Interview With Amanda Adams
Rising Star of the Month - April 2010
Interviewed by: Angela Courduff
Photos by: Satio Photography
WP: If Amanda's picture, with her perfect face and body, didn't grab your attention maybe her endless energy will! Anyone around Amanda will tell you that she is always non-stop, going 24/7, and loves it! With a combination of college classes, working two jobs, managing to get her cardio and training sessions in everyday is definitely tough on her. However, having a positive attitude is honestly what gets her through each day! The lifestyle of eating clean and getting her workouts in every day has not only changed her body, but has made everything else in her life more stable! Let's find out more about Amanda:
“I had no idea there was an industry out there where people strived to be in their best shape year round, not just during Spring Break week. These days, my trainer and I are determined to get my body in the best shape possible!”
WP: Welcome, Amanda. Glad to be interviewing you today. You are so dedicated to your health and fitness. What drew you to fitness in the first place?
AA: Hello, Angela. I am glad to be here. I’ve always loved working out in the gym and staying in shape. It’s funny, when I was in high school, being able to out do someone with pushups or sit-ups always brought out this competitive side in me. However, it was in college when my boyfriend’s roommate, who is now my trainer, Zack Bell, started talking about Mr. Olympia, Jay Cutler, Jamie Eason, protein shakes, etc., and introduced me to this amazing fitness industry! I started reading the success stories of all these beautiful fitness models and realized this is what I want to do. I had no idea there was an industry out there where people strived to be in their best shape year round, not just during Spring Break week. These days, my trainer and I are determined to get my body in the best shape possible!
WP: Well, whatever you and your trainer are doing, it’s working! You look incredible! And, you are an extremely active fitness model. How’d you get started in the industry?
AA: I wasn't sure how to start, but after researching all these amazing fitness models success stories, I began to understand the importance of a clean diet and hitting the weights even harder! Then, I knew I needed some professional pictures to help network myself better! After looking through some of Jamie Eason’s pictures, I came across Satio Photography. I admired and respected every fitness model Satio worked with, and I wanted to be one. Soon after shooting with her, I stepped into the world of fitness modeling! I now live, breath, and eat anything that has to do with this industry. I go to as many shows and expos and talk with anyone and everyone that shares the same passion with this fitness lifestyle as I do!
WP: You are extremely fortunate to be able to work with such incredible photographers so early in your career! Where can our readers look for you next?
AA: Please look for me in this month’s issue of Status Fitness Magazine!
WP: You heard her everyone! With school, work and modeling you stay pretty busy. What keeps you motivated?
AA: Every time someone asks me this, I sit and try to find a way to describe in words the feeling that goes through me. I think this rush of emotions comes from thinking about where I used to be before I decided to take control of my life. Being 23 years old, I realize I still have so many life lessons to learn and obstacles to overcome. However, I have witnessed the extremes that college girls go through to stay skinny and the results of girls who just gave up. If you asked me or anyone that knew me 2 years ago if I would be the girl turning down shots at a bar, saying no “thank you” to a late night Taco Bell run, or waking up two hours early before work for a cardio session, I would’ve laughed! I knew if I wanted to get through this phase of my life happily, I would need to change my lifestyle. Therefore, my biggest motivation would be the results my friends, family, and I have seen! Not only do I look and feel better than I ever have before, but I am truly a happier person. I am able to remind myself, and hopefully show others, that no matter how far down you may get in life it’s never too late to pull yourself together!
WP: Being able to put your fitness goals above partying and late night fast food runs when you’re in college is extremely impressive! Has it been difficult for you to stay on track while in college?
AA: Honestly, it’s been easier than you would think! I am lucky enough to live with my sister who also follows a healthy and fit lifestyle while majoring in nursing. Therefore, being able to come up with new dinner ideas and talk about how awesome our workouts were that day before homework is easier. My trainer is also in college and if it weren’t for his encouraging and inspiring lifestyle from the beginning, then I wouldn’t be where I am today. Surrounding yourself with positive people helps anyone accomplish things in life.
WP: Wow, it’s great that you have your very own support system at school! What type of workout does your trainer currently have you on?
AA: My workouts usually consist of unique training modalities such as ropes, TRX training, and kettle bell work with a combination of resistance training in compound sets and circuits to target various muscle groups at a high intensity. I like leaving the gym knowing that I worked as hard as I possibly could!
WP: It sounds super-intense! What does your diet consist of? Can you give me an example day?
AA: Absolutely! I typically eat every 2 1/2 to 3 hours, combining meals with high protein, complex carbs, fruits, veggies, and healthy fats. I try my best not to have a cheat meal but instead have what I call a cheat "accessory." If I had an awesome week or two of training, I will add a little light ranch with my chicken sandwich or enjoy some Hershey’s Kisses. Other than that, I honestly love how I feel after eating clean meals and drinking lots of water. An example of a day for me would be:
Meal 1- Oatmeal with peanut butter and 3 egg whites.
Meal 2- Low fat yogurt.
Meal 3- Grilled chicken sandwich, steamed veggies.
Meals 4- Protein shake.
Meal 5- Chicken nachos w/ blue corn chips and steamed veggies.
Meal 6- Protein shake or fat free yogurt.
WP: What dedication; hardly ever a cheat meal! Do you take any supplements?
AA:I don’t know how I would get through the day without a pre-workout drink or my chocolate protein shakes! My favorite is Optimum Nutrition’s Gold Standard 100% Whey. I also take a Gaspari Nutrition Anavite multivitamin and my pre-workout supplement of choice is BPI’s Sport Supplement (1.M.R.).
WP: Does your training change at all when you’re preparing for a shoot?
AA: I try to stay lean year round, so when a shoot or event comes up my body doesn’t have to go through a big transformation. Therefore, I mostly change up my diet with less carbs and increase my intensity and number of sessions of cardio.
<WP: What is the hardest thing you have had to deal with when it comes to your diet?
AA: Chocolate! I have a huge sweet tooth. I honestly cried one time at a restaurant when they brought me out my dessert because it looked so delicious! Now, I am even more grateful for the times I allow myself some dessert because I know I deserve it! Another hard thing to deal with being a college student and a bartender is alcohol. I knew alcohol was bad for you, but once I was educated on the effects of sugar and alcohol on your muscles, my perspective on alcohol changed. Therefore, having a drink with friends is only an occasional thing for me now. So, when you see me at work taking “shots” with customers, it’s just water or sugar free red bull!
WP: What a great trick! Your training and diet are so on point: Do you see yourself stepping onstage in the future?
AA: Yes! I would love to start competing in the bikini division and then maybe one day move up to figure. I’ve never been a competitive person, but when it comes to staying in shape, for some reason I will push myself to the max. Being able to be on stage with other girls with that same mentality would be an honor!
WP: Ok, time to get personal: Tell me about your family.
AA: Family is by far the most important thing to me. I am truly blessed to have such supportive parents and wouldn’t be the hardworking and compassionate girl I am today if it weren’t for them. They have always encouraged me to strive for my dreams, no matter how big! I have two amazing sisters, one younger one older, who I look up to and aspire to be like everyday. My beautiful older sister and her husband are amazing parents to two boys and have one on the way! They are a perfect example of what a loving and hardworking family should portray. My younger sister, who is also my best friend and roommate, is the hardest working person I know. She is so beautiful inside and out, and I would not be able to go one day without her support! Both my sisters keep me grounded and encourage me with anything that comes my way!
WP: AND, is there someone special in your life?
AA: Special doesn’t even come close to describing how amazing my boyfriend of 3 years is. It sounds cliché, but I literally couldn’t get through life without him. He has been there from day one when I was at the lowest point in my life to now where I wake up every morning happier than the day before! He has never given up on me which gives me strength to not give up on myself. When you start taking care and respecting yourself inside and out, you begin to respect everyone around you!
WP: Again, you are truly blessed to have such a great support system. Who do you admire most in the fitness industry? Who are some of your idols?
AA: Jamie Eason will always be my biggest idol. She was the first fitness model I started following and, to this day, is my biggest inspiration. Not only is she beautiful and maintains a lean physique year round, she truly wants to help anyone and everyone out! Others that keep me motivated are Amanda Latona, Jessica Putnam, Kathleen Tesori, and Nicole Wilkins Lee!
Honestly though, I admire anyone and everyone that is working hard in the gym for something! The other day as I was running on the treadmill, I was thinking, “Look at everyone in this gym. Yes, some people don’t know exactly what they are doing, some you know just had their best workout, and some might only make it 5 minutes and give up. BUT, they did get up, drive themselves to the gym and walk in. That is one of the hardest things for anyone to do sometimes, so I admire anyone that walks in that gym door.”
WP: That is such a great point. There are too many people who take the easy road and decide not to workout. Do you have any projects in the works?
AA: I hope to be competing soon in the bikini division. I’ll definitely be attending the Olympia this year, hopefully working at a booth. And, I hope to get the opportunity to work with as many magazines and photographers as possible!
WP: Any shout outs?
AA: Thank you so much to everyone at World Physique for giving me this amazing opportunity!
I’d also like to thank all of my friends and family that have been there by my side supporting me from the beginning: Zack Bell for his ongoing inspiration and challenging training sessions, Satio Photography for having such amazing talent and sharing it with everyone, and Bodyplex Gym in Milledgeville, GA, for having such an encouraging and hardworking staff!
Thanks to everyone who reads this as well! It means the world to me!
WP: Thanks, Amanda! It has really been a pleasure interviewing you! Good luck with school and in all your future endeavors! We’ll be looking for you on the bikini stage soon!
AA: Thank you again! It is an honor to be interviewed by World Physique and I hope it’s not the last time!
