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Issue #81

Contents

Editorial
by Juan Carlos Lope
z

2011 Olympia Expo

20 Questions with Cover Model Betsy Arnaiz

Video Interview with Cover Model Betsy Arnaiz

Elite Fitness & Figure Newsletter
by Greg Hasberry

Pictorials
Betsy Arnaiz, Venus Nguyen, Tamara Montoya, Sehila Preciado & Sasha Brown

Video Interview with Pro Bodybuilder Elena Seiple

Sugar Shack E-Book - Wholesome and Tasty Treats
by Angela Kirkland

Video Interview with Amateur Figure Arlin Rodriguez

 

20 Questions with Cover Model Betsy Arnaiz

Betsy Arnaiz

1) Please introduce yourself? What makes you special? Who is Betsy Arnaiz?

I’m a wife, a mother, a sister, a daughter and a friend. I love the Lord for it is He who has given me my strengths to be who I am today. I am that weird individual that finds good in those that others ridicule. I don’t mind standing out in the crowd because I live for the moment and make every day count. I have no regrets, because it’s those things that others see as mistakes that make me grow as a person. No one is perfect so I forgive, because it’s good for my soul. I love learning and taking on challenges. I do get frustrated at times, but find good in these moments. I seek to help the sick and make a difference in their lives. I strive to be a role model to others, because nothing is impossible. What more can a girl ask for!

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

I grew up in my hometown Carol City. Some may call it the ghetto, but it was home. I grew up with a younger sister and older brother which I dearly love. Thankfully I was raised by both my parents, in which I am proud to say are still married till this day. I have a beautiful family my husband and my three children which give me great support in whatever path in life I choose. As a child I was brought up in the Christian faith, so I learned to be very involved in the church for quite some time. I’m not as involved as I should be, but I carry the faith very close to my heart. Friends, I have many, childhood friends in which I still gladly keep in touch with and those friends that have come and gone in all chapters of my life, but there is always that handful of friend that have the uniqueness to walk with me through all aspects of my life. I strongly believe everyone we encounter has a purpose whether to plant good seed in our life or grow from the experiences, both good and bad.

3) How did you start competing in figure?

I was one of those strangle teenage girls who was memorized with the hard cover models like Corey
Everson and Shannon Bruneau as I stood with my mom at local grocery store. I always thought one day I’m going to be one of those girls. Life past me by and before I knew it I was married, two children later at 25 years old and still staring at those magazines. So enough was enough and I hired a trainer named Beres Baker and learned what it took to step on stage. My very first show I won the Debbie Kruck Classic Figure overall.

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

I personally believe what I do is a sport and feel a harder look is what represents the sport of bodybuilding.

Betsy Arnaiz

5) What is your idea of what judges want in a Figure 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.
I feel judges are clear in the aspect of telling us both in print and word of mouth what they are looking for, but without disrespecting any one they definitely do not always make the choices in which that they have us competitors understand. It can be very discouraging needless to say this sport is not for those with thin skin.

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

I definitely have to lay off of the weight training, which is very hard because it’s the part that I enjoy the most. As far as conditioning, I always come in over conditioned so I probably need to take a step back on the intensity of my training.

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 weigh train one body part a day, for example back, bi’s & tri’s, shoulders and legs, but legs I separate into hamstrings and quads. I usually prepare myself eight weeks before a show so my cardio is 6 days of two 45minutes to 1 hour sessions religiously.

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

Tilapia, tilapia, tilapia and asparagus for the first 3 days and then I begin to carb up with chicken and sweet potatoes in which now due to my hardness on stage may not be doing in my next show. So I will be experimenting. I will let you know how that goes…

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.

Seven days out I usually up my water to two gallons for 3 days, then on the fourth day till the show to one gallon, three days till the show ¾ of a gallon, two day till the show ½ of a gallon and one day till 16 ounces of water and the day of the show just sip on water or ice chips. I must add that I have done shows without cutting water and I looked even better than when I do cut water, so that is the approach I will continue when I get one stage.

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

A present competitor that I love is Monica Brant, she has an incredible body and she has always kept me motivated so I am not as updated as I use to. Unfortunately she left Ifbb pro, so now there is my old time friend Krissy Chin which I look up to. I remember when she first started competing here in Florida a few years ago. I been able to see Krissy from day one to now competing Olympia’s and definitely has made it a long way.

Betsy Arnaiz

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

I would have to say it was not a fun moment when I walked into the backstage room full of figure competitor and immediately when I looked around the room I knew I stuck out like a sore thumb. I was in great shape, but knew I was not going to place well because of my over conditioning. That feeling lasted for like 30 seconds and then I though what the heck many girls wish to be in the conditioning I’m in so I just went on stage and had fun with it.

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

I would like to see stricter guidelines and judging criteria. Sometimes it the line ups are so off it give the wrong impression.

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

Time is always an issue for me in my personal life juggling a husband, kids, career and competing. On stage I would have to say my genetics bite me in the rear end. My legs a blessing, but seems like a curse on stage. Always too cut.

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

This time I would have to say I ate more to stay full and I have to confess I did water deplete which is one of the reasons I probably was so dry on stage. I also started working with a coach Heinz Senior Ifbb pro which we have some new ideas not yet concrete.

15) What do you think of bikini division?

I’m hope I don’t offend anyone, but as much as these women have great bodies I never felt it belonged in the world of body building. Now it definitely was a great business idea, because it has brought on more spectators and money.

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

I would love me some JAlexander carrot cake, but it always seems after the show is over everything is closed. So I eat whatever is available because for some reason everything except Chinese or pasta seem to fit my appetite just fine.

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

I was raised a very humble life. Both my parents worked very hard to make ends meet. Most of the time my big brother looked after my sister and me which made us very close. I have to admit I enjoyed my childhood and have no complaints.

Betsy Arnaiz

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

I have a background of high softball, volleyball and soccer. I tried out for cheerleading and made the squad but quit a week after, it just was not my thing. I just felt silly doing all the annoying jumping around. So I guess that’s just because of where I grew up.

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

My days and nights are all over the place. Not one is the same as the other. Some days I work nights so all I can really say my day involves my husband if he’s not at the fire house, my children, my career and I always make room for my workouts. I’m always learning, or taking some new class. I’m a busy, busy, little bee.

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

I am an Emergency Room Registered Nurse. I am actually new nurse with a background in emergency care. I love the fast paced life which makes this career an even greater match. It keeps me on my toes and I get to help people and lead a health life as example which is some of the many reasons I got into nursing in the first place.

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