful episode, Lexus shares how even though your coach may leave you and things might feel bleak, the best really is coming. CONNECT WITH LEXUS: https://www.instagram.com/lexus_ifbbpro/ CONNECT WITH CELESTE: https://www.instagram.com/celestial_fit/ EPISODE TIME STAMPS [1:55] Pre-stage Ritual [2:52] Bodybuilding as an Antidepressant [5:25] Recreating movement as an antidepressant without the gym [6:59] Thoughts on the next Olympia [8:22] A new show strategy after all the COVID-19 Cancellations [10:14] A coach of 4 years and family friend disappears without an explanation [16:50] The MIA coach tried to take responsibility for her success [19:56] Prepping herself to her pro card [22:22] Coaching yourself on a show day [27:30] Maintaining her cycle at her lowest weight [29:30] Differences between regional, national and international shows [34:32] Achieving 3rd place at her pro debut [37:49] Favorite Exercises for Hamstrings, Glutes and Shoulders [40:29] Handling Shame from Loved ones [43:34] Monethos' pro management team [44:49] Overcoming Negativity and Facing Eternal Battles [45:59] How a degree in Neuroscience has helped Lexus in her career as a pro athlete [48:04] Promoting the Power of Energy and Creating the Life you Want [49:34] Best advice to both new competitors and those on the road to their pro card

ELODIE PURAYE Apr 17, 2020

Show notes

In this episode, host Celeste Rains-Turk speaks with an IFBB Pro, personal trainer, and Belgium bombshell Elodie Puraye. Often known for her motivating personality in the industry, Elodie is the embodiment of finding a balanced and peaceful competing mindset. From starting her morning with 15-minute stretches, journaling, self-care, and accepting imperfections, Elodie hopes to inspire other competitors to find sustainability in the bodybuilding industry. Elodie begins by discussing the importance of mental conditioning with meditation and relaxing prior to hitting the stage. Elodie shares her dreams of being an Olympia champion and how she is using her off-season to listen to judge's feedback to bring her best package yet! Celeste and Elodie discuss how having a coach who prioritizes the competitor's health can help competitors execute goals and provide reassurance. Elodie provides details of her history with anorexia and bulimia and how she has found food freedom in her life. She believes finding faith in herself, leaving a toxic relationship, and weight lifting saved her from a destructive pattern of disordered eating. Celeste and Elodie agree how loving the off-season body creates an even sweeter result. Elodie tells viewers to "take the jump without a safety net" in their career and relationship if something does not feel aligned with a goal. Elodie explains how she is more focused on sustainability in the sport and praises her health on holistically based coaching. She emphasizes on finding grace on being imperfect, being flexible, and avoiding cookie-cutter meal plans for an overall healthy well-being. Elodie believes that finding foods to enjoy in the off-season and on prep can be game changing to overall wellness. Celeste and Elodie discuss the psychology of being conscious in the moment. Elodie tells Celeste how she takes at least 40 minutes in the morning to tune into her own thoughts by showering, journaling, and turning off social media. Celeste explains how this can help set the day up for success instead of being reactive to negative emotions. Finally, Elodie gives her advice to women who wish to unlock their own personal potential. She emphasizes that "leaner is not always the answer" and taking time off is the shortcut to success. Tune in to be inspired by Elodie's journey of self-empowerment! Connect with Elodie Here: https://www.instagram.com/elodie_puraye_ifbbpro/ https://www.elodiepurayefitness.com/ Connect with Celeste Here: https://www.instagram.com/celestial_fit/ http://www.celestial.fit/ Time Stamps: [1:35] Elodie's stage ritual [ 2:41] Elodie's Olympia dreams/importance of taking an off-season [4:55] Having a coach versus self-prepping [6:41] Elodies previous food struggles/disordered eating [9:43] Relationship with food in the off-season [12:04] Being happy with weight gain/loving the off-season body [13:40] Holistic coaching approach [17:04] Differences of coaching with bikini prep versus lifestyle [19:26] Tips on strengthening your mind/body mindset [22:31] Elodie's daily body affirmations [24:26] Women empowerment/Breaking up a bad relationship [33:28] Elodie's journey to the sport of bodybuilding/Olympia dream [35:38] How to open up your intrinsic potential [36:38] Elodie's off-season timeline/when will she step on stage again? [38:27] Favorite shoulder/glute/hamstring exercises [40:12 ] Best advice to new competitors & amateurs on the road to pro

Coping Through Covid-19; Group Discussion Apr 11, 2020

Show notes

In this special episode, Celeste has the pleasure of talking to FIVE bikini pros that have been on the show before to discuss all things Coronavirus and lockdown related. Ashley Kaltwasser, Anya Nicholson, Phoebe Hagan, Carla Garthwaite and Jennifer Dorie come together and discuss how they've been affected by the lockdown and quarantine procedures, their mindset and mentality moving forward in terms of competing and their day to day life, the adjustments they've made with training and diet strategies in the home workout platform, their thoughts on the future of the 2020 competition season and more. Celeste kicks off the episode telling listeners how the idea for a group episode came about when Anya brought up the idea in conversation once all the shutdowns and quarantine procedures started taking effect nation and worldwide. Anya thought that it would be a good idea for competitors to come together and discuss their experiences and the transitions they've had to make despite the uncertainty of the competition season. Celeste first opens the floor to all the girls to discuss the topic of their mindset and mentality; have they had to readjust to the 100% all or nothing mindset they maintain during a "normal prep" or have they been able to keep pushing forward despite the circumstances? From there, Celeste asks the girls whether or not they still plan on competing towards the end of 2020 or if they will be transitioning into a reverse diet and improvement season instead. The competitors talk about how they have had to adjust their training and diet regimens to an at home setting, each competitor sharing their own unique adjustments and strategies they have taken on since making the transition. Celeste asks Phoebe of her competition plans in hopes of still being able to earn her spot to qualify for the 2020 Olympia. From there the conversation transitions to how the girls have been affected in other aspects of life, in terms of their events & appearances, businesses, and even family life. Celeste opens up the conversation and the girls talk about their opinions on the changes that will be made to the qualifications for not only the Olympia, but for national level shows for amateur competitors, what they predict in terms of the turnout for the shows that do open up, and how they feel about going into those shows. The girls collectively discuss how they've been dealing with their mentality and their anxieties not just in terms of competing and show cancellations and postponements, but in their daily lifestyle as well. Celeste and Ashley talk about how she's been giving back to her community and the medical professionals the best way she can even with limited resources and being at home. Celeste then wraps up the episode with final thoughts from the girls and any other advice they have to give during this time. For each athlete's individual episode Anya Nicholson Ashley Kaltwasser Carla Garthwaite Jennifer Dorie Phoebe Hagan Connect with everyone on Instagram: Celeste Rains-Turk: https://www.instagram.com/celestial_fit/ Anya Nicholson: https://www.instagram.com/thebarbellbombshell/ Ashley Kaltwasser: https://www.instagram.com/ashleykfit/ Carla Garthwaite: https://www.instagram.com/garthwaitefit/ Jennifer Dorie: https://www.instagram.com/jenniferdorie_ifbbpro/ Phoebe Hagan: https://www.instagram.com/phoebehagan_/ Episode Timestamps [1:40] Celeste reveals the IFBB bikini pros she will be speaking with about the COVID19 lockdown. [2:20] Anya kicks off the podcast by telling us about how she came up with the idea to bring a group of pros together on the podcast to talk about the current coronavirus situation. [3:48] Ashley talks about how she's dealt with the changes post eye surgery & now with the COVID19 lockdown. [5:00] Celeste opens the floor & asks the competitors about mindset: how they've adjusted, maintained, or had to get back to the 100% mindset or mentality they usually have under "normal" circumstances. [7:03] Carla & Phoebe share how they've adjusted mentally since lockdown has started for them & their families. [13:00] Celeste asks Jennifer how she's had make mental adjustments & what her and her coaches decided for her plan given she was already prepping when quarantine started. [17:10] Anya shares how she's adjusted to the stay at home orders being a homebody, yet also where she finds herself struggling mentally with things such as diet. [19:00] Celeste asks the competitors: are any of the "scratching" the season completely and switching to a reverse, or are they set on competing? [19:15] Phoebe takes the floor & expands on the topic of her plans for the competition season. [21:03] Celeste asks Ashley what she's doing with her routine & to stay on top of her diet while being stuck inside all day. [22:23] The competitors talk about grocery shopping and if they've had to change any foods on their plan because of the empty shelves. [24:07] Jen leads the group discussion of how workouts have been affected & modified to the at home setting with limited equipment. [29:50] Celeste brings up the topic of qualifying for the Olympia & Phoebe starts off the conversation with her strategy moving forward. [34:15] Celeste asks Ashley how her scheduled events & appearances, sponsorships, etc. have been affected by the situation. [35:20] Phoebe & Anya discuss how their posing businesses have been affected by gym closures & lockdown protocols. [40:45] Jen discusses how she's adapted her approach & strategies with her coaching clients since shows have been pushed back & canceled. [45:00] Carla discusses how her & her family's life has been affected economically by the quarantine & lockdown protocols. [51:17] Celeste discusses the topic "restriction breeds fixation" and how food needs to be looked at beyond just physique goals. [52:30] Celeste opens the floor for the girls to discuss their thoughts on the qualification changes for the Olympia and national level shows at the amateur level. [57:30] Anya talks about how she's changed her prep strategy as she had originally planned on doing her first show in April. [59:00] The competitors share their opinions on their predicted turnouts for the pro shows in terms of number of competitors once shows open up again. [66:45] Celeste asks the competitors about how they've approached overcoming anxieties during this time from a lifestyle aspect. [75:21] Ashley talks about the ways she's been giving back to her community & the medical professionals. Enroll in the 7 Day Post-Show Coaching Series (FREE) Learn More & Apply for Celeste's Food Relationship Program to Make Peace with Food without Sacrificing Your Goals as an Athlete Download the Competitor Card Deck (FREE) BECOME A MEMBER OF THE ON-DEMAND MINDSET COACHING PLATFORM FOR COMPETITORS Listen to the FREE Exclusive Workshop, led by Celeste, on Mindless Snacking & Trusting Yourself Around Food all Day Here

MAIA GORDON Apr 10, 2020

Show notes

In this episode, Celeste speaks with Maia Gordon, an IFBB Bikini Pro who qualified for the Olympia at her pro debut at the first ever Ben Weider Natural Show and had originally gotten into the sport of bodybuilding as a way to challenge herself. Celeste and Maia first talk about the art and importance of posing and how Maia studied routines of the athletes she had looked up to before even stepping on stage for the first time. Maia also shares the approach she takes as a posing coach and how she sets herself apart from others. Celeste and Maia discuss the strategies that Maia has taken, both in prep and her improvement season, that helped her to achieve a winning physique. Maia talks about the changes she's made to her training based off the judges feedback to bring her best physique to the Olympia stage as well as the adjustments in her methods of training as the Coronavirus outbreak temporarily forced her into at-home workouts. Maia shares her strategies and plans she has for competing leading up to the Olympia despite the uncertainty surrounding the postponement of shows due to the pandemic. Celeste and Maia talk about Maia's favorite exercises for hamstrings, glutes, and shoulders, and from there dive into the topic of mindset and mental work and Celeste shares valuable insights on how this work is not only helpful for competing but in any goal one sets for themselves in life. Maia shares with us how she got into bodybuilding and how learning to "trust the process" was something she had to learn to understand through experience and wasn't something she believed right off the bat. Celeste asks Maia about the Ben Weider Natural and Maia gives us details on how a natural show is run and how they go about drug testing the athletes. Celeste concludes the episode by asking Maia her advice for both novice competitors and girls on their journey to getting their pro card. Connect with Maia: https://www.instagram.com/maiagordon_ifbbpro/ Connect with Celeste: https://www.instagram.com/celestial_fit/ www.celestial.fit TIME STAMPS [1:32] Celeste asks Maia about her pre-stage ritual. [4:30] Maia discusses her realization of the importance of posing while studying different competitors routines on stage. [8:46] Celeste asks Maia about the approach she takes with her clients when it comes to posing, what she prioritizes with her clients. [13:00] Celeste asks Maia about what things she did that she thinks helped her bring that winning physique, in off season and in prep. [15:41] Maia talks about her mental growth and how that has attributed to her success. [19:06] Maia talks about how she's using her feedback from the judges and what she's doing to prepare for the 2020 Olympia. [21:00] Celeste and Maia discuss how her prep training and strategy have changed & been affected by the Coronavirus lockdowns and gym closures. [22:42] Celeste asks Maia about her mindset aspect of her prep with the lockdown adjustments and uncertainty of show dates as the Olympia approaches. [24:40] Celeste asks Maia if her prep strategy or approach will change given the adaptations she's made because of the lockdown. [25:50] Maia tells us her favorite exercise for glutes, hamstrings and shoulders. [28:20] Celeste asks Maia about the personal development and mindset tools she's been focusing on to help her step into this current version of herself. [33:00] Celeste highlights and shares valuable insight on the importance and efficacy of the power of mindset work, how we can manifest beliefs into behaviors which will honor our goals. [35:41] Maia dives into what inspired her to get into bodybuilding and how her journey started. [40:10] While discussing her beginnings in bodybuilding, Maia explains how she came to understand the meaning behind "trusting the process." [46:23] Celeste asks Maia to share details about the Ben Weider competition being that it is a natural show. [53:50] Celeste asks Maia for her advice for newbie competitors and girls on their road to pro

NATALIE MATTHEWS Apr 03, 2020

Show notes

In this episode, host Celeste Rains-Turk interviews competitive surfer turned plant-based chef, gym owner, posing coach, and IFBB Pro Natalie Matthews. Often known as her online persona FitVeganChef, Natalie has graced not only the professional bodybuilding stage but started her own YouTube channel allowing viewers to see her delicious vegan dishes. Natalie is determined to show the world the power of building muscle and staying competitive with a plant-based lifestyle. Celeste kicks off this week's episode by asking Natalie listener-requested questions. Natalie begins with her journey of becoming vegan and gives insight on her favorite vegan high protein recipes. She speaks to listeners who are nervous for show day and how to overcome the struggle with lower-carb plant options. She also explains her health issues and how her vegan diet cured her hypoglycemia and other health ailments. Finally, Natalie gives recommendations on how to meet your micronutrient requirements and supplementing appropriately in caloric deficits. Natalie opens up about her shoulder injuries and how she believes being vegan has helped her recovery process. She explains how her and coach, Paul Revelia, have worked together to find a maintainable prep diet and how she continues to show physique athletes that being vegan is possible during a low-carb fat loss phase. Natalie talks about how finding her creative outlet in being a certified raw vegan pastry chef and becoming a top cake decorator guided her to finding recipes that were healthy and delicious. Celeste asks Natalie about her business endeavors with her Active Duty husband of ten years. Natalie gives credit to her husband for introducing her to a plant-based bodybuilding lifestyle. She explains about what goes into filming videos for YouTube and how establishing their gym has brought them even closer. Natalie walks us through her regular working day starting at 5am with classes at her gym, Forward Functional Fitness, to 7pm where she works with her posing clients. Natalie gives credit to her competitive surfing years to her success as a professional bodybuilder. She explains that having a great foundation, discipline, patience, and taking recovering seriously is how she gracefully transitioned between the sports. Natalie tells viewers to not be afraid to step off stage to build muscle, eating more, and focusing on quality training sessions in order to bring a fuller package on stage. Finally, Natalie and Celeste discuss sticking with goals during travel and the importance of planning, writing down your dreams, and being organized for success. She explains that her online personal, FitVeganChef, is a concoction of her proudest life accomplishments. Natalie's inspiring story is proof of the American Dream coming true!

CONNECT WITH NATALIE: YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDdocnbyUNzVMJ_LcNWtXZw INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/fitveganchef/ WEBSITE: https://fitveganchef.com/ CONNECT WITH CELESTE: WEBSITE: www.celestial.fit INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/celestial_fit/ Episode Time Stamps: [2:12] Stage Ritual [3:32] Natalie's views on creatine and supplement cycling [5:50] Natalie's favorite vegan protein sources and recipes [11:08] Thoughts on soy products, dealing with lower macros, weighing tofu [16:26] Natalie's vegan journey, transformation, and dealing with critics [20:31] Recommendation on meeting nutrient needs/vitamins on vegan diet [23:00] Natalie's favorite shoulder, glute, and hamstring exercises [26:40] Benefits of being a vegan as a physique athlete [31:20] Finding your best tan, hair, makeup, and suit for show day [34:42] Working with your husband/Filming videos for YouTube, owning a gym [40:53] How Natalie met her husband/moving from Puerto Rico [42:44] Transition from competitive surfer to professional bodybuilder/taking time off stage [47:55] Staying on top of goals during traveling [50:01] Setting realistic goals [51:38] Natalie's cook book/favorite recipes [54:04] Being a certified raw vegan pastry chef/finding creative outlets [58:31] Natalie's best advice to amateur and future pro competitors

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