Confessions of a Bikini Pro

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JENN SCOTT Mar 27, 2020

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In this episode Celeste talks with Jenn Scott, an IFBB Bikini Pro from Canada who began competing in 2017 with plans of only competing in 1 show but after not placing well or being satisfied with her final package, she was determined to compete again to prove to herself that she could do better. From there, this athlete fell in love with the sport. 8 competitions later and she earned her pro card then went on to get 3rd place at her pro debut. Celeste & Jenn kick off the episode discussing Jenn's first experience in competing and how it was far from what she expected, yet ended up setting the goal to compete again as she was determined to do better and improve. Jenn shares some tips she uses as her show day approaches while balancing a full time job and competing. Celeste and Jenn discuss all things seasonings and salt manipulation, the strategies Jenn uses with these parts of her prep diet and Jenn discloses her "weird thing" she does during prep. Jenn shares what she feels is one of the most frustrating parts of the fitness industry, how social media can be deceiving, and the pros and cons it can have for competitors. Celeste and Jenn also talk about some warning signs or "red flag" behaviors new competitors should look out for before hiring a coach. Jenn opens up about her various experiences with the different coaches she's had during her career as both an amateur and professional athlete and Jenn shares with us some of the negative experiences she's had, what she's learned, steps she took before finding her current coach. Jenn explains her opinions on big vs smaller teams in the sport, which she feels is better for her after dealing with a coach who had doubted her potential to achieve the pro status. Celeste dives into a topic with Jenn that hasn't been discussed in detail before on the podcast: family planning. Jenn goes into detail about her current thoughts on her competition career as a pro, when she'd like to a family, doubts she has about her possibility to become pregnant, and her husbands thoughts on the subject. Celeste and Jenn wrap up the episode by Jenn giving her favorite exercises for key muscle groups bikini girls focus on, as well as tips for new competitors and girls going for their pro card. CONNECT WITH JENN:https://www.instagram.com/jennscott_ifbbpro/ CONNECT WITH CELESTE: https://www.instagram.com/celestial_fit/ TIME STAMPS: [2:10] Pre stage ritual [4:30] Jenn talks about her approach to life & prep as she gets closer to shows, 4-5 weeks out [8:20] Jenn shares a "weird thing" she does especially during prep [10:00] Celeste asks Jenn about salt manipulation strategies she uses as show day approaches [14:05] Jenn talks about how she manages her schedule while prepping & working full time [16:22] Jenn tells us about her most difficult prep [20:30] Celeste points out a "red flag" behavior that competitors should be aware of from their coach when it comes to competition diet & cardio [21:35] Celeste asks Jenn what she finds most frustrating about the fitness industry [23:40] Celeste & Jenn dive into the topic of social media & what influence or difference its had on Jenn's career both as an amateur & professional in the sport [30:00] Jenn talks about her experience with a coach who doubted her ability to turn pro [34:21] Jenn shares what she has learned over the years working with different coaches that led her to choose the coach she is with now [38:00] Celeste & Jenn talk about what she has learned & what new protocols she has implemented since working with her new coach [41:30] Celeste asks Jenn if she has gotten into coaching after having different experiences with different coaches herself [46:20] Jenn discusses the topic of family planning, her thoughts on competing vs starting a family [50:00] Jenn opens up about birth control & competing, concerns about being able to get pregnant, should she continue competing or try to get pregnant? [55:20] Celeste asks Jenn if she would come back to competing after starting a family [63:40] Jenn reveals her top exercises for glutes, hamstrings and shoulders [67:45] Jenn gives her best advice to newbie competitors and girls on their road to pro [70:50] Jenn shares her social media platforms & where she can be contacted

100 EPISODES!!! Mar 20, 2020

Show notes

Thank you so much for listening to Confessions of a Bikini Pro! Today we celebrate 100 episodes with listener submitted voice mails, a heartfelt message from me, and some special discounts.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for supporting this passion project in becoming something our entire community can connect over, learn from, and get excited about!

For Free Shipping on Apparel, Use code: 'PARTYTIME' here: https://teespring.com/confessionsofabikiniproapparel

Please share this with your friends, teammates, or other competitors and make sure to rate, review, and subscribe so you never miss an episode!

Got any ideas or suggestions for the show? DM me on Instagram: @celestial_fit

SHONTE TURNER Mar 13, 2020

Show notes

In this episode, host Celeste Rains-Turk has the pleasure of interviewing a figure amateur-turned-bikini pro, inventor of swapTRAP & yoTRAP, business owner of TurnFIT, and disabled Air Force veteran Shonte Turner! Tune in to hear Shonte's journey of finding the stage while she was stationed overseas. Shonte explains how she was doing twice-a-day exercises and keeping a food diary before macros became popular in the fitness world. She emphasizes the importance of finding a passion in fitness and setting a routine to stay sane during and off competition prep. Furthermore, she reinforces the importance of having discipline in all aspects in life for maximum potential. Shonte explains why she stayed in the figure division before secretly prepping for her first bikini competition despite the recommendation of her coach. Since turning pro, Shonte values the importance of listening to your body queues and taking diet breaks when needed. Shonte opens up to Celeste about being an inventor and the expensive legal process involved. She explains the financial struggles of production and learning the business of sales/marketing. Shonte expresses the power of having supportive family, friends, and fellow competitors to help her business rise to what it is today. Shonte's success story and her no-bull personality provide listeners an episode unlike any other! Connect with Shonte Here: https://www.instagram.com/turners_turnfit_ifbbpro/ Connect with Celeste Here: https://www.instagram.com/celestial_fit/ TIME STAMP of EPISODE [1:43] Stage ritual [2:52] Shonte's reason to start competing [6:54] Evolution of training in bodybuilding [13:16] Balancing life outside prep [16:49] Switching from figure to bikini [23:40] Struggles of being a disabled veteran [25:22] Shonte's road to pro [32:59] Getting over a weight plateau [37:46] Relationship with food/taking diet breaks [46:33] Shonte's invention/owning a business [49:14 - 49:35] Accidental pause [60:08] Balancing work/family/relationships [63:29] How to be a marketable competitor athlete/business owner [71:38] Shonte's best advice for competitors

ARNOLD 2020 MASHUP Mar 06, 2020

Show notes

This episode is a mashup of episodes with Alessia Facchin, Alexandria Ross, Beatriz Biscaia, Camile Periat, and Daraja Hill, hope you all enjoy! Tag us in your posts and wish the athletes a happy show day! :D The order of clips featured:

Alessia
Daraja
Alexandria
Beatriz
Daraja
Camile
Beatriz
Alessia
Daraja
Beatriz
Alexandria
Alessia
Alexandria
Camile
Daraja
Camile
Alexandria
Beatriz
Daraja

Thank you for listening, I hope you enjoy! :) Don't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode!

ASHLEY PARKER Feb 28, 2020

Show notes

In this episode, host Celeste Rains-Turk sits down with IFFB Pro Ashley Parker, a soon-to-be 26-year-old who has been competing for two years and was the overall champion at Junior USA's in 2019. Even though Ashley had never been to a show prior to competing, this Tennessee woman shares how her competitive nature drove her to take on her first prep and how that determination helped her bring home the overall the first time she had ever seen the stage. Ashley talks about how her commitment to the process helped her achieve the incredible result of not placing below second as an amateur, despite anxiety around not being ready for shows. Ashley shares how it felt to transition from the amateur level to the pros as she became "such a small fish in a huge pond". After the lowest placing she had received in her competitive career, she talks about the comments she received from the judges and how she built muscle without an extended offseason to fulfill the feedback. As Ashley entered a recent offseason, she talks about letting go of that signature lean look and how she changes her mindset to embrace the new phase of her training. She also shares a few tricks she uses to keep herself feeling full and satisfy her sweet tooth. Ashley also talks about feedback she received from her coach about her hips being uneven and how prioritizing body work such as scraping, foam rolling, ice baths and more has helped her to correct the imbalance and how prioritizing sleep has improved her overall physical and mental wellbeing. Ashley shares how she maintains muscle mass in a conditioning phase, an awesome power stance and changes she's experiencing in her life and circle of friends. You will not want to miss this! CONNECT WITH ASHLEY HERE: https://www.instagram.com/ashleyrae_ifbbpro/ CONNECT WITH CELESTE HERE: https://www.instagram.com/celestial_fit/ TIME STAMPS: [1:38] Stage Ritual [2:37] Handling Anxiety and Stress Leading Into a Show and the Positive Side of Stress [7:24] Best Pieces of Show Day Advice [13:36] A Rapid Rise from Amateur to Pro [15:37] The Introduction into Competing [20:57] Stage Inspirations [22:49] Life Changes Since Entering the Competing World [25:33] Embracing Judge's Feedback Going into Nationals [30:22] Body Work to Fix Muscular and Skeletal Imbalances [34:24] Prioritizing Sleep [36:16] Letting Go of Leanness and Embracing an Off Season Body [38:06] Controlling Cravings and Feeling Good with Food [43:10] The Importance of Going Pro in her First Year [48:48] Maintaining Muscle Mass in a Conditioning Phase [50:51] Accepting a Lower Placing Despite A Favorite Package

RENEE HARSHEY Feb 21, 2020

Show notes

In this episode, Host Celeste Rains-Turk speaks with Renee Harshey, a coach at Pro Physiques, Certified Nutrition Specialist and owner of her own meal prep service Fit Choice Foods, mother, and IFBB Pro who turned pro in Bikini at the Arnold Amateur in Colombia in 2019. Starting off the episode, Renee officially announces her decision to switch to the Wellness division after finally achieving her pro status in Bikini after 4 years and 16 shows. Renee discusses how persistence played a role in her success to achieving the pro status but how her journey was not easy as she never had the "typical bikini" physique. She discusses how she always had to work harder to fit the judges criteria for that division and now how Wellness has opened new doors of opportunity for her to have a successful pro career. Renee goes into detail about how her training and diet strategies have changed since making the switch and where she's putting her focus moving forward. Celeste and Renee talk about the importance of reverse dieting and Renee shares how she found comfortability in being uncomfortable looking "fluffier" and eating more food to make the necessary changes to her physique as well as get her metabolism back to a happy & healthy place. Renee shares how her experiences with binge eating and reverse dieting as a competitor and as a coach has helped her better prepare her clients for success by implementing and following a reverse diet correctly to achieve the desired goals, whether it be for lifestyle or competition. They discuss how being open and transparent with your coach is vital for success and being a coach herself, she needs the right information to make the correct changes for her clients. Celeste talks with Renee about what she considers to be an unhealthy extreme and how Renee prioritizes her clients mental and physical health which she says is about always keeping it real & honest with them. Renee shares how her experience as a social worker has helped her become a better coach and can better empathize with her clients and help them work through their difficult times. Celeste and Renee dive into the importance of research into coaching and why interviewing coaches and asking questions is key before making a final decision. Renee talks about her journey to getting her pro card, how taking time off the stage and focusing on coaching & her clients actually helped better prepare her for that final push to get her pro card. Celeste and Renee go into how Renee decided to have her own meal prep service, how it started and what it's like to run a business on the side as well as being a mom, coach and professional athlete. CONNECT WITH RENEE ON INSTAGRAM HERE: https://www.instagram.com/renee_ifbbpro/ CHECK OUT FIT CHOICE FOODS HERE: https://www.fitchoicefoods.com/ CONNECT WITH CELESTE ON INSTAGRAM HERE: https://www.instagram.com/celestial_fit/ TIME STAMP with Episode Highlights: [4:50] Renee officially announces her decision to switch to the Wellness division for the 2020 season [12:20] Celeste & Renee discuss how Renee's training has changed to get ready for Wellness versus how she would train when going for her pro card in Bikini [18:00] Renee discusses how she let herself get uncomfortable to allow her metabolism to "catch up" [28:00] Why it's important for coaches to have coaches & how the accountability helps her mentally with how she's progressing. [31:10] Renee admits to some changes she personally made during her prep without her coach's knowledge and how it was not always the right choice, also something she now advises against. [35:00] Renee explains why the coach - client communication is so important & gives an example of one of her clients. [41:40] Why Renee & the Pro Physique coaches implement reverse diets for all their clients post show & why it is important [42:30] Celeste asks Renee what she considers an unhealthy extreme [52:00] Celeste & Renee discuss empathy, something Renee learned from her previous job as a social worker & Celeste emphasizes the importance of empathy when working with clients [57:00] Celeste expands on why research on coaches is important because of how prep approaches have evolved over time. [66:00] Renee discusses her persistence through her journey from hitting the national stage & taking a step back to focus on coaching & what she learned from taking time away from the stage [76:00] Renee mentions the importance of strategy when choosing national shows [82:00] Celeste & Renee express how a positive mindset & having that "winners mentality" is more than a surface level practice [89:00] Renee shares why the details matter & competing is more than just a physique contest [91:25] Celeste asks Renee about her meal prep service, how she finds balance, how did it start, etc. [98:50] Celeste gets Renee's advice for newbie competitors & advice for girls who are on their road to pro

JESSICA LYNN Feb 14, 2020

Show notes

In this episode, host Celeste Rains-Turk speaks with Jessica Lynn, an Arnold Australia competitor, dancer, hairstylist and makeup artist for over 11 years. Jessica has been competing since 2013 and earned her IFBB Pro Card in 2014. In addition to competing for over seven years, Jessica is a small-town farm girl from Iowa and is married with two kitty fur-babies. While she is most often known for her notorious hair-flip on stage and bubbly personality, she is also an avid donut connoisseur, world traveler, music lover, and the only IFBB Bikini Pro living in Iowa! Tune in to hear about Jessica's thoughts on the evolution of bikini competitors physique on the amateur and IFBB Stage. She discusses the ever-increasing competition in the pro division, the challenge of staying relevant to judges during off-season, the hunger for success, and the pressure of social media marketing. Often known for her changing appearance on the stage, Jessica gives her opinion on hair color, complementing suit choice, and how it affects placing. Jessica also opens up about her transition from crossfit strength training to lifting for aesthetic, giving credit to her 15 years of dance and competitive swimming for her stage presence and grace. She has also valued the importance of listening to your body rest to fight illness and finding the balance between rest and maintaining goals. Jessica gives us insight on how to balance relationships outside of bodybuilding and creating a sustainable lifestyle. She emphasizes the importance of mutual respect, communication, and compromise with her marriage and friends during prep. She opens up about post show rebound, temptation, willpower, and her struggles of falling off track. She discusses the image she maintains on social media and keeping parts of her normal life offline. Celeste and Jessica also discuss the perspective of fitness influencers and the struggles of appearing consistently motivated/appeasing the audience. Jessica gives Celeste and viewers her personal hair, skin, and makeup tips for show day. She discloses the most common mistakes with competitors and how hiring a professional may be necessary. Jessica's contagious and genuine personality provides an episode you do not want to miss! CONNECT WITH JESSICA HERE: https://www.instagram.com/missfit_jesslynn_ifbbpro/ CONNECT WITH CELESTE HERE: https://www.instagram.com/celestial_fit/ TIME STAMPS: [01:25] Stage Ritual [08:12] Evolution of a Bikini Competitor/Expectations of a Pro [12:15] How Jessica started in the fitness industry [16:01] Building the physique from crossfit to bikini [18:33] Jessica opens up about post-show rebound [21:50] Building a life outside the stage [26:10] Jessica speaks balance in relationships [30:17] Willpower, saying no, and feeling guilty [35:35] How to maintain muscle size [37:02] Favorite memory as as competitor [42:29] Favorite exercises for glutes, shoulders, and hamstrings [45:34] Changing appearance to appeal for the judges [53:23] Hair, Skin, and Makeup tips for the show [56:20] Pushing through illness [60:04] Coach and client relationship [61:38] Tips for beginners/road to pro

CARLA GARTHWAITE Feb 07, 2020

Show notes

In this episode, Host Celeste Rains-Turk has an intimate conversation with Carla Garthwaite, a posing and competition prep coach who has her own line of waist trainers, Cinched by Carla. She is known for repping girls with tattoos on stage and wants to be the first sleeved Olympian. This pro is married with kids and has proven time and time again that you can overcome challenges and recreate your life with consistency and the commitment to being better. Tune in to hear Carla open up about the impact bodybuilding and chasing wins has had on her marriage and relationship with her kids. She opens up about realizing that she had put her hubby on the backburner and explains what happened that led her to stop posting about / tagging her kids on Instagram. Carla also discusses the pressure she felt as an amateur compared to the pressure she feels now as a pro. She shares her experience in the pro league and tells us what prepping for nearly 5 years straight with hardly any time off has been like. She shares how much she is enjoying her time off now to focus on her family. With this, she takes us through a rough break she had and how the post show blues hit her hard sending her into a big breakthrough about future reverse diets, body dysmorphia, getting comfortable with eating more and filling out like the judges have asked her to. Carla talks about what a normal day looks like for her as a full time mom, competitor, and coach. She answers questions submitted by you like if she could only pick one exercise to do for the rest of her life for shoulders, glutes, and hams what they would be. We also discuss fit shaming and how to respond to people. Celeste explains how grief plays a role in this and Carla discusses what she does to handle it and how she has been able to move forward. Because Carla takes pride in who she is, she explains how she helps her posing clients embrace themselves too and how she encourages other competitors to fit the mold without changing who they are completely. On this subject, she shares why she thinks there hasn't been a sleeved Olympian yet and then gives us insight into how she polishes her look in such a way that she feels has helped her land top placings. While every episode is real and genuine, this one gets super raw and you won't want to miss it! Make sure you are subscribed on your favorite streaming platform or bookmark this page so you can always come back for more every week! CONNECT WITH CARLA: MAKEUP: https://www.instagram.com/glam_by_carla/ CONNECT WITH CELESTE: https://www.instagram.com/celestial_fit/ LEARN ABOUT THE POST-SHOW PROGRAM CELESTE MENTIONED HERE: https://celeste-rainsturk.clickfunnels.com/postshowpersonaldevelopmentprograminfo

MORGAN LINDSEY Jan 31, 2020

Show notes

In this episode, Host Celeste Rains-Turk talks to Morgan Lindsey, online fitness and mindset coach who works with bikini and lifestyle clients with her slogan change your mindset change your life, she is co owner of drizzle cookie co, has been competing for four years and went pro in 2017 at her second national show. Morgan talks about how she fell into competing, what she does every day for her mindset, and how she overcomes her Generalized Anxiety Disorder. She opens up about what it was like to be bullied in school and how her fixation on being skinny led to disordered eating behaviors and negative body image.

Morgan also discusses how she has and continues to work through body image related issues as a competitor. She shares her passion for cookies, her love of personal development, and her belief about the power of being in the present moment. Morgan gives us insight into what she does to help her clients when they have moments of anxiety and her take on moving past 'slip ups'. She shares some of her thoughts on the current coaching industry and talks about what she would like to see change like macroshaming and comparison traps. Morgan discusses her approach with clients and how she has been able to help others develop lifestyles like she has. She even gives her daily habits that have and consistently help her. Morgan tells us about what it was like to leave a stable corporate job for her coaching business. She talks about waitressing to keep herself afloat while building her brand and expresses how much she loves what she does. Morgan also co-owns Drizzle Cookie Co. with her best friend Ashley Bowden. She talks about how they started, why they started, and what sets them apart from other cookie companies. She even gives us some insight into their goals and plans for the company and how they run it now. Morgan answers listener submitted questions about motivation, supplements, workouts, glute building, and more. This episode is full of implementable information and activities from Morgan and Celeste so make sure to listen closely so you don't miss the golden nugget that could help you change your life! To Connect with Morgan: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morganlindseyfit/ Website: https://morganlindseyfit.weebly.com/ To Connect with Celeste: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/celestial_fit/ www.celestial.fit

ANYA NICHOLSON Jan 24, 2020

Show notes

In this episode, Host Celeste Rains-Turk speaks with Anya Nicholson a posing coach and office assistant with Team Elite Physique who works alongside Adam Bonilla traveling to shows and helping competitors backstage. She studied Sports Management and spends most of her days at the contest prep center doing online posing with athletes all over the world, and turned pro at NPC Nationals in 2019. Tune in to hear about Anya's recover from bulimia and how one friend, and bodybuilding, changed her life for the better. Anya shares openly her struggle with bulimia, how it started, and what helped her. She also talks about how her relationship with food is now versus before. Celeste and Anya speak to disordered eating and food relationships to show you that there is a way out! Anya gives us insight into how to get over the urge to do a mini cut because of weight gain. Celeste and Anya get into positive and negative reinforcements and how powerful perspective is on everything we do. They discuss the power of food labels, getting to know your body, and how influential self-love is on our decision making. Anya gives us a run down of exact process for self-evaluation each day along with what she has done to improve her day to day life. Anya talks about how she helps athletes overcome the urge to mini cut at the sight of weight gain as well as how Team Elite Physique helps their athletes to focus on the right progress when things get tough. Celeste asks Anya about posing and pulls out some interesting and key details from the analyzing and implementing Anya has done as a posing coach. She gives us some insight into what might look better, what routines and looks are being favored, and even tells us her posing pet peeve. She shares exactly what she saw at USA's and NPC Nationals and gets into the trends at the amateur and pro level. Anya even makes some awesome suggestions for anyone to implement to improve their posing! Anya also talks about how she and Adam Bonilla separate work from their relationship and some of the struggles they had in the beginning in doing this. She shares how she does check-ins with him, why they kept their relationship on the DL for so long and how they have grown together. Cody the labradoodle makes a big difference at the prep center so make sure to listen in for how you would be greeted if you went. With a degree in sports management, Anya talks about why she pursued it and if she uses it in the work she does now. She talks about her life as a competitor and what her journey to her pro card was like and if she expected to get it when she did. She shares the challenges she overcame in her prep and what she did to overcome them. Anya talks about the exercises she used to make the improvements the judges were looking for, how she communicates with Adam so she gets the best plan for the way her body responds and muscles activates, and Celeste and she both share their go to glute exercises and something they both do with the lying hamstring curl machine that has made a big difference. This episode is packed with relatable, interesting, and fun conversation that you will surely LOVE! To Connect with Anya: INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/thebarbellbombshell/ LINKS AND DISCOUNTS: https://instabio.cc/thebarbellbombshell To Connect with Celeste: INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/celestial_fit/ LINKS: www.celestial.fit/links

TO LEARN MORE AND SEE ALL SHOW NOTES: WWW.CELESTIAL.FIT/PODCAST

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