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Name: Amanda Adams

Age: 24

Residence: Milledgeville, GA

Height: 5″3′

Weight: 112 – 117

Occupation: Bartender – Model



Achievements:



-Atlanta’s 2010 Fittest Bodies

-FAP Dixie Bikini 1st place

-Published (Flex Magazine, Status Fitness, World Physique Magazine, Reps Magazine)

-Shooting for Oxygen Magazine at the 2011 Arnold Classic

When did you get started with fitness?

I’ve always loved working out and staying active, but it wasn’t until my second year of college where one of my good friends started training me and informed me of this amazing fitness industry.

I won’t lie, it took about a year for me to fully commit, and drag myself out of the unhealthy lifestyle I was living.

As much fun as partying every night and eating fast food 24/7 was, deep down I wasn’t happy with how I looked and where I was in my life. Thankfully I climbed out of that hole and started this amazing journey! I started researching and following everyone/everything in the industry. I started following the lifestyle and look of Jamie Eason, Jessica Putnam, Nicole Wilkins Lee, Alicia Marie, etc. I wanted to strive for that type of body and lifestyle. I set up a shoot with Satio Photography, changed my lifestyle, and committed myself to the industry. After attending the Arnold and Olympia, I was hooked.



What drives you to be so fit?

Results! Some days I won’t lie I want to stay home and eat ice cream, but I know the next day I won’t feel proud of myself and won’t be helping my body out! I think the biggest motivation is looking back on my “old ways” or lifestyle. I’ve witnessed how extreme some girls will go to stay “skinny” and I’ve also seen the results of girls who just give up. I didn’t want to go down either of those tracks.

Once I started eating clean and working out, I realized I could have that “lean” body and still eat too!

What has been the hardest obstacle for you to overcome?

To be honest, the diet! Ha-ha Yes, I love to eat and was raised in a house where tater tots, macaroni and cheese, and Tyson chicken fingers was the perfect meal for me! I think people get the impression that I don’t like fast food or candy bars which is far from the truth. For people who really know me, If I could, I would eat desserts and cheeseburgers ever meal! However, I want to feel sexy in my own skin, have energy, and be healthy! The coolest part of this industry is the variety of recipes and support out there that makes eating clean and staying on track so much easier! The biggest thing I have learned is that nutrition is so important to weight loss, seeing changes in your body, and your overall mood. So as much as I like eating all that yummy junk food, I love the way my body feels when eating clean more! Therefore, I save those other meals for special occasions, celebrations, or reward meals- not an every day thing.

Could you tell us about your current training program?

I train 5-6 days a week working different muscle groups and cardio 4 days a week. Circuit training is my favorite with 30-40sec rests in between for a more high intensity workout. This way I keep my heart rate up and can get in and out of the gym quicker as well. I hate cardio, which is another reason why nutrition it so important to me.

When your nutrition is on point, you really don’t need to do that much cardio at all!

Therefore, you will never see me running on the treadmill for an hour, or do 45min of cardio twice a day. Instead I incorporate sprint intervals on the elliptical/treadmill for 20-30min 3-4 days a week or take high intensity classes at my gym (Body attack, combat, etc.) for a fun route!

Tell us about the fitness team you are a part of

I’m so honored to be part of the best team out there, Cathy Savage Fitness! At the beginning I didn’t want to be part of a team. But after meeting so many hardworking, down to earth savage girls, I knew I wanted to join! I loved everything the girls represented and the fact of having all my nutrition, training, and support coming from the best was awesome! I encourage everyone to join some type of team, gym, support group, anything to really help take you to the next level!



What does your diet look like?

I typically eat 5-6 meals a day every 3 hours consisting of complex carbs, lean protein, fruits, veggies, and good fats!

-First 3 meals consist of 4oz protein, ¼ cup complex carbs, ¼ cup of fruit, ½ cup of veggies

-Last 2 meals I take out my complex carbs and fruit, and have 1 cup of veggies.

-Throughout the day I will have 2 tbs of good fat and have snacks of almonds, cottage cheese, rice cakes, etc.

EXAMPLE

Meal 1: Oatmeal with blueberries, 4-5 eggs whites, peppers

Meal 2: Spinach Chicken Apple Salad with Ezekiel Bread toasted as croutons and 1tbs of flax oil and homemade dressing

Meal 3: Protein Shake, sweet potatoes or brown rice, veggies, fruit

Meal 4: 4oz Ground Turkey Burritos with Ezekiel Brand

Meal 5: 4oz Baked Tilapia and veggies

Meal 6: 4oz Sautéed chicken and veggie mix, 1tbs flax oil

This is just an example, but I try to switch it up as much as I can! I love to try any recipes in Oxygen Magazine, Tosca Reno’s Eat Clean Diet Book, and Lori Harder’s “Busy Girl Healthy Life” website (http://www.busygirlhealthylife.com/)



What Is Your Favorite Body Part To Train?

Shoulders! I use to just train biceps or triceps when I first started out. Then I realized that every muscle needs to be worked; shoulders, chest, back, etc. Shoulders really help give my arms that lean definition I like.

If you could start back from the first day you started training would you do anything different?

Drink more water! When I first started training I literally would drink water just at the gym and that was it! I just hated water. My trainer would continue to stress to me how important water is for everybody. Now I drink a gallon a day! The more water you drink, the less your body holds on to it. It’s also amazing for your skin, hair, and to rid of any toxins in your body.

Is there anyone in the fitness industry you look up to?

I honestly look up to everyone in the fitness Industry, I love them all! We all have our own story and I think that is so cool. From the beginning though I have always followed Jamie Eason, Jessica Putnam, Nicole Wilkins Lee and Alicia Marie. Now that I’m more involved in the industry I’ve added Lori Harder, Amanda Latona, Chady Dunmore, Kim Dolan Leto and a ton more to the list for advice and motivation!



Final advice for readers?

Take control of yourself! We have the control to lose weight and get our bodies to the point we are proud of. However, it’s a lot easier to tell yourself, “Oh, there is no hope, I can’t do it.” People like to put blame on other situations in their life to make them feel better for why they are the way they are. It makes it easier. However, when it comes to losing weight, changing your body, and improving your health… starts with you! Which is scary to think about sometimes, but also so amazing. We all live in a world of chaos with things we can’t control sometimes with jobs, finances, kids, parents, insecurities, addictions, disabilities, etc. However, you can control what you eat and how hard you train. We all share that. So yes, it’s scary because it’s all in your hands, but awesome that everyone can relate to the same responsibility. In other words, if you start taking care of your health, it will take off some pressure of all the other chaos going on in your life, I promise.

Love you all!

“Stay Fit- Stay Positive” Amanda Adams

Amanda Adams Websites:

http://bodyspace.bodybuilding.com/AmandaAdams/

Photo Credits:

Pink Elephant Photography

Satio Photography

Gord Weber