Hard Fitness Online Magazine Issue #18 - 20 Questions with Cover Model Misty Green

Well, I'm originally from Alabama. I left the backwoods to head to Florida on a full track scholarship and ended up in Oregon. I guess some would say that what makes me unique is my outlook on life. I'm a glass is half full type of gal.

2) Please tell us a bit about your family, friends and surroundings?

I feel very lucky to have the family and friends that I do and who are all supportive of me, no matter what my goals are. I grew up in 2 different cultures. My daddy's side of the family is from the backwoods of Alabama, but I also have deep Cherokee Indian roots as well. My side mom's side of the family is from Thailand. I always get the funniest looks when I introduce my mom to people, because she is this tiny little 5'2 Asian woman, and I guess it's hard to believe that I came from her. I have two great sisters and an awesome brother and we all seem to have our own unique qualities. I have a split family, like most now days but am so very very fortunate that my daddy and my mom & step dad are great friends. It was such a wonderful experience growing up with roots from two very different cultures. I have some very close friends that seem to be spread out all over the place and we all manage to stay in touch whether it's a phone call or through the internet.

3) How did you start competing in figure (NPC)?

After college and my track career had ended, and being the competitive person I am, I needed another physical outlet. I got into more serious training and trying to learn as much as I could about nutrition and different workout styles. A friend of mine entered her first figure show and I thought it was awesome. A couple of years later I decided to do my 1st show and ever since I've been hooked.

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 think it varies from person to person. I think it looks great to have a semi muscular athletic physique with good conditioning. For me, I think coming in to soft makes me look thick as if I didn't do enough cardio. But some look great with a softer look and some look better with a more conditioned look. Again, that is why I believe you have do what you feel is best or what you like best for your body.

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?

Honestly, I don't know what the judges are looking for. I think they try to make it clear but it doesn't always come out that way. It's a tough job, because you have so many type of physiques with variations of muscle and conditioning. That's what I feel it's best to prepare yourself for a show the way you want to look.

6) For the next shows what do you think you need to work on physique-wise/conditioning-wise? If anything!

For Team Universe and USA's I'm going to continue with what I've been doing for the past 6 weeks. My diet and training will pretty much stay the same and I hope to be consistent with my physique and what I bring to the show.

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 do pre breakfast cardio 7 days a week with 30 min following my weight workout as well.

I typically train one body part each workout and stick to 4 sets of 8-15 reps for my back, chest, and arms and I do 4 sets of 30 reps for my quads and hams.

8) What is your pre-contest diet? (per day, 1 week before the show)

I pretty much have 6 - 7 meals a day.

meal 1: 8 egg whites, 1/2 cup oats

meal 2: 5 oz chick or 5.5 oz fish and veggies

meal 3: 5 oz chick or 5.5 oz fish; 1/2 cup oats or 4 oz red

potato

meal 4: 2 scoops whey

meal 5: 5 oz chick or 5.5 oz fish and lots of veggies

meal 6: 2 protein pancakes

meal 7: if needed 2 scoops whey

9) How do you go about dropping your water before the day of the show? Please be specific.

I usually start water depletion 2.5 to days prior to stepping on stage. I normally drink about 2 gallons of water everyday until 2 days prior, then I switch and have 1 gal of distilled water and the next day 1/2 gal distilled and the day of I sip.

10) What motivates you to train/diet and compete? Are there any competitors you look up to?

I'd have to say the challenge is what motivates me. I love seeing the changes in my body from show to show. It's is such a great feeling to work extremely hard and to be able to see the results. There are so many women & men that I look up to. For me, I take things I admire, appreciate and respect from each person and combine them to make this ideal of 1 role model, in my mind.

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 past show was really a great experience because I met so many wonderful people and got to spend time with friends I have made in the industry. It was such a rewarding feeling to have people telling me that I inspire them and I was amazed at some telling me that they had my pictures hanging on their fridge to help motivate them. This is what it's all about, living a healthy lifestyle, reaching your goals and being able to help others live one as well.

12) What is your personal opinion about the figure, fitness, bodybuilding industry we are in? Anything you would like to see changed?

I truly love this industry. I enjoy the challenges I face each day as well as all the wonderful people I meet. And if I can help others along the way, than that is what makes me happy.

13) From the shows you have competed so far during your career which one was the best (or most fun) for you and why?

I don't necessarily think I have a favorite. I have really enjoyed each experience and continue to learn so much every time. I also love getting to meet new people and making wonderful friends along the way as well as see the friends I've made and support them at each show.

14) Did you make any changes to your contest prep for this show (Jr. Nats)? Water intake, carbing up, etc...

The changes I made in the 6 weeks I had from Jr USA's to Jr Nationals were in my carb intake and my lower body training. After seeing myself onstage with a softer look at Jr USA's, my trainer and I realized that my legs were huge compared to the rest of me but that when I come in with a softer look, my legs automatically look thick. So we cut my carbs to about 1/2 of what I was doing and I we switched my leg workouts to 2 workouts a week. One for quads and one for hamstrings. I did only 3 exercises on each day and did them as giant sets with reps of 30 to help downsize and tighten.

15) What is your opinion about the 20% rule the IFBB issued to some female athletes? Why do you think they did it? Do you think competitors will follow it? Or it will get lost around somewhere?

I think the amount of muscle a competitor has is always going to very from person to person. Some look better with more and some with less. I think it should be about each person coming in at what looks best on them. I believe some will follow the rule and some will not.

16) I think everyone really liked your physique at Jr. Nationals 2006, what can you tell other girls about dealing with getting a lot of compliments from everyone yet judges not placing you as high? It takes a lot of discipline to put it in the back of your mind and then come out again to the next show.

Misty Green

First, I want to say thank you for the compliment. I do feel very blessed to have the support and encouragement from so many people in the industry. I guess the thing I would say is, at the end of the day, you have to walk away happy with yourself no matter what. Being part of this industry is very different for me, unlike competing in track where I could run or jump my best and win. Figure, fitness and bodybuilding competitions are very subjective. So as long as I continue to compete, I will go in competing against myself and try to make the changes and improvements I want from show to show. And by doing that, I will always feel like a winner in my eyes. This is how I see it as if I was running a race, I would rather run my best time ever and not win than to run my worst time ever and get 1st. I think no matter what, you have to take away the positives from every experience and just enjoy the journey. Sometimes, you get lucky and you end up being what they are looking for and sometimes you're not. But I think it is very important to have a positive self image and to do what makes you happy. I congratulate everyone for working their butts off and stepping on stage because each and every person looks great! It is so unfortunate to see so many get torn up over their placings that become frustrated and have a negative outlook on the whole industry. Being healthy and leading a healthy fitness lifestyle should always be a positive thing and I hope that more and more will start to realize this.

17) Please tell us about how you were raised and did you have any interesting experiences while growing up?

For the most part I grew up always being outside and being active. I was the only girl around and always played pick up football or baseball games with the boys. I think I became so competitive because I always heard you can't do this or that because you're a girl and I was always having to prove myself. I learned from a young age how great it was for someone to say you can't do something and to be able to prove them wrong! My parents were pretty strict but also taught me to be fun loving. My daddy taught me how to stand up for what I believe in and my momma taught me to work hard for what I want and to be kind and caring to everyone!

18) Do you have an athletic background? Gymnastics, soccer, volleyball or what?

I've played sports since the time I took my first step. I guess you could say I was my daddy's first lil boy. I was such a tomboy growing up and did just about everything you could think of. From fishing, climbing trees, football, baseball...my mom always tried to get me to do more feminine things, so I also did gymnastics, dance (tap, jazz, ballet), softball, tennis, volleyball, swimming. But my passion definitely ended up being track & field and I was lucky enough to get a full scholarship to UCF.

19) What is a typical day in the life of Misty Green? From waking up to until going to bed?

I normally wake up around 5am or so depending on the day. Do my pre breakfast cardio, head to work, come home and play with my 2 lil furry babies, go to the gym, come home do work on the computer, cook meals for the next day and pack cooler, relax with my honey, sleep and start over!

20) What is your current occupation? Please tell us more about it, what do specifically do in your job?

I'm a pharma rep and absolutely love my job. The close relationships I have with coworkers, office staff and physicians is wonderful. I's nice to enjoy waking up and going work every morning because I love the people I get to see.

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