Interview With Lisa Robins
Featured Model/Competitor - February 2010
Interviewed by: Angela Courduff
Be sure to read this article about Fitness Model International written by Lisa.
Lisa Robins is a Fitness Model, Fitness & Health Journalist, Figure Competitor, and Personal Trainer. She is also sponsored by Sci-Fit. We were so amazed with Lisa! She is not only inspirational, but she's also motivational and sexy!
"The best advice I can give to anyone is from the very first second your foot steps on that stage, confidence needs to be oozing out of your veins! Forget that it’s a competition and use it as your moment to show off all of your hard work in the gym, because, in the end, that is what it’s all about."
WP: Hi Lisa! Thank you for taking the time to interview! Tell us about yourself!
LR: Hey guys! Thank you so much for inviting me to chat with you today. I am so glad to be part of World Physique. I am a TEAM SCI-FIT Athlete, Personal Trainer, Competitor, fitness journalist and model. Fitness is truly my life; I cannot even imagine not having my world centered around being healthy, strong and energized!
WP: You are so involved in the fitness industry! When did you first become interested in exercise and fitness?
LR: Well, it was an easy decision for me being that I began dancing at the age of three and am the daughter of a Physical Fitness teacher. Also, it didn’t hurt having a big brother who constantly threw me into the goal as he practiced hockey in our driveway growing up! By the age of 16, I had already talked my parents into getting me a fitness membership at the neighborhood gym and began throwing the weights around after school.
WP: It sounds as if you were literally born to be a fitness connoisseur! You have competed in both the figure and bikini divisions. What interested you in competing?
LR: I am an Ohio State girl, and there is truly nothing else like being in the audience of the Arnold Classic in Columbus, Ohio. If that doesn’t motivate you to get in the sickest shape of your life and get on that stage, I don’t know what will!
WP: Well, I can totally relate; I’ve been to the Arnold Classic half a dozen times and there is nothing like it! You began competing just last year but have done so well! To what do you attribute your success?
LR: I know, it is super crazy. I wish I could tell you how and why I found such quick success in only 3 shows, including winning 1st Place Figure at a national level show. The best advice I can give to anyone is from the very first second your foot steps on that stage, confidence needs to be oozing out of your veins! Forget that it’s a competition and use it as your moment to show off all of your hard work in the gym, because, in the end, that is what it’s all about.
WP: Do you prefer one category over the other?
LR: Wow, that’s such a great question for me! At first, I was considered the ‘bikini girl’, but the judges truly see me as a figure girl. I really like that figure has a more clear judging criteria, whereas bikini can be extremely subjective. Don’t get me wrong, they are both subjective, but in figure there are more clear comparisons in muscularity and development. In all honesty, I work really hard in the gym and the figure division is all about that.
WP: What competitions do you have planned for 2010?
LR: I am in ‘building’ mode right now! My coaches, Felicia Romero (IFBB Figure Pro) and Damian Segovia, are training me to cross over to NPC figure and we think I will be back on the stage in June. I have some development to work on, and it’s best to stay focused on lifting and eating right rather than constantly dieting down and depleting for many shows year-round. For me, less is more: Compete less, and come out looking better than I ever have!
WP: That is a great mantra. Tell us what it’s like to be a part of Team SCI-FIT!
LR: Honestly, this whole TEAM SCI-FIT project is truly unbelievable. Not only do I have the unbelievable opportunity to work directly with Clark Bartram just about every day of the week, but to be able to reach so many more people outside my radius of everyday life is truly amazing. I truly love helping people reach their fitness goals and love to hear successes they have found. TEAM SCI-FIT has allowed me to get back to my journalism roots (big PR and marketing background) and be not only a fit image, but a voice behind the face and body that people can hear. It also doesn’t hurt that I get to represent Jim Vercellotti’s unbelievable SCI-FIT supplements which are truly top-notch! And, I am part of a team of athletes that are not only incredibly good-looking and fit, but nice, genuine friends, as well. I’m a lucky girl!
WP: You are definitely very lucky! But, you’ve put in the work to get where you are, so luck is just part of it. What advice would you give to someone interested in competing for the first time?
LR: Go for it! If you over-think it, you may psyche yourself out and back out. No joke! Stay focused in the gym and on your nutrition and get out there and show ‘em what you got!
WP: Very inspirational words. How has your training has changed over the years?
LR: In all honesty, I know so much more about my body today that I am truly able to attack my hit list faster and more effectively than I ever did before. Proper training can take a while to master when you are focusing on your own physique. Training others, now that is a different story.
WP: What do you consider to be the hardest part of your training?
LR: Ouch...ready to laugh? Talking too much! I get distracted very easily because I train where I work and am constantly approached by gym members for everything under the sun. I truly am more focused when I can sneak in early before training any of my clients and that’s when most are trying to get a quick workout in before work and have no time for chatter!
WP: I ran into the same problem. I joined another gym so I could concentrate on my workouts! So, what do your current routine look like?
LR: I am in a definite off-season building mode right now. I do teach group exercise classes in addition to my weight training which about sums up my cardio work for the week. You will rarely find me on a cardio machine unless I’m prepping for a shoot or show. Here’s the quads workout I did today with heavy and hard weight. I will hit them again later in the week with a different routine.
1. Leg Extensions (with toes pointed in): 5 sets of 10 to 15 reps (30 seconds rest).
2. 45 degree Leg Press (toes 6" apart): 4 sets of 20, 15, 10, 8 reps.
3. Smith Machine Squats (toes 1 to 2" apart): 3 sets of 12 reps.
4. Machine Squats (alternate with Hack Squats every other week): 7 sets of 10 to 15 reps (30 seconds rest). I alternate foot position every set (10" apart, 5" apart, and toes together).
WP: That is quite an extensive quads workout! You will be more than ready to hit the stage in June! Can you give us an example of your daily diet, on-season and off-season?
LR: I’m in off-season mode now. I always eat every 3 hours and my day always starts with 2 whole eggs, 6 whites and 4 oz. of sweet potatoes. If I choose to hit the weights first thing in the morning, I eat this breakfast after I lift and drink one scoop of SCI-FIT 100% Egg Protein, a scoop of SCI-FIT SuperNOva mixed with 6 oz. of almond dream on the way to the gym. The rest if the day consists of low glycemic carbs, lean proteins, healthy fats, and greens. My on-season diet plan will change this year, so I’m not truly sure how that will end up looking. We’ll talk in 3-4 months!
WP: You got it. Inquiring minds want to know! What supplements do you currently take? SCI-FIT perhaps?
LR: SCI-FIT girl in the house! No joke, they are super high quality and no-nonsense. What you see is what you get with all of their supplements! I can’t stand all the over-hyped junk out there! I take BCAA soft gels, GlutaLYN, SuperNOva Grape, Athletic Pak, and 100% Egg Protein in Vanilla which is my favorite with almond butter!
WP: What is the hardest part of dieting for you?
LR: Dinner! Oh gosh, I literally eat on the run out of containers all day like a little piggy and then I come home and look forward to a hot meal with fresh food. My biggest downfall is ‘milking’ that meal as much as I can. I want more and more and more!
WP: Packing your food for the day is crucial when you’re a busy woman on the go! Can you tell us your stats?
LR: I’m 5’5 1/2”, 34” bust, 26” waist, and 33” hips.
WP: Who are some of your idols? Who do you admire most in your business?
LR: I truly admire hard-working people. It was something my parents instilled in me as a child and is part of who I am. In this industry, I would say Clark Bartram is probably the hardest working guy I know! I even have trouble keeping up with his speed. Outside of this industry, I would probably have to say my brother. He’s a big success in his trade, but he climbed a mountain to get there and his feet are still on the ground. Gotta love that!
WP: You have also done some modeling. Can you tell me some of the photographers you’ve worked with? Anyone you’d like to work with?
LR: I have had the amazing opportunity to work with some of the best and nicest fitness photographers out there. To name a few: Mike Byerly, James Patrick, Russ Elloway, Harvey Elkins, Char and Tony Mandarich. I would love to, and hope to, work with Paul Buceta, Arthur Arsenik, Wade Robinson, Lee (Imirage) and Mike, Mike, Mike again and again!
WP: It’s great that you’ve worked with so many photographers and enjoyed your experience so much that you want to work with them again. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
LR: Hmm, that’s hard to answer. I most likely will be, and continuing to be, in the best shape of my life. Whether it’s through my image in a photograph or my words in a fitness article, I truly want to inspire more and more people to live a healthy and rewarding life and just go for it!
WP: How do you feel you’ve changed over the past few years when it comes to thinking, actions, and life in general?
LB: When my Dad suddenly passed away a few years ago, I lost a parent but gained an angel. I am not only more spiritual today, but truly more aware of what makes me happy and fulfilled. Life is so precious and I truly have learned to fight obstacles and kick doors down harder than I ever have because his loss was a true example of how things can change in a split second. You have to live your life to the fullest every day, listen to yourself and act on it!
WP: Any shout outs?
LB: I cannot exit this interview without personally thanking Clark Bartram for taking me under his wing and pushing me to never let a door close in my face. He is truly my biggest inspiration in this business. If you don’t know Clark, get to know him at www.clarkbartram.com. He is INSANE! Also, a huge thank you to Zack Yanni and Obi Obadike for introducing me to World Physique. And, of course, to Tammy Renee'! You guys rock! One more thanks to Gary and the entire FMI family! The most supportive group of fitness professionals out there, and they’re not too bad looking either!
WP: It has been a pleasure interviewing you! I wish you the best of luck getting back on stage!
LB: Thank you, Angela. I’m looking forward to more projects with World Physique and connecting with all of the Team out there. Come find me on this site!
