World Physique

Interview by: Tammy Renee'

WP: Hello world! Let me introduce you to Elise Firestone! Elise is 26 years old. She grew up in Glastonbury, CT. She is a certified personal trainer, fitness instructor, esthetician/makeup artist, and owner of Cosmetic Artistry by Elise. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Sports & Leisure Management from Eastern CT State University.

 Currently, she travels to shows providing hair, makeup and tanning services to competitors throughout the NY, NJ, and CT, as well as the U.S. She also teaches at various fitness camps, providing competitors with the knowledge for prepping for shows. In her spare time, she enjoys writing various articles on hair, makeup and fitness topics that have been published in several fitness magazines. She also has her own forum called "Beauty School" on RXmuscle.com. She enjoys working with clients in hopes of helping them reach their personal goals.

 So, Elise. I am very honored to have you.

 EF: Thank you, Tammy. I'm happy to be here, also.

 WP: With all the amazing things that you have your hands in, what has been your stepping stone to get where you are today?

 EF: I’ve always been in great physical shape. At the age of three I started dance classes. In fact, I was a competitive Irish Step Dancer until the age of sixteen. I guess you could say I traded in my dance shoes for a pair of dumbbells. I began working out and just simply became fascinated with health and fitness.

It wasn’t until 2002, when I recognized that my health was deteriorating during workouts and functioning through everyday life. I always had exercise induced asthma, but never was there a time where I couldn’t walk up a flight of stairs without getting dizzy or fainting. This was a time in my life where I thought all my dreams of stepping up onstage to compete in a figure show were going to end. It was then that I realized that there was something wrong. After certain tests, I was diagnosed with a rare pulmonary disease called Pulmonary Hypertension, a disease that causes elevation in the pulmonary artery which can lead to heart failure. Thanks to some wonderful doctors, I am on medications that have allowed me to pursue my dreams and goals.

WP: That must have been very hard to go through. I am so happy they found what was wrong. You have an amazing story! Talking physique, what has it been like to maintain your physique? Have you done anything different lately?

EF: Eating healthy foods such as lean meats, wholesome grains, oats, potatoes, and including essential fats into my diet is a way that I continue to maintain my physique. I like to be photo-shoot ready no matter what time of year. I feel like I’m learning my body and how it responds to certain foods each time I prepare for a show or photo-shoot.

WP: I try to tell every model that staying photo-shoot ready is what will make you or break you as a fitness model. Where do you reside now?

 EF: Currently, I reside in NYC. I love it. There are so many awesome restaurants, stores and gyms. I just feel so alive walking down the streets of NY. Although, I often go home to CT to visit my friends and family and to escape the chaos of the city.

WP: I have a photographer in NY named Sean that I would love to get you together with for a photo-shoot for the magazine. We'll talk about that later! You mentioned you did figure competitions. Can you tell me more about it?

EF: In 2002, I competed in my first NPC figure competition. It was a great experience, one in which I learned more about myself and one that I found which direction of competition I wanted to go. For me, being a natural athlete is of upmost importance. I also realized that you don’t always have to win 1st place to make it to where you want to go with your fitness goals.

WP: That is so true! Just stepping up on stage makes a person a winner! Are you planning to compete again in the future?

EF: Yes. As of right now, I am taking a bit of a breather to focus on my career but, I will be back onstage competing sometime soon. My schedule is filling up for show season, getting competitors airbrushed and ready for shows.

I am currently planning what is next in the future for shows. It is great to know that there are many more categories of competitions through the many different organizations. As of right now, I plan on competing in the fall, but might just be onstage this coming spring.

WP: Great for you! There is something about competiting! What has figure competitions taught you thus far?

EF: Figure competitions have taught me the importance of setting a goal and reaching it. I’ve always been a very driven and hard working individual. Not just anyone can compete. It takes a lot of hard work and discipline. It a great sport but you definitely have to keep it in perspective with life, and having a healthy balance.

WP: That is so true! What was the hardest thing for you to overcome when you first started?

EF: The hardest thing I had to overcome was knowing that there might be a chance that I couldn’t make it to the stage due to my illness of PH. When you compete you put a tremendous amount of stress on your body, mentally and physically. There were days I laid in bed so exhausted, but always seem to push myself through it, by listening to my body.

WP: Well said! What was the hardest thing you had to deal with when it came to your diet?

 EF: Honestly, for me dieting isn’t an issue. There are certain foods that I miss while dieting, but I know once the competition is over I can open up my diet and allow those foods again.

WP: You have a lot of control over your diet. How has your training changed over the years?

EF: My training has changed drastically over the years. For awhile I was training with my best friend IFBB pro Colette Nelson. When I was competing in figure my focus was putting on muscle so I lifted super heavy within a 6-10 rep range. Now that I compete in model and bikini, my focus is more overall muscle tone. So my rep range varies as well as my workouts. I tend to switch up my workouts from week to week depending on the program that I’m following. The key for me is to keep changing things up so I don’t get bored.

WP: What titles/accomplishments have you thus far? Tell me about them.

EF: This past September I placed 1st in Best Body Naturalmania tall class, as well as NPC New Jersey State hardfitness Model Search, where I placed 2nd.

I also was a semifinalist in the Miss CT/ Miss USA pageant. This was my first time ever competing in a regular pageant; something that I wanted to do since I was a little girl. It was a great experience and very different from any other competition I had competed in.

WP: You really deserve those titles, too! You look great! Where do you see your career and life in 10 years from now?

EF: I see myself owning my own personal training facility. I really love working with everyday people who face the everyday challenges of staying fit.

I also plan to continue to travel to shows providing services onsite at different bodybuilding and figure shows. I’d really like to get more exposure as a model, as well.

WP: Are you doing any modeling? If so, please tell me about it.

EF: I’ve done some modeling for various supplement companies but would really like to do more. I just came out in a centerfold in Natural Body Building Magazine. I’d really like to do commercial, print, and fitness modeling in the future; if given the opportunity.

WP: Jumping up and down, waving arms! Oooh! Oohh! We're over here! Fitness Magazines, did you say!? Ha-ha! Can you tell me any photographers you’ve worked with, or someone you’d like to work with?

EF: I’ve worked with many talented photographers including Bill Dobbins and Lisa Brewer. I’d really like to someday shoot with Walt Ostarly, Terry Goodlad, Ian Sirus, and many talented others.

WP: Lisa Brewer and Walt are some of the best! I respect everything that they do! Since you're into healthy eating and taking care of yourself. Do you take any supplements? If so, which ones?

EF: Currently, I take a multi-vitamin supplement, Vitamin C, and Calcium. When dieting for a show, I incorporate a fat burner (lypolyze) and omega-3 fatty acids by Species Nutrition. My favorite Protein is Revolutionary Technology Nutrition, and Gaspari’s new protein powder.

 WP: What are your pet peeves?

EF: My biggest pet peeve is digging through an unkept fridge. I like things to be easily seen and organized in the fridge.

WP: Oh, good one! I've never even thought of that as a pet peeve but, I am the same way! do you consider to be important in life, and why?

EF: I think being overall happy with yourself is the most important thing in life. You can have everything in the world but if you’re not happy with yourself, everything you own or have means absolutely nothing at all.

WP: True! We must be happy with ourselves for anyone else to be happy with us. How have you changed over the past few years when it comes to thinking, actions, and life in general?

EF: For being 26 years old, I’d say I’ve experienced a lot of heartache and triumphs. I have had to contend with my illness, which will never go away, but I am able to continue on with my goals and dreams. I had been in an abusive relationship several years ago, but was able to extricate myself from it and go on with my life. I realize that some things in life we can’t control and we have to live with it. Other things we can control, and we have the power to direct our lives to maintain our well-being.

WP: I feel God allows us to go through things to help us grow and to become strong. I really believe that. But, he is always there to hold our hands. We've talked a lot so far but I have not yet heard you say anything about your family. Tell me about your family. In addition, are you married, single, or dating?

EF: I come from a loving family. My parents have been married for almost 36 years. I have two older brothers named Matt and Greg. Both of my brothers are great guys, whom I am close with. Currently I am single, by choice, that is. I am at that point in life where I am focused on building a long-term career for myself. I have many goals and aspirations I would like to achieve before I include someone else in my life.

WP: I would love to meet your family! They sound like such great people. Any shout outs?

EF: A special thanks to my best friend Colette Nelson, for always telling me to “keep the dream alive”. And to my family for always being there when I need them.

WP: Give me an example of your workout.

EF: Well, currently I am not training for anything specifically. I’m doing 3 days of cardio. I am weight- training 3 days a/week that are Giant Sets that include various muscle parts. I tend to mix workouts up with lots of variation so that I can shock the muscles and refrain from the feeling of having stale workouts.

WP: Give me an example of your diet. What do you normally eat each day?

 EF: I tend to eat clean with good foods throughout the week. I usually allow myself one or two cheat meals during the weekend. An average day includes 6 small meals, and at least 1 gallon of water.
Meal 1: Oats, 1scoop of protein powder, ½ c. berries
Meal 2: 1 scoop of protein with 10 almonds
Meal 3: 3 oz. chicken, ½ rice, 1c. broccoli
Meal 4: Protein pudding, ¼ c. of Fage Greek Yogurt
Meal 5: 3 oz. Salmon, 1 c. of salad
Meal 5: ½ c. of cottage cheese, ½ c. of brocolli


WP: Protein pudding. Now, that sounds good! Could you tell me about your future projects?

EF: My dreams are currently in the making. I have a few new and exciting projects that I am currently working on, and they will be launched within the year. Currently, I’m going to continue to travel to shows, work with clients and prepare myself for stage.

WP: It has been a pleasure interviewing you! I wish you all the best of luck!

EF: Thank you, for taking the time to learn a little bit about myself and what makes me who I am today. Be sure to check out my website at elisefirestone.com