Intro: Hope Taylor National Physique Committee 3 time Overall Bikini Champion talks with ABFITT about her recent success, training and the future.
"I have my procard in the USBF and I can say that I'm a NPC 3x Overall Bikini Champ all in 10months. I love it"
- Hope Taylor
ABFITT:
Wow you have been a busy girl these past ten months coming
off your recent overall win at the NPC event Brandywine. You have
certainly made a name for yourself as of late here in Northeast PA.
However, for the readers of ABFITT who may not be familiar with you can
you give us some background and talk about your recent
contests and results.
Hope Taylor:
Thank you for your kind words! Yes, it’s been
a very rewarding year with a lot of hard work and blessings throughout
my journey. My first NPC show was this past May at the PA Lehigh Valley
Championships. I took 2nd in my Class. It was a tough first show! I
learned a lot going through a big show with about
40 bikini competitors.
Immediately
follow the show I got back into the gym, keep my head down and found
myself working harder than I ever have. My goal was to simply improve my
overall
conditioning and worked on tweaking my presentation for a September
show.
Early
August I took a chance and did the NPC PA STATE and PA Classic to see
if I could get everything down prep wise for the NPC Brandywine Cup in
September.
It turns out it all worked out! I got first in my class and won the
overall for both shows. It was a complete shock and everyone there knew
it! My head was spinning after that second sword!
Then,
I had another four weeks until the next show. I kept doing everything I
did the prior 4 weeks with a goal to come in even more conditioned and
pushed
even harder to bring the best package I could! I was blessed with
another 1st in my class and overall win at the NPC Brandywine Cup.
ABFITT: What got you in the gym and what has kept you there? Why
the decision to start doing the Bikini class?
Hope Taylor:
Oh man so much has kept me going, but initially
what got me there was trying to find the balance I knew I was missing. I
started training in 2009. After a few years of learning how to eat
better and making small gains here and there I knew something was
missing. I sought out nutritional guidance and some
personal training sessions to bridge the gap at the end of 2012. (Photo credits: RX Muscle & Mycontestpix.com)
In
efforts to push myself harder I set goals to compete! I’m naturally a
leaner girl and need to grow into shows and this division has allowed me
to do that.
I’ve come a long way in the last year, but I have a lot of room for
improvement.
What’s
kept me in the gym and on stage is the want for me to be my personal
best inside and out. I’m a huge believer that your physical and mental
health works
together. Living a healthy lifestyle increases your focus, endorphins,
energy and self-confidence. Most importantly, it allows me to set a
positive example for my daughter!
ABFITT: Talk about your preparation for a show both your philosophy on training & nutrition. Doing shows so close together like the PA State Championship in August then the Brandywine in September must have presented some challenges for you and your prep.
Hope Taylor:
Contest
diet I follow low carbohydrate and use fats as an energy source. I eat
one gram of protein per Lb. of body weight. In order to grow or improve
diet is such
a key factor. I plan/prep my meals so that I can’t fail in that arena. I
lift 5 days a week, training one body part a week with a specialized
day for hams and glutes. I also incorporate cardio EOD. My overall
conditioning is most important part of my presentation.
I want to come in balanced, well-conditioned and better each and every
time I compete.
Yes,
that was a little tricky for me to do those shows close together. It
wasn’t too hard to peak in September as I had 4 weeks in between.
However, I tried
to do the same for the Big Cat two weeks later in October, but my body
was telling me enough is enough. I got to enjoy the show as a spectator
instead. Hopefully, I can do that show next year. I encourage
competitors to really pay close attention to themselves
and if they aren’t able to show up even better don’t be afraid take a
break.
ABFITT: After three overall wins what’s next for Hope Taylor?
Hope Taylor:
It’s time to grow! I am looking forward to
competing in Gary Udit’s Pittsburgh Pro/Am show in May 2014. I have
other friends that I’ve competed with in the past that are coming up to
do the show as well. It’s going to be amazing to have about 9 of us
there. It’s a beautiful forum and a bigger show
than I’ve competed in the past. I’d love to come over to your state and
compete in Team Universe as well. Until then I’m training hard and
planning on bringing a better package in 2014.
ABFITT: What advice would you give woman looking to compete in
the NPC Bikini division?
Hope Taylor:
Ask yourself how it could impact you to commit
to something so rewarding in various facets of your life! Do it for
yourself, your family, your friends…. Impact the lives of others and
show them what a healthy lifestyle can do for you and help them get
there too! It’s honestly just as rewarding for me to
give to others the tools they need to succeed and support them as much
as it is for me to succeed.
ABFITT: So tell us about your entry in the
MET-Rx® Magazine Cover Contest (see link below for Hope's entry) and how can fans vote for you.
Hope Taylor: I use the Met-Rx
meal replacement throughout contest prep and during my off-season. I
love the original vanilla. Since I’m such a fan of their product I was
thrill to learn from my good friend Art Griffith that they were having
this cover contest for
Met-Rx.
If
you click the link below you read more about my story, view a video
about a typical weekend workout and vote for me! You can vote once a day
until this Saturday
October 14th. If you could also share it with your friends I would
appreciate that too. There is a link to post it on your Facebook page.
I’m looking for the opportunity to inspire others and to share my
experience with those who need that extra push to put
one foot in front of the other to go after their own dreams and
desires!
ABFITT: Hope thanks for taking the time to chat with
ABFITT, before we say goodbye can you tell the readers of ABFITT how they can follow you or keep an eye out for your contest results.
Hope Taylor: Sure, you can find me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/SHIZZLEMD
and my Instagram is @SHIZZLEMDIZZLE
Thank
you ABFITT for the opportunity to talk with you and your followers! You
did a phenomenal job at the NPC PA Classic and we are all routing for
your future
success as well!
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