I am a firm advocate of a formal education for Fitness Professionals. I am a proud graduate of the Fitness Leadership Diploma Program,

https://www.gprc.ab.ca/programs/personal-trainer.html

This 2 year Diploma has opened up so many doors for me in my career as a Personal Trainer and I am always excited to be able to give back to the program.

I was thrilled to recently be approached by my former College Instructor Laura Hancharuk to answer some questions from her current students regarding my career and how competing in Figure Competitions had an impact on both my personal life as well as my business.

Here is the interview. I hope you enjoy. xFitbabe

** these are the students asking the questions ...

•I would like to know the best and worst part of competing.

The best part of competing is the commitment to a goal and following through. Every single day. I love the focus, and having a sense of achievement to the journey. The worst part? The actual day. It is long.  You get up at 4-5 am in order to get your hair and make-up done. Then you have to be at the venue an hour before the start time. For us Figure girls, that means 8 am.  You have to wait 3-4 hours back stage until your class is called up. Then you have to repeat the whole process for the evening show. Next, the tanning. It is fucking cold. You stand there naked while getting spray tanned, among all the other competitors...yes, there are tanning tents, but you strip down outside the tent among everyone. After 5-6 shows you don't even blink an eye. Hormones are shut down so it is not like the men are getting erections ha ha!!  You also have to keep your tan tidy while you wait, that includes when you pee. Some competitors use a funnel to pee into so you do not splash on your thighs. This is real life shit. The real ugly? The food restriction. The water cut, the dehydration and the discomfort of never really satisfying a deep hunger. Eventually you chew packs of gum to just have some sort of mouth pleasure, which gave me abdominal distress, gas and bloating! I had to cut all gum and sweeteners from my diet the last week. Good times.

• I want to know what a reversal looks like after a competition? Does she have a strict diet to follow after or is it kinda eat normally right after.

I competed from 2005-2014. In this decade, there really was no such thing as reverse dieting. I was never given a post contest plan from any bodybuilding coach. Essentially, after your 12 week prep, you were done. Myself being in the fitness industry as a career had a huge ego. I loved the attention and satisfaction of being super lean. I messed up by trying to stay lean afterwards. I would start to add fruit back in, as well as small treats like Quest Bars and peanut butter etc, but I really just stuck to my precontest diet foods. Now a days, coaches are reverse dieting their clients out of shows. It is a different world. Also, bodybuilding in general is a different world. Too many shows letting in too many average basic physiques. This causes a watered down show with not a lot of competition for greatness. I am from an era where the freakiest most crazy shredded bodybuilders ONLY were on that stage. Now, anyone who has simply lost some weight and wants to show off a beach body is entering a show.

•

 Also, has her eating disorder effected her prep for a competition?

I had an ED way before I entered the bodybuilding scene. I actually believe figure show gave me different eating disorder. I was no longer binge/purging, but I was super strict on what I would allow myself to eat. I would only allow myself to eat 6-8 foods. I also had an obsession with exercise,  so I would use the idea of a show to validate my over-training. This caused me to have an unhealthy relationship with food and training during and after prep. I had to eventually leave the competition life in order for me to heal myself. I couldn't be healthy and compete. It was ALL or nothing.  I believe firmly NO ONE leaves a competition prep without some sort of eating disorder. You just do not look at food the same way after.

• Would she recommend competing to others, and if so with what advice or warnings would she give?

I would have a hard look at your why. I would also have a hard look at your genetics. Do you have the "X" frame? Do you possess the qualities needed to go to the top? Are you just looking for a goal that gets you shredded? If so, you can diet and train for the same result and not spend $3000 plus dollars to compete. ** Suit cost, shoes, hair,nails, grooming,  tan, coach fees, food, supplements, entry fee, hotels and flights if needed, time off work, gym membership, posing coach, photographer..and on an on.

Do you have a healthy relationship with you body? Do you have a healthy relationship with food? How is your family life? Work life? Relationships? You need a good support system.

I lost a lot of friends, missed out on tons of family outings and events due to my strict food and training schedule. You must treat a show like a hobby, and not make it your whole world.

Be prepared to sacrifice a lot. But it can also be super fun and rewarding if done in a positive way.

Hire the right coach. If he or she cuts out entire food groups, or starts you out with an hour of cardio 12 weeks out RUN!!!

Ask for credentials and also ask if he or she does a reverse diet plan after the show.

• Does she feel that the fitness industry in general is somewhat of a “breeding ground” for eating disorders for fitness professionals?

Yes it can be. I was one of them. Before I enrolled in the Fitness Leadership Diploma program I was an Fitness instructor for 4 years. I had an eating disorder since the age of 15. I would teach up to 10 fitness classes a week, as well as train myself for 2 hours a day.  I wanted a career where I could exercise and be able to get paid for it. I am currently working with Eating Disorder Support Network of Alberta http://edsna.ca to help educate instructors to be able to see the warning signs of this happening with their students. Here are some articles and resources specifically on the topic of eating disorders in the Fitness Industry:

https://www.reddeeradvocate.com/news/exploring-eating-disorders-in-sports-and-fitness/

http://edsna.ca/resources/#healthcare

https://www.notsolinear.ca/thoughts/hiding-my-eating-disorder-what-i-wish-my-gym-teachers-dance-instructors-physical-therapists-and-personal-trainers-would-have-been-more-aware-of-when-i-was-sick

• Does she ever feel pressure from clients/employers to maintain a certain look?

Yes and NO. I have been told that a client has hired me because I have a desired look, but mostly it is my knowledge, personality and coaching style that kept them coming back. I have an ego. I love being fit and lean, but, staying so lean was not healthy nor sustainable. I now have a much more thriving business since stepping away from competing and focusing on being strong and healthy. My clients see my deadlift PR, my pull up videos, and think...COOL! "maybe I can be strong and then in turn my body will LOOK strong". Funny how that is actually the truth! I know many trainers who may not look jacked up, but are really really good at what they do. I also know trainers that look shredded but are the worst in the business. Having a lean body and having a lot of followers on Instagram does not make you a better coach. :)

•

What is the favourite part of her career and what she dislikes the most.

My favorite part is helping people believe in themselves. I love having a client who comes in sick, tired and fed up who then makes a complete lifestyle transformation.  I also love that I am 40 now and am entering a decade where I am attracting my ideal client. I have the confidence and conviction and can draw a line in the sand on who I am for and who I am not, with NO apologies. This however wasn't always the case. In my 20's and early 30's I had to hustle. I took every client on who hired me, I worked from 6am-9pm, I drove all over Edmonton to please people. I sacrificed a lot. But it was worth it. I am in the trust business. I had to prove I was reliable, professional and could follow through with results!! I also love my team of professionals at Custom Fit. I am a local expert now, and have been able to assist my colleague by doing Fitness Tips on the CTV Edmonton News since 2006. We are known  as the best in the city and I stand firm that we are!! Conviction right?

I also love that I am in career where I can pivot at any time. The fitness industry has given me so many opportunities to meet and engage with people from all over the world, in turn this introduced me to other career options. I love that.

• What advice would she give to a new fitness professional just starting out?

As I wrote above, you have to be prepared to WORK HARD. You will not have 9-5 hours. You will be tired and have to smile. You need to love to help people first. It can't be about the money. In the beginning you will have to say YES to everything that comes your way. You get to earn your NO's. ALSO, LISTEN TO EVERYTHING LAURA SAYS. I still hear her wise words and phrases repeated in my head while I coach. Laura changed my life.

Thank you all and if you have any questions, let me know. I am happy to respond.

Deanna Harder

CSEP- CPT

Fitness Leadership Diploma

780-984-2264