Last week I shared the first of the inspiring people interviews on the blog, this week I have someone completely different for you all!
I actually have a bit in common with this lovely lady – we both have business degrees (majoring in management) and she has her Personal Training certification while I am not too far off completing mine!
Introducing Lucia Oles… Lucia is a fitness competitor and is sponsored by Optimum Nutrition!
Over to Lucia…
Hi I’m Lucia… By day I work an office job in a Bank, and by night I’m a sponsored Team Optimum Nutrition NZ athlete, fitness competitor, health fanatic, foodie and dirt biker chick!
I have recently graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business (Major in Management) as well as the Certificate III in Fitness and Certificate IV in Personal Training. I love inspiring and motivating others to lead a healthy, successful, happy and fulfilling life.
How did you get in to the world of bodybuilding/figure?
I have been a ‘gym-bunny’ for years but my background was in off-road dirt biking, so I based all my training around endurance-type activities. I also didn’t know much about nutrition or how to eat according to fitness goals. After attending the NZ Fitness Expo in 2012, I was inspired to completely clean up my diet and re-vamp my exercise plan to incorporate heavy resistance training. A friend who had competed in a few bodybuilding competitions noticed the changes in my body and encouraged me to think about a fitness competition. So I decided…yeah ok…I can give it a go!
I set a goal to do one competition last year, instead I competed FOUR times! I placed 1st in two competitions and 2nd in two. The most memorable event was winning the Optimum Nutrition Fitness Model Contest at the 2013 NZ Fitness Expo!
Which supplements do you swear by?
This is hard because there are so many specialised products out there that are beneficial, and the ones that are the most important are dependent on your current goals.
If you are just starting out in your fitness journey though, then the two I would recommend the most would be a good quality whey protein, like ON 100% Gold Standard Whey and a good multivitamin, I use Opti-Women.
What’s your approach to balance & moderation in life (and/or food)?
This depends on how far out from a fitness competition I am. At the moment I’m only a few weeks out from a competition, so the schedule looks a little like this: wake, train, work, train, sleep, and repeat…there is not much room for anything else.
When not in competition mode I love a good day out off-road dirt biking with my friends, or a nice dinner out at a restaurant. I eat healthy; usually keep to the 80/20 rule.
What is your favourite muscle group to exercise?
I always look forward days when I’m training shoulders!
What is your favourite healthy food/recipe?
For lunch I love to make chicken, spinach and blueberry salad. Ingredients: Baby spinach, fresh blueberries, avocado, feta cheese, roast/grilled chicken, flaked almonds, raspberry vinaigrette…delicious!
For dessert I love to make chocolate coconut ice cream! Simply mix Optimum Nutrition Casein (need this type of protein for the thicker consistency), with 100ml coconut cream and water. Add in anything else if it fits with your daily macros (like peanut butter, nuts, seeds and fruits), then place in freezer until it’s ‘almost’ frozen and enjoy…
What are your thoughts on ‘cheat meals’?
While I focus on eating as healthy as possible the vast majority of the time, I’m not afraid to indulge on occasion. It helps to maintain a healthy frame of mind around food, and reduces the chance of disordered eating. I eat well 80% of the time. Cheat meals are to be enjoyed and can help with long term goals.
What is your number one tip for those who want to live a healthier life?
Take it slow, because small steps guarantee better progress than the ‘all or nothing’ approach. If you are going to do one thing only, then as a start I suggest eliminating sugar or fast food or alcohol from your daily routine. Then make sure you MOVE at least 30 minutes every day. By moving I mean lift the heart rate so you are doing an activity that leaves you a little bit out of breath.
What tips would you give any females looking to get in to the bodybuilding scene?
The bodybuilding scene is intense, but fun and rewarding at the same time! If you are going to do a fitness competition then be prepared for it to take a lot of your time with food preparation, training, posing and learning about the supplements to help you achieve your goals. If you don’t know much about competition diets then I would recommend finding a reputable nutritionist and trainer/coach to help you (at least with your first couple of competitions).
Thank you so much Lucia! What an inspiration!
You can find Lucia over on her Facebook page 🙂