Lindsey Weigand
Newcomer - January 2012
Photos by: BBPics.com
29 year old Lindsey Weigand is a newcomer to the industry. In 2012, she is planning to step on stage for the very first time. Her goal ultimate goal is to become an IFBB Pro Bikini competitor.
Lindsey is originally from Baton Rouge, Louisiana where she graduated from LSU with a BS in psychology and is currently attending court reporting school.
In the past, she has played soccer and tennis, competitively. She even excelled in hunting and fishing, and made her rabbit hunting debut in the Louisiana Sportsman Magazine!
She realized early on that she liked winning and being the best she could be in everything she set her mind to. So what better place for her to be than in this industry competing?
Let us introduce to you, our readers, Lindsey Weigand.
"...Trial and error! This goes for school, my relationships, and the gym. Had it not been for my parents enrolling me in every sport imaginable, and having brothers who constantly reminded me that I needed to catch up, I probably would not be here talking to you today. Having a dream and setting goals is what keeps me going. Knowing that there is someone out there who is faster, stronger, and better than me is all I need to succeed."
WP: Welcome Lindsey! You have always been very active. From playing soccer, tennis, and to even rabbit hunting. What does being competitive mean to you?
Having grown up in the middle of two brothers, I quickly learned how much I did not like coming in second. And yes, the camaraderie I experienced playing team sports was amazing, but I did not like depending on others to win. I was not necessarily more talented than my team mates; I just pushed myself a little harder than they did. And I did that because I knew that if I crossed that threshold of pain, that awful few seconds where you just want to quit because you feel like you just cannot go another second, almost every other person would give in and give up. I finally found a venue where being hardheaded and persistent paid off. I once read that you can do anything for 30 seconds. That simple statement is true in almost every situation. A lot of times I see people give up doing something strenuous 20 seconds into it, thinking they did their best. I used to think that, too. But I pushed past the pain one day, pushed the urge to vomit back into my stomach, and made it to the 30-second mark. This competition with myself not only proved that I had been cheating myself all these years, but that if I pushed myself past myself, I could get better at everything.
WP: You were born and raised in Baton Rouge, but you moved to California. Your life changed there. Can you tell us about it?
Moving to California was one of the best decisions I have ever made. Aside from choosing a new career path, beginning new relationships, and being away from everything I grew up with, I was exposed to a different lifestyle; one that did not exist in the South. The people in Cali are far more health-conscious. There are as many health food stores as there are Starbucks; and there are even more gyms, many that even stay open 24 hours. And yes, there are people in these gyms at any given hour. I always wondered who went to the gym after midnight, so I went. And wow, all I can say is my hat goes off to them! And there are a bunch of them.
One day I decided that it was time to stop wandering around the gym aimlessly, without a plan. But the problem was, I did not have a plan; did not have a workout; did not know how to write one; did not know proper form. But I did know I did not want to stick out like a sore thumb in front of the 200+ people, all of whom had perfect form. So I picked up a book with pictures and descriptions of basic exercises, and made my own workout. Yep, I made one workout for the each of the various body parts. And I did those for about a year. (Remember, I am hardheaded.) I saw major changes in the beginning. It was after this year that I realized that I was going to have to make a change to see a change. I started incorporating new exercises, and even the ugly plyometric ones. I also learned that nutrition is roughly 80% of the equation. Even if I spent hours in the gym each day, which is pointless anyway, if I was not ingesting macro nutrients in the correct ratio, I might as well have stayed on the couch and at least enjoyed myself.
I came back to Louisiana, focused on maintaining everything I gained in Cali, as well as on nutrition, which is pivotal, since almost everything down here is fried. I will never be able to go back to being lazy or eating carelessly and I know I will never miss it.
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WP: I have to ask because you brought it up earlier in your bio you sent us. You raise chickens. What made you decide to raise chickens in your free time?
Ahh, yes. This fascinates everyone! When I came back home, I soon found out how hard and expensive it was to find healthy, organic food. Main reason being that the South just does not have the demand for chains like Trader Joe's, and other health food megastores. We finally got ONE Whole Foods, woo hoo! Unfortunately, it is a monopoly, making the prices there breathtaking, to be polite. So, I hopped on Ebay, ordered an incubator and dozens of various eggs. Only after I ordered everything, did I take the time to sit down and see what exactly I was going to have to do.
Yikes, is all I can say. My materials arrived, I setup my incubator, got my temperature sort of in the range I read it needed to be, and put my eggs in. Well, I promptly found out that the thermostat would fluctuate wildly. So, I had to check the temp every couple of hours, monitor the humidity, and oh yeah, turn every single egg three times a day, in alternating directions. But 21 days later, it was all worth it as I watched my first chick hatch.
WP: That's the way to beat the high cost of eggs! Ha-ha! You had problems with your neighbor as well due to the chickens. How did you solve that problem?
Funny thing about chickens, you cannot tell what sex they are until they are 3-4 months old. Often times, you have to wait to see if it crows or not to be sure. And let me tell you, you can hear that crow at 5 a.m. from miles away and NO ONE likes it. Also, there is a certain smell that comes along with raising chickens - and no, it is not very popular.
Now my neighbors were fairly tolerant in the beginning, but as the stench strengthened, as well as the crowing, my neighbors' complacency waned. So, as a peace offering, I gave them eggs. It is amazing how persuasive fresh, organic eggs can be. And probably the most important thing was that I decided to get rid of all the roosters. I also started letting my chickens run free in the entire backyard, allowing my neighbors to see how beautiful they were. I still have neighbors who like to come by and feed their leftovers and scraps to my hens.
WP: You have me laughing so hard! Fresh organic eggs would be nice though. Tell me a little more about your tennis and soccer days.
Playing soccer for my high school girls' team was one thing, but playing coed was way more fun and competitive. I finally was playing with people, mostly guys that were faster, stronger, and better than me. And it drove me to play harder, run faster, and do not give up until it is over.
I had a brief stint in tennis. I played on a women's league with women who were my mom's age. The one and only tournament I entered, I won. Although I liked tennis because all I had to do was depend on myself to get the ball over the net, college and other distractions came around, and I put my racquet in the back of my closet. Only recently has it re-surfaced, and I realized how much I missed it.
WP: What are your goals for this industry?
Go big or go home! I picked that up snowboarding on the slopes of Mammoth Mountain. I am going start competing in 2012. It is a big step for me. I say that because I have never done it before, and it seems very time-consuming and meticulous. But the little voice in my head keeps telling me that if other women can do it, I can too.
I would also like to represent supplement companies that I believe have produced a superior product. I want to be the face and body associated with what their products can help everyone achieve.
Oh, and one last thing. I want to grace the cover of my favorite magazines and have a column in one or two that is informative, but more importantly inspiring. I have got so much to say regarding health and fitness due to trial and error, and I would like to be able to share it and possibly streamline the process for my readers.
WP: What are your weaknesses?
I do not really have many weaknesses. My major one being me, myself, and I. Sometimes I just do not feel like going to the gym! Other times, I try to talk myself into it, get in my car, arrive at the gym, only to drive right back home. Some people are going to argue this is a result of overtraining; I can assure you it is not. It is me being lazy, plain and simple.
WP: Give me a break down of your diet.
Eggs! If you have not figured it out, I love them. I would eat them for every meal if I could.
Breakfast is usually six egg whites and a half cup or oatmeal. When I am in a rush, I will just mix protein powder in my oatmeal. Sometimes I will blend everything together and drink it on the way to school. You have to keep coming up with new ideas so you will not want to just run out the door because you are tired of eating the same food.
My morning snack is about two hours later, and consists of half a can of tuna with mustard. I do not eat this because it is delicious; I eat it because I am at school and do not have the time or materials to make much else. And if it tasted any better, I would eat too much of it.
Next comes lunch. I usually keep spinach in the fridge at school, along with spicy mustard as dressing, and reduced-fat cheese. Two hours later, I am already close to starving, so I will eat more cheese, and maybe some nuts or peanut butter, and the other half can of tuna. I am still at school at this point, so my options are limited, which is a good thing.
I usually cannot wait to eat dinner, so I eat it as soon as I get home, which is about an hour after my last snack. I will have about 6 oz. of fish, chicken, or another lean meat, and a fibrous vegetable, like squash. Sometimes I will make an omelet.
And my evening snack is usually cottage cheese, nuts, or something that is low-carb. I like to put cottage cheese in the blender, with a little casein protein for flavor.
WP: What supplements do you take?
Currently, I take Whey and Casein protein, fish oil, and a multi-vitamin daily. I mix Glutamine in my shakes after working out, and depending on the day, sometimes I mix in waxy maize to restore glycogen.
WP: Could you tell me a story of how you have gotten where you are today?
Trial and error! This goes for school, my relationships, and the gym. Had it not been for my parents enrolling me in every sport imaginable, and having brothers who constantly reminded me that I needed to catch up, I probably would not be here talking to you today. Having a dream and setting goals is what keeps me going. Knowing that there is someone out there who is faster, stronger, and better than me is all I need to succeed.
WP: Tell me about your future projects. Have any in sight?
Hands-down, the hardest thing I have ever done is attending court reporting school. I have never not been able to do anything, and this is the one thing that humbles me - in a big way. One day, hopefully soon, I will be able to type 225 words per minute and pass the national certification test. Then I can finally start a new chapter in my life. I would like to move back to the west coast as a supplement rep and a certified court reporter, and start a business. I would like to bring companies like Trader Joe's to the South, in hopes that people will start to make better lifestyle choices.
My current major project is to win the Bodybuilding.com Spokesmodel 2012 contest in January 2012. That would make an awesome start to a new year. Making it in the top five finalists was amazing, in and of itself, but we both know I am not going to give up until I got what I want!
WP: Are you married, dating, or do you have kids?
I am currently dating a guy who is next to amazing. It has taken me a lot of lessons learned and mistakes made before I found this one. And he being a personal trainer does not hurt, either. He makes working out fun, even when I do not want to. We push each other in the gym, he eats my baked goods, so I do not, when I have the urge to bake, and most importantly, he supports me in everything I do.
WP: Give me a sample of your workout.
This is a typical split for me. On any given day, I may just take a break, so when this happens; I just pick up the next day with the next workout.
I do 3 sets of 15 reps of each exercise. Calf and ab exercises, I do 20 reps.
Cardio: 20-30 minutes post-exercise; moderate intensity.
Monday - Legs & Abs
Tuesday: Back & Shoulders
Wednesday: Chest & Arms
Thursday: Legs & Abs
Friday: Chest, Back & Abs
Saturday: Shoulders & Arms
Sunday: Plyo & Cardio
30 Minutes HIIT (Treadmill or Stair Climber: 1 min on, 1 min off).
WP: What are your interests outside of a healthy lifestyle?
There are so many things I want to do, but cannot just yet. I cannot wait to start traveling! I have got a few exotic places lined up, but the one thing I have been wanted to do for a few years now is snowboard. I miss the snow and all of the activities that go with it. I also feel so much better after riding my YZF600 street bike around town. I can't stop smiling my helmet! And, of course, my chickens! I love going out there to see them every morning. I would like to expand my flock and raise some fancy chicks.
WP: If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
I am currently working on not letting the small things get to me. Sometimes it is hard to see the big picture through all of the distractions, but it is getting easier and easier to see what really matters in life. Picking and choosing my battles has helped me progress in every aspect of my life. I am trying to learn how to focus on the important things and stop trying to change the things I cannot.
WP: Since John Mitchell of BBPics submitted you to us, you must also have a goal to become a model. What was it like working with him? I believe you were there with our man, Ben Webster!
John Mitchell came very highly recommended by a very close friend, and the person I am currently dating, Ben Webster. Not knowing John, I put "all my eggs in one basket", (Sorry, I had to!) and trust that Ben knew what he was doing. It was actually Ben who made my photo shoot with John happen. I knew I wanted to be a fitness model, and Ben knew he could help make it happen. I shot with John for two days, Ben was there the whole time helping and supporting me. Ben is such a patient, kind person, and without him, who knows what my photos would have looked like! I am so lucky to have had him there. He had his own ideas for photos, helped me in posing, and he even joined in some to help lighten the mood and make me smile. He has worked with John several times and is a seasoned pro when it comes to modeling, and it definitely shows.
I was oh-so-pleasantly surprised at John's disarming personality and his professionalism. Having both him and Ben there was enough to put me at ease in front John's camera. After receiving the proofs from John, I knew why he came so highly recommended by Ben. John and I still contact each other several times a month, often times just to maintain our friendship. I am looking forward to working with John in 2012 and making a name for myself in this industry.
WP: How did he help you as a photographer during your shoot?
I first met John when I picked him up from the airport. Now the idea of having to drive 45 minutes in a confined space with a stranger is not very appealing, but within minutes, I felt like I had known the guy forever. He was outgoing and very excited about our upcoming shoot. His excitement shined through the clouds we had on the first day, and his patient personality allowed me to be myself in front of the camera. He encouraged my owns ideas and creativity, and I did not feel like I had to do it his way. John made me a priority, and his talent is going to help make me a respected name in the industry.
WP: Do you plan to work with him in the future?
I am looking forward to working with John again. We have a tentative shoot planned in early 2012. I cannot wait to add more of his photos to my portfolio and see them in magazines! John has set the bar, and he set it high, for my expectations of future photographers.
WP: Is there anything else you would like to add? Now is the time!
Where do I begin? Like I said, I have got a bunch of ideas that would help a lot of people achieve their goals faster. I believe that hard work can get you anywhere and everywhere in life. Whatever you choose put all you have got into it. If you I want something, if there is some goal I am dead-set on reaching, I will not quit trying until I got it! Life is what you make of it; you create your own goals and dreams, so make them spectacular. Only you are going to give up on you.
WP: You have been a pleasure to interview! Thank you for your time and good luck in your future endeavors!
Pleasure is all mine. Thank you for giving me a chance to share a little bit of my life with the world, and most importantly, thank you for your support and a spot in World Physique. I will always remember writing this. I look forward to speaking with you again in the near future!
