World Physique

Interviewed by: Tammy Renee'

We are proud to say that Christina is our Ms. World Physique for January 2010. What a great way to start a new year. Christina is a single mother of a vivacious 4 year old little girl. She prides herself in making fitness a lifestyle and not a fad. She has always been in some sort of competitive sport ever since she was 8 years old, and she made sure that athletics and healthy living was a part of her and her daughter's life.

Before she had her daughter, she got certified in Personal Training and even obtained credentials in Sports Nutrition. She has coached and trained all sorts of people, from the average Joe to the serious athlete and competitor. She has been approached several times about competing in figure, but knew that she would need more than just the knowledge base, ambition, and drive to pursue it. She also would need the time.

Being a single working mother, it was going to be a challenge to incorporate the training into her already challenging life. Finally, she was able to find a balance between the two and decided to go for it and train and prep for her first show. Thus far, she has done 3 NPC shows. She is absolutely hooked! She plans to stay true to the natural way of training by competing in the Natural Federation. Her goal is to achieve Pro status as a 100% natural-figure competitor in 2010 and 2011. It's quite an ambitious goal, but she is driven to achieve it.

That is her life outside of the fitness industry. We will explore more on her accomplishments in the fitness industry during this interview.

WP: Let’s begin with you telling our viewers a little about yourself.

CC: I’m a 31-year-old San Francisco native of Spanish/Filipina decent. I am a mother to a very intelligent and happy 4-year-old girl. I’m a mild-mannered corporate shark by day and a superhero mother and figure competitor by night. I’ve always wanted to say that, he-he. All joking aside, I work in sales for a growing software company and compete in figure competitions. I’m a ‘guy’s gal’ type of woman and I say what I mean and mean what I say. I may come across as intimidating at first, but really, I’m a nice gal! As Stuart Smalley from SNL would say, “I’m smart, I’m funny, I’m beautiful, and gosh darn it, people like me!”

WP: I remember that! That is too funny! What has been your stepping stone to get where you are today?

CC: I have always been involved in competitive sports, so I would have to say my competitive nature is what got me started and is what keeps me going in all aspects of my life. I don’t feel the need to be in constant competition with others, more so with myself. How far can I push myself? How high can I climb? I want to break through the proverbial glass ceiling in every endeavor, every obstacle, and every challenge. That’s the mentality I have.

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

CC: I can say that getting into contest-ready physique is quite challenging in itself, but maintaining it?!??! That’s a whole other story. When you’ve deprived your body for a long period of time for contest prep, it’s challenging not to give in to all the yummy goodness out there just to maintain the physique and not rebound all the weight back and then some. Yummy ice cream, pizza, burgers, pasta, there’s temptation everywhere! I just envision myself on that stage and keep telling myself that the more weight I pack on during the off-season, the more challenging the prep will be.

As far as doing anything differently? I’ve decreased my cardio duration significantly just to give my body a break. I took several days off from training as well. I have since reintroduced more carbs into my body and have eaten cheat meals once a week. Oh! I sure am going to miss those cheat meals once I start my next contest prep.

WP: Where do you reside now?

CC: I currently live in San Francisco, California. Brrrrrr, super cold and rainy this holiday season. Can you believe our warmest time of the year is in October and November? Mark Twain knew what he was talking about! I still love San Fran!

WP: So, you have competed before? Can you tell me more about it?

CC: 2009 was my first year competing but I intend to keep competing in this sport. I have been competing in the NPC circuit, but I’m planning to switch over to the Naturals such as WNBF/INBF. I would like an equal-level playing field.

WP: Where do you reside?

CC: I currently live in San Francisco, California. Brrrrrr, super cold and rainy this holiday season. Can you believe our warmest time of the year is in October and November? Mark Twain knew what he was talking about! I still love San Fran!

WP: Tell me more about your competiting.

CC: 2009 was my first year competing but I intend to keep competing in this sport. I have been competing in the NPC circuit, but I’m planning to switch over to the Naturals such as WNBF/INBF. I would like an equal-level playing field.

WP: Are you planning to compete again in the future?

CC: Absolutely! I want to pursue Pro status in this sport and I am absolutely driven to achieve this. I am so passionate about this sport and lifestyle that I plan to take this as far as it will let me. This lifestyle gives me control of something in my life in a chaotic world.

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

CC: Where do I start?!? I am a very competitive person, so any type of competitive sport excites me. I’ve never played hockey though, and I’m simply awful at soccer. I love basketball, and as the generic saying goes, I’m “pretty good for a girl”. I love volleyball, beach or court. Softball is a blast and football is awesome, as a player or a spectator.

As an athlete I enjoy anything active, but in this fast paced world that we live in, it’s always nice to just slow down, or even just stop all together and relax. So, I make it a point to make time to travel and see the world. This is my form of relaxing. There is so much of the world out there, and I plan to witness every inch of it when I can.

Another thing I enjoy is cooking & the culinary arts. I really think I was a chef in a past life. And may I add that cooking and hosting dinner parties at the house is torturous during the competition season. As a fellow figure gal pal of mine says, “It’s food porn!” Yes ma’am, it most certainly is.

WP: Tell me about your family. In addition, are you married, single, or dating?

CC: I was adopted at birth, but the parents I have now are the only parents I know and would want to know. I have no desire to open up a Pandora’s Box by trying to locate my biological parents. My father is the wisest and the most opinionated man I know. My mother is the bravest and most loving woman on the earth. She passed away in 2007 of cancer, and I miss her so much. Being the only child of my parents’ union, the only other family I have is my daughter. She is my world! Everything I do, I do with her in mind. She is my biggest fan.

Married? Been there done that. Hahaha. That is a chapter of my life that came and went, but ironically enough, my ex-husband and I are still friends to this day. Not quite like Demi and Bruce, but we’re good. Single or dating? Can one be both? Ha-ha. I’m fortunate enough to have met a wonderful man who is genuinely sweet, caring and a hopeless romantic. A walking chick-flick, if you will. Oh gosh, is this interview starting to get sappy?

WP: Sappy? Why would you say that? Ha-ha! Let’s turn this interview away from sappy and talk more about competing. What has figure competitions taught you thus far?

CC: Competing in figure has taught me to be in tune with my body and dialed in with my mind. It has taught to me how to be incredibly focused on a goal. It has also taught me how incredibly subjective judging can be in this sport and how you shouldn’t let it discourage you. You can work hard to get that ‘perfect physique’ but, it may not be perfect enough for the judges that day. Or, they may be looking for something completely different. Don’t let it get to you. Even if you don’t place, don’t let it get to you. There’s always the next show.

WP: I hear that from a lot of competitors. Even Heather Bear came up with an idea that all Judges should have one from the go by, which makes sense to me. What was the hardest thing for you to overcome when you first started?

CC: The hardest thing to overcome was the comments from the peanut gallery. There are just a lot of people out there that just don’t understand the complexities of this sport. You really have to love this to keep pushing you body further each time around, and you really have to love this sport to keep competing in it. I’ll hear the occasional, “Well, you must do steroids.” No, I don’t, and I never have. I plan to stay true to the natural approach for this sport. “She must have had implants” No, going under the knife scares the bejeezus out of me, and I really don’t want anything foreign implanted in my body. “Real women don’t look like this”. Ummm, last time I checked I was a woman, and I’m as real as the next gal. It’s the constant comments from those who just don’t understand that are difficult. I’m glad there are communities such as World Physique’s social networking site that provide athletes in this sport an outlet and an open forum to talk about what they all love.

WP: Okay, give you a cookie! You gave World Physique props. No people, we are not even paying her to do that! Ha-ha! What was the hardest thing you had to deal with when it came to your diet?

CC: Following the diet was actually not the hardest thing to deal with. It’s adjusting and transitioning to the little modifications and tweaks in the diet that was challenging. One week the cheat meals are gone. One week carbs are gone. When you’re dieting this way, you get so conscious about everything regarding your body. Headaches, fatigue, a drop in energy, a spike in mood, this was challenging to deal with.

WP: That must be pretty tough. What are the key factors that dictate the way you train today?

CC: Time. Every second of my day is accounted for. I am so incredibly busy with balancing my personal and professional life that really, it’s all about time. If I am able to get only 45 minutes in for weight training, then so be it. If I have 2 hours, then great.

WP: How has your training changed over the years?

CC: It really depends on what my goal is. I am a firm believer in training with a purpose and a goal. So really, this could vary. I also try to change my routine up often. My body adapts to exercise rather quickly, and I need to make sure that my body stays challenged every time I work out.

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

CC: Besides Ms. World Physique no wins in the competitive circuit as of yet. 2009 was my first year competing, but I can feel that 2010 is my year. I am so incredibly focused and dialed in for next year that I am eager to prepare harder and smarter to bring in a win.

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

CC: 10 years from now, I would hope that I have already obtained Pro status and I would love to see myself still competing, and even promoting a few Naturals shows. Perhaps even help others seek their potential in this sport and coach them. I truly do love this lifestyle and I plan on sticking with it.

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

CC: I have been offered modeling jobs, but I just need to find a way to balance that with the rest of my life. It’s challenging enough to juggle single parenting, a professional career, and competing all at once. If I can find a balance, or even better representation, then things would be more organized and that too can be part of the balance.

WP: What photographers would you like to work with?

CC: I absolutely love working with Weiferd Watts. He has an amazing eye and great direction. He is also a pleasure to work with and a great human being. He has a great sense of humor and an infectious spirit.

I’ve also worked with Ryan Reyes of ChosenByDestiny Photography who is currently in Japan on a project. He also has a great eye and very easy to work with.

I would also love to work with William Uz and Kent Hwang.

WP: What supplements do you currently take?

CC: Currently, I take a Whey Isolate Protein Powder by Tad the Diet Coach. I love this stuff! It mixes really well with my oatmeal without getting chunky and tastes great! It is all natural as well and comes in Banana, my favorite flavor! I take MaxMuscle Brand Max Ultra 100 as my multi-vitamin. It’s in a liquid format and easy to digest. CLA, L-Carnitine, Glutamine, BCAAs, Calcium, Vitamin C, all from MaxMuscle. I also switch up my protein powders every now and then with MamMuscle’s brand and will soon be trying out Cellucor products. I’m always open to trying new supplements and see how they work for me.

WP: What are your pet peeves?

CC: Pet peeves as far as gym etiquette? I absolutely can't stand it when folks don't wipe down the equipment after using it. Ewwwww!

Pet peeves in general? The sound of aluminum foil. I know, I know, really weird, but it's my nails on the chalkboard. Bad driving, that's another one. I seriously believe people lose their ability to merge onto ongoing traffic once they get on the freeway. And my absolute biggest pet peeve...when they get my order wrong at a restaurant or bring out appetizers after the entree. Ooooooh! That gets me so heated.

WP: And what is Ms. World Physique doing eating appetizers, may I ask in a restaurant? Ha-ha! I’m sure it’s all health food (rolling eyes). What do you consider to be important in life and why?

CC: As cliche as this sounds. I just want to be happy. Life is too short to spend it on being sad. Granted there will be times where this can’t be avoided, but dwelling on it is what can suck you into a depression. What makes me happy? Spending time with my daughter and watching her grow up into a beautiful little girl. These are precious moments in my life that I can never get back, and I plan to cherish every second of it.

Setting goals for me and achieving them be it in fitness and modeling, or in my corporate career. This is success for me, and it maintains my sanity, and sanity is good. It keeps everyone happy.

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

CC: My life has changed completely when my daughter came into my life in 2005. All of a sudden, it wasn’t all about me anymore. The second she became part of this world I knew I had to instantly become the most selfless, reliable, and dependable person in this miracle’s life. Going through parenthood all by myself, I knew it was going to be challenging, and I wanted to take the challenge on unconditionally for the one and only true love of my life. I have loved every second of it.

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

CC: I was measured at 5’5 for my first competition, but was placed in the short class. Odd. Then in another, I was measured at 5’4 and still placed in the 5’1 class. Just had a physical and they said I was 5’5. So, I’m going with that; 5’5.

My contest weight is 118 lbs. Off-season my weight fluctuates 10-15 lbs.

My measurements are, and I only know this for suit measurements are: 36 - 25 - 36.

My guess is this may change during the competition season.

WP: Any shout outs?

CC: Where do I start! I love shout outs! I want to thank my coaches, Bernadette and Tad Inoue. They are an awesome team and care a great deal about your success in this sport. They have years of experience in both figure and bodybuilding. They are an absolute pleasure to work with and I love them to death!

MaxMuscle San Francisco. They have been so good to me. Providing me with the supplements I need during the on and off-season. They take good care of the folks I send their way as well. Thanks Ian & Maurice!

Jesse Roach with Tanita scales. These scales are so legit! I love them. Every fitness enthusiast needs one of these. They sent one my way and I’m so grateful for it. It rocks!

Berns Bedard of Passionfruit Designs. She designed my suits. I love her! She is so kind and she knows exactly what suit will look best on you. I don’t have to worry about my suit not fitting since she gets it right the first time. The suits are so unique and beautiful. It’s a “labor of love” she says, and when you see the suits, it truly is.

And last but not the least, to all of my friends who stood by me through my contest preps. I’m sure they’re sick of me bringing my own food in Tupperware during dinner parties they invite me too. I’m glad you folks still stuck by me. I love you guys!

WP: They still sell Tupperware? My mom wouldn’t have anything else in her kitchen when I was growing up. Okay, back to the interview. Give me an example of your workout.

CC: I change it up when I can. The body adapts to exercise rather quickly. Depending on what my goal is, my workouts will vary as well. Right now, I’m at a maintenance regimen. Just trying to maintain the muscle mass that I have now and not gaining too much additional body fat.

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

CC: I eat 6 times a day. I am currently re-introducing carbs into my system. My meals consist of protein in each meal and some carbs and fat as well to help me keep full. Chicken, veggies and brown rice would be an example of a meal. Oatmeal mixed with a protein powder for breakfast. Egg whites, fish, lean red meat, cottage cheese and berries. It changes from time to time. I do get a cheat meal once a week. Yay!

WP: Could you tell me about your future projects?

CC: Well, I plan to compete in as many Natural shows as I can and get more experience and confidence, and at least try to place and win some of them.

I’ve been offered some modeling jobs as well that I haven’t committed to yet.

WP: Is there anything I have forgotten to mention that you would like to bring to light?

CC: I absolutely love the folks at World Physique! They are all so supportive and caring and I am truly grateful to be a part of such an amazing community. I am excited to watch them grow!

WP: I promise folks, we are not paying her to say these sweet things about us! She almost sounds like a true Spokes model! It has been a pleasure interviewing you! I wish you all the best of luck!

CC: Thanks for having me! It’s been an absolute honor! I heart World Physique!

WP: We heart you, too! Getting sappy again!