From Party Girl To Fitness Model: ‘MuffinTop Less’ Talks With T&T!

Trimmed&Toned Team.

How Did You Get Started In Health And Fitness?

Fitness was definitely not something I was always interested in. Before college, I had always been involved in some kind of sport. However once college hit, the sports disappeared and partying took its place. Like many college students, I was excited to be “out on my own” and took full advantage of the freedom college gave me. I drank like a fish and ate like a pig. After living off of dorm food and boxed wine for 3 years, I had gained about 25 pounds. I hid behind baggy clothes and stretchy pants, insecure about my body and feeling uncomfortable in my own skin. Finally one morning, after a particularly wild night, I woke up with an insane hangover.

That’s when it hit me… I can’t do this anymore. “I hate what and who I’ve become”. But this time, instead of continuing down that path of negativity, I decided to actually DO SOMETHING about it! I got up, got ready and went out to set into motion my future. I joined a local gym, threw out all the horrible junk food from my cupboards and restocked my kitchen with only the healthiest foods. I became an avid reader of science journals and popular fitness websites like bodybuilding.com. I set goals for myself and I promised myself I would reach them. I love the lifestyle I’ve created for myself and now I can genuinely say health and fitness is something I’m VERY Interested in.

What Is Your Best Accomplishment So Far? Proudest Moment?

My best accomplishment so far has been my blog. The number of messages I have received from my followers telling me how much I have changed their lives has been overwhelming. It makes every single workout, every piece of broccoli, every second of time spent reading and researching all worth it. Knowing how much I’ve been able to help girls overcome obstacles in their life and create new, healthy habits means more to me than any photoshoot or anything else I have or will accomplish in the fitness world.

What Workout Routine Has Worked Best For You?

Weight lifting has been the best “workout routine” for me. It has changed my physique drastically in a short amount of time. I’ve tried yoga, pilates, kickboxing, and other fitness classes… but once I discovered the weights, I never looked back!

My workouts quite literally change every day. I enjoy challenging myself and trying new things. One thing that remains fairly consistent is my use of supersets. It helps keep my time spent in the gym minimal and the intensity of my workouts high. I also enjoy including dropsets, negative eccentric reps and other training techniques that make my workouts more difficult.

Top 3 Favourite Exercises And Why?

For some reason my “top 3” change all the time! I like squats, curls and lunges at the moment! I like the way they feel.

Favourite Form Of Cardio?

I like the long, steady state stuff where I can just listen to music and “escape”. It’s my “me time” to just zone out and not worry about anything.

What Is Your Diet Like?

I have a pretty basic diet. As far as protein, I eat eggs, chicken, tilapia, salmon and shrimp the majority of the time. For my complex carbs I enjoy yams, old-fashioned oatmeal and Ezekiel bread. For my healthy fats, I tend to stick to almonds or natural nut butters. Of course I also include a variety of fibrous veggies like asparagus and spinach. I don’t eat fruit very often, but if I do it’s usually just an apple.

Any Staple/Classic Healthy Meals That You Always Eat? What Is Your Favourite Cheat Meal?

My breakfast almost never changes, except maybe before a shoot. I have an egg, three whites and a half-cup of old-fashioned oatmeal with Stevia and cinnamon! Also before bed, I have my chocolate peanut butter sludge! My favourite cheat meal is anything SUGARY! I have an intense chocolate sweet tooth! Yogurtland is probably one of my favourite “cheat meal” spots!

What Supplements Do You Use?

I take a multi-vitamin, fish oil, CLA, green tea extract, BCAAs and L-Carnitine. I also have a protein shake post-workout.

What Are Your Tips For Success For Beginners?

Make your health a priority. Create a healthy lifestyle that you can maintain for the long term. One of the best ways to do that is to find something that you ENJOY and something that gives you a wide variety of options. That way you will never feel deprived, or feel as though you HAVE to do something you don’t want to do!

The truth that most people don’t want to hear is, there is no magic pill or powder. There are no secrets. It takes hard work, consistency, dedication, discipline and determination. Make it easier on yourself by doing something you love!

What Is The Best Advice You Have Ever Been Given?

Don’t waste time or energy on negativity. It doesn’t matter whether that negativity is your own attitude, another person or a particular situation. Surround yourself with people who support you, believe in you and make you feel good. If a particular person is constantly letting you down, hurting you or making your life stressful or miserable, let them go. Change can be scary, but sometimes you have to take the leap.

Did You Make Any Mistakes When You First Started Out?

Of course! I’m sure I made just about every mistake I could have. I did too much cardio, I didn’t eat enough protein, I didn’t eat enough in general, I didn’t lift heavy enough, I didn’t have anything to eat post-workout… I think I just about spanned the entire rainbow of newbie mistakes!

What’s Your Favourite Body Part?

I don’t really have a favourite body part. I’m constantly pushing to improve all of them. I doubt I’ll ever be completely satisfied, but to me that’s a good thing, it keeps me motivated and makes me push myself each and every day to be better.

Your Best Tips To Getting Into Contest Shape/Losing Those Last Few Pounds?

Challenge yourself! You will not get full results from half-hearted effort! You know deep down whether you could be eating cleaner, or pushing yourself harder in your workout. Don’t let a negative mind-set or laziness get in the way of achieving your goals! I am one of the laziest people I know, and I have to fight it every day… but in the end it’s worth it when I see the results!

What’s Your Gym Playlist Like? Favourite Song To Play While Running?

I have an extremely eccentric playlist! It ranges from death metal to hip hop to dubstep to indie folk to opera. When I put it on shuffle it’s definitely an experience haha!

Where Does Your Motivation Come From?

Motivation is everywhere! The source of it is simply my desire to improve myself. However I am constantly finding new things that inspire me! Some days it’s my drive to improve my physique, some days it comes from seeing a particularly motivational quote, other days still it comes from the beautiful messages I receive from my Tumblr followers. I feel also that if I “cheat” or skip my workout, I’m letting down not just myself, but my followers and all the people in my life who support my lifestyle…. So that is another big motivating factor for me!

Favourite Fitness Models? Inspirations?

There are so many people in the industry who inspire me, it would be impossible to list them all! As corny as it sounds, each and every person inspires me in one way or another. It takes some seriously STRONG people (and I don’t just mean physically) to achieve what people in the fitness world achieve.

Favourite Quote?

“Trust yourself. Create the kind of self that you will be happy to live with all your life. Make the most of yourself by fanning the tiny, inner sparks of possibility into flames of achievement.”