Lisa Bellingham, Feb 10

Seasoned Figure competitor Lisa Bellingham is featuring in the NZ corner in an upcoming issue of the Australian MuscleMag. Since we have plenty of material from our interview with her that wasn't included in the article, we thought we'd share them with you here.

Lisa has competed for over 10 years and won numerous figure titles but currently Lisa is at a crossroads in her bodybuliding career and not sure if/when she'll compete again.  But Lisa being Lisa, will probably pop up somewhere along the line.

In the meantime she did share some of her thoughts on her career and tips for those wanting to give bodybuliding a go.

Any regrets?
No, although I wish I had perhaps taken more advantage of when I qualified for overseas comp to Greece in 08.  Aprt from the Sth Pacific Champs in Samoa, I wish I'd done more overseas comps in my time.  11 years is a long time to have limited your travel in the sport.  But as far as regrets, I have no regrets.  Lots of things that took me a long time to work out like diet and training, that sort of thing.  But without going through the highs and lows of trying everything out yourself you would never know what was going to work. That was actually half the fun of competing and going through the journey in the past 10 years is going through the experience. Achieving and not achieving, winning and losing, highs and lows is part of the big picture.

Changes in figure class over the years?
At end of day you can sit and watch bbing comps and you can usually pick who's going to win. Sure in some years girls are bigger, some muscular, smaller some years, some leaner but generally you can select in top 3.

Everyone's getting bigger and harder, muscular and that's probably true and in fact its coming very much like bodybuilding comps.  Nothing's changed since I first started.  Its not modeling comp, its bbing comp.  Still think that it depends who you're up there against.  You could come in looking beautiful and how a figure competitor should look but there's always someone who could turn up on day looking more learner, harder, ripped, little more vascular.  Hard to say what's going to appeal on the day.

Self doubt?
I Used to.  Like all novices I think you do initially but as you do more and more and experienced with it.  You go with the flow abit more and you know you're going to hit the wall.  More prepared and only time where I think I'm not going to get there, was really no big deal anyway.  If you really want to do it, you'll do it.  I might just do it for status and keep my name out there this yet. I'm not going to do it. Got to question if you want why are you doing it.  I might do it for status, chances are you won't do it it doesn't matter anyway.

What has bodybuilding given you?
Needing more time in the gym I became personal trainer because of bodybuilding.  Met new people, new clients and opened new doors to my life.  And that led to new friends, when competing meet people who are doing same thing as you.  Learning to be disciplined. There was definitely lots of self discovery. 

What learned about yourself? 
Think I'm naturally driven and stronger mind than body.  Don't think my mind got stronger but got more disciplined. You become healthier, more aware of what you're putting in body.  Takes some people a whole lifetime and even then lots of people don't master that, so for us to have competed at younger age and being a bodybuilder and living the lifestyle is huge self discovery.

           
MuscleMania 06                             Melbourne 08               Elite 09

How much weight put on and off over the years?

I've monitored weight everyday when not competing in folder since I started.  Depending on what condition I'm bringing myself into for comp I'm against because I don't look good.  My idea is there's all different ways you can compete.

People see you a certain way and expect you to come in hard all the time but some comps you come in softer. Are you OK with yourself for that?
I have no problem coming in soft at all. With me as long as my presentation is meticulous and as long as I present myself to highest standard as I can.   I don't care if I don't come in a couple kgs heavier, or lighter, I'm ok with that. 

Some people wouldn't compete unless they're in the best shape but I think "Why would you not compete - can't always be in top condition?". If you always have to come in top shape, that may mean you only compete once or twice in 5 years. If you love compete, compete - doesn't matter if you're heavier or lighter doesn't matter.  

How do you get in the diet zone.
Takes a long time to in the zone. Doesn't happen overnight.  You have to self motivate yourself for that. Weaning period in the diet.  Weaning myself week by week rather than bang all at once.  Depends on mindset that you're coming into.  Sometimes in a week, a month, sometimes you have to skip comp you want to do because it didn't work. Depends where you're at in life and motivation.

Training or diet more challenge?
I have no problem doing cardio. More driven cardio than training. Never a day I would not train. Even in off season.  No problems with diet, preparation, getting up at 3am and not burnout. Hardest would be loosing yourself abit and loosing your freedom. 

Don't like feeling like I'm competing with my head - ie can I do this, can't I do this, should I go to bed early.  Can battle your head with a few different things but its not normally training or diet.  You want to take part in things you can't take part in.. More of everything else that going in life and you give up a lot.

Your typical diet?
Carbs such as potato and kumera in earlier part of day.  Rest of day is protein from fish, chicken or steak. I used to be very particular and measure food but these days these days I can pretty much guess the weight of something.

Typical day - 4 weeks out
Up 3.30am (adrenalin kicks in at 4wks and probably had restless night. Lots of going to bed with butterflies forcing yourself to sleep)

4.30am - hr cardio

Take clients

9am Training (2hrs - 2bodyparts plus like to do abs, butt everyday, a lot of finetuning things everyday.  Not like I go in and do 5 sets of  12-20 exercises, 4 exercises)

2.30pm - sleep 1-2 hrs

Spend time with family, group therapy and go over ups and downs. Talking about training and diet, that's time out

6-8pm - 1.5-2 hr walk. Do it when there's not many people on the streets.

Get in late and prepare food for next day

1000 crunches before bed every night.  In front of tv 15min even in off season

11pm bed.

Massage every 2^nd day

Can you get too glammed up? 
Haven't seen anyone, well except from me maybe!  I've seen too many girls not glammed up enough. I'd like to see the senior women put more effort into glam especially if they want to look more feminine and glamourous.  You know put the jewels on.  Depends where they've come from and how they present themselves everyday.  Obviously if you're not used to wearing bling, makeup, grooming yourself then might need help from someone else.

I think that comes with experience.  I wear make up all day anyway and pretty much wear tan all the time, For me to get on stage really just requires extra dark tan and makeup and that's about it.

 
NABBA North Harbour 09

Advice to someone who wants to compete?
I think if you can be guided with your first comp, it'll be much easier.  I encourage people to compete for their own self discovery. I've had clients who has done it just once you'll learn so much more about your diet and your body.  Not many people get that skill, some people die without knowing how their body operates. Us bodybuilders know how to lose weight, gain weight, be healthy. That's the discovery part of it.  Set yourself up for life with diet and training routine.

As an interest, all I would advise is to enjoy it. Learn about yourself, not be hard on yourself , don't be scared of what you achieve with your body whether to highest standard or to standard you're comfy with but you know its not your winning condition or standard.  If that person enjoys competing, or really want to do it, then do it.  Too many get sidetracked with calorie counting, bodyfat, judges aren't going to get up on stage and see what it is? Actually if you look in mirror you see what you need to do.

Everyone breaks their diet, everyone goes through days they want to do it, don't want to do it. Take time to clear their heads, then 2 days later they are doing it again. Go through highs and lows and  learn about your body.  

Lisa Bellingham
11 February 2010