How did you get started with bodybuilding?
When I was 18 I was a real ‘party girl.’ I was pretty much lost and had no direction in life and didn’t have any good role models to look up to. I finally decided that I was tired of going to school every day with a hangover. I hated the way my body looked and felt. I always thought that lifting weights would make me look ‘bulky.’ Once I found Jamie Eason and some other great fitness models, I decided to try it out; it was fun and I started to see results pretty quickly.
I became addicted to lifting weights, and I haven’t looked back since
Where does your motivation come from?
My motivation comes from external sources but at the end of the day for me it’s a mental game. Since day one I’ve been recording my journey on social media and quite honestly I don’t want to let anyone down. I want to be a positive and healthy role model for girls to look up to.
I want to show them that they can live a healthy fun-filled, adventurous life and eat a variety of foods while staying fit at the same time!
What workout routine has worked best for you?
I have pretty much always done a five day split with three leg days and two upper body days. The first few years, I focused on building a solid foundation. Now I do a lot of isolation for my legs and glutes. I add in cardio here and there when I feel I need it, but I love tossing in plyos to keep my heart rate up.
If you had to pick only 3 exercises what would they be and why?
- Step Ups: They are great because they hit my glutes and quads nicely and keep my heart rate up.
- Squats: This is an excellent full body compound movement and I have fun hitting new PR’s.
- Lunges: Never seem to get easy, but are great for my quads and glutes. I also love the variations you can do with these.
What is your diet like?
I follow an ‘IIFYM,’ or ‘flexible dieting,’ diet. I love the balance it creates, and I never feel super restricted! Since I have switched to this type of diet, I have a very healthy relationship with food.
Daily Diet:
My diet varies greatly, and I have a lot of fun with it!
- Meal 1: 2 Whole Eggs, 2 Egg Whites and 2 packets Sugar Free Maple Brown Sugar Oatmeal
- Meal 2: 4 ounces Chicken, 1 slice Turkey Bacon, 2-3 cups Spinach, ½ cup Strawberries, ¼ cup Reduced Fat Feta Cheese, handful chopped Tomatoes, handful shredded Carrots, 1 tablespoon Olive Oil and 1 tablespoon Apple Cider Vinegar Dressing
- Meal 3: 4-6 ounces Chicken, 1 cup chopped White Potatoes, 3 ½ ounces Asparagus, and 1 tablespoon Reduced Sugar Ketchup
- Meal 4: 80 calorie Light and Fit Greek Yogurt, 5 ounces Bell Peppers and ½ cup Strawberries
- Meal 5: 1 serving Kodiak Power Cakes, 1 Whole Egg, 3 tablespoons Peanut Butter and ¼ cup Syrup
When trying to cut down do you prefer to use HIIT or just normal cardio?
I usually prefer normal cardio, but when I am really pushing for results, I’ll do HIIT. HIIT provides me with results more quickly. When I keep my calories low, I prefer using the Stairmaster.
What is your supplementation like?
I only take two supplements daily. Biotin, Vitamin C and occasionally I’ll take BCCA’s and a pre-workout if I really need it, but usually it’s just a Starbucks!
What are some of your favorite places you’ve travelled to and where do you plan to go next?
I love Australia, Thailand, L.A., Toronto and Canada. Those are probably my top places. I enjoy the people and the sights.
In the future, I would love the opportunity to travel to Italy and Greece to see some of the culture and history. I would also love to go to Hawaii for the beaches!
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