20 Questions with Cover Model Amanda Cove

1) Please introduce yourself? What makes you special? Who is Amanda Cove?
I'm Amanda, I'm 36. I live in Yukon OK and Tulsa OK (split my time equally in between) 
I guess what makes me unique is, in ten months my trainer took me from never having competed and not being in shape to being in first callouts in the Arnold.  I never would've guessed my first show would be on such a big stage.  
I asked my daughter the same question, she said-  Mom, you're beautiful, you enjoy bodybuilding and you love cats!  I was at a loss on that question, so I had to ask my reinforcements. :) 

2) Please tell us a bit about your family, friends and surroundings?
I have two kids, my daughter Elle is 12 and my son Ethan is 13.  My parents, sister and her children live only a few hours north.  My boyfriend Scott, lives in Tulsa. I live with him every other week at the moment.  (hoping to make it full time soon)

3) How did you start competing in wellness?
The original plan was to compete in figure. After doing a lot of research on Wellness, my trainer decided it would be in our best interest for me to compete in this division. It fit my body much better.  Very pleased with the decision to switch. 

4) What is your personal policy (not what the judges want) about conditioning and muscularity when coming into a show? Soft or hard? 
I would rather come in more conditioned than not. If you look at bodybuilding at the highest levels, like the Olympia, conditioning (and being hard) always wins.  

5)  What is your idea of what judges want in a wellness 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.
I agree. It still seems a bit confusing here. There is no consistency yet with what the judges are awarding.  They kept saying they wanted a softer look, however some of the winners have been hard and very muscular while some of them have been very soft and more "bikini" look. It doesn't seem like they have really nailed down what they are looking for yet and it makes it hard for the competitors to train (and pose) for this division. We need clear and consistent guidelines for wellness in my opinion. 

6) For the next shows what do you think you need to work on physique-wise/conditioning-wise? If anything!
There is always something to improve on. It was my first show, so it was a bit nerve wracking being on such a big stage.  My posing could be a bit smoother, I've been working on glute development, and working on my waist. My trainer has been with me every step of the way, pushing me and helping me succeed. 

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?
I normally do 
Monday- Bi's/ Tris
Tue- off
Wed- Back (or Glutes) 
Thurs- Glutes (or back) whichever I didn't do the day before
Friday- Shoulders and tri's
Sat- off
Sunday- Legs
I was only doing around 20 min  of cardio per day before the show. Scott adjusted it some according to how my body looked. Some days he would only have me do 8 min of hitt cardio, some days I wouldn't do cardio at all. But usually it was 20 min per day on a stationary bike.  It really worked well for my body. 

8) What is your pre-contest diet? (per day, 1 week before the show)
One week before the show I was on 4 oz cod, 1/3 c white rice and 1c broccoli 5-6 times a day. The day before the show it was the same until the evening, I had a filet and a sweet potato as well as a small french fry.  The next morning I had cod and rice every two hours up until the show. About 30 min before I went on stage,  I ate half of a chocolate bar (pure bliss!) 

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.
Starting on Monday ( I competed on Thursday) I went to a gallon. Tue I had half of a gallon, Wed I went to a liter and the day of the show only sips of water. 

10) What motivates you to train/diet and compete? Are there any competitors you looked up to?
I have always been competitive. I used to run marathons/half marathons back in 2011-2014. I suffered an injury that I never recovered from and am still unable to run to this day.
I needed something in my life to help me stay in shape where I was still able to compete with myself (and others) and I found bodybuilding. I was hooked.
I always looked up to people like Arnold, Ronnie Coleman, Jay Cutler, Cydney Gillon, Sandra Grajales, Dana Lynn Bailey (I could go on and on) 
But one person I really look up to is my trainer (and boyfriend) Scott Burnett. He has been competing since he was a teen.  He still competes (he is now 50) and is in the best shape of his life. It's amazing to see someone with such dedication and drive.  Just watching and talking to him everyday pushes me to be a better competitor and person. 
11) Please tell us an interesting experience you had at a show recently, be it a fun thing or something rather not so fun?
Considering the Arnold was my first show, everything was interesting! When we showed up they announced that they may cancel the amateur show and only let the pros compete. (due to covid) luckily, day of check in's, they announced they would let us compete, but no spectators would be allowed to watch. It was a little upsetting, but we were all thankful that we were able to do the show. They cancelled the expo as well, which was kind of a bummer, but there is always next year!

12) What is your personal opinion about the figure, fitness, bodybuilding industry we are in? Anything you would like to see changed? 
I think it is a more social media driven sport now.  It seems the more followers you have, the more sponsors you get, the more money that backs a person the better chance they have at placing (higher) in a competition.  I'm not against social media.  However,  it seems bodybuilding has gotten away from it's true meaning is. 

13) What has been your hardest challenge to overcome either in your personal life or competing career?
I have found it hardest to balance work/ kids/ training. 
I work full time and have two kids in school, so when I was training to compete last year I was getting up at 5, doing cardio, getting the kids ready and off to school, and working all day. 
Then when I got off work I would help them with homework, meal prep then go to the gym when they went to bed around 8. (wasn't usually getting in bed until around 11p) 

14) Did you make any changes to your contest prep for your last show? Water intake, carbing up, etc...
It was my first show, so everything was new to me. But I think we came in right on point. Scott really had my diet dialed in perfect. I don't think much will change for my next show. 

15) What do you think of bikini division?
Bikini is a great division. I know a lot of bikini girls that work their asses off. 
And I know some that don't that are just blessed with great genetics and go really far. This of course applies to EVERY division. 

16) What are your favorite foods to eat right after you compete on a Saturday night?
Jif Crunchy peanut butter! 

17) Please tell us about how you were raised and did you have any interesting experiences while growing up?
My family was very conservative growing up.  We always did things as a family. Camping trips, vacations to the mountains, and trips to the lake in the summer. 
We always had chores to do, always sat at the dinner table together as a family to eat, and always had Friday night movie night together. 
I feel very blessed to have my family and the upbringing that I did. 

18) Do you have an athletic background? Gymnastics, soccer, volleyball or what?
I started playing basketball in 4th grade. I continued playing until my junior year in high school. I also ran track, and played soccer. 
I was always involved in some sort of sport. 

19) What is a typical day in the life of Amanda Cove? From waking up to until going to bed?
The weeks that I am in Yukon, I wake up early (4:30-5) and hit my workout first thing.  I come back and get the kids up and ready for school (virtual) then I head to work around 9-9:30.  I usually come back and check on them around 11:30 and make lunch. I am usually home between 3-4 ( I work in real estate/ property management so I also work from home in the afternoon, evenings and weekends) we usually start on chores or dinner when I get home. After that, I like to spend a little down time with the kids, watch part of a movie or go on a walk together. I like to make sure during this time I am prepping food (there's never enough time!!)

The weeks I am in Tulsa, we usually get up around 4-4:30 everyday and have breakfast.  Scott heads to work (training clients at 5 or 6) and I start in on cleaning, meal prepping or work (real estate) .  I usually head in to the office by 10 or 11 if there are things that need to get done. I like to be home if he gets a break during the day. I try to keep food prepped all week for us (he is a heavyweight bodybuilder, so it takes quite a bit more food!) then we usually train in the evenings around 6p. 

20) What is your current occupation? Please tell us more about it, what do you specifically do in your job?  
I am a realtor and property manager. 
I have been a realtor since 2013. I help people buy and sell homes. I started property management in 2015. I help owners lease their homes (and everything that goes with it, maintenance calls, showings, collecting rent, going to court, evictions, etc...)  and I help people find homes to rent. 
I absolutely love what I do. It is very rewarding helping someone find their dream home, first home, investment property etc....  

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