World Physique

Interview by: Tammy Renee'

WP: Kimberly is our cover model for this month and we're very honored to have her with us today. Hey Kimberly! Let's begin with you telling our readers alittle about yourself.

KB: My name is Kimberly Bresingham and I am a Professional Fitness Model and Figure Competitor. I have been modeling professionally since the age of seven. My mother got me started in modeling at a very young age and I did a lot of print work and television commercials. I was also involved in pageants and even did the 'Ms. Illinois' pageant when I got older where I placed in the top 5 and won Ms. Photogenic. As time went on I modeled and was very actively involved in sports, especially basketball. Of the two, basketball was my true passion and although I managed to do both, I loved playing ball. As I grew older, I went into swimsuit modeling and was playing ball on a full scholarship at a Division 1 University. After college I still did my modeling, but as I got older I could no longer compete with the other girls who were much younger. I had to find a way into which I could make myself more marketable, hence the idea of fitness modeling came to me. So, I got myself into the gym and started lifting weights. I noticed that I could put on muscle quite easily and it became almost like an addiction. I could feel myself getting stronger, having more energy, and this to me was the ultimate high. So, I began my fitness modeling career. As I became more and more muscular, people in the gym would come up and ask what competition I was getting ready for. I would always smile and say, "Oh no, I don't compete, I just do this for me." After hearing that same question over and over again, one day I decided the hell with it, let's give competing a try. So, now I am a figure competitor and I love it. This is what I was made to do!

WP: What an awesome story, Kimberly! As long as I've known you, I didn't know you played basetball. How interesting. What has it been like to maintain your physique? Have you done anything different lately?

KB: I believe the stepping stone that helped me to get to where I am today boils down to my determination. I am a fighter, and for every door that closes there is one that will open, you just have to keep trying. The fitness industry is a very competitive industry and there are tons of beautiful bodies so you really have to bring something unique to the table in order to be recognized. I keep trying every day from training in the gym to networking at various events. I will not let anything prevent me from accomplishing my goals and I just stay positive. My modeling experience has helped me a great deal. I am very comfortable with being on stage. I am an extremely outgoing and very personable individual so therefore I am very approachable. I have a great attitude and this does show in my personality.

Maintaining my physique has not been very difficult, but changing my physique has been much more of a challenge. I have always been in shape with the exception of my pregnancies. This recent off-season, my goal was to put on more mass so, that when I hit the stage this July I would be bringing my best physique yet. So far, I have already put on ten pounds of mass and I am continuing to make great progress. This has not been an easy road, but I am determined. There is a fire that burns deep within me that pushes me through every training session. It is a feeling unlike any other, almost indescribable, yet explosive to the point where to me failure is not an option. I am a very driven individual, and if I set goals for myself I intend to achieve them.

WP: Ten pounds of muscle is an accomplish in itself! Where do you reside now?

KB: I reside in the suburbs outside of Chicago with my family.

WP: You talked earlier about competing. Can you tell me more about it?

KB: I have competed in the past. My most recent competition was Figure Universe in November 2008 in Las Vegas. I was trained by Ava Cowan for that particular show. Ava was the former Ms. Figure Universe, and Ihad only eight weeks to prepare. I had recently been on stage for the Flex Bikini event at the Olympia so I had dieted down and was no where near as muscular that I needed to be for figure. In eight short weeks I worked very hard in the gym and managed to put on enough size in time for the competition. Although I felt that my physique was far superior to my competition, I wound up placing 6th place. This put things into perspective for me and I learned my lesson. Figure is such a subjective sport, and sometimes the girl with the best physique does not always place first. This was a hard lesson learned, but I needed for that to happen to me because even though I did not win the show, I still had such a passion for the sport that I could not wait to start preparing for my next show. That is when I realized how much I loved the sport because it meant much more to me than receiving a shiny trophy.

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

KB: I plan on competing this July in an NPC show. I feel this organization is where I belong. I will hopefully be competing in the Team Universe in September. My goal is to earn my pro card in the IFBB. I would like to compete as long as I possibly can.

WP: What other sports or activities did or do you enjoy?

KB: I like most sports. I am extremely athletic, so I play just about anything, but the sport I enjoy the most is basketball. I played in college and occasionally you can see me in the gym knocking down 3 point shots. I was the number one three- point-shooter in the nation. The only difference now is with all the muscle I have my shot was off a bit until I adjusted after a few shoot-outs with my friends. I have accomplished quite a bit with basketball. I was named the number one three point shooter in the nation, I was All -American throughout my high school and college career, and named ‘MVP’ almost every year.

WP: I would love to watch you play basketball. I bet you are good. Tell me about your family. In addition, I know you are married so, can you tell me more about your husband?

KB: I am married. I married my high school sweetheart whom I met when I was just fifteen years old. His name is Dan and we have been married for thirteen years and together for twenty years. We have two children, Derek, who is ten and Ryan, who is eight. My family means the world to me and my boys are very proud to have a mom who is physically fit and competes. I feel as though I set a good example for my boys and I want them to realize the importance of living a healthy lifestyle. Both of my children are actively involved in sports and both play travel hockey. My husband played hockey in college so overall we are a very athletic family.

WP: What has figure competitions taught you thus far?

KB: Figure competitions have taught me how to be a better athlete and all around individual. When I am preparing for a show it takes the utmost discipline, time, and dedication. I put 100% of myself into my contest prep because I know that there may be one or two girls in the same show who want it just as badly as I do so I have to give it my all. This gives me structure and helps me to create a routine. I have applied this to my everyday life as well. It can get very hectic in my household with everything that is going on in my career and family. I create structure and a routine in my daily life so that I can achieve my goals and to help make my life less stressful. I am able to give 100% of myself to my family, my sport, and my modeling career.

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

KB: The hardest thing for me to overcome when I first started out was self doubt. I have always been athletic and competitive, but going from a team sport like college basketball, to an individual sport like Figure competition was a different challenge. I have a lot of discipline so I was prepared for the mental training and competing with other athletes. But figure is not a team effort and is solely based on me so I had to depend on myself versus my teammates to prepare for victory. I had to be the one to push myself in the gym, prepare all of my meals, take the right supplements and go through the journey solo. After training a few months and getting a hang of doing the new exercises and following my routine, I felt very comfortable then with the intensity necessary to make gains quickly. Now I look forward to preparing for each competition, and although I prepare for my competitions 12 weeks alone, come show time I am supported by my family and friends and this means the world to me.

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

KB: The hardest part of dieting is eating every 2 hours. Ha-ha! I enjoy the healthy foods and supplements, therefore it is not difficult to eat clean when I stick to my plan and avoid processed foods and fatty protein selections. The restaurants in town all know that I am a stickler for only the healthy food choices and many of them will prepare my meals exactly how I need them even during my contest prep. This takes the stress out of meal time and I am allowed to enjoy a night out with my family. The results of eating clean and my goal to be a pro make the regimentation very much worth the effort!

WP: I know what you mean! What are the key factors that dictate the way you train today?

KB: The key factor that dictates my training is my contest schedule for the year. Right now I am preparing for a show in July, so I am just finishing up my mass building phase. My trainer is starting to change the training a bit to incorporate some HIT principles and some higher rep training to ensure we stimulate muscle fibers, fast and slow twitch. I really like some of the shock principles that we are doing these days. This past off season I was able to put on more mass and concentrate on areas where I needed more size. I am very excited about the progress thus far and look forward to presenting my best physique to date come July.

WP: How has your training changed over the years?

KB: I have only been training seriously for about one year now, so my training is still evolving. I have learned a lot about rep ranges, as well as HIT training and turning up the volume. In the very beginning I stuck with the basics, higher volume training and total concentration on great form. I now train heavier, have more confidence, and I pay more attention to angles and positioning of my joints and body parts. Little changes to wrist position can make a big difference when trying to stress a specific area of a given body part. I really enjoy learning more and more about how the body responds to training.

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

KB: I have had a lot of success for someone who is just starting out in this business. I was recently chosen as one of the top 5 finalist in the bodybuilding.com spokesmodel search out of over 300,000 members on bodyspace. I won a bikini contest for FAME where I was chosen to represent a banner that was to be used worldwide for the 2009 FAME world Tour. I have been in several magazines, most recently in Iron Man magazine, and have had several fitness interviews that have been published. I am a sponsored athlete with MHP and Muscle Meds supplement companies. I am the spokesmodel for a new product called methyl-burn and have new ads coming out this summer. I am a signed spokesmodel with a new fitness magazine called Americas Fitness Magazine which comes out this summer. I am also working with a media group with filming a physique show here in Chicago. I placed 6th place in Figure America and hopefully plan on doing well with my upcoming show in July. Not bad for someone who only started competing since this past November?

WP: No! Not bad at all. Very impressive! Where do you see your career and life in 10 years from now?

KB: I hope to be an IFBB pro and continue to be actively involved in the fitness industry. I enjoy helping others reach their full potential and change their lives for the better. I would like to partner up with someone one day and run my own "elite" fitness facility where I can offer training, nutrition, and supplementation to all of my clients. I see myself giving back to others, whether helping girls with their contest prep and offering training advice or posing classes, or just helping out men and women in achieving their own fitness goals. My overall goal in this life is to be happy. I try and live my life to the fullest ever single day and I am truly blessed to have had the opportunities I have had which have allowed me to be the woman I am today. I look forward to seeing what the future may bring and I work very hard to make my dreams a reality.

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

KB: I am working as a fitness model, I am with Americas Fitness Magazine and I will be seen on their national campaign this summer. I am the spokesmodel for Muscle meds new product called Methyl-burn and the product will be launched this summer with me in the ads. I recently took some time off due to some surgeries I had to have, but now I am recovered and just getting back to work.

WP: I can't wait to see these ads! And I'm glad to see you back in the game after your surgeries. Can you tell me any photographers you’ve worked with, or someone you’d like to work with?

KB: I have always worked with George Hoffman from Onyx Photography. He was truly brilliant and I loved his work. I have also worked with Michael Neveaux of Iron Man Magazine. I will be doing some photo shoots this summer so you will have to look for my new images coming soon!

WP: Onyx has always been one of my favorites! What supplements do you currently take?

KB: My supplement plan is simple and straight forward. I use MHP products for post-workout and before bed. Probolic-SR is perfect for all day amino acid nourishment. I use DREN for added fat burning before my shows. Other than that I get my omega 3's from flax oil and I take a multi-vitamin in the morning. Simplicity is the key to nutrition and supplements.

WP: What are your pet peeves?

KB: My pet peeves are dishonest people and people who are selfish. I do not like when someone is not genuine. The fitness industry can be a very difficult industry to break into and everyone has their own agenda. So many people become jaded and lose themselves. I try to remain grounded and optimistic, to stay positive and stay true to who I am. I love the sport and I love who I am. I am a very loyal, giving, and extremely caring person and I do not like people who try to take advantage of that. I tend to get judged by people by first glance and that is a HUGE pet peeve of mine! Most people assume because of how I look that I am mean or snobbish and or stupid, I guess people think pretty girls aren't intelligent? I actually graduated with high honors from my University in Honors College. I was named and inducted into several honors organizations and was an Academic All-American, so yes pretty girls can be smart too! Ha-ha. Do not judge a book by its cover and if you respect yourself and other people the rest will fall into place.

WP: People tend to have people that work out sized up. I don't understand. I really think it's out of jealousy more then anything. What do you consider to be important in life, and why?

KB: Being true to me and putting my family and friends first are my priorities. My family means everything to me, and I feel like a have a few friends in my life who I can count on, no matter what. I also have some very big aspirations in this industry. I want to become an IFBB Pro in the near future and compete for many years to come. I have been blessed with great opportunities thus far, and I really appreciate coverage like I am receiving in your wonderful publication, thank you so very much!

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

KB: I have not changed very much at all. I have my priorities straight and that has always been the case. I have become more dedicated and ambitious when it comes to my career aspirations, but my children will always come first. My responsibilities as a mother are of the highest concern and importance to me. You have to have balance in your life, and I think I have achieved that goal.

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

KB: I am 5' 10". 150 pounds off-season 140 pounds contest My measurements are: 34D 24 34 My biceps are 14".

WP: Good gosh, girl! You have the perfect stats of a model! That's incredible! Any shout outs?

KB: This has been a tremendous year for me, one filled with excitement, anticipation, and happiness. Although it has just begun I look so forward to seeing where this journey will take me. I have been blessed to have met so many wonderful people and to have had the opportunity to work with a supplement giant like MHP. I have one main goal and that is to go pro this year. I know the difficult road that lies ahead but thanks to my trainer and nutrition coach Dave Vignasse I am extremely confident that my goal can become a reality. When I began working with Dave my whole aspect of training changed. As a WNBF Pro bodybuilder with 24 years of experience and a nutritional background to back it up, I knew from the very first training session that he was someone who would help excel my career. Training with Dave 3 days a week and following the specific nutrition plan that he placed me on has enabled me to make significant gains in the off season. I continue to grow and improve each day thanks to Dave. Not only do I consider Dave my coach, but I consider him to be a true friend. Dave has helped motivate and inspire me to become my personal best and I plan on bringing my best to the stage come July. So, to Dave thank you for everything. You are truly an amazing, selfless individual who truly cares about his clientele. If you are interested in making a positive change and want to get into the best shape of your life then visit Dave's site at davevignasse.com.

WP: Could you please give me an example of your workout?

KB: My workout is as follows:

Day 1- Chest/back
Day 2 Legs/Abs
Day 3 Shoulders/ biceps triceps
CHEST: 9-10 sets total

barbell bench press- 3 sets, pyramid up in weights (reps- 12, 10, 8, 8)
Incline Dumbbell press (45 degree angle) - 3 sets pyramid up in weight (5 Reps- 15, 12, 10, 8)
Incline dumbbell flyes- 3 sets Pyramis up in weights (Reps-15, 12, 10, 10)

BACK: 14 sets total

Pullups (assisted)- 3 sets, (Reps-rep until failure, at least 10 reps)
Barbell bent over rows- 3 sets, pyramid up in weight (reps 12, 10, 8, 6)
Machine High row- 3 sets (Reps 12, 12, 10, 8)
Underhand Grip lat pull downs - 2 sets, (Reps- 15, 12, 10, 8, )
Hyper-extensions (weighted)- 3 sets (Reps- 15, 12, 12)

Tuesday-Shoulders and Arms

Shoulders: (14 sets)
Dumbbell presses 3 sets, (Reps- 12,10, 8)
Lateral raises 4 sets (Reps-15, 12, 10, 10)
Reverse pec dec- 3 sets (Reps-12, 12, 10)
Behind back barbell shrug- 4 sets (Reps- 12, 10, 8, 8)

Triceps: (8 sets)
Close grip bench- 4 sets ( reps- 12, 10, 8, 8)
Tricep pushdown- 4 sets (12, 12, 10, 8)

Biceps: ( 7 sets)
Seated dumbbell curl-4 sets ( 12, 10, 10, 8)
Preacher curl- 3 sets (12, 10, 8)

Thursday- Legs and Abs

Legs: (18 sets)
Leg Extensions- 4 sets (15, 12, 10, 8)
Smith Machine squats- 4 sets (12, 10, 10, 8)
Lying leg curl- 3 sets (12, 10, 8))
Leg press- 4 sets (15, 12, 12, 10, 8)
Stiff leg deadlift- 3 sets (12, 12, 10)
Step ups- 4 sets of 20 reps (weighted with 50 pound easy curl bar)
Abs

Hanging leg raises 4 sets of 20
Decline ab crunches holding- 35 lb plate 4 sets of 20

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

KB: I eat clean year round but here is a sample of a contest diet I have followed in the past:

Meal 1
1/2 cup oatmeal 2 sliced kiwi
6 egg whites

Meal 2
4 oz London Broil
1 cup steamed or grilled vegetables
3/4 cup of brown rice

Meal 3
4 oz London broil
1 cup steamed or grilled vegetables
3/4 cup brown rice

Meal 4
5 oz cooked chicken breast
1 cup of steamed or grilled vegetables

Meal 5
5 oz Cooked Tilapia
Fresh green salad
1 TBSP of Extra virgin Olive Oil and Vinegar

Meal 6
1 scoop of MHP Probolic-ST before bed.

WP: Thank you for taking the time to break that down for us. Could you tell me about your future projects?

KB: Currently, I am working on perhaps filming a fitness segment on a show called 312 Physique. I am also preparing to compete in the NPC Team Universe this fall. I will be at the Olympia working my booth for MHP. I hope to have many more opportunities in the industry and look forward to reaching my goal of earning my pro-card. I am also very honored and excited to be chosen as the next cover model for World Physique!

WP: Yes! Yes! Yes! Is there anything I have forgotten to mention that you would like to bring to light before the interview closes?

KB: This is my story, and I hope to be able to add so much more to it in the days to come. I love this industry, and I love helping others to live a fit and healthier lifestyle. I hope to inspire and motivate people from all walks of life and I encourage each of you to your reach your goals and follow your dreams after all I am living mine!

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