Andrea Smith Interview by Muscle-Base

How and why did you get into Fitness Training?

I got into fitness because I needed an outlet for the intense amount of energy I have. I have always been very athletic and competitive, and I also needed a positive change in my life & felt that focusing on myself physically and mentally first and foremost would be a great start.

What workout routine would you suggest to female beginners?

I think every beginner should consider getting a trainer to learn proper form and diet right off the hop, instead of going through a long learning period and experiments of trying things on your own. Once you have the base THEN experiment on your own, but a trainer is definitely crucial for the first step.

What is your diet and workout routine like?

Right now I am focusing on making gains and lifting heavy, but I do take conditioning weeks and rest days, like a cycle. Two weeks heavy, one week conditioning, one week rest, repeats for a few weeks. I do a 7 day cycle that involves two days of high intensity interval style training to keep my body burning fat like a machine, and 4 days of lifting really heavy, with one rest day (or yoga day). My 4 day heavy split is divided like this:

Cardio: honestly right now in my offseason cardio is half hour to one hour per day, about 5 days per week. I like to run outside a lot now as well. I keep my workouts quicker paced and my two HIIT workouts are killer so I feel like my endurance and cardio is fine!

My diet remains pretty consistent year round, I always eat every 2.5-3 hours and eat between 6-7 meals per day. I have been experimenting with what works for me, and my body really has a hard time staying lean if I am consuming any alcohol, dairy or grains, so I have a high fruit& vegetable and lean protein diet, as well as a lot of healthy fats. I will though have dairy or grains for treat meals a couple times a week. As his is my first REAL “off season” in over 2 years though, I am being a little more relaxed with my carbs. When dieting down for a shoot though, 2-3 weeks before the shoot (more if I need to be leaner for the photoshoot) I will slowly cut the carbs out, do a carb deplete/load, reduce my sodium for the week out, and water load/deplete.

My show weight and offseason weight - I try to always keep within no more than 12 lbs heavier than show weight. For show I weigh 130, shoots 135, offseason 140.

What advice would you give to people looking to achieve your aesthetic physique?

I would tell them to aspire to getting their OWN awesome physique and working towards THEIR best body because they will never have mine! But I would advise those looking to get into fitness modeling or competing to start by trying a show and seeing if this lifestyle is for them! They can definitely use my physique as motivation though.

Tell us about your journey and how you got all the way to the top as WBFF Diva Bikini Model Pro.

I first started competing in 2009 after training for 6 months. I would say I was pretty hooked after my first show, I have been competitive my whole life and my goal for each show was to bring a better and tighter package each time. I would say in 2010 was when I started training hard to get my pro card because it was only then I really BELIEVED I could actually get it, and built that confidence for myself and started training my mind. I  achieved that goal in 2011. I finally won my procard at my 4^th show with the WBFF and my 5^th show was my WBFF world’s show as a bikini pro! I started my business called Get Ready Girls in 2010 and have been training women for all different kinds of fitness goals, and can truly and honestly say I absolutely love my job and helping others reach their fitness goals. Focusing on making improvements not only physically but MENTALLY every single day and making as much of a difference as I can is the real secret to my success.

Have you ever had any obstacles in your fitness journey?

I think everyone goes through major obstacles, even just daily -fighting little things like cravings etc. It’s all about pushing through the obstacles- no matter how big or small. Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it. I could tell you more about my obstacles but everyone has their story, I have been fortunate to not have anything very detrimental affect me in a very negative way and I feel blessed for that!

How did you manage to overcome those obstacles and progress even further?

Meditation is one of the best things you can do for yourself. Every day take 10 minutes, meditate, organize your thoughts, and those obstacles won’t seem as big or unmanageable anymore.

What are your opinions on Image / Performance enhancing drugs?

I am a huge advocate of all natural training. I train my clients and myself naturally. I realize it is just a part of the sport, especially for men, but I also feel like it is cheating. Again, this is just my opinion and like I said I do understand that it is part of this industry and I have no disrespect for anyone who chooses to use performance enhancing drugs but I myself feel that women (especially in bikini) should try to be as natural as possible. It’s just…really not pretty!

What advice would you give to female beginners looking to become a fitness model just like you in the near future?

My biggest piece of advice would be to surround yourself with positive, inspiring and awesome people. Find friends that support you and your goals.

What are your future plans?

Last year I did two shows, BC and World’s with the WBFF. I won my pro card in BC, and placed top 10 in Bikini pro category at World’s. This year I am focusing on making gains and huge improvements on my physique, so that I can compete in the Fitness Model Pro category in 2013. I am focusing on training my clients, as well as doing many photoshoots and trips for myself!

What are your long term goals?

My long term goals would be to continue to inspire and motivate others, help other women change their lives, and continue to compete as a pro with the WBFF. I really like the direction the WBFF is going in! Best of the best baby.

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