Competing as a Couple

Beverly International
No Nonsense Newsletter Volume 10 issue #1
By Amber Steinmetz

I know what it is like to be on both sides of the stage. I watched my first contest in 1997 when Shiloe (at the time, just my boyfriend) competed in his first bodybuilding competition. Looking back, I realize that I had no concept of what went into sculpting your body for a contest. I thought that to compete you simply ate a lot of chicken and eggs, spent time at the gym, were a little grouchy, slept almost half of the day, and drank water by the gallon. On the week of the contest, I helped him shave his entire body, and apply this smelly tanning stuff to his body that reminded me of shoe polish. At the show, I rubbed on a coat of oil and then he got up on stage and flexed to the called-out poses. I just assumed that whomever was biggest wins! Boy, did I have a lot to learn.

ab crunch - Shilio

  After taking a few years break from bodybuilding due to a motorcycle accident (Shiloe, now my husband) again took the stage at the Northern Kentucky Bodybuilding contest in 2003. Once again, I sat in the audience waiting to watch the show. I was in for a treat when I saw the figure division make their way across the stage. I had no idea this division existed. Where did these elegant ladies come from? I was in awe of their beautiful, sparkled suits and done-up makeup and hair. They had wonderfully muscular, yet feminine physiques. I was so sidetracked that I nearly forgot to help Shiloe oil-up before his division went onstage.

  After the contest, we headed home and all I could think and talk about was the figure division. My husband said, You could do that. Although that ran through my mind, I thought there is no way, I have not workedout in years! That Sunday evening, I discussed a diet and exercise program with Shiloe and felt motivated to give it a try. I vowed to enter the Beverly International contest the next year. Although I was a bit nervous about the prospect of getting onstage in a bikini, I felt that it couldn’t be that hard. Once again, I had a lot to learn.

  Since May 5th, 2003, I have competed in sixteen competitions, ranging from New York to Las Vegas! For the most part I have done very well and it has been an eventful and exciting year. When Shiloe realized how much effort I put into my training, he converted our garage into a home gym. Its not easy to skip a workout session when I am about ten steps from a heated, air-conditioned gym equipped with all the tools of a commercial gym. Even better, at Steinmetz Fitness Center I can listen to any radio station or watch any TV program I want. We both feel that the investment is our best investment yet.

FITTING IN FITNESS: OUR SCHEDULE

  The members of Team Steinmetz follow the wise adage, Never let the sun catch you in bed. For me, my week begins on Monday morning with the shrill beeping of my alarm clock at 4:15 AM. I crawl out of a warm bed and into my workout clothes and make my way to the kitchen to grab my water jug. I do my cardio (thirty intense minutes on the elliptical trainer) on an empty stomach. I then switch my mental gears to weight training in time for Shiloe to take his turn on the elliptical trainer (which we jokingly refer to as the iron pony). I hit one bodypart per day, wrapping the workout up at about 5:50. Then I jump into the shower and get ready for the work day. I eat my breakfast at 6:30, grab a cup of coffee for the road and drive off to my job as a nurse.

  My workday ends at 4:00. If I have a competition coming up, I will go tanning on my way home. Making my way home at 5:00, Shiloe and I have dinner together and talk about our day. Then we clear the table and do dishes and pack our lunch box coolers for the next day. The rest of the evening involves spending time with our two Dobermans, catching up on the news, and bracing ourselves for the day to start all over again. I usually am not on the up-and-up on the reality TV shows since I shower and am in bed by 9:00.

  I should add that we try not to cook a lot during the week. We have what we call a mass cooking session on Sunday afternoons. This is when we prepare our meals for the week, put them all in Tupperware containers and ready in the fridge. On any given Sunday afternoon, I will have about eight sweet potatoes in the oven, four pounds of green vegetables steaming, and an average of six to eight pounds of chicken breast either in the oven or on the grill.

  We mix it up a bit with the occasional salmon or beef steak. We eat clean all year long. We feel it keeps us healthier, more energetic, and allows us to get in contest shape a lot easier.

  As far as our future goals, I would ultimately like to win a Pro Qualifier and compete in the IFBB. Shiloe wants to eventually compete and win Team Universe. We both understand that it is going to take some work and time but we are willing to make the sacrifices to accomplish these goals.

  If you are thinking about competing just do it! The only time you will ever fail is if you fail to try. Pick a contest date and give it a shot! Have fun, keep it light, and go for it. Train hard, Train smart, and stay natural.

Amber: Diet and Supplements
5:00 AM (after cardio)	One-scoop Muscle Provider protein shake
Meal #1	6:30 AM 5 egg whites, 1/2 cup of oats with cinnamon and Splenda
Meal #2	9:00 AM One scoop of Muscle Provider shake with half of a grapefruit
Meal #3	Noon Grilled chicken breast with one cup of broccoli and a tossed salad (during competition). Off-season I have half of a sweet potato with a tossed salad
Meal #4	3:00 PM One-scoop Muscle Provider protein shake
Meal #5	5:30 PM Grilled chicken breast with a tossed salad
Meal #6	8:00 PM 4 egg whites, 1/2 cup of green beans
Amber’s supplements consist of Lean Out, one before cardio and one with each meal, Beverly Flax oil capsules one with each meal (3 per day), Beverly Muscle Provider protein shakes, Beverly Muscularity and a daily Ms. Power Pak.

Amber knows that being dedicated starts with being prepared on a day-to-day basis for the fitness lifestyle. Her regular Sunday "mass cooking sessions" are integral to making that work.

Amber’s Training Schedule
Monday	Chest and calves flat bench, overhead dumbbell extensions, flyes. Calves: donkeys, calf raises, calves on the leg press machine
Tuesday	Back and abs lat pulldowns, rows, dumbbell pulls, roman chair. Abs: decline weights sets, crunches, leg lifts
Wednesday	Biceps and lunges preacher curls, concentrated curls, dumbbell curls, lunges: 25# weights and 80 lunges
Thursday	Triceps and Calves kickbacks, over the head extensions, straight bar triceps push downs, rope triceps push downs, Calves: same as Monday
Friday	Shoulder and traps lateral raises, shoulder rows with dumbbells horizontal raises
Saturday	off
Sunday	Legs extensions, standing curls, plie squats, leg press, and lunges I always vary exercise, routines, days and repetitions so my body does not become accustomed to the same training. Some days and weeks I will do heavy and others I will lighten the weight but increase the number of reps.
I always vary exercise, routines, days and repetitions so my body does not become accustomed to the same training. Some days and weeks I will do heavy and others I will lighten the weight but increase the number of reps.

Shiloe: Diet and Supplements
Breakfast 6:00 AM	6 eggs, 1 yolk, 3 slices wheat toast, 1 scoop Muscle Provider
Meal #2 8:30 AM	6 oz. lean meat, 1 cup green vegetables
Meal #3 11:30 AM	6 oz. lean meat, fist-size low glycemic carbohydrate Snack 1 cup shredded wheat, protein bar
Meal #4 2:00 PM	6 oz. lean meat, 1 cup vegetables
Meal #5	Protein shake (post-workout)
Meal #6 5:30 PM	6 oz. lean meat, fist-sized low glycemic carbohydrate, and salad
Meal #7 8:00 PM	6 oz. lean meat, salad
Meal #8 (upon waking up at night)	2 scoops Muscle Provider
Shiloe’s supplements include Muscularity capsules with each meal, Muscle Synergy, Beverly Flax Caps three times a day, Multi-vitamin packs, and Lean Out during contest season.

Shiloe’s Training Schedule
Monday	Chest, abs, calves
Tuesday	Back
Wednesday	Shoulders, traps
Thursday	off
Friday	Legs
Saturday	Biceps, triceps
Sunday	off
Cardio only during contest time (3-4 times a week)
Variety, variety, variety! Workouts are always changed as far as the days, grips, angles, reps, weight, pace and rep speed. Shiloe prefers not to have a set routine and does what is needed and feels right. He believes that never letting the muscles adapt is the key to growth and preventing burnout.

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