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20 Questions with Cover Model and IFBB Figure Pro Emily Nicholson
1) Please introduce yourself? What makes you special? Who is Emily Nicholson?
Hi! I'm Emily Nicholson! I'm extremely adventerous and competitive! I love to accomplish things that people tell me are impossible.
In law school, a guy told me that he was going to schedule his classes so he could get his law degree and master of law in three years, the time it takes people to just get the law degree. I said, "oh really, well, I'm doing that too!" So, I changed my whole schedule, went to summer school, and finished not only my law degree in 3 years, but also got my Master of Law in Taxation, Certificate in International and Comparative law, and was elected Student Representative all 3 years! Although he had dropped out of the program after the first year, I finished the challenge.
2) Please tell us a bit about your family, friends and surroundings?
I live in Chicago, IL with my husband of 7 years, and our Goldendoodle named Bushy. My best friend from high school finally lives across the street from me, as we had always planned!
I am the oldest of 3 kids. My sister, Ellen, lives in LA. She went to Hollywood as an aspiring actress, and now works in the legal department of a production company and goes to law school at night. She just got married last month!
My brother, Ben, still lives in Chicago and works in IT during the day but plans to move to Hollywood to be a full time actor. I guess we all love the stage!
3) How did you start competing in figure?
I had always been interested in bodybuilding even as a child. I lifted weights and loved to see how far I could push my body. I was very active in sports and even asked for weights for my birthdays and holidays. I started hanging out with bodybuilders in high school and went to their competitions. People always told me that I should compete, but I never found the time!
After I got married, my husband was traveling a lot and I was working a lot. We didn't see each other much and he asked me if there was anything besides law that I wanted to do. I answered that there was one thing! So, I asked a girl in my gym who had competed before about how to begin. She gave me all the info she had. I quit my job and started training full time for my first fitness competition. It was so much fun and I felt like a kid again. After a few competitions, I determined that Figure was my strength and solely competed in that.
4) What is your personal policy (not what the judges want) about conditioning and muscularity when coming into a show? Soft or hard?
Personally I like my look when I'm a little more on the conditioned side, meaning I like myself looking very lean. I like having strength and big muscles. I've always loved using heavy weights when I lift and my dream was to be a professional bodybuilder. Although, these days, I believe the judges like a softer, more attainable look for mass appeal and it's a different kind of training style than I was used to, but I still love it!!!
5) What is your idea of what judges want in a Figure competitor? Do you think judges are clear enough with competitors about how they want you on stage? It seems in Europe they are very clear unlike in the USA and now in Canada things are confusing.
This sport is very subjective and it's hard to describe a look that is best for every competitor. Of course, there are always competitions where many are left scratching their heads about the results, but in general the judges want a Figure competitor to have some leanness, good symmetry, good shape, and a nice stage presence. I think it's just a learning curve for each competitor on how to come in and look your best. I'm not sure the judges can even describe that to any competitor beyond the generalizations.
6) For the next shows what do you think you need to work on physique-wise/conditioning-wise? If anything!
There are always improvements that can be made!! I'm working now on gaining back some size in my upper body which should be fun! Putting on size is the fun part!
7) What is your typical training routine in the gym (per day, include sets and reps!) How much cardio do you do before a show?
When I'm training for a show, the typical routine is 45 min of cardio in the morning, weights for about 45 min in the afternoon, and then another cardio session at night.
I train Legs -Monday, Shoulders -Tues, Back -Wed, Arms -Thurs, and Chest - Friday.
I usually do around 5 sets of 10-15 reps per body group. I never repeat the same exercises from week to week. My body must always adapt.
I recently got certified in Personal Training and Sports Nutrition, but I use Mike Davies as my trainer. He sends my diets, exercise routines, and cardio schedules to me every 3 weeks.
8) What is your pre-contest diet? (per day, 1 week before the show)
My precontest diet changes from contest to contest depending on how i look, but as an example:
Meal 1 - egg whites and chicken
Meal 2 - tuna and asparagus
Meal 3 - chicken
Meal 4 - tuna and asparagus
Meal 5 - orange roughy
Meal 6 - tuna and salad
Meal 7 - egg whites
9) How do you go about dropping your water before the day of the show? How much water do you drink the day of the show. Please be specific.
I usually drink a gallon and a half of water every day while training for a show, so the day before the show I drop my intake to one gallon, and on contest day I drop it to a quarter gallon. It's still plenty of water but since my body is used to taking in more, I look dry.
10) What motivates you to train/diet and compete? Are there any competitors you looked up to?
I've always been drawn to the sport and have looked up to the competitors from my youth, such as Arnold or Corey Everson.
I am amazed with the hard work that all the competitors put into this and it inspires me further. It's an honor to be on the same stage with all these athletes.
11) Please tell us an interesting experience you had at a show recently, be it a fun thing or something rather not so fun?
This year, competing has been so much more fun because my best friend started doing it with me!
Being fit has an affect on those people around you everyday. Everyone around me has gotten healthier in some way since I started this.
It was so fun to see my best friend compete and cheer for her this year!
12) What is your personal opinion about the figure, fitness, bodybuilding industry we are in? Anything you would like to see changed?
I believe these sports are an excellent way to have adults set physical goals for themselves and have a forum in which to show it off and compete. I'm so grateful for the opportunity and hope to promote health and fitness for life. There is the perception that the athletes don't work hard or take steroids, but I hope that the more mainstream this sport becomes and the more people participate, the less people will believe these rumors.
13) What has been your hardest challenge to overcome either in your personal life or competing career?
In my personal life and competing career, it's all about finding balance. It's easy to get swept away in whatever your goals are, but it's good to remember that your friends and family are most important. You have to make time to nurture your most treasured relationships.
14) Did you make any changes to your contest prep for your last show? Water intake, carbing up, etc...
No contest prep ever goes exactly the same. My body is never the same, so prep is never exactly the same. For my last show I was trying to put on more size due to losing some through the season of dieting. So, I had more carbs and more water during the last week than I usually would, and it was great!
15) What are your plans as a pro now?
I'm planning on competing in some shows next year and hoping on making it to the Olympia! That would really be a dream come true!
I hope in the future I get the opportunity to promote this sport and increase its visibility.
16) With bikini becoming a larger attraction do you see yourself ever going into it or staying in figure? What do you think of bikini division?
I believe the bikini division is a great way to get more people involved in this sport. For some it may be a stepping stone into Figure, Fitness, or Bodybuilding. For others it may be a way to stay in shape, have a goal, and compete. Every competitor has to decide for themselves. For me, I think I have the body type for Figure, but if that should change for whatever reason, I would consider whichever division was the best fit for me.
17) Please tell us about how you were raised and did you have any interesting experiences while growing up?
I was raised in Elmhurst, IL. My mother was Jewish and my father was Christian. So, I was raised in both religions, celebrating everything!
We had Christmas trees and dreidles!
18) Do you have an athletic background? Gymnastics, soccer, volleyball or what?
I was always into sports. I enjoyed weight lifting, running, karate, gymnastics (went to gymnastics camp every summer), softball, basketball, and tennis!
19) What is a typical day in the life of Emily Nicholson? From waking up to until going to bed?
I eat bon bons all day and watch tv......LOL!!! Just Kidding!!
Actually, I start my day by taking out the dog! I make breakfast for my husband and me. I make a healthy lunch for him too and put it in his work bag.
Next is my food prep. I go to the grocery store, buy what I'll need for a couple days, and then go home to prepare, measure, and put it all in plastic containers.
I eat my next meal and then go to the gym. After the gym, I come home and eat again. Then I go train my clients. I come back home, eat again, take out the dog and start preparing dinner. After dinner, I do my second cardio and eat again. I hang out with my husband and dog until its time to do it all again tomorrow! :-)
20) What is your current occupation? Please tell us more about it, what do you specifically do in your job?
I've gone from tax attorney to personal trainer!
I train people to help them meet their personal fitness goals. It's so rewarding to make such a huge difference in people's lives in such an important way!
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