How are you enjoying living back in Aus. Being in NZ for six years it was hard at first trying to adjust. After a few months I started to feel settled, I had a routine established, work, study and training, I really love being back in Australia.
Where are you living and working? I’m living in the Illawarra, NSW, I am currently studying (certificate 3 & 4 Fitness) & working in a health food/supplement store it was a total career change from working corporate to doing retail, but I’m finally doing something that I’m passionate about, helping people achieve their goals.
Do you miss NZ yet?
I miss the people more than anything. Cathy, Tracey, Jules (hope to see you in June) Lee G, Bev, Tom, Louisa, Andrew & Jody
We see you're into strongman and powerlifting? how did you get into that?
I finished my last competition which was NABBA North Harbour 09, even though I ended the year on a high, the amount of competing and dieting took its toll on me.
I had lost motivation and the buzz to compete, so when I returned to Australia I started back training just for maintenance at Fitness First and it was if I was going through the motions, from something that you love doing it makes it hard as you don’t have a comp to focus on. I needed a new challenge, and it was actually my sister that took me to Rocksolid as she was doing some boxing with Pete, that’s how I met Pete and was introduced to the Strongman, powerlifting came later on.
  
How do you train for those events?
We train for the strongman events, 2-3 times per week, at the moment I’m focusing on powerlifting so after Nationals in August I’ll be back into it. What we do with the strongman event training is a warm up with kettle bells, which helps get that triple extension move, being fast and explosive is imperative to a lot of the events.
Then I’ll move onto log press, which is similar to a clean and jerk move. Farmers walk, holding in each hand for meters, which really hits the traps far better than shrugs!!! Sled drag which nails tear drops Punisher or prowler which thrashes your hamstrings. We’ll also throw in some stones (atlas stones) lapping, lifting and then placing onto levels.
How many days do you train. Number of exercises. Reps and sets you do.
I still train 5-6, currently using a Westside Barbell programme, so there are max effort days and dynamic days. Max concentrates on increasing the weight, dynamic is more explosive/endurance. I’ve been throwing in some cardio as well, just to drop some weight before the comp. I still try and incorporate my weight training (3 days split), a few times per week.
Do you miss bodybuilding training and eating?
The only thing I miss about body building is being ripped, posing on-stage & the backstage antics. At the moment I’m eating clean just more calories for the training that I’m doing.
 
Do you prefer powerlifting over bodybuilding at this point in time?
Definitely!!! As I was saying to someone, the buzz of getting that lift i.e. 155kg when I broke the Australian record does not even compare to winning on stage.Bodybuilding is based on the judges opinion on the day, but with powerlifting, it’s simple, you either get it up or you don’t. Of course there are rules. i.e. No hitching and being in control of the weight.
Realistically I need to put on a lot more muscle mass before I get up on stage again, so that is going to take some time. I don’t compete for the sake of competing and I’m still not hungry for it yet, it has to be a 100% commitment as I never do things by halves.
What do you like about the strongman events?
Absolute challenge and pushing yourself to the absolute limit, it’s definitely a mental thing as well as strength.Strongman has pinpointed some areas that I need to work on, I never used to squat heavy when preparing for bodybulding, or even deep squat. With stone lifts, you need to focus on getting into a deep squat and then driving up. how do you psych yourself up to pull a truck and lift those heavy weights around.
Definitely a lot of carb loading the day before and throughout the day, also pre-workout supplmenets like jack3d and Vpx shotgun. Believe me, a 250kg sled pull just zaps you hard of energy. No hard training the week of the comp, After a big lift whether it be powerlifting or strongman even training, the Central Nervous System needs time to recover.
Are many women competing in strongman over there?
There are a few, ACT, QLD and NSW. We’ve had a few girls from ACT come down and compete, very strong girls from powerlifting and some from crossfit backgrounds.Well known ladies who over here are Sharon Waters (Victgoria) and Sue Metcalf. (Qld)It’s a relatively new sport and more women are just starting to get into it. what are you achievements in strongman/powerlifting so far.
Strongman
2010 Rocksolid Promotions* (Australia) – 2nd Place
*Nonsactioned
Powerlifting
2010 Sutherland Shire Novice* (Australia) - 1st Place 300kg (661lb) Raw Total
*Nonsanctioned Under 75kg
2010 CAPO National deadlift competition - - 1st place, 155kg RawUnder 75kg
2011 CAPO Push & Pull – 1st place, 82kg bench, 150kg Deadlift RawUnder 75kg
What difference is powerlifting training doing to your musclemass and weight
Well my weight is currently at 69kg, I last competed at 55kg. So I’ve defintely put a bit of muscle on from training – no doubt some fat there, lol, Powerlifting has identified weaknesses with my form, so I’ve really started to hit all three, deadlifts, squats and bench. I’ve found my quads are really coming along now, there is also another good exercise I use for hamstrings as I find that part is lagging, is the GHD, or similar to the broomstick exercise that you can do locking your feet in. My lowerback is getting a lot thicker and stronger as well.
Any stronngman comps/goals coming up?
March 12th – CAPO, Boss of the Bench
April 3rd – CAPO, State titles
August – CAPO Nationals
September – CAPO - Clash of the gyms – powerlifting comp
December – CAPO – National Deadlift challenge
August – Rocksolid promotions – Strongman challenge
November – Rocksolid promotions – Strongman challenge
There may be a body building competition on the horizon, will keep you posted.
Lucie and her Rock Solid Team
Thanks for your support Lisa, you do an awesome job over there!
I would also like to thank my trainer, Pete for his direction and coaching, he gets the best out of me and for introducing me to the sport. Also, the support of all the boys, Jane & laurinda at Rocksolid, it’s a tight gym and I’m proud to be a part of it and representing it. |
