20 Questions with Cover Model Taylor Matheny

Taylor Matheny

1) Please introduce yourself? What makes you special? Who is Taylor Matheny?

I'm from Tulsa, OK and currently living in L.A. I am a personal chef and fitness model. I'm one of the most disciplined people you will ever meet.

2) Please tell us a bit about your family, friends and surroundings?

I have been my families personal chef and trainer for several years now. My family is my best friend, I have one older brother and a wonderful loving mom and dad. No pets but looking to get a dog soon... so I can have someone to run with that can keep up with me~

3) How did you start competing in bikini?

I have always been athletic and in pretty good shape, but I wanted to add some excitement and challenge to my work out routine so I entered my first show.

4) What is your personal policy (not what the judges want) about conditioning and muscularity when coming into a show? Soft or hard?

I must be tight going into a show just for the mental preparation. Even though the judges for bikini like a softer look, I prefer to go in hard then I don't have to worry so much about day of eating or drinking routines.

5) What is your idea of what judges want in a bikini competitor? Do you think judges are clear enough with competitors about how they want you on stage? It seems in Europe they are very clear unlike in the USA and now in Canada things are confusing.

Judges are confusing in any category. But I do think they need to be a little more specific for the bikini division. Some girls come in looking like they are entering the figure division while other girls come in looking like they have yet to begin working out.... its always a toss up on what style they are looking for at that show.

6) For the next shows what do you think you need to work on physique-wise/conditioning-wise? If anything!

Of course you should always strive to be better than your last show. I try to focus on maintaining muscle while defining key body parts...(mainly glutes and abs are my favorites)

7) What is your typical training routine in the gym (per day, include sets and reps!) How much cardio do you do before a show?

I prefer weight training over cardio, however I make sure I get some aerobic work in at least 3 days a week. I focus on weight lifting to build lean muscle tone and keep my metabolism soaring. I hit legs 3 times a week alternating upper body and cardio in between while I make sure to hit the abs every day. I don't have a certain number of sets or reps, I just go!

Taylor Matheny

8) What is your pre-contest diet? (per day, 1 week before the show)

I generally live on the "pre-contest" diet. For me it's more of a lifestyle. I stay competition ready year around, continuously eating fresh fruits and veggies while maintaining a healthy intake of complex carbs (sweet potatoes) and healthy fats (salmon, walnuts). Protein at every meal is crucial for me (lean chicken or fish). Day off show is strictly extra lean ground turkey with my secret belly flattening seasonings with all natural almond butter and rice cakes.

9) How do you go about dropping your water before the day of the show? How much water do you drink the day of the show. Please be specific.

I keep my sodium intake at a very low level, therefore I don't hold any water. I will reduce my water day of but not fully restrict it.

10) What motivates you to train/diet and compete? Are there any competitors you looked up to?

The fun of being up on that stage is motivation enough. Waking up feeling good about your body and health is just a daily bonus.

Bikini division in fairly new so I hope to become the competitor others look up to for this division.

11) Please tell us an interesting experience you had at a show recently, be it a fun thing or something rather not so fun?

My latest competition was an outdoor event.... fun part is I won... not so fun part is it was about 40 degrees in a bikini then it started to rain!

12) What is your personal opinion about the figure, fitness, bodybuilding industry we are in? Anything you would like to see changed?

I think it is an amazing industry to be apart of, however we are suppose to be the image of health when in reality most competitors are becoming more and more unhealthy in the way they are training and dieting. It's become quite ironic.

Taylor Matheny

13) What has been your hardest challenge to overcome either in your personal life or competing career?

Politics! they will either work for you or against you. The most challenging thing is trying to establish a name for yourself in this industry and getting the judges attention.

14) Did you make any changes to your contest prep for your last show? Water intake, carbing up, etc...

I consumed more fruit to help soften my skin (less vascularity) while watching my carb and veggie intake to ensure a tighter stomach.

15) What do you think of bikini division?

It is a fun division allowing more girls to get involved. It provides us a way to get in shape but not go to the extreme and maintain our femininity.

16) What are your favorite foods to eat right after you compete on a Saturday night?

Watermelon! It's cold juicy and sweet~

17) Please tell us about how you were raised and did you have any interesting experiences while growing up?

Being raised in the mid-west was not all that healthy growing up. My parents never cooked so it was fast food until I decided to take matters into my own hands at teach myself how to eat healthy.

18) Do you have an athletic background? Gymnastics, soccer, volleyball or what?

I played every sport possible throughout school-(cheer, volleyball, golf, track, tennis, basketball, etc...) I love a good competition!

19) What is a typical day in the life of Taylor Matheny? From waking up to until going to bed?

Mainly consist of a lot of cooking and a lot of eating!! Wake up, make breakfast, work out, make lunch, go to work, make dinner, go to bed.... way too much excitement I know~ I need a boyfriend or just a dog haha!

Taylor Matheny

20) What is your current occupation? Please tell us more about it, what do you specifically do in your job?

Nutritional Health Management is my field. As a personal chef I prepare healthy meals for my clients from their individual homes. I also provide written meals plans and exercise plans to help them reach their goals. I'm also writing my first cook book to be out this coming year as well as my new work-out DVD's coming just in time for Christmas!
I don't have any shows set yet for this coming year but I am always training and looking for ways to improve.

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