World Physique

Interviewed by Tammy Renee'
Photos by: NorCalBodz

Jennifer Robinson is a 34 year old proud mother of a teenage daughter. She is a national level NPC figure competitor and she has been competing for 3 years. She has taken what used to be a relaxing hobby of exercising and let it develop into a passion that she will have for the rest of her life. She began competing after enjoying some success and satisfaction as a personal trainer about 4 years ago. She has also been employed as a police officer for the past 12 years for a major metropolitan area.

WP: Jennifer, it's great to have you here today. What has been your stepping stone to get where you are today?

JR: I believe that my stepping stone that has helped me get this far is my solid constant drive to succeed and my truly unwavering determination.

WP: What has it been like to maintain your physique? Have you done anything different lately?

JR: As I learn more and more about how my body responds to nutrient timing I am learning how to diet effectively for shows, photo shoots, and personal appearances. I am still tweaking my peak week diet for shows and making small changes to try to get better results. I also feel that I am constantly trying to improve and move forward

WP: Where do you reside now?

JR: I reside in Tennessee.

WP: I know you have competed before. Can you tell me about that?

JR: Sure! I've competed in the following:

2007 Battle on the Bluff Tunica, MS Figure 1st and Overall

2007 Greater Knox Classic Knoxville, TN Figure 2nd place

2007 Tennessee State Championships Murfreesboro, TN Figure 2nd place

2008 Jr USA Charleston, SC Figure Competitor

2008 Southern Classic Jackson, MS Figure 1st and Overall

2008 Kentucky Muscle Louisville, KY 1st and Overall 2009 Arnold Classic Amateur Columbus, OH Competitor 2009 Southern Indiana Evansville, IN 1st place

I truly enjoy competing. Fortunately, I have enjoyed some measure of success. From my competition history it appears as if I am either right on the money or way off base. Overall, I have an absolute blast when I compete whether I place or not. I enjoy traveling but unfortunately I don’t get to see much of the cities that I travel to. The show is non-stop so I only get to see my hotel room, the venue, and nearby restaurants. I enjoy making friends and all the crazy experiences that go along with this lifestyle.

WP: Wow! That's outstanding! Are you planning to compete again in the future?

JR: My next scheduled show is the NPC Southern States July 10th and 11th in Ft. Lauderdale FL. I will be competing in the Fitness division and I hope to get nationally qualified at that show.

WP: I'm sure you will do just fine! What other sports or activities did or do you enjoy?

JR: I run track for my department in the Police and Fire Olympic Games. I train in gymnastics and dance to improve my 2 minute mandatory fitness routine and I must say that I am not the tallest girl at gymnastics but I am the oldest. I also design bikinis, mostly for use in my photo shoots. I like them and I can make them fit me perfectly!

WP: I bet being a cop is very exciting! Tell me about your family. In addition, are you married, single, or dating?

JR: My beautiful daughter plays soccer, tennis, and practices Jiu Jitsu regularly in additional to school work and her social life. I have been happily involved with national level bodybuilder, competition trainer, and NPC promoter Chris Caudy for 2 years

WP: What has figure competitions taught you thus far?

JR: I have learned that I have more drive and determination that I ever thought possible. I thought my first competition diet was literally going to kill me but after that first year I was able to work and train even harder and push my body to limits that I never would have even dreamed were possible.

WP: What was the hardest thing for you to overcome when you first started?

JR: It has taught me time management. I have never in my life had to watch my diet or stay on a schedule to include both AM and PM cardio sessions, a lifting session, 6 to 8 meals a day, both jobs, family, friends, sleep, and still have time for myself. Someone said that a schedule like that would make them lose their mind. I replied that I don’t have time to lose my mind, but maybe I can fit that in after competition!

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

JR: The nutrition program was difficult for me at first, because I was a self-described carbo-holic. I love carbohydrates. I’m not a big meat eater. Competition diets contain a LOT of protein. My diet was completely flipped. Before I began competing I would eat when I was hungry. Well, anyone who has dieted before can tell you, you are either on the diet or not. I started the diet and my body went into shock. My nutrient source immediately changed from carbohydrates to lean proteins and complex carbohydrates. I also started eating the smaller meals to keep my metabolism on track. The first day or so was fairly uneventful, but on that third day I got so hungry I thought the diet was written wrong and a meal or two was left off of the page. Over time I got used to it and now I enjoy, no strike that, I appreciate the diet and the results and I really welcome the after competition meal!

WP: A carboaholic! I've never heard that before! Ha-ha. That makes two of us! What are the key factors that dictate the way you train today?

JR: I use goal focused training targeted for my needs. As my needs change from muscle building to leaning out and now to strength specific moves and flexibility I adjust.

WP: How has your training changed over the years?

JR: When I first started I needed to add muscle mass to my upper body and pre-contest I needed to lean out and focus my legs and hips. Now my training is still focused on symmetry but I have added the element of performance of strength moves, flexibility moves, and some level of gymnastic ability. I’m spending less time in the gym lifting weights and more time on the gymnastic floor turning flips and perfecting the splits.

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

JR: I have my overall competition wins at Battle on the Bluff, Southern Classic, and Kentucky Muscle and a few gold and silver medals from the Police and Fire Olympics in Dallas, TX, Las Vegas NV, and Quebec Canada.

WP: Where do you see your career and life in 10 years from now?

JR: I hope to retire from police work so I can devote more time to the fitness industry. I also plan to expand my personal training business. I plan to continue to compete and I hope to obtain my IFBB pro card in fitness. That would be an awesome accomplishment because I do not have the extensive cheerleading, dance, or gymnastic background as a lot of the competitors do. I am also a bit older than the average beginning fitness competitor. Good thing I have determination and drive.

WP: Are you doing any modeling?

JR: I am in whirlwind of photo shoot scheduling lately. I do a lot of lingerie, fitness wear, and swimsuit modeling. I am currently submitting my photos to magazines and websites. I also have a website in development.

WP: Can you tell me any photographers you’ve worked with, or someone you’d like to work with?

JR: Rick Lohre, Jennifer Chamberlain, John Lathrop, Jonathon Lay, Terry Sweeney, Scott Styles, Isaac Washington, and John Dwyer are the photographers that I have recently worked with.

WP: Those are great Photographers! What supplements do you currently take?

I hope to work with Dan Ray, Lisa Brewer, John Stutz, TomNine, Terry Goodlad, and Gene X Huang

JR: Pre Contest: Creatine, BCAA, Glutamine, fish oils, multi vitamin, fat burners, 2 or 3 different protein powders

Off Season: Multi vitamin, BCAA, Glutamine, and Protein Powders

WP: What do you consider to be important in life, and why?

JR: Personal Faith, family, and friends because it keeps you balanced. Family and friends will help you through the rough times and cheer you on during the good times.

WP: What are your pet peeves?

JR: Wasted time is probably the biggest one. I also get frustrated when people are not honest. I also dislike someone who holds a grudge or someone who pouts up and holds up progress. I suppose I’m all about moving forward!

WP: How have you changed over the past few years when it comes to thinking, actions, and life in general?

JR: I have gained a sense of fearlessness. I have drastically improved my nutrition and keenly focused my training. I have seen strength gains and seen my body change over the years in ways that I never would have dreamed. In 2008 I became the first female since the early 80’s to be qualified for my departments SWAT school. My school started with 11 guys and me. By the end of the first day there were 7 guys and me. We continued to lose attendees throughout the course of the school. Unfortunately, I broke my foot during training 6 days before graduation and had to withdraw from the school due to injury. I would have never attempted that in the past. I have always been “strong for a girl” but this level of strength was both extremely physical as well as mentally excruciating.

WP: What are your stats such as height, weight, biceps, and waist?

JR: Height: 5’3”; Weight: contest 120; off season: 127; Bust: 35; Waist: 27; and Hips 36.

WP: Any shout outs?

JR: To my sweet daughter, you are the best part-time assistant I could ever ask for

To my honey bunny, you are the best trainer, support system, and head cheerleader a girl could ever ask for. Also, thanks for putting up with my….diet.

WP: Give me an example of your workout.

JR: I do 5 to 10 minute cardio warm-up, usually on the stepper.
Supersets: close grip/wide grip pull-ups and explosive pushups
Deadlifts 6 reps X 4 sets
Barbell squats 10 reps X 3 sets
Jumping barbell squats 10 reps X 3 sets
Walking dumbbell lunges 10 reps X 3 sets
Jumping switch lunges 45 seconds X 4 sets
Speed Skating (lateral lunges) 45 Seconds X 4 sets
Body weight squats with lateral raises 3 minutes X 2 sets
Hamstring curls 10 reps X 4 sets
Supersets: Mountain Climbers and Lying leg raises 45 seconds X 3sets; No rest
Supersets: Double crunches and plank 45 seconds X 3 sets; No rest

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

JR: Contest diet sample:

Meal 1: Protein shake with 1 serving of oatmeal added to the shake
Meal 2: Protein shake with a serving of grits, it’s a southern thing
Meal 3: 2 Chicken breasts on a small salad, dressing with 6g of fat
Meal 4: 1 Chicken breasts, 1 plain baked potato
Meal 4: Rice cake with peanut butter, protein shake
Meal 5: Post workout maize carbohydrates, protein shake
Meal 6: Salmon and spinach
Meal 7: (optional) Chicken breast, brown rice

WP: Ha-ha! I caught the grits in there. I'm southern, too. Could you tell me about your future projects?

JR: I don’t know exactly where competing, modeling, and training are going to lead me but I can say that I sure do love the ride! I am having a ball and I don’t plan to stop any time soon. I have endless future projects and ideas floating around in my head and one thing I know for sure is that this is merely the beginning!

WP: The interview is closing now. Is there anything I have forgotten to mention that you would like to bring to light?

JR: I love the progression of both physical strength and mental strength that I have experienced since I started competing. I remember talking with the guest poser, a pro fitness competitor, at my first show. I told her that I would love to compete in fitness but I have never been able to do the splits and I was concerned about nagging injuries that I have accrued over the years. This year I made my mind up and I began training for fitness. It took 3 weeks of practice for me to learn the splits. I am slowly learning gymnastics skills that I never thought I would be able to do. I believe that the strength that I have gotten over the 3 years of figure competitions have made it a lot easier to do the gymnastics because I am pretty strong now and have a solid level of confidence in my abilities.

Visit probodybuilding.com and video chat with me from 7pm to 9pm CST Monday through Thursday. Join me!

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

JR: Thank You for affording me the opportunity to participate in this interview. I really appreciate it.