World Physique

Interviewed by Tammy Renee'
Photos by: Mike Byerly Photography

Our June Cover Model, Melinda Meyer, graduated from Ohio University with an Accounting Degree then moved to Arizona and was in the banking and financial industry for 13 years and has been an accountant for a privately held corporation for the last 2 years. She is married but has no kids. Melinda and her husband love to travel.

Melinda has been a model for Femme Athletic, women’s workout apparel, for 8 years. Fitness is her passion and she spend a lot of time doing anything that relates to it, including working out, shopping at health food stores, preparing food, constantly researching new workouts and nutrition information, and always searching for the next photo shoot!

She also just shot a National Ad Campaign for Labrada Nutrition, so be prepared for that!

WP: Welcome to World Physique, Melinda! It's great to have such an outstanding model as our cover model. What has been your stepping stone to get where you are today?

MM: Thank you for such an honor. When I decided to compete in fitness model competitions in September 2007, I believe that gave me confidence and opened up a lot of doors for me. I began to pursue fitness modeling once I realized my potential.

WP: Since you are a model and competitor, what has it been like to maintain your physique? Have you done anything different lately?

MM: Maintenance is a lifestyle commitment! The toughest part is that I had to lose the extra college weight, which basically involved a complete change of eating habits and exercising daily to lose 25 pounds within 2 years after college. Running, initially helped slim me down, I ran several marathons for a couple years, but I gave that up and now I do a combination of weight training with cardio.

WP: Whatever you're doing, it's working! Where do you reside?

MM: I have resided in Scottsdale, Arizona for the last 15 years.

WP: Have you ever played any type of sports or activities?

MM: Does a cheerleader count? No never really played any team sports in high school or college, but I do enjoy sports such as Snow skiing, water skiing, and mountain biking, and consider myself very coordinated and advanced at all those, but not on a competitive level!

WP: Ha-ha! I think cheerleading will count! Tell me about your family. In addition, are you married, single, or dating?

MM: My immediate family still lives where I grew up, in or around Canton, Ohio. I consider myself very fortunate to have been brought up in a very encouraging, loving, environment which plays a part of who I am today. My mom was a Physical Director of the YMCA so I was exposed to the fitness atmosphere at a young age and I got my "work hard, play hard" drive from my dad. My older brother is married with 2 boys. I have been married for 6 years, but have no kids; although I have a 20 pound cat named Mac, who obviously does not take after my fitness lifestyle!

WP: Time to put kitty on a diet! Ha-ha! What has modeling taught you thus far?

MM: Among many things, it has taught me to have confidence with who I am, and helped break me out of my shyness quite a bit.

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

MM: Being comfortable in front of the camera and having confidence to express myself and understanding that the camera picks up on exactly how I am feeling so you better be one with that camera!

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

MM: The hardest thing dealing with my diet was giving up pretzels and candy! I also used to eat a lot of bread. My diet is constantly evolving, and when I started reading labels, that’s what initially got me into eating healthy. I was afraid of fat for a long time and ate a lot of fat free foods, so I also had to learn how to incorporate the healthy fats into my diet. The things I never craved or even knew I loved, like peanut butter for example, I am addicted to it now and it has become my evil! I have to be careful to eat it in moderation! Which leads me to what I think is the hardest thing about eating healthy is moderation!

WP: Yes, moderation is the key to the diet. You're so right. What are the key factors that dictate the way you model today?

MM: I’m not sure I understand how to answer this, but I would have to say that I believe I am at the point in my modeling career that I have to carefully evaluate every opportunity and decide if will be advantageous, depending on the nature of the shoot. I used to jump at every single opportunity and had a hard time saying no. However, I will do some shoots that are not monetary because I believe each and every shoot can lead to something else and is always a learning experience plus you never know who you might meet.

WP: How has your training compare to when you model to when you do not. What do you do differently?

MM: There are no ‘off-seasons’ when it comes to being a fitness model! My training remains the same pretty much all year round in that I am working out as much as time permits. Of course if I have a huge photo shoot or fitness model competition, I may increase cardio a little to help burn some extra calories but the diet is the major change, eating clean.

WP: You stated that you compete. Can you tell me what accomplishments you have thus far?

MM: 1st Place Fitness Model (Masters), 4th Place Fitness Model (Open), FAME Sin City - May 31, 2008.
1st Place Sept 22 2007 FAS-NET Fitness Model Championship.
1st Place Sept 15 2007 O.C.B. Arizona Natural Fitness Model Championship-my first competition ever!

I just shot a national ad campaign for Labrada Nutrition, look for me soon! I'm also on the cover of the June 2009 issue of 'Perfectify' with a full featured article. It is a Phoenix local magazine, but it’s a start! I was also in 'Oxygen Magazine' - Future of Fitness section June 2008 issue.

WP: You've had a lot of great exposure! Where do you see your career and life in 10 years from now?

MM: Hmmm, that is a tough one, because there are so many things I would like to be doing. It just depends on how they all pan out. I would ultimately want to own my own business in the health and fitness industry since that is my passion, but right now I don’t have a definite plan of just what might be. So, I plan to just keep my eyes and ears open, working hard while enjoying and living the way I do now, as I can’t complain!

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

MM: I have worked with numerous local and national photographers. Mike Byerly is my all time favorite, as I have had the opportunity to shoot with him 4 times this past year and have created some of my best portfolio shots! I recently shot with none other than WP’s own, John Mitchell of BBPics.com, and hope that I get the chance to shoot with him again soon!

I would also love to shoot with some of the nationally known photographers that shoot for Oxygen and Muscle & Fitness

WP: What supplements do you currently take?

MM: I take a multi vitamin, Protein Powder (mostly Whey), L-Carnitine, Arginine, EFA's and I recently incorporated digestive enzyme’s.

WP: What are your pet peeves?

MM: My pet peeve is bottleneck traffic and people who say they are going to do something and continually don't follow through.

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

MM: I consider our happiness to be important, with our health setting the foundation. Happiness is derived from many factors such as relationships and family, career, income and financial situation, and Intellectual/Spiritual Pursuits & accomplishments but, I believe it is our health, fitness, & image that sets the foundation for all of the above.

When you look and feel your best, you are able to tackle the other areas with much better likelihood of success. However, health and fitness are the most neglected. Achieving any measure of success in any of the previous categories means nothing without a drive within this category. Nothing can make you unhappy quicker than not feeling healthy or not having a good image of yourself. Feeling comfortable within your own skin is what makes your quality of life.

Simply put, we have the past and the future, we have memories and we can look forward to making new ones. Let’s make them happy healthy ones!

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

MM: Oh, wow! I think I have changed the most in the last 5 years of my life for sure! I am way more outgoing than I ever used to be. I am much more patient and I try and think before reacting and that all just comes from living and learning.

WP: Any shout outs?

MM: Thanks to all my close friends who really understand me, or at least try, and have believed in me through out the years. To all my fans who have been so kind to leave comments on my photos and compliment me on my hard work; it means a lot to know that I help motivate others to live a healthy lifestyle.

I want to also mention that I recently started training with Ernie Villegas, with Ernie's Elite Team, ernieseliteteam.com. Ernie specializes in training female figure/fitness model competitors at an affordable rate. I am extremely excited to be a part of his team and looking forward to working with him as I continue towards my competition goals the remainder of this year. If anyone is in the Scottsdale, Arizona area and is considering competing, this is the man to go to! You won't regret it and neither will your bank account!

WP: Give me an example of your workout.

MM: Basically, I do 30 minutes of cardio, then weight lifting with higher reps, lower weights usually. Working out 6 days a week is pretty standard. I am always doing something fitness related! I try to get outdoors and run, hike, or mountain bike once or twice a week.

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

MM: Breakfast: Egg Whites w asparagus, & 1/4 c oatmeal w/blueberries (add vanilla protein powder in oatmeal if I didn't eat the eggs).

Snack: Half apple or banana, 1 tbsp. peanut butter (I am so addicted to PB, it’s sick!!).

Lunch: Spinach Salad w/half can tuna, broccoli or asparagus, cucumber, 7 almonds, balsamic vinegar or salsa, Yams if I have them or sometimes brown rice.

Mid afternoon: Low fat cottage cheese, half apple, or rice cake w/peanut butter.

Dinner: Chicken, Turkey or Talapia w/ steamed asparagus or green beans.

I use lots of herbs such as rosemary, fresh basil, oregano, cilantro and turmeric for seasonings and I eat lots of salsa!

I won’t lie, to stick to only the above is tough. I do eat random other things, but these are the basics.

WP: Well, we know you are human! Ha-ha! Could you tell me about your future projects?

MM: I am currently studying to be a Certified Nutrition Specialist, developing my own website, hope to be on the cover of Oxygen magazine and contemplating what competitions to enter for the remainder of this year.

WP: Good luck in everything! You have been wonderful! It has been an honor! Keep me updated on what you are doing and how you are doing it.