Interview With Sara Holcombe
Ms. World Physique - December 2009
Interviewed by: Tammy Renee'
WP: Sara Holcombe is our Ms. World Physique for December 2009. She is 30 years old and works as a Registered Nurse in the Intensive Care Unit. She enjoys working out and is a NPC figure competitor. We are honored to have Sara represent our company. You, America, voted her in and did a great job!
Sara, what has been your stepping stone to get where you are today?
SH: When I was a little girl, I was actually chubby! My mom was always exercising and eating healthy. She went to Jazzercise every afternoon and I would go with her because I wanted to be fit like her. Eventually, as I got older, the chubbiness finally started to go away and I joined a gym! I loved it! I got into lifting weights and my body really started to change. I was hooked from then on. I didn’t get into competing in figure competitions until about a year ago. Fortunately, I met this girl at the gym who had previously competed in figure competitions. After she showed me pictures from her past competitions, I knew, right then, I wanted to compete. She agreed to train me and get me started in the right direction. The rest is history!
WP: What an inspirational story! Being into figure competitions, what has it been like to maintain your physique? When you step onto that stage, you have to be in tip-top shape. Have you done anything different lately?
SH: It’s not too difficult to maintain my physique. It’s my lifestyle. I’ve always eaten healthy and exercised regularly.
Currently, I’m in the middle of a mass-building program for my next competition in May, 2010. Therefore, my caloric intake has increased a good bit. All of the calories are “clean” in order to maximize the building of lean muscle and minimize the addition of fat.
WP: Can you tell me more about you competing?
SH: My first competition was “Excalibur,” in August of 2009 in Charleston, SC. It was quite an experience! I’ve never been so tan and ripped! I loved it! Backstage was a bunch of walking testosterone, rice cakes and Jantana! Ha! It was great. I did well for my first show. There were ten girls in my class and I won third place! My goal was to be in the top five. So, I was real excited and proud of how I performed.
WP: Are you planning to compete again in the future?
SH: Definitely! I’ll be competing in “The Palmetto Cup” in May 2010. It will be held in Columbia, SC.
WP: What other sports or activities did or do you enjoy?
SH: I took dancing from the time I was 3 years old until I was 18 years old. Additionally, I competed in dance for a few years. I also played softball. I played second base and center field. I’ll never forget my grand slam I hit to the fence and won the game!
WP: I love softball. We played the same positions. That second base plays havoc on your knees from all the sliding! Tell me about your family. In addition, are you married, single, or dating?
SH: The majority of my family lives right here in Clemson. A few live in Tennessee.
I’m married, thankfully to a personal trainer! He really understands the importance of a healthy lifestyle and he helps me train for my competitions.
WP: It does make a difference when your other half understands you lifestyle. What has figure competitions taught you thus far?
SH: Figure competitions have taught me so much about my body and nutrition. I’ve become very knowledgeable with what my body responds to, as well as how my body changes from training & lifting differently and just eating clean. I’ve learned a lot so far and keep learning more every day.
WP: What was the hardest thing for you to overcome when you first started?
SH: The diet, for sure! I’ve always been a healthy eater, but when I had to eat plain fish and chicken for 12 weeks, it got real old. Thank goodness for those cheat days! But still with having a cheat day once a week to eat whatever I wanted (for ONLY one meal), the cravings were pretty bad sometimes. But, after I ate my cheat meal, I had to stop and go back to the plain fish and chicken. That’s where the will power had to kick in!
WP: Was the hardest thing you had to deal with when it came to your diet was your cravings?
SH: Definitely! When I would crave something, I would start chugging the water. That would, at least, make me feel full. Sometimes, I would have to get away from my surroundings to get my mind off food!
WP: What are the key factors that dictate the way you train today?
SH: Consistency, consistency, and more consistency are the key factors.
WP: What titles/accomplishments have you thus far? Tell me about them.
SH: I won third place in my first NPC Figure Competition called, Excalibur. I was featured in Anytime Fitness E-Newsletter and now I’m Ms. December World Physique!
WP: You're moving fast in this industry. Where do you see your career and life in 10 years from now?
SH: Hopefully, I will have won a figure competition! And hopefully, my career will have branched into the fitness world.
WP: What supplements do you currently take?
SH: Currently, I am taking Myozene to help build mass, BCAA’s, NytroWhey Ultra Protein Shake, and Casein protein.
WP: What are your pet peeves?
SH: People talking on their cell phones at the gym! Can you not be without your cell phone for an hour people?! And of course, the people that come to the gym to socialize and hold up a machine while they talk about what they did last night!
WP: Those both are annoying! What do you consider to be important in life and why?
SH: Living each day healthy and to the fullest is what is important to me. If you treat your body with respect and keep a positive attitude, it will pay off to a long and healthy life. Mental health is just as important as physical health.
WP: Well said! You mentioned earlier that your hubby is a Personal Trainer. Get his name and business out there, girl! Give a shout-out!
SH: Really? Oh, yeah! If you live in Upstate South Carolina in the Clemson area and need a great trainer, you need to contact my husband, Brent Holcombe. He’s a Certified Health Fitness Specialist with the American College of Sports Medicine. I’m a testimony of his great work! You can contact him at brent223@mac.com. Also to my family for all their support.
WP: I hope that was as good for you as it was for me! Ha-ha! Give me an example of your workout.
SH: Currently, I’m on a 5 day split. I work a muscle group twice each week. For example, this week I’m working out my legs twice, on Monday and Friday. On Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday. I workout chest & triceps, shoulders & back, & biceps; respectively. Next week, I’ll workout shoulders on Monday and Friday, legs on Tuesday, chest and triceps on Wednesday, and back and biceps on Thursday, etc.
WP: One more question before we go. Will you give us an example of your diet? What do you normally eat each day?
SH: Sure! Right now, since I’m in a muscle-building phase, I consume about 2000 calories a day. Breakfast is one whole egg with four egg whites, half cup of oatmeal and black coffee. Right before I go to the gym, I drink a high protein boost. Then, I drink protein shakes at the gym. For lunch, either chicken breast or fish and quinoa with black beans. For a snack later, another high protein boost. A few hours later, I’ll eat an apple with peanut butter. Then, for dinner I eat a can plain tuna with some hummus in a pita and a Greek yogurt (at work) or chicken breast with green vegetables or an occasional steak with a sweet potato.
Finally, before I go to bed, I will drink a Casein Protein Shake. It’s a slow-releasing protein that will supply my body with nutrition throughout the night while sleeping. Is that enough food for ya! Oh yeah, I almost forgot, I drink lots of water too!
WP: It has been a pleasure interviewing you! You have the best personality in this world! I hope we do you proud with your title! I wish you all the best of luck and see you in the Spring, 2010 magazine issue!
