Stacy Beach

WPM's Transformation of the Month - August 2011





Interviewed by: Mike Hall


After graduating nursing school, Stacy Beach weighed over 200 pounds. With the extra weight came heartburn all the time and she had started experiencing panic attacks. She was so sick of being unhappy with what she saw in the mirror. “I was always setting goals outside of myself. I finally made the goal about me. I needed to change. I had developed so many bad habits; I didn’t know right from wrong any more when it came to diet and training”, says Stacy.

35 years old Stacy Beach is now a Registered Nurse. Together with her husband, owns a group home for individuals with developmental disabilities. She is also a Third Degree Black Belt in Kenpo Karate.

As to this date, Stacy has lost from 30 percent body fat all the way down to 17 percent body fat.

"...I am very interested in the nutrition side of all this. It is my weakest area, so I want to learn more about it. As far as my own physique, I will be continuing to push myself with strength training, keep incorporating cardio daily and strive to find balance with all of it in connection with my diet."

WP: What a great transformation, Stacy. What was the biggest challenge you faced while going through your transformation?

Thank you! My addiction with food was my biggest challenge. I did not realize that I was so attached to the feelings I received from food. When I cleaned up my diet, it was a wakeup call with how out of control I had allowed it to get. I had been doing a lot of mindless eating. Just shoveling it in with no regard to what it actually was or in what quantity. My personal trainer brought it back to the basics for me. Stick to foods that you know and not foods that are packed with a whole bunch of hidden ingredients. It all starts at the grocery store. If you don’t bring it home, you aren’t going to eat it.

WP: How long did it take for your complete transformation?

My complete transformation took two years. It wasn’t just about a physical change for me. I had to change emotionally and mentally, as well. That process took a little longer then a 12-week program. Luckily, I had chosen my trainer wisely and she was there for me every step of the way.

WP: Did it ever come a time that you came to a "stand still" in your progress?

I absolutely hit plateaus. I seem to hit them at every 10 pound mark. My body would start to fight me and I just had to fight back harder! I also hit a rough spot after about a year of training. I was feeling burned out and started feeling sorry for myself and I allowed excuses to start creeping back in. I gained about 10 pounds back and that scared me. I did not want to end up back where I had started. I had worked too hard. It was during this time that I really started applying the lessons that my trainer had taught me. Everything started bleeding together. There wasn’t just “Gym Stacy” and “Regular Life Stacy”, there was just Stacy. Everything has to work together for it to become a lifestyle.

WP: What did you do differently to overcome the ‘stand still’?

I quit making excuses. The number one thing that has always prevented me from doing something I wanted to do is an excuse. Once I got rid of the excuses, it was like my life opened up before me and I was ready to step back into it. I set the new goal of competing in my first figure competition and I never looked back. There were definitely days when I cried to my husband and doubted that I could do it, but I just kept moving forward.

WP: What program did you follow and explain how it worked for you.

I followed the program that WBFF Pro Diana Chaloux of HitchFit Gym designed especially for me. Her program incorporated diet, cardio and strength training (along with some emotional work in there, too). She really worked on the mind and body with me in order to achieve a total lifestyle change.

We worked together in two phases. The first phase was from 2009-2010 and was all about relearning how to eat and train to be able to maintain the weight loss. She didn’t want me to look at this as a diet and when we were done, then I would just go back to the way I was living that brought me to her. This was a lifestyle overhaul.

I have always loved doing cardio, but Diana really taught me how to love weight lifting. I may still not be in love with lifting weights, but I love the look I get from lifting weights.

The second phase was from 2010-2011 and was all about competition preparation. I decided to take it to the next level and Diana was right there ready to go the distance with me!

WP: Did you have a support group helping you or did you do this alone?

I have the BEST support group. First of all, my husband is my biggest supporter. He makes me want to be a better person. No matter what goal I set for myself, he is on board and is always in my corner. My entire family and friends have been there every step of the way with positive words and encouragement.

WP: What type of effects has your transformation caused?

I feel younger now at 35 years old then I did at 25 years old. I wake up every day at 5 A.M. (with no alarm) full of energy. Through cleaning up my diet, I learned that I have intolerance for gluten and dairy. I feel so much better limiting those foods in my diet. I have learned how good it feels mentally to take care of myself physically.

WP: Did you take any type of supplements during this time?

Yes, I did. I took a multi-vitamin, CLA, L-Carnitine, Green Tea Extract, Fish Oil and protein powder.

WP: Can you give me an example of your current workout?

My current training looks like this:

Monday, Wednesday, Friday: Title Boxing Class

Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday: Running (5 miles) and Strength Training

I change my strength training workouts all the time. Some weeks I do fully body workouts all week. Some weeks, I do splits (chest/triceps; back/biceps; legs/glutes/shoulders). I also mix up my workouts between lifting heavy (6-8 reps) and lifting light (12-15 reps).

WP: Can you break down your daily diet into a sample diet for us?

I eat 5-6 meals per day and drink a gallon of water:

Meal #1: Old Fashion oats with one scoop of protein powder

Meal #2: Egg whites and gluten free toast

Meal #3: Chicken breast and sweet potato chips (homemade, not store bought)

Meal #4: Ground turkey and kale chips (again, homemade, not store bought)

Meal #5: Chicken breast and Brussels sprouts

WP: What have you accomplished since your transformation?

During my transformation, I completed the best black belt test I had ever taken in the 11 years since I have trained in karate. I received my Third Degree Black Belt. I made the tough decision to leave karate and turn my attention to stepping on stage. I am very much an all or nothing person and I wanted to give my all to competing in figure. In May 2011, I did just that.

WP: You started competing? That is great! How well did you do?

I competed in my first figure competition at the WBFF Central US Championships. I did not place, but I walked away with the greatest prize ever, the new me! I reached a goal that night that I had dreamed about for years.

Something else pretty neat happened that night: Three or four years ago, while looking at bodybuilding.com, I came across Carlene Steenekamp’s story. I admired her physique and printed out her picture for motivation. At my first figure competition, I shared the stage with Carlene!

WP: How does your routine and life changes when you go from pre-contest to off-season?

There has definitely been an adjustment period, but I think I am finally balancing everything back out. I enjoyed some treats but my body started craving the meals I had grown accustomed to: chicken and Brussels sprouts; oatmeal and protein powder, etc. I just function better feeding myself home cooked meals with a simple ingredient list.

WP: What do you like and dislike about competing?

I loved everything about competing. I had the time of my life and I can’t wait to do it again! There were definitely some days when I was exhausted, but overall, I enjoyed the whole 16 week journey!

WP: From this competition, what did you learned you need to correct or work on for the physique you are aiming for?

There are a lot of things to work on, but that’s the fun part of this sport. There is always room for improvement and there is always something new to learn.

WP: What are your strengths and weaknesses in your physique? How are you attempting to correct them?

Strength in my physique is that I was given a body that builds muscle fairly easily. A weakness is that I was given a body that also carries fat easily. You see my problem. I am attempting to work with what I was given by creating balance. I truly believe that achieving balance with diet, cardio and strength training is the only magic pill that works.

WP: What problems have you had as far as staying motivated and disciplined to stick with your workouts?

Any lack of motivation and discipline is just pure laziness and giving into excuses. I have a job and lifestyle that enables me to workout whenever I want. I start everyday with cardio, but if there is one area that lacks motivation from time to time its lifting weights. I just have to make myself go down to our home gym some days. I always feel better once I get down there and I never regret a workout.

WP: What would you like to say to motivate others to transform their lives?

There is no greater gift you can give yourself and your family than the gift of being healthy both physically and mentally. Set a goal, get rid of the excuses and don’t look back. You are in control of every choice you make in your life. They ALL matter.

WP: What keeps fitness interesting to you?

It’s not hard to keep fitness interesting for me because I love to exercise. I love the feeling after a great workout. I love starting the day with a good sweat. It works best if I have one thing outside of the house that I do for exercise (right now it’s Title Boxing) and then running and strength training is done at home. I start to get a little bored if I do everything at home. Plus, it gives me a reason to buy cute athletic apparel!

WP: Tell me something about yourself that no one else knows. It’s just between us, no one else will know. Ha-ha. I love this question.

I am obsessed with Yogurtini. There, I said it.

WP: Ha-ha! How have you, mentally and physically, changed over the years?

I have so much energy. I wake up feeling good and I go to sleep feeling good! Honestly, I don’t think I would have been as successful with my physical transformation, had I not taken the time to work on my mental transformation.

WP: Do you have any shout-outs?

Yes! A shout-out to my husband, Justin. He pushes me when he knows I need it. He holds me when I just need to cry it out; even if I’m crying over wanting Yogurtini. He is always in the front row, cheering the loudest. He is my rock and my soft spot to fall. I am better because he is beside me.

My family and friends. They always show up for me. They all think I have a little crazy in me for some of the stuff I get myself into, but they support me anyway! During my competition prep, I never received one negative comment from anyone. My entire support system met me with positive words and encouragement.

Finally, to my trainer, WBFF Pro Diana Chaloux. Diana is the real deal. She lives her life with purpose and positivity. Her energy is contagious. No matter what kind of day I was having, when I left a session with Diana, I was pumped about my life.

WP: If I were to open your fridge and kitchen cabinets, what would I find in them?

You would find egg whites, almond milk, tons of fruit and veggies, chicken, turkey, fish, brown rice, sweet potatoes, gluten free bread. (Do you really think I am going to list something unhealthy?) I may or may not keep a bag of chocolate chips in my fridge to put on top of my brown rice cakes with peanut butter.

WP: If I were to walk into your house and have a look around, what type of fitness equipment would I find?

We basically have a full gym; treadmill, elliptical, spin bike. Free weights, smith machine, leg press, etc. We don’t have a gym membership; we do all our strength training at home.

WP: What are your hobbies outside of fitness?

I love to read, blog, knit, crochet, play with my three dogs and one cat and be with family and friends.

WP: Where are you going from here? What are your future goals for your career, this industry, and your physique?

I am very interested in the nutrition side of all this. It is my weakest area, so I want to learn more about it. As far as my own physique, I will be continuing to push myself with strength training, keep incorporating cardio daily and strive to find balance with all of it in connection with my diet.

WP: How do you make time for yourself? How do you relax and hide from the stress of the world?

I enjoy running. My 5 miles seems to be the perfect distance to let go of or work through anything that may be on my mind.

WP: The interview is coming to a close now. Is there anything that you would like to add prior the end of the interview?

Yes! Thank you Diana Chaloux of HitchFit. She will help you achieve any health & fitness related goal you set for yourself. She is the real deal. She will design a program to fit YOUR dietary and training needs. She will push you and encourage you. She makes herself available to each of her clients and makes each person feel like they are the only one. She will be there every step of the way.

And, thank you for this opportunity to share my story. I hope that my story can inspire someone else that is thinking about or in the process of changing their life. Anything is possible when you set a goal and get rid of the excuses.

We are delighted to have you featured as our “Transformation 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.