Lisaperson’s BodyBlog

Lisa Person Interviewed by Melody Chao.

How did you get started competing in figure?

I started competing in figure because I needed to lose significant weight. I knew that entering a competition that required me to wear a tiny bathing suit, I would 100% lose the weight. I loved the figure look and aspired to look like those girls. I picked a contest date that was about 6 months away and started training and dieting for it. I told everyone I knew too so that I would be held accountable and couldn’t back out.

What kind of diet do you follow in your off-season? How about pre-contest?

Off season diet? What’s that? Ha ha! I haven’t really had an off season yet but will be starting one after the Olympia. I still haven’t decided the exact diet I will be following but it will include moderate protein, minimal fats, and minimal carbs with a cheat meal or two a week. Pre-contest diet is very strict. I eat 6 meals that include egg whites, almonds, oats, chicken and tilapia, and lettuce. That’s about it. I do include broccoli, asparagus and green beans until about 1 month out.

Give us an idea of what your pre-contest training looks like.

A typical training week is 4 days of total body workouts. I am not trying to attain muscle. I have enough for figure. I am just striving to lose body fat and get lean enough. It involves moderate weights with high repetitions and concentration on movement with maximum form. I change the exercises I do every couple of weeks. My trainer designs the workouts for me. They only have 30 second rest periods so that my heart-rate is moving. It is definitely hard work. I also do double cardio a day–still do. I go at 5am and then back again in the evening after work.

How many weeks out do you usually start your contest prep? Are you doing anything differently this time around?

I start really strictly dieting far out. I need all the time I can get. I would say my 1st comp it was 16 weeks out. I lost almost 65lbs that time around. This next time I will start around the same time. Yes, I will be doing something different. Since my midsection is always a problem, I am concentrating on my core. I also will be doing my best to come in as lean as possible through diet and cardio.

If you weren’t competing in figure, what other sport do you think you’d be involved in? Were you involved in sports through high school or college? If so, what sports were you involved in?

In high school, I was a cheerleader. I didn’t pursue it in college. I wasn’t small enough to meet the weight requirements. I also lifted in high school. I was always interested in the industry, but never had the will power for dieting. If I didn’t do figure, I would probably continue lifting, racquetball, skiing. I like most sports.

What have you found to be the most fulfilling part of competing?

The most fulfilling part of competing is the discipline and dedication that I have achieved. I prayed about will power for 2 years straight to diet and train consistently. With competing, I am able to stick to my goals.

Why do you compete?

I compete for many reasons. I wanted to get healthy, get off blood pressure medicine, lose weight, focus my stressful life with balance, and overcome a food addiction and overeating issues, to achieve goals, and redirect my life. I also love meeting women from all over the globe at the competitions.

What supplements, if any, do you incorporate in your diet and why?

I am an MHP athlete so I highly recommend any of their products. I use MHP’s Probolic chocolate protein powder after my workouts in the evening. It is low low carb and no sugars. Tastes great with crushed ice and a little splenda. I also use Activite vitamins. It has everything I need, especially when I really cut out most of the veggies. I use Expel to rid my body of excess water. I also use DREN for energy and fat-burner, and once in a while Anadrox. I also use Detoxitrim for stomach issues and appetite suppressant. It really helped with those issues.

If a newbie were to ask you for advice on getting started, what 5 things would you advise them on?

My 5 pointers would be:

• Set a goal and map out the steps you need to achieve them.

• Hire, or consult a nutritionist/trainer that can help you through contest prep. Someone who will listen to you and individualize a program for you.

• Surround yourself with supports-people who will encourage you and push you through the tough days.

• Remember why you wanted to compete and what your focus is.

• Remember to balance your life–from family, work, religion, friends, diet, training, etc… Your family didn’t choose the sport you did. So keep that in mind when you are crabby at the end. Stay positive and pleasant.

What are some of your other interests? What do you like to do when you are NOT competing or prepping for a competition?

Other interests are my children and having fun with them. If I am not at the gym, prepping food, I am with my kids and entertaining them. I love goofing off and being silly. I would love to get into acting in some fashion, whether it be voiceovers for kids shows, on a kid’s show, or just comedic acting. Of course, I have no experience, but it’s a dream. I also have an underlying pull to write gospel music. Although I don’t really listen to it, I can somehow compose in my head, songs that involve a choir. Sounds weird I know. Other than that, I love anything to do with the fitness industry. I am going to start a bootcamp up with my trainer and husband sometime this fall. We want to make it available for anyone who is interested. Someday, I would love to open a facility that is family friendly, where both parents and children can exercise together in spinning, aerobic, kick boxing classes, etc.

What would be your ultimate goal as a competitor?

My ultimate goal as a competitor would be to compete at the professional level. Also to motivate another woman to get in shape and lose weight the right way.

Well Lisa, after reading what you (and Roe) have dealt with as parents is something unimaginable. I can see you two are a strong team and there is a lot of love and support there. I’m a believer that when faced with serious personal issues, you become a stronger person and there is something learned through all of it. During this season, what have you discovered about yourself? Could you share with us some thing new you learned about who Lisa is as a mom, wife, an athlete?

Since this is my first season competing, I have learned a tremendous amount about myself as a mom, wife, and athlete. I came under great stressors throughout this season, and I still managed through them. My days were so full of prep, dieting, training, kids, running here and there, my daughter’s medical concerns, nursing in my home, being a special education teacher, managing time and household, financial troubles…… I could go on. I never thought I could do it, not in a million years. But I did. I am so proud of that. I do have an intensity that is building. I can say I have an enormous will power. I am proud of that. I learned that my husband will put up with a hell of a lot from me, but will always be my biggest supporter. He has sacrificed a lot for me to be successful. He has pushed me when I wanted to give up and he got me where I needed to go. This whole process has brought us closer than ever–kids, competing, tragedy. When you survive things like we have, then you know you are with your soul mate (unless they ask you to buy them a snickers bar during the last week of contest prep and then eat it in front of you–hahaha)

I met you briefly when we did the Metropolitan (we were changing in that maintenance closet lol) and I noticed then you had a funny sense of humor (as you just demonstrated at the end of the question above) as well as great potential to place better going forward. Now, I know you just finished competing at N.A. and will be working at the Olympia and probably haven’t thought much about next season. I would like to see you try for bodybuilding as I’m sure some peeps may have been saying the same thing to you. Would you consider it or would you want to continue with figure only? Either one you pick, I think you’ll do great because you are dedicated to your training and dieting and can bring in that conditioning needed to place well. What do you think?

What’s next……well first let me clear up my conditioning or the North Americans. It was the worst yet. I am fully willing to own up to that. I looked terrible. MHP sponsored my trip and I didn’t want to back out. I busted my a** to try and make it, but unfortunately, didn’t. My daughter went into the hospital 4 times since June for several days at a time. I was under a lot of stress, my metabolism kicked completely out, and I suffered some medical blows myself. (lost vision, swelled with fluid, possible food allergies) I was holding a lot of bodyfat at the NA’s and quite frankly, I was really embarrassed. I walked backstage before prejudging and was looking for a chair to trip over for an injury. haha No really, I cried backstage, because I didn’t want to humiliate myself. I will never look at the photos from the show. No way! I did 3 hours of cardio and ate chicken and lettuce for a month–still holding fat. Oh well, chalk it up to lesson learned. It will never happen again. I will only do a show if I am fully conditioned and look better than ever before. My training is going to be centered to my core and mid section. Leaning out is the only thing on my mind. I must be lean!

I want to stick with figure for now. If my problem is getting lean, then bodybuilding isn’t on the agenda quite yet. I hear all the time, I am in the wrong division, but I haven’t come conditioned yet. It’s not even been a year yet since I started competing and training, so I have a lot to learn and a lot to work on. I know I hold a lot of muscle, so my concentration won’t be on gaining, just maintaining lean muscle. I know the judges at the local shows are all discouraging me from continuing in figure, but I haven’t given up on it yet. Bodybuilding may be in the future. I am stubborn, and I want to bring the best package to figure first.

I hear you on wanting to continue and accomplish your Figure competition goals. I still think you can bring a great physique to the Figure stage and I support your dedication to make it happen, then go to the next step. That’s great that you are sponsored by MHP. We got a little plug in here for them lol. How did that come about? How long have you been with them and what are some of the things you do for them?

MHP is an awesome company. Gerard Dente, the owner, is a great guy who is not only knowledgable, but also trustworthy, easy to speak with, down to earth and a guy who sticks to his word. I had used several of the MHP products to initially lose weight. I had a lot of success with the products and was approached to do an ad for Detoxytrim. My husband had sent them before and after shots, along with my story and they were very interested. They actually let me write the ad, which I was pleased with. The story is authentic because I got to write it. I did the ad and was very happy to be part of the team. Gerard and I spoke several times about things that I could do in the company. I am going to start a website that links to their products, I do demo’s at local Vitamin Shoppe’s, and GNC’s, and I also do booth work (Arnold Classic and soon to be the Olympia). We have future plans for other ventures, but they are still in the works. He is very flexible and willing to work out plans and ventures. MHP sponsored me to do the North Americans and also helped me purchase a suit (materials to make). I hope to have a long future with the company.

Well Lisa, you (and Roe) have had your share of challenges and what I admire most is that you never gave up. I know you weren’t happy with N.A., but you kept to it no matter what. Next season, you’ll being that look you work so hard to present and it will happen. You have that inner strength and even with so much going on around and life pulling you in a million directions, you’ve displayed how anyone can overcome these obstacles.

I’m certain you’ve just helped some one today see that it is possible to achieve a goal. Never give up and never give in. You are a true champ and I wish not only you, but your family, especially little Kayla, a life full of happiness, unconditional love, comfort and above all, healthy, active lives. Keep reaching for the stars girlfriend and CONGRATS!!!