We’re months away from the 2013 show, so I thought we should introduce you to some of our previous (and hopefully future) competitors. Everyone who steps on stage has a story behind all the hard work. This month, NPC Figure Competitor Amy Horvath!
1. What got you started in the fitness realm?
I was always in competitive sports growing up ,but never really specialized in anything. I always worked out, but in my teens/20’s it was more because I knew it was good for me…. and to socialize! I of course gained weight after my first daughter and lost all but 5lb. Same with 2nd daughter… same with 3rd daughter… same with 4th daughter…. NOT GOOD! After my 3rd I finally started getting a little more serious about watching my food portions and more steady on the treadmill. After my 4th daughter and still at least 20lb over my ideal weight, I decided it was time to start out exercising my diet. HA that helped with a few lbs… but stalled out quickly. My husband who has been weight training for 20+ years and is a competitive powerlifter, always told me I needed to incorporate weight training into my cardio if I wanted to start seeing results. I was smarter then him and said no way as then my muscles would bulk up, and I would have fat over them and just look to big and bulky. I finally started reading up on some of the articles he was sending me supporting his advice and decided to believe him (poor guy!). I was in the gym 5 days a week doing cardio and not seeing much results so decided it was time to weight train. I finally saw some serious results! But my nutrition article research was far from over. I finally took the final step and started tracking my food intake. WOW was I eating a lot of the wrong things and not nearly enough of the right. I started eating clean meals every 2-3 hours and saw everything fall into place. More importantly, my daughters and husband were seeing the results and becoming my biggest fans as well as wanting to follow in my footsteps!
2. Are you training with a trainer or working on your own?
My husband is my strength and conditioning trainer, and I am my own nutritionist. We are considering hiring someone to help me with contest prep to help me with macro ratios, etc. I have general macro info dialed in and carb cycling etc., but I think I need a nutrition coach to help me with the when to eat, how many carbs, fats, protein etc as it relates to my training to see the final results and hopefully win an IFBB pro card.
3. What do you love most about competing?
I love being surrounded by people who “get it”. The other competitors are as “crazy” as I am about eating on my scheduled time, water consumption, not missing a workout… EVER. I love being recognized for the relentless self control, discipline and hard work that goes into training for a contest. I love the learning process of what it takes to get myself into the body composition to get on stage… the water, sodium, carb factors, etc. I love learning ways to tweak it all and get better! And having a goal (contest prep) makes everything I do every day more measured and important to support that goal.
4. What’s the hardest thing about competing?
Honestly it’s the socialization issues. I miss being able to go out to dinner with my husband and friends and stop for cocktails after dinner, etc.
5. Where do you train and what’s your training schedule like?
We are very blessed to have a fully equipped home gym. Like I said, my husband is a competitive powerlifter so we are set on a home gym! We are in the gym every morning at 6AM before the kids get up…. 6 days a week! We are outfitted with a squat rack, several bars, approximately 1,000 pounds in plates, dumbbells up to 130#, a treadmill and a Prowler.
6. What is your favorite body part to train? Your least favorite?
Love to train legs because that is currently where I need my most development. I do not like to train chest. I feel like you can look at my legs, arms, abs, etc and tell that I am in good shape but chest… not something I usually look at on women and go wow, she is in phenomenal shape!
7. What do you recommend for someone just starting out or even thinking about competing in the division you do?
To hire a personal trainer who has a very very strong nutrition background! Hire someone to provide posing lessons! I never could have done this without the lovely Corry Matthews!! xo
8. What division do you compete in and why did you select that one? (Figure, Fitness, Physique, Bodybuilding)
NPC Figure. I chose figure because I felt like the judging criteria are in line with what I value in my goals. You have to have a balanced proportion of muscularity, conditioning while maintaining femininity. I felt like these were all things I could achieve and support both in the short and long term. It makes me work hard in the kitchen and gym to see the definition necessary to compete. I am only 3 competitions into my competition journey but feel like this is the right division for me. I need to add about 5 more lb of muscle and lose about 2%body fat to be extremely competitive at my next nationals! This goal is attainable, and I believe beautifully feminine!
You can find out more about Amy on her Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/AmyJoHorvathNpcFigureCompetitor