WEBVTT - The truth behind bikini comps + should you track macros? & finding her 'why' w/ WBFF Bikini Pro Micky Parker 0:00:09.440 --> 0:00:13.600 Welcome to the Rise and Conquer Podcasts. This podcast is 0:00:13.640 --> 0:00:16.599 for women who want to take ownership of their lives, 0:00:17.000 --> 0:00:21.280 live unapologetically, and are ready to turn their biggest dreams 0:00:21.320 --> 0:00:24.880 into their reality. If you're ready to be armed with 0:00:24.960 --> 0:00:29.040 the tools that will inspire to take bold action, feel 0:00:29.040 --> 0:00:33.080 confident within yourself, and conquer your goals, then you've come 0:00:33.120 --> 0:00:37.160 to the right place. I'm your host, Georgie Stevenson. I'm 0:00:37.200 --> 0:00:41.480 a lawyer turned entrepreneur, co founder of Naked Harvest Supplements, 0:00:41.560 --> 0:00:45.800 and social media personality with a community of over three 0:00:45.920 --> 0:00:49.760 hundred thousand. I grew up believing I had to pursue 0:00:49.760 --> 0:00:53.240 the safe option and fit into a mold others had 0:00:53.280 --> 0:00:56.400 created for me. But then I entered my corporate law 0:00:56.520 --> 0:00:59.640 job and I realized that settling for a reality that 0:00:59.760 --> 0:01:02.480 did I didn't set my soul on fire, was something 0:01:02.600 --> 0:01:05.880 I was not prepared to do. I wanted more, and 0:01:06.040 --> 0:01:09.280 I have a feeling you do too. Join me and 0:01:09.360 --> 0:01:12.360 special guests weekly as we get down to the nitty 0:01:12.440 --> 0:01:18.000 gritty on all things health, mastering your mindset, creating lasting habits, 0:01:18.319 --> 0:01:22.240 thriving in your career and relationships, plus so much more, 0:01:22.800 --> 0:01:27.000 and together we'll gain the knowledge and perspective to pursue 0:01:27.000 --> 0:01:31.000 our wildest dreams and kick fear to the curb. Well, 0:01:31.000 --> 0:01:40.640 what are you waiting for? Let's rise and conquer. Hey guys, 0:01:40.760 --> 0:01:45.400 and welcome to another episode of the Rise and Conquer podcast. Today, 0:01:45.600 --> 0:01:49.960 I am bringing you a chat with the WBFF bikini 0:01:50.000 --> 0:01:54.160 pro and one of my closest girlfriends, Micky Parker. I've 0:01:54.200 --> 0:01:57.720 known Mickey since high school and we weren't exactly close 0:01:57.720 --> 0:02:00.600 friends in high school, but we actually start sard renting 0:02:00.640 --> 0:02:04.920 an apartment together when we're around nineteen and became the 0:02:04.960 --> 0:02:09.640 most closest sister gal pals. She is just such an 0:02:09.680 --> 0:02:13.840 amazing overall human. She has so much knowledge on health 0:02:13.919 --> 0:02:17.600 and fitness. She's a qualified pet, she has won a 0:02:17.639 --> 0:02:21.680 couple of bikini titles, and we have a really amazing 0:02:21.880 --> 0:02:25.280 chat about lots of things. Micky, much like me, went 0:02:25.520 --> 0:02:29.800 through a complicated start with her fitness journey, had some 0:02:30.120 --> 0:02:33.440 issues with body image and disordered eating habits and that 0:02:33.480 --> 0:02:35.799 sort of stuff, and she really found her way when 0:02:35.840 --> 0:02:39.800 she became a qualified PT and started to do bikini 0:02:39.880 --> 0:02:44.680 body competitions and has really found a balanced lifestyle and 0:02:44.720 --> 0:02:47.600 now coaches other women to feel really good in their 0:02:47.639 --> 0:02:51.160 own skin and to lead a similar lifestyle. So in 0:02:51.200 --> 0:02:54.320 our conversation, we get down to what made Mickey want 0:02:54.320 --> 0:02:57.040 to jump into the world of bikini comps, and she 0:02:57.120 --> 0:03:00.720 clears up a lot of miscommunications surrounding them and also 0:03:00.800 --> 0:03:05.520 shares so many good tips on nutrition and fitness, plus 0:03:05.600 --> 0:03:08.880 so much more. This is such a fun recording. You 0:03:08.919 --> 0:03:11.000 can tell we were having a really fun time. We 0:03:11.040 --> 0:03:12.920 hadn't seen each other in a while and we could 0:03:12.960 --> 0:03:16.720 just literally talk about hours. But it's a really good episode, 0:03:16.800 --> 0:03:19.280 so I hope you enjoy it. Let's get straight into 0:03:19.280 --> 0:03:23.560 the show. Welcome to the show. Mikayla. You hate when 0:03:23.600 --> 0:03:24.079 I qure you. 0:03:24.000 --> 0:03:25.680 Because I stop looking into my eyes. 0:03:26.680 --> 0:03:29.280 Okay, guys, I'll set the scene. So I've been staying 0:03:29.280 --> 0:03:32.760 at Mickey's house. I'm down down in Sydney, Yes, down 0:03:32.760 --> 0:03:37.280 in Sydney and recording some podcasts saying with Mick, and 0:03:37.360 --> 0:03:39.920 it's been good because I hate being away and being 0:03:39.920 --> 0:03:42.240 out of routine. But because Mick and me have lived 0:03:42.240 --> 0:03:47.360 together before, I feel super comfortable borrowing all your shit toothbrush. 0:03:46.480 --> 0:03:49.160 It's great. It does just feel natural, though, which is nice. 0:03:49.240 --> 0:03:53.240 Brings back to men. So we are getting into a 0:03:53.360 --> 0:03:57.760 very exciting conversation. This will just be like us talking shit, 0:03:57.880 --> 0:03:58.680 let's be honest. 0:03:58.960 --> 0:04:02.440 Yeah, it probably won't be the most professional podcast you've ever. 0:04:02.280 --> 0:04:06.240 Heard in any like sort of og followers, you remember 0:04:06.480 --> 0:04:08.320 me and Mickey's content, like, this is what it's like. 0:04:08.400 --> 0:04:10.480 So I'm excited though, because it's a different sort. 0:04:10.360 --> 0:04:11.800 Of poty, real, very raw. 0:04:12.000 --> 0:04:16.240 Yeah. So, as you know, as I told you before, Mick, 0:04:16.600 --> 0:04:20.320 the new question that I asked all my guests is 0:04:20.480 --> 0:04:23.280 what current season are you in? So what I mean 0:04:23.320 --> 0:04:26.520 by this is we all go through seasons, and I 0:04:26.720 --> 0:04:30.279 like to call them seasons because sometimes they're really hectic, 0:04:30.360 --> 0:04:32.800 sometimes they're a struggle, sometimes they're really good. But it's 0:04:33.200 --> 0:04:35.279 knowing that it's a season, so you know you're not 0:04:35.360 --> 0:04:37.880 always going to be in it, if that makes sense, 0:04:37.960 --> 0:04:40.440 or being really grateful for when you're in a really 0:04:40.440 --> 0:04:43.200 good season. So what sort of season are you in? 0:04:44.080 --> 0:04:46.960 Honestly, I'm definitely still in a very busy season. At 0:04:46.960 --> 0:04:49.599 the end of the last year, I was in a 0:04:49.600 --> 0:04:52.839 really busy season after having more of a relaxed season 0:04:52.839 --> 0:04:56.560 probably before that, after my competition, I was traveling and stuff, 0:04:56.560 --> 0:04:58.880 and then at the end of last year, you know, 0:04:59.440 --> 0:05:00.920 coming to the end the year. I thought it would 0:05:01.040 --> 0:05:04.279 kind of quiet down and everything, but no, it was very, 0:05:04.360 --> 0:05:07.320 very busy, and it's kind of honestly just carried all 0:05:07.360 --> 0:05:11.040 the way through to January, the first month of this year. 0:05:11.520 --> 0:05:13.520 But I wouldn't really have it any other way. It 0:05:13.560 --> 0:05:16.400 has been really good. And I like that you asked 0:05:16.400 --> 0:05:19.039 this question because I totally agree with you in that 0:05:19.120 --> 0:05:22.000 sense that it is just a season and throughout the year. 0:05:22.200 --> 0:05:26.359 I do definitely go through a few different seasons, and 0:05:26.400 --> 0:05:29.400 it really depends what I've got on in what we'll 0:05:29.400 --> 0:05:31.960 get into in my competing, in my business. 0:05:31.720 --> 0:05:33.320 Different parties exactly. 0:05:33.360 --> 0:05:36.440 At the moment, my main focus is really my health 0:05:36.480 --> 0:05:39.920 and family and my business at the moment as well. 0:05:41.040 --> 0:05:46.320 Yeah, in a season of hustle can relate. So for 0:05:46.360 --> 0:05:49.400 those listeners who don't know you, can you give us 0:05:49.560 --> 0:05:52.280 just a bit of a snapshot of who you are? 0:05:52.480 --> 0:05:54.000 Who is Mickey Parker? 0:05:55.160 --> 0:05:59.160 Okay, So I'll start back when I guess we met, 0:05:59.200 --> 0:06:01.520 because that's probably just the easiest. 0:06:01.200 --> 0:06:02.000 Started your line. 0:06:02.080 --> 0:06:07.720 Yeah, yeah, ever yet part of it, so that was 0:06:07.920 --> 0:06:11.880 we lived together back in Brisbane. I am originally from Brisbane, 0:06:12.680 --> 0:06:15.599 probably about four or five years ago, and back then 0:06:15.800 --> 0:06:19.960 I moved in with Georgie and her partner. I was 0:06:19.960 --> 0:06:24.240 like Beyonce husband, God, it's it's been a long time. 0:06:25.279 --> 0:06:27.560 So we all lived together back then, and I was 0:06:27.600 --> 0:06:30.479 actually studying law same as Georgie, so I feel like 0:06:30.480 --> 0:06:34.080 that's where we really meshed. But throughout this whole time, 0:06:34.440 --> 0:06:37.640 I was always really passionate about health and fitness while 0:06:37.640 --> 0:06:40.120 I was studying law, and I was working full time 0:06:40.160 --> 0:06:43.880 in a law firm as well, so in Brisbane, I 0:06:44.000 --> 0:06:46.800 was very busy. Because I also decided on the side 0:06:47.080 --> 0:06:51.160 of full time law work and part time university study, 0:06:51.480 --> 0:06:54.000 I decided to do my Set three and so Foreign 0:06:54.040 --> 0:06:57.520 Fitness just because I was really passionate about it and 0:06:57.600 --> 0:07:01.880 I really enjoyed it, but also because I needed to 0:07:02.560 --> 0:07:06.200 have more education around health and fitness and nutrition because 0:07:06.240 --> 0:07:10.640 I found myself getting stuck in a bad cycle with 0:07:10.840 --> 0:07:13.080 nutrition and food and things will get into I'm sure 0:07:14.000 --> 0:07:19.360 in this podcast, but that's when I moved to Sydney 0:07:19.400 --> 0:07:22.920 with my partner, and I really just was so passionate 0:07:22.960 --> 0:07:26.200 about health and fitness that I thought, why not use 0:07:26.280 --> 0:07:28.840 my certificates instead of just being for my own personal 0:07:28.960 --> 0:07:32.200 use and education, why not just do it for even 0:07:32.240 --> 0:07:34.520 a year see how it goes. And when I moved 0:07:34.560 --> 0:07:37.360 to Sydney, I did exactly that, started in the fitness 0:07:37.400 --> 0:07:40.840 space and left law behind and I actually put my 0:07:41.440 --> 0:07:45.080 law on hold at university and everything. So I was 0:07:45.080 --> 0:07:48.840 a really big step and from there I just fell 0:07:48.880 --> 0:07:52.080 in love with the health and fitness space and being 0:07:52.080 --> 0:07:54.840 able to help women kind of get through that struggle 0:07:54.840 --> 0:07:58.960 that I once found myself really stuck in that binge 0:07:59.160 --> 0:08:06.240 recycle go again, that binge restrict cycle. I was like, recycle. 0:08:06.880 --> 0:08:10.480 I was like, what binge restrict cycle? 0:08:11.280 --> 0:08:14.840 Yeah, so well let's actually start there. So what would 0:08:14.880 --> 0:08:19.640 you say your teenage years were like in regards to 0:08:19.680 --> 0:08:23.360 your relationship with food and your body. Oh, it's a 0:08:23.440 --> 0:08:27.680 little bit tricky because at the time and early twenties. Yeah, 0:08:27.720 --> 0:08:32.160 at the time, back then, because I was coming from 0:08:32.240 --> 0:08:34.880 an uneducated place and I feel like there's so much 0:08:34.960 --> 0:08:38.080 more education on social media and stuff now. I was 0:08:38.240 --> 0:08:41.040 training a lot, I was cutting calories, I was doing 0:08:41.120 --> 0:08:43.200 like no carbs after five. I did have a really 0:08:43.240 --> 0:08:44.600 bad relationship with food. 0:08:45.000 --> 0:08:47.320 But it's funny because I can see that now, but 0:08:47.360 --> 0:08:50.120 at the time I thought I was being so fit 0:08:50.240 --> 0:08:51.599 and so healthy. 0:08:51.440 --> 0:08:54.680 And you were almost praised if you could do any 0:08:54.720 --> 0:08:54.960 of that. 0:08:55.200 --> 0:08:57.200 Yeah, Like I remember, I was actually thinking back to 0:08:57.200 --> 0:08:59.800 this the other day. I remember one of my news resolutions, 0:08:59.800 --> 0:09:02.679 this is so bad to admit, used to be to 0:09:02.679 --> 0:09:04.120 not have chocolate for three weeks. 0:09:04.600 --> 0:09:07.320 And to me, dude, wasn't it like three months? Was it? 0:09:07.360 --> 0:09:10.640 Just I used to try and like restrict things over 0:09:10.720 --> 0:09:11.360 certain pots. 0:09:11.400 --> 0:09:12.360 Do you hate chocolate? 0:09:12.679 --> 0:09:14.440 I love because I love chocolate and. 0:09:16.480 --> 0:09:17.559 One of your weaknesses. 0:09:17.640 --> 0:09:19.440 Yeah, And it always comes down to the good and 0:09:19.480 --> 0:09:22.920 bad food mentality. And I was an all or nothing 0:09:22.960 --> 0:09:26.040 type of person. So if I was dieting, I was 0:09:26.080 --> 0:09:27.559 a clean eater and I wanted to be like the 0:09:27.720 --> 0:09:30.200 cleanest eater, Like I wanted to do it one hundred 0:09:30.200 --> 0:09:33.840 percent because I thought that was the way that you 0:09:33.880 --> 0:09:36.559 were successful, if that makes sense. Like I thought, if 0:09:36.600 --> 0:09:39.240 you were eating chocolate, that that means that you know 0:09:39.280 --> 0:09:42.080 you've failed and you're not eating clean and you're not 0:09:42.160 --> 0:09:42.840 you know, being. 0:09:42.640 --> 0:09:45.760 Your healthier self, like a very all or nothing approach 0:09:46.000 --> 0:09:47.240 exactly exactly. 0:09:47.360 --> 0:09:51.200 So it's taken years and years to break that. I'm 0:09:51.200 --> 0:09:52.719 not going to lie. It wasn't like all of a 0:09:52.800 --> 0:09:54.680 sudden I just came out of that. 0:09:54.920 --> 0:09:58.400 So how did you develop from that mindset and maybe 0:09:58.440 --> 0:10:01.280 even talk a little bit about what is your mindset 0:10:01.400 --> 0:10:03.640 now around your food and body. 0:10:04.000 --> 0:10:07.320 So I have done a complete one point eighty. So 0:10:07.360 --> 0:10:10.200 I used to always want to restrict, and I always 0:10:10.200 --> 0:10:13.920 wanted to get skinnier and skinnier, like the skinniest little legs. 0:10:14.240 --> 0:10:16.839 So I was always cutting calories, doing cardio, just doing 0:10:16.880 --> 0:10:20.840 as much as possible. And now I really focus on 0:10:21.880 --> 0:10:24.800 fueling my body and eating. I actually want to eat 0:10:24.800 --> 0:10:28.320 as many calories as I possibly can to fuel my body. 0:10:29.160 --> 0:10:32.160 And the restriction is just completely gone now, Like I 0:10:32.240 --> 0:10:35.480 don't restrict any food groups, any macros, I don't really 0:10:35.480 --> 0:10:37.640 live by any food rules, like I've gotten rid of 0:10:37.720 --> 0:10:40.640 them completely. I just really like to ensure that I'm 0:10:40.679 --> 0:10:45.559 getting a healthy, balanced diet, so enough protein, carbs, fats, 0:10:46.600 --> 0:10:49.640 and nutrients. But then I also allow myself if I 0:10:49.679 --> 0:10:52.880 want chocolate, I'll have chocolate my whole prep and just 0:10:52.920 --> 0:10:55.080 my everyday life. I will have if I feel like it. 0:10:55.120 --> 0:10:57.520 I will have chocolate every day. If I don't feel 0:10:57.559 --> 0:10:59.319 like it, I won't have it. Like it just no 0:10:59.360 --> 0:11:02.760 longer can controls you. No, Like it's not even really 0:11:02.840 --> 0:11:06.240 a thought that I have, and it seems so distant now. 0:11:06.920 --> 0:11:09.760 But I'm sorry to butt in. I was just gonna say, 0:11:10.720 --> 0:11:14.120 I obviously know that you were never diagnosed or anything 0:11:14.240 --> 0:11:16.920 like that, but do think you had some sort of 0:11:16.960 --> 0:11:19.720 eating disorder? Sorry to put you on the spot. 0:11:19.840 --> 0:11:22.800 Yeah, I think No, I think I had disordered eating. Yes, 0:11:22.920 --> 0:11:26.960 I don't think I had an eating disorder, And honestly, 0:11:27.000 --> 0:11:30.800 I think it really just stemmed from being uneducated as well, 0:11:31.640 --> 0:11:33.880 and the way that I was viewing calories and not 0:11:34.120 --> 0:11:38.080 appreciating how my body could actually work. Because once I 0:11:38.160 --> 0:11:42.040 did get educated in how the body works, like the 0:11:42.120 --> 0:11:45.800 human physiology for me, that's where I was. I actually 0:11:45.800 --> 0:11:48.080 had this moment where I was like, oh my god, 0:11:48.920 --> 0:11:49.680 it makes sense. 0:11:49.720 --> 0:11:50.240 I get it. 0:11:50.360 --> 0:11:54.079 I did have that moment and yes, my mindset and 0:11:54.360 --> 0:11:56.520 that took a little bit longer to catch up to 0:11:57.200 --> 0:11:59.560 more of my analytical brain that was like, yes, that's 0:11:59.559 --> 0:12:01.880 how it were. Yes, So there was a bit of 0:12:01.960 --> 0:12:05.880 lag there, but honestly, that was definitely my turning point, Like. 0:12:05.880 --> 0:12:07.880 It was clear as day getting more educated. 0:12:07.920 --> 0:12:10.240 Yeah, as soon as I understood exactly what was going 0:12:10.240 --> 0:12:12.920 on in the body, I'm really a why person, So 0:12:13.000 --> 0:12:15.960 I'm always like but why, Yes, So once I understood 0:12:15.960 --> 0:12:18.160 that why, and now I know the functions of the 0:12:18.200 --> 0:12:21.640 body and what actually happens, so which is probably different 0:12:21.679 --> 0:12:23.480 for everyone. I think their why is going to be 0:12:23.480 --> 0:12:26.520 different to get them out of that. But once I 0:12:26.640 --> 0:12:30.240 understood that, that's where I really noticed that my mindset 0:12:30.280 --> 0:12:31.400 really started to change. 0:12:31.720 --> 0:12:34.679 Yes, see that's so interesting. So as you would know, 0:12:34.800 --> 0:12:37.360 and maybe a lot of the listeners is like, I 0:12:37.400 --> 0:12:40.079 have a similar story. So because we kind of went 0:12:40.120 --> 0:12:45.800 through our obsessive phase together, I don't know, would you 0:12:45.840 --> 0:12:46.240 say that? 0:12:46.360 --> 0:12:48.360 I think so. And I think because like what I 0:12:48.400 --> 0:12:52.320 mentioned before, we were a little uneducated as well. We 0:12:52.400 --> 0:12:54.800 thought we thought we were doing really well. Yeah, like 0:12:54.840 --> 0:12:57.559 we thought we were almost like feeding off each other. 0:12:57.600 --> 0:13:00.400 We were a one hundred percent feeding off each other, 0:13:00.520 --> 0:13:04.240 and it was easy. It was almost easier to do 0:13:04.320 --> 0:13:06.080 it with someone because we used to go to gym 0:13:06.120 --> 0:13:08.280 every single morning. We'd wake up at like five o'clock, 0:13:08.360 --> 0:13:11.040 we'd do an F forty five class. And then we 0:13:11.040 --> 0:13:13.160 were living together and it was like so much easier 0:13:13.160 --> 0:13:16.400 because one hundred percent. Don't you think it almost felt 0:13:16.640 --> 0:13:20.720 like very and I don't want to butcher this or 0:13:21.080 --> 0:13:24.880 it almost felt like not euphoric, but it felt like 0:13:25.600 --> 0:13:29.439 I almost got this high from and I know there 0:13:29.440 --> 0:13:32.400 are actually studies that this happens when you restrict food, 0:13:32.600 --> 0:13:35.400 but it almost got this high from like working out 0:13:35.920 --> 0:13:40.079 really like pushing myself and not eating and then being like, 0:13:40.080 --> 0:13:43.160 like you said, like successful at it, Like I was 0:13:43.240 --> 0:13:46.160 really proud of myself, Like it really. 0:13:47.600 --> 0:13:48.720 Was this proper. 0:13:48.440 --> 0:13:49.520 Feeling that I was getting. 0:13:49.800 --> 0:13:52.160 Yeah, no, me too, And like now looking back, we know, 0:13:52.480 --> 0:13:54.640 I know, ridiculous. That's why it's very hard for me 0:13:54.720 --> 0:13:58.960 to put it into words because it's completely different when 0:13:59.040 --> 0:14:01.600 when you were in that and back then, Like I'm 0:14:01.640 --> 0:14:05.280 trying to give people context now of there's so much 0:14:05.320 --> 0:14:10.680 more education given to like the general consumer on Instagram 0:14:10.920 --> 0:14:12.319 or on any platform. 0:14:12.360 --> 0:14:15.440 Back then, there was no education and captions. It was 0:14:15.559 --> 0:14:17.840 a lot of spo photo. 0:14:18.120 --> 0:14:19.720 See. This was the other thing that I was going 0:14:19.760 --> 0:14:23.200 to add to it. We were almost praised as well 0:14:23.440 --> 0:14:26.600 by those things, and everyone's like, oh, you're doing. 0:14:26.440 --> 0:14:29.040 So well, You're so fit, you say. We also to 0:14:29.080 --> 0:14:32.400 be completely transparent, like blew up on Instagram, like we 0:14:32.400 --> 0:14:34.680 were gaining a lot of followers and getting a lot 0:14:34.720 --> 0:14:37.640 of praise from stuff we were doing together and being 0:14:37.680 --> 0:14:40.960 really active and one hundred percent. So it felt like it. 0:14:40.920 --> 0:14:43.560 Didn't feel like we were doing at that time. It 0:14:43.600 --> 0:14:48.480 didn't feel like it was anything negative. No, until obviously 0:14:48.560 --> 0:14:50.600 we I guess we started coming out. 0:14:50.680 --> 0:14:52.600 Well sorry, this is what I was going to say 0:14:52.600 --> 0:14:55.280 before you were saying your turning point was very much 0:14:55.360 --> 0:14:59.040 getting the education and really knowing your white I think 0:14:59.040 --> 0:15:02.920 when I think back, mine was really getting to the point. 0:15:03.040 --> 0:15:05.520 And this is because again I think we'll get into 0:15:05.560 --> 0:15:09.200 this about our bodies being so different and not ours, 0:15:09.240 --> 0:15:12.040 like everyone's body is being so just me and you. 0:15:13.200 --> 0:15:16.440 But I got to the point where I couldn't sustain 0:15:17.000 --> 0:15:20.440 how much less food I was eating, So I almost 0:15:20.920 --> 0:15:23.040 I don't think I would have changed until my body 0:15:23.120 --> 0:15:26.960 started giving me those symptoms of hormone and balance and 0:15:27.040 --> 0:15:29.040 like all that sort of and they have really bad 0:15:29.080 --> 0:15:30.920 acting and all that sort of thing. So I almost 0:15:31.080 --> 0:15:34.760 needed a physical reaction from my body to say, no, 0:15:35.320 --> 0:15:37.520 it's enough, you need to stop. 0:15:37.920 --> 0:15:41.360 But that's also in my eyes, like you got more 0:15:41.480 --> 0:15:44.000 education at that point when the doctors were telling you, yeah, 0:15:44.080 --> 0:15:46.680 this is why. Yeah, because I realized the. 0:15:46.760 --> 0:15:49.560 Root cause was literally I was being restricted. 0:15:49.720 --> 0:15:53.280 Yeah, so then you realize that that's a cause from 0:15:53.480 --> 0:15:55.400 you know, the lifestyle that you were leading. 0:15:55.560 --> 0:16:00.480 Yes, I remember, because we both started getting quite bad 0:16:00.520 --> 0:16:03.200 acne at the same time and we were like, it's 0:16:03.240 --> 0:16:06.080 the pre workout and like all these things, and like, 0:16:06.120 --> 0:16:09.000 now looking back, it was it was probably a lot 0:16:09.040 --> 0:16:12.680 simple of that. But okay, sorry, I went on and 0:16:12.760 --> 0:16:17.320 ran there. Guys. Okay, so let's get into fitness comps 0:16:17.360 --> 0:16:20.320 because this is a big part of your life. And 0:16:20.360 --> 0:16:24.360 I feel like fitness comps there was definitely a point 0:16:24.440 --> 0:16:27.440 where it was almost like a trendy thing to do, 0:16:27.840 --> 0:16:30.320 and I remember you weren't doing it at that stage 0:16:30.360 --> 0:16:33.480 or anything like that. You then got into it a 0:16:33.480 --> 0:16:34.920 bit later, is that correct? 0:16:35.080 --> 0:16:39.160 Yes? Yeah, So I really wanted to do a fitness 0:16:39.160 --> 0:16:44.440 competition years and years before I actually did. But I 0:16:44.560 --> 0:16:47.600 had recognized that I didn't have a healthy relationship with 0:16:47.640 --> 0:16:51.840 food because I was I like cutting so many food groups. 0:16:51.880 --> 0:16:54.440 I remember, I was cutting carbs completely, which is so 0:16:54.640 --> 0:16:58.640 dumb for me, especially like so silly the way that 0:16:58.720 --> 0:16:59.880 my body works as well. 0:17:01.080 --> 0:17:04.080 So what compelled you to want to compete? So? 0:17:04.560 --> 0:17:06.880 I think I just got to a place where I 0:17:07.080 --> 0:17:09.399 was in a really good relationship with food and I 0:17:09.600 --> 0:17:12.480 was loving my training. I felt really strong, I felt 0:17:12.520 --> 0:17:16.520 really fit. I didn't have any like emotional ties to 0:17:16.600 --> 0:17:20.560 food anymore. And then I just wanted a challenge. I 0:17:20.600 --> 0:17:23.359 have always been really, really into health and fitness. I 0:17:23.440 --> 0:17:28.040 just for me, it's really about progression and challenging myself. 0:17:28.119 --> 0:17:29.840 Like it felt like the next step, felt like the 0:17:29.880 --> 0:17:31.919 next step, and it felt like time. I think I 0:17:31.960 --> 0:17:34.800 gave it, Like it must have been because when after 0:17:34.840 --> 0:17:35.760 I moved to Sydney, so. 0:17:35.720 --> 0:17:39.840 I remembering four years before you did it, like, yeah, 0:17:39.880 --> 0:17:42.240 this is this is the thing, Like I wanted to 0:17:43.160 --> 0:17:46.439 back when I did my first PT sessions when I 0:17:46.480 --> 0:17:49.400 was like eighteen, And it wasn't until many years later 0:17:49.600 --> 0:17:51.480 till I actually stepped on stage for the first time. 0:17:51.880 --> 0:17:54.199 And So for those who don't really kind of know 0:17:54.800 --> 0:17:58.200 what a fitness comp is, and I know you specifically 0:17:58.240 --> 0:18:02.399 now are doing WBFF YEP, and can you kind of 0:18:02.440 --> 0:18:06.639 just explain what goes into a comp prep because you 0:18:07.320 --> 0:18:10.600 see people like I'm in prep, I'm you know, doing prep. 0:18:11.080 --> 0:18:14.000 What is this prep business? What is prep? What is prep? 0:18:14.440 --> 0:18:15.919 I'm going to give you a bit of context. So 0:18:16.119 --> 0:18:22.120 with fitness or bikini shows, there's different federations and generally 0:18:22.119 --> 0:18:25.600 they look for a different type of look So I've 0:18:25.600 --> 0:18:29.080 competed with two one called ICN and one called WBFF, 0:18:30.000 --> 0:18:32.240 and they all are quite different than They have different 0:18:32.440 --> 0:18:35.280 divisions as well, so this is just giving you context. 0:18:35.280 --> 0:18:38.240 There might be a bikini division or a fitness or 0:18:38.359 --> 0:18:41.520 figure and it just comes back to the muscularity and 0:18:41.560 --> 0:18:45.200 also the leanness of the competitor. So what goes into 0:18:45.280 --> 0:18:47.680 it with the prep At the end of the day, 0:18:47.760 --> 0:18:51.960 It really just comes down to making sure that you 0:18:52.320 --> 0:18:55.359 have enough muscle mass in the right areas for that 0:18:55.880 --> 0:18:59.920 category and then also having the leanness and the symmetry 0:19:00.080 --> 0:19:04.080 the shape for that particular category as well. But obviously 0:19:04.520 --> 0:19:09.000 that does come with different stages in prep and different seasons. 0:19:09.480 --> 0:19:14.000 So for example, you generally have an off season and 0:19:14.160 --> 0:19:17.240 a prep like what you've spoken about, so off season 0:19:17.320 --> 0:19:22.520 is generally where you focus on building and bettering your 0:19:22.600 --> 0:19:25.959 muscle mass, so increasing calories, making sure that your hormone 0:19:26.000 --> 0:19:28.520 is really healthy, getting your calories as high as possible, 0:19:29.119 --> 0:19:31.240 so that when it does come to the prep part, 0:19:31.400 --> 0:19:34.919 so the cutting the calories part and getting leaner that 0:19:35.359 --> 0:19:39.280 you are able to you know, have a nice and 0:19:39.440 --> 0:19:42.400 healthier prep with not cutting calories too low or having 0:19:42.400 --> 0:19:45.200 too much cardio so there really is a lot to it, 0:19:45.640 --> 0:19:48.600 but the preparations, Yeah, there's a lot of science behind it, 0:19:48.640 --> 0:19:52.000 but the preparation is really the time it takes to 0:19:52.200 --> 0:19:55.040 prepare to get on stage. So not only is it 0:19:55.080 --> 0:19:57.920 the weight training and cardio if you've got it, the nutrition, 0:19:58.520 --> 0:20:02.960 stage presence pose in getting all the other stuff for 0:20:03.400 --> 0:20:07.040 girls ready, like the bikini, the shoes, like absolutely everything. 0:20:08.400 --> 0:20:10.800 So there really is a lot that goes goes into it, 0:20:10.840 --> 0:20:13.359 and everyone's prep is going to be different depending on 0:20:13.400 --> 0:20:17.480 their starting point and what federation and category they're in. 0:20:17.600 --> 0:20:20.399 So some people or some women for example, in a 0:20:20.400 --> 0:20:24.280 bikini category might already have the shape and the muscular 0:20:24.320 --> 0:20:27.800 tone that they require for that category and they just 0:20:27.840 --> 0:20:30.119 need to get lean, so their prep might be, you know, 0:20:30.200 --> 0:20:35.000 a twenty week diet, whereas with myself in the category 0:20:35.040 --> 0:20:38.879 that I'm competing in currently WBFF Bikini, I need to 0:20:38.920 --> 0:20:42.399 build more size and more shape, so a lot of 0:20:42.400 --> 0:20:45.520 my prep is actually spent in a surplus eating a 0:20:45.520 --> 0:20:48.560 lot of food, training and trying to put on weight 0:20:48.640 --> 0:20:50.399 and trying to put on muscle, and then at the 0:20:50.480 --> 0:20:53.600 very end then I do my cut. So it really 0:20:53.640 --> 0:20:56.879 depends person to person, but the prep is just getting 0:20:56.880 --> 0:20:57.639 yourself ready. 0:20:57.760 --> 0:21:01.640 So give us a little example in insight the four 0:21:01.720 --> 0:21:05.560 one month of like the prep that you're about to do, 0:21:05.600 --> 0:21:08.320 because I know you're competing middle of the year or August, 0:21:08.400 --> 0:21:11.800 I think, yeah, October hopefully, and so give us it, like, 0:21:11.920 --> 0:21:15.160 I know, is that is it sixteen weeks? How many weeks? 0:21:15.240 --> 0:21:17.399 And what do those weeks or to entail? I know 0:21:17.440 --> 0:21:19.800 there's like different blocks that you've talked about previously. 0:21:20.800 --> 0:21:23.960 Again, it's going to depend on the person completely. 0:21:24.040 --> 0:21:27.200 Well, actually, then let's talk about your last prep. Yeah, 0:21:27.240 --> 0:21:28.560 and give a little example because you. 0:21:29.119 --> 0:21:31.760 Okay, So I remember my last prep. I think I 0:21:31.880 --> 0:21:35.400 prepped for about six months with my coach. We started 0:21:35.640 --> 0:21:40.040 on an eight week build phase. So with this we 0:21:40.080 --> 0:21:44.240 started around two thousand, one hundred calories and over the 0:21:44.240 --> 0:21:47.640 weeks we just increased those and we I think we 0:21:47.840 --> 0:21:51.560 stopped at about twenty six hundred calories. So over that time, 0:21:51.720 --> 0:21:54.760