Interview With Leslie Lancaster
Before & After Feature - April 2010
Interviewed by: Angie Courduff
While pregnant each time, Leslie Lancaster gained over 50 pounds! After the second child, she got to the point where she was tired of being flabby. She hated looking at herself in the mirror.
So, she decided to take control and hit the gym with a work-out book she purchased at a local bookstore. She didn't know a thing about working out, but she was bound and determined to teach herself!
After about a year, the true turning point for her came when one of my close friends took a picture of her in a bikini.
Instead of giving up and being depressed, she used that picture as motivation. she decided after looking at that image, it was time to really put it in high gear.
“Self-motivation can be difficult. It takes will power, persistence and having a clear goal in mind. I was so embarrassed to go to the gym the first time. I was clueless.”
WP: Hi, Leslie! You experienced what a lot of women go through after pregnancy; the post-pregnancy weight loss dilemma, but you raised to the challenge! What got you in the gym?
LL: Hello, Angela. With each pregnancy, I gained about 50 pounds. That’s a lot of weight on a 5’4” frame! Exercise had never been a regular part of my life and pregnancy was no exception. I never exercised while pregnant; never. After the second baby, I was still wearing pregnancy pants for 6 months. I still remember my husband telling me one day, “Please, throw those pants away!” He was tired of looking at me like that and deep down; I was tired of it, too.
Finally, I decided to go to the gym because I had gotten to the point where I was sick and tired of being skinny-fat. I wanted to get back into my pre-pregnancy clothes, look good in them and all I knew at that point was I needed to do cardio to get the weight off. You know, with clothes on, I looked okay, but with clothes off, I was flabby. It was not attractive and I wasn’t happy with myself. Not to mention, staying at home with kids all day can be mentally draining. I love my boys, but I need my own time to think, unwind and I wanted something for myself again. I needed a little bit of ‘me’ time. I also needed a goal to work towards and an outside activity in my day that didn’t include cooking, cleaning, doing laundry, scrubbing toilets, wiping butts and feeding children. The gym became that outlet and served as a place where I could enjoy peace and quiet and also have a little social interaction again with adults.
WP: It really takes an inner strength and self motivation to step into the gym when you never have before. How’d you get started?
LL: I couldn’t agree more! Self-motivation can be difficult. It takes will power, persistence and having a clear goal in mind. I was so embarrassed to go to the gym the first time. I was clueless. All I really knew how to do was get on the treadmill and on the Stairmaster. There were machines there, of course, but I had no idea how to use them correctly and I didn’t want to look stupid performing the exercises so I just walked or tried running on the treadmill. I eventually got to the point where I wanted to start working with the weights and when this happened, instead of hiring a trainer, I became my own trainer.
I went to the local bookstore, bought a work book on weight training for women and starting reading it. The book contained recommended workout programs month by month and I used them to workout. Literally, I would take that big workout book in the gym with me because I was unsure of how to perform certain exercises! It was a little embarrassing at first but I put my headphones on and tuned everything out and just focused on what I was doing. Eventually, I got confident enough that I didn’t need the book and then I would just take a notecard around with me. To this day, I still take a notepad around with me so I can keep track of reps and the weight I’m lifting.
WP: You had a ‘turning point’ that made you step up your game. What was it?
LL: The turning point for me came when I saw a picture of myself in a bikini. I was disgusted! I had no idea how I looked until I viewed the picture. It all started when I met a dear friend in the gym, Deanna Hoffmann (Ms. Muscle Mania 2008), and she took the picture of me because we decided to do “before and after” shots. I was so upset after seeing that picture that I was almost in tears. I still have it today and still can’t stand to look at it! She served as the inspiration I needed and was a great role model for me and still is! Deanna’s in her 40’s, she’s a mother too and she’s in incredible shape. I knew if she could do it, I could too. I was bound and determined NOT to stay in that shape. I was on a mission to change my body and seeing that picture gave me the ammunition I needed.
WP: What made you decide to step on stage for the first time?
LL: Stepping on stage was the ultimate test of fitness for me. It meant taking working out to the highest level possible. I’m the type of person who gets focused on one thing and takes it to the extreme. If I have a task to do, I research, research, research and learn as much as I can so I can be the best I can be. This can be a good and bad thing at times but it got me on stage and for that, it was an asset.
Also, I attended a Cathy Savage fitness camp in Atlanta and after being assessed by one of their staff, I was told that within 6 weeks I would be ready to step on the stage. I was shocked and psyched all at the same time! “Bring it on!” That was my outlook after that camp. I wanted the challenge and I looked forward to feeling that sense of accomplishment I knew would come as a result. After the camp, I went home, picked a contest date and found a lady to make my competition bikini and I got busy with my workouts. My diet totally changed and so did my workouts in the gym but I loved it.
WP: Tell me about your first competition!
LL: Oh, my first competition! I loved it! Seeing how my body had totally transformed was so gratifying. I was on an emotional high and so proud of what I had done. I competed in The Fitness Atlantic Competition 2008 in Connecticut using Cathy Savage and her team as my trainers. They were great. They provided nutritional, workout, makeup, bikini and posing instruction. Without them, none of it would have been possible. I practiced my posing in my garage on a weekly basis and they critiqued me via Youtube videos. Finally, the day arrived when my husband and I flew to Connecticut. There were tons of women there and it was a little intimidating at first but I made friends with a couple of girls at the camp in Atlanta so that made it a little easier. Putting my number on my bikini bottom, looking at me in the mirror and knowing how far I had come was an unbelievable confidence booster. I stepped out when they called my name and was proud to walk across that stage! I couldn’t see anybody; thank goodness, because the lights on the stage are so bright. I competed in bikini and model and ended up placing 7th out of over 30 girls in bikini. That’s not bad considering it was my first time and most of the women on the stage were close to half my age and had never had children. It was amazing and a journey and I’ll always remember fondly.
WP: Do you see yourself competing again in the future?
LL: Yes, definitely! Moving overseas has put a kink in those plans for the time being because flying back to the States from Singapore is very expensive and the flight is 24 hours. Not to mention, it’s taken me a while to settle in here and develop a routine. Finally, I’m settled and I’m ready to do it again. Hopefully next year will be the year.
WP: What is your motivation to keep pushing yourself?
LL: The motivation I use to keep pushing myself was knowing where I was and not wanting to go back there. I have no desire to look like I did in my first “before” bikini shot. I don’t want to look horrible on the outside and I don’t want to feel horrible on the inside! Also, I really love going to the gym. I like the rush of endorphins. I can be in a bad, cranky mood and sluggish and after the gym, my spirits are lifted and I have a lot of energy. The gym doesn’t have to be a chore. I don’t view it that way. I look at it just like I look at brushing my teeth; it’s something that’s got to get done.
WP: What are the key factors that dictate the way you train?
LL: I lift heavy and move quickly between sets to keep my heart rate up. I’m not a big fan of doing long periods of cardio so I try to incorporate a little bit of it into my training sessions. I know that in order to change the look of your body, you have to lift heavy and push yourself.
WP: Can you give me an example of your current workout?
LL: I usually go to the gym after I put the kids on the bus at 7AM. I often begin with a quick functional full body warm-up on the ball by doing push-ups, tucks, and skiers with my knees bent and back extensions. After that, it’s on to the workout. I usually do an upper/lower body split 3 days a week. Cardio lately has consisted of running stairs for 20 minutes, which really gets my heart rate up and running sprints. I really enjoy doing my cardio outside because the treadmill bores me to death! When I do the machines inside, I perform HIIT because it’s most effective and doesn’t require as much time.
WP: You recently relocated; how do you like living abroad?
LL: Now, I love it! However, that wasn’t the case at first. When we landed we were basically dropped off and told, “Welcome, hope you make it!” I moved from Baton Rouge where we lived in a house and had a car. Today, we live in a condo on the third floor and take the elevator down to the basement car park to our shared car. I rely a lot on public transportation by taking a taxi, the bus or the MRT (subway). Singapore is best described as a good combination between New York and Hawaii. It’s never cold here and very tropical but it’s also very cosmopolitan. There are high rises everywhere and most people live in multi-story apartment/condos. Shopping here is taken to the extreme. I have never in my life seen so many high-end stores as I’ve seen here! There are at least 5 Louis Vuitton stores downtown, multiple Prada, Hermes, and Kate Spade. You name it and it’s here!
I’ve never lived in a big city, but I absolutely love it and it’s going to make it very hard to go back to the States now. Singapore is also a great place to raise a family because it’s so safe. Guns and drugs are illegal, people still get caned and the average time on death row is 30 days. Needless to say, they don’t play! Not to mention, the traveling we’ve been able to do is unbelievable. Traveling in the States can be expensive but traveling over here is very affordable and you can be there in less than 2-3 hours by plane. So far, we’ve been to Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Bali, and Hong Kong, Thailand and in just a couple of hours, we’re heading to Borneo for 5 days. I love traveling and seeing new things.
Living overseas has really opened my eyes, broadened my horizons and forced me to try new things. I think it’s very easy and normal to get boxed in to a certain home and town. Now, I don’t think so much that way. Moving over here has proved that as long as I have my family, home can be anywhere. I’m open to moving to another country one day, too. We’ll see. This has definitely been an unexpected happy adventure and I’m so glad I came!
WP: It sounds amazing! Your love for fitness has not subsided though and you recently became a certified Personal Trainer! How does it feel to be the one now dishing out fitness advice?
LL: I really enjoy it. I learned so much along the way through trial and error and reading that I can now pass onto clients. People want to know, “how do you look like that… tell me.” If you get me talking about working out or nutrition, I could go on for days! My passion is helping other moms because I know how it feels to have had a baby and let myself go. With that being said, I also know that it is possible to get your body back if you make changes in your diet and workout. I was told so many times by people close to me, “You’ll never get your body back after having kids.” That statement is the furthest from the truth and it was comments like that that really pushed me even harder to prove them wrong. I say not only can you get your body back, but you can have a better body than before if you put forth the effort! I don’t think people realize how much diet plays into looking and feeling good, though. Making changes in diet can be a total lifestyle change and it takes work to convince someone of this. Ultimately, it’s in the client’s hands.
WP: What does your diet consist of? Can you give me an example day?
LL: I usually get up in the morning and have steel cut oats topped with unsweetened applesauce, fruit and coffee. Then, I workout and afterwards I’ll have a protein smoothie. At lunch, I usually eat leftovers like soup, veggies, fish, etc. My second snack before dinner is usually some kind of chopped veggie with hummus or tossed with balsamic vinegar and little bit of olive oil. I try to eat my fruits before lunch. And, then at dinner we usually have a lot of veggies, soups, tacos, fish, etc. We eat a lot of fresh fruit and vegetables!
WP: What is the hardest thing you have had to deal with when it comes to your diet?
LL: Planning ahead! I know what I should eat but when it’s not ready and I’m hungry, it’s so easy to grab some junk and eat that. Being prepared is essential. Also, being that I’m not at home a lot, packing my lunch is sometimes necessary. If I don’t pack my lunch, I know that I need to be home by lunch so I can eat something healthy.
WP: Time to get personal. Tell me about your family.
LL: I have two sweet little boys named Ty and Lane. Ty is 6 and Lane is 4. Ty looks just like my husband and acts just like him, too. I think he’s going to be an engineer just like my husband because he likes building things and is extremely organized. We can’t figure out who Lane looks or acts like but he’s a goofball and so funny. My husband’s name is Gabe and he’s a great dad! We spend a lot of time together as a family doing outdoor activities on the weekends. Both the boys are involved in sports. They play soccer and T-ball. The rest of our family lives in the States. My parents live in Florida and Gabe’s live in Mississippi. We also have family in Louisiana.
WP: What do your sons think of their new fit mom?
LL: They don’t remember me when I was out of shape because they were so young. But, they see that I go to the gym almost everyday and that I workout often and they try to copy me sometimes. For example, just last week, Ty was showing me how he can do a push-up. I want them to see us living healthy, working out, being active and eating well so that it will become a part of their lifestyle in the future when they’re old enough to make those decisions for themselves.
WP: Where would you like to see yourself in 10 years?
LL: In ten years, I’d like to be in a place where I’m financially contributing to the household again. I want to be a mom entrepreneur. Since my kids are both in school all day, I’m using this time to explore different paths to that outcome. I also want to continue to be a fit mom, travel, play golf, take the kids on amazing vacations and have a fast 2-seater sports car.
WP: Do you have any pet peeves?
LL: I can’t stand it when I hear people say, “I can’t.” Not everything is possible but you never know until you try. I say to myself, “If they can do it, I can do it. Why not me?” My kids get points taken off their weekly point board for saying those two words. They know I don’t like to hear it and they have to put forth effort to get what they want.
WP: What do you consider to be important in life? Why?
LL: My family and my kids are the most important in my life. I’ve lost many people close to me, including my mom, and I know that family is irreplaceable. I’m not going to be able to find another mom that loves me the way my mom did and the same goes for other family members. I make friends everywhere I go and I have great friends but its family that will stick by your side and love you when no one else is left standing.
WP: Has your focus changed at all over the years when it comes to your thinking, actions, and life in general?
LL: Definitely! My way of thinking changed the moment my mom passed away in 1997. It forced me to grow up. I was 21 and I knew I had to create my own way. I’ve always been very independent so that was not so difficult but it was still hard. Her death made me see that the three most important things in life are going to heaven, being a Christian and family. To me, that’s what it boiled down to.
In addition, I view life as being so short now and as a result, I love being active and trying new things. I still want to try windsurfing, diving, surfing and wakeboarding. And, there are many more places yet to travel I haven’t seen. I want to see things and do things now because life is so short. I don’t want to have any regrets. I want my two-seater sports car when I’m still in my 30’s because with my family history of cancer, I don’t know if I’ll live long enough to get it when I’m older.
Also, I don’t want to look back and say, “I wish I would have _____.” I do things very spur of the moment and it takes someone like my husband to reign me in sometimes! He’s the saver. I’m the spender. Creating great memories is what I want to do for my family and myself while we’re still on this earth.
WP: Do you have any projects in the works?
LL: Yes, as a matter of fact, I do. I’m starting my on on-line personal training website and I’m working on an invention idea I’ve had for years. Both are in the works and only time will tell!
WP: Well, good for you! Good luck! Any shout outs you want to make prior to the interviewing closing?
LL: A shout out to Katie Uter because she was such an inspiration to me in the beginning of this fitness journey. Also, if any of my friends from FL or LA are reading this, I miss you!
WP: It has been a pleasure interviewing you! I wish you the best of luck in your future endeavors!
LL: Thank you so much and I hope you’ll see more of me in the future as I continue to compete!
