Amber Dunford
Rising Star of the Month - January 2011
Interviewed by: Mike Hall
Amber Dunford grew up in Central Ontario in a small town surrounded by wilderness and water and as a result, physical activity and fitness have always been a very natural part of her life. She pretty much lived outdoors as a kid and was always fit and athletic throughout her youth.
Once she started college, however, her athleticism decreased immensely and she gained the dreaded “freshman 15”. She moved to Toronto for her studies, where instead of swimming in the creek in her backyard or mountain biking on provincial snowmobile trails to keep fit, she now had to go to the gym. When she first started, she hated the gym, she felt like a sheep. It took a long time to accept this new type of physical activity, but eventually, she fell in love with it!
In addition to finding her life’s passion through fitness, she earned her advanced diploma in Public Relations, as well as, an Honors Degree in Media Studies. She is also a Certified Agatsu Kettlebell Instructor and she provides coaching workshops for new physique competitors to help improve their confidence on stage.
In 2009, she won her Pro status with Fitness Star and since then, she has went on to work with such names in the industry as; Ab Roller, Power Systems, Fitness Depot, Inside Fitness, Body By Jake: Tower 200, Universal Gym, Vibe Plate and many others. She is already climbing the ladder to greatness. What will the new 2011 year bring her?
WP: Hello Amber! We are so happy to tell the world that we have named out our newest Rising Star! How does it feel to be considered for such a title?
I am very thankful and honored to be considered for the title of World Physique Rising Star of the Month. It is a great way to begin the New Year!
WP: How long have you been in the fitness industry?
I have been involved with fitness all of my life, but have been active in the fitness industry for 3 years now.
WP: Wanting to compete got you started in this lifestyle. Tell us how that came about.
In 2006, I took up a part-time job at the front desk of a gym. I started to learn more about the fitness industry and met some people who “competed”. After doing some research, I decided that I, too, wanted to compete and I took my training to the next level. After my first show, I was hooked!
WP: What competitions have you entered and what place did you take?
I have done a total of 7 shows with 5 different federations; all in Ontario. I have placed in the top 3 in four of those shows and top 10 in another one. In 2009, I won 1st place with Fitness Star, earning my Pro status.
WP: What do you like and dislike about competing?
I could list numerous things that I love about competing, but what I really like the best is the adrenaline rush I experience just before I step on stage for the first round of a show. That is the feeling that keeps me coming back for more! On top of that, there are all of the amazing people you meet as part of the competition circuit, I am tremendously grateful to have built strong friendships with fellow competitors.
The thing I like the least is the time spent away from family and friends during my preparation and missing out on special occasions.
WP: From your past competitions, what have you feel you need to work on?
My physique is constantly evolving. I try my best to bring a slightly different package to the stage each time and consistently improve my physique. Since I am self-trained and write my own nutrition plans, I generally have to experiment a little to determine what works best for me.
You are really taking off in your modeling, as well. Tell us more about that.
Yes, I started doing fitness modeling as a natural segue from competing. I have been fortunate to work with some very reputable fitness companies and shoot with some of the top physique photographers in the industry.
WP: How does your training differ when you are modeling and when you are not?
If I am preparing for a fitness model competition or a photo shoot, I may increase my cardiovascular workouts through kettlebell complexes or HIIT (high intensity interval training), but other than that I do not stray too far from whatever program I am currently on.
WP: What future projects do you have planned?
I have a few exciting things in the works for 2011, but I can’t tell, or else it wouldn’t be a surprise!
WP: I can’t wait to find out! What problems have you had as far as staying motivated and disciplined to stick with your workouts?
It can be difficult to stay motivated. Sometimes, my body and mind simply need a break. When I am having a difficult time staying disciplined and motivated it is a sure sign that I am overdoing it and need to scale back, think of new plan and start fresh.
WP: What keeps fitness interesting to you?
Fitness stays interesting to me because the information is constantly being updated; new research is taking place and new studies are being conducted all of the time. I am so intrigued by how much information is out there. It can never get boring to me!
WP: Any shout outs?
There are many people who I would like to give a shout out to. I’ll start with my boyfriend, Kyle. I have learned a lot about training from him and he has been so inspiring and motivating in helping me to reach my goals.
My parents, who have supported me from day one and have given so selflessly to help me achieve my dream. My brother and sister, who probably don’t know just how much I have always admired them both; they are beautiful people inside and out. My amazing girlfriends, old and new, who have stuck by me and supported my dream of being in fitness. And of course, all of the people I have met in this industry: photographers, promoters, fellow competitors, make-up artists, casting directors, etc.
All of these people have in some way influenced me and I am so thankful for their support, knowledge and overall good times! Without them all, I would not keep coming back for more!
WP: Who had the most impact on you in your life thus far?
My parents had the most impact on me growing up. It might seem like an obvious answer, but so many people lose touch with their parents or don’t have a good relationship with them. Mine have taught me the value of good work ethic and how to apply it in everything I set out to accomplish. They have never stopped believing in me.
WP: If I were to open your fridge and kitchen cabinets, what would I find in them?
You would find lots of cruciferous veggies and lots of high fat/high protein foods. I function best when I consume a lot of fat and protein and very low carbs. I love nuts, fish, eggs, avocados, olives, oils and wild game. There are also plenty of different types of tea and spices to keep things interesting. You would also find my stock of BioX Nutrition supplements, some popcorn and a bottle of red wine.
WP: If I were to walk into your house and have a look around, what type of fitness equipment would I find?
Wow, where to begin! I live with my boyfriend and his brother, and all three of us are very physically active. My boyfriend is a trainer and often trains clients in our garage. Inside the garage are two heavy bags, multiple sets of MMA gloves, hand wraps, shin pads and focus pads. We have a very big collection of Kettlebells, a squat rack with Olympic bar and plates, gymnastic rings, tires, chin-up bar, skipping ropes, Lebert Equalizers, a Tower 200, resistance bands, stability balls and much more.
In the rest of the house, we have lots of sports equipment; tennis balls/racquets, footballs, baseballs and gloves, frisbees, soccer balls and I even have a pole in my room to practice pole dance.
WP: What are your hobbies outside of fitness?
I love to be outside whenever I can be, whether it is in the garden or just going for a walk. I, also, love to swim, fish and hunt when I am back home. For my indoor activities, I am a bit of a book worm and love reading fictional novels, Bryce Courtenay is my favorite author. I do a lot of cooking, cleaning (I enjoy cleaning; I find it very therapeutic), sewing, arts and crafts, watching movies and hanging out with friends.
WP: Where are you going from here? What are your future goals for your career, this industry, and your physique?
My goals are continuously evolving. I would like to become a sought after authority on coaching for stage presentation and posing for competitions and photoshoots. I also plan to obtain a certification for personal training and nutrition t o complement my education. As a long-term goal, I would like to become a certified coach to help expand my coaching and consulting to explore the broader challenges that my clients’ face.
WP: You seem to stay very busy. How do you make time for yourself? Relaxing is very important to one’s health. How do you relax and hide from the stress of the world?
I always try to find time for myself to help reduce stress. I believe it is a very important part of staying healthy. I do anything from singing in the shower at the top of my lungs to taking the day to cook and clean and get caught up with house chores. It may not sound very relaxing to some, but I find it is the best way to clear my head.
WP: Who are you affiliated with?
There are so many people and organizations that I am thankful for being affiliated with, but I will try to keep it short:
FMI (Fitness Model International): I am a proud to be an FMI Alumni. I was very fortunate to have attended the FMI 1-day conference in Toronto in June 2010 and then the 4-day conference in LA in October. Going to FMI has completely changed my perspective of the fitness industry and opened my eyes to countless possibilities. I have learned invaluable lessons from the founders, Clark Bartram and Gary Warren, as well as the FMI affiliates and I have made many wonderful friends and contacts. Anyone who is considering entering the fitness industry should contact FMI. You will not be disappointed! http://www.fmievents.com/
BioX Performance Nutrition, my supplement sponsor, whose products I fell in love with! They have an amazing line of supplements, including their all-natural line which is delicious! http://www.nutrition-zone.com/
Venus Victoria Salon & Spa, my salon sponsor. I am so happy to be affiliated with this amazing, high-class facility. They make sure I am glowing for all of my photoshoots and competitions. http://venusvictoria.ca/
Iron Kore Performance Training, my gym sponsor that thinks outside the box when it comes to training. It is like a playground for fitness enthusiasts and I love it there! Twitter: @ironkorept Website coming soon!
STAK Fitness, my employer, composed of an incredible team of people who are passionate about fitness and are determined to help fitness business owners achieve their goals. I am so happy to be part of the STAK family. www.stakfitness.com
WP: How do you feel you have improved you and your life?
It is difficult to describe just how much fitness has improved my life. My involvement in fitness has given me added incentive to always live a healthy, balanced lifestyle. I have learned a lot about myself as a result of always monitoring my health, mood, energy levels, etc. I am lucky to have found my passion and also an avenue by which to pursue it.
WP: The interview is coming to a close now. Is there anything that you would like to add prior the end of the interview?
I just want to say thank you to everyone at World Physique for this opportunity!
WP: We are sure you will go far in this industry! It is all of our pleasure! We are delighted to have you featured as our Rising Star of the Month. Thank you for taking the time out to hold this interview with us. We wish you the best of luck in the future.
