20 Questions with our Cover Model Lynsey Beattie-Ahearne

1) What were your expectations for the San Francisco Pro show being this the first time they had Pro Figure? What did you think about your placing?

Well I wasn't expecting much from this show as there were a lot of very good girls in the line up, also with me being the only Brit and also this being my 2nd figure show, I just went to the show to show the judges who I was and have a good time. I placed better than I placed myself after my callouts I thought I would come in about 19th place, but I got placed 15th and that was really good as I was placed because after me everyone was placed the same.

2) You competed at the Arnold Classic a very prestigious show how did you happen to be invited? What was your reaction when you heard you were invited?

I just put my name for it like everyone else and I got lucky, I was so pleased as this came on Boxing Day which was a great Christmas present. I read the email that was sent to me and couldn't believe it my hands were shaking, I didn't believe it until I saw my name on the competitors list.

3) What are your next shows? Are you doing anything over in Europe?

Unfortunately there are no shows in Europe this year which is a shame because it is nice just to have a small plane journey and not have any jet lag, so my next shows will be Bulk Nutrition show, tournament of champions, and the Europa show, that will be 5 comps for the year, I would do more but it is the cost of me getting to the shows flights, hotels etc and and I don't have a sponsor.

4) What is your personal policy about conditioning and muscularity when coming into a show?

I know I need to add a little more muscle to my frame but i think that I get in good condition enough for figure as they are not looking for to conditioned or too muscular. (I think)

5) Your abs looked great even after a yummy meal at the local I-HOP, what was your body fat percentage at the show (estimate)? Did you have an idea before hand what judges were looking for in regards to conditioning?

Thanks, my abs are my body part they are always there diet or not, my body fat was about 5-6%, I wasn't sure what the judges were looking for and still don't to be honest.

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

Yes I will be working on my back, shoulder width and my quad sweep and calves after looking at the pics I can see were I need to work, as for conditioning wise I think that I was ok in that department, in fitness I was a little more conditioned but I think for figure I was fine.

7) What is your typical training routine in the gym (per day, include sets and reps!)

It changes depending on what i need to work on for the next show but i normally would do this:

Back, Triceps 3-4 exercises per body part , 3 sets per exercise and 10-12 reps but if I am going really heavy then I would do 6-8 reps

Shoulder, biceps same as above

day off

Legs

chest, calves and abs

I don't do any cardio only a few weeks out from a show

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

I will eat 6-7 meals a day and eat either chicken or eggs with brown rice and veg, I eat this everyday all the way up to the show, I add more carbs in when I need it if I am a little flat

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

That is a little more difficult to explain because this depends on when I'm flying in to a show so I tend to drink lots of water a week before the show and 24 hrs before I drink nothing just sip if thirsty

10) Who makes your competition suits? Anyone in England? Please tell us more about them.

No I have my suits made in the States, Tamara Oakley The Bikini Guru she has made a few of my suits and she is fabulous The suits she made for the Arnold were so Fabulous, she is so talented. One thing I know from these suits are they very expensive, so if there are any sponsors out there please HELP

11) Tell us a bit about what you did training/diet/supplementation for the SF Pro show/Arnold Classic? What did you do differently than other shows in the past?

Well I kept the dieting pretty much the same, the only thing I did for these shows was I had to consume more food through the day with was so hard for me, I also went heavier on the weights and did back and shoulders 2 weekly too. I took more supplements to keep my immune system high.

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

I always thought that the figure would be exactly the same as fitness in physique wise but without the routines and now I see that it isn't, I actually like the physiques of the fitness and wouldn't change it. I would like to see judges judging physiques and not just names because i have seen a lot of girls who look fantastic and don't seem to get anywhere. Also I think that they should rotate the judges from all different countries into the panel and have a variety all the time, same judges all the time then there will never be a change in the lineup.

13) Speaking about the industry please tell us about the bodybuilding scene in the U. K.? Is there much support for the sport, internet coverage, sponsors?

Bodybuilding in the UK was dying off but it became popular again, for the men the ladies isn't brill but it is getting better, to be honest there isn't much support for this sport in the U. K. I find it hard to get anywhere in the UK with getting sponsorship coverage etc, I find that I have better coverage internet wise and interest in the States.

14) What are some of the major shows in the U. K.? Our major shows size-wise are Pro qualifiers but events like the Emerald Cup tend to get a large amount of competitors too.

Yes this is pretty much the same back home but to get to the pro qualifiers you have to win your area show to qualify

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 that it will be so hard to see who has lost there 20% muscle out of all the competitors around. I not sure if the competitors will follow it we shall see, I think they set this because of health issues and females with very low body fat isn't best healthy.

16) Being from the U. K. and coming to the U.S.A. for two shows got you a good deal of publicity. What is your key to success?

This was very nice because I don't get any back home, but I am very honoured to get some publicity and i feel that if I can keep coming to the shows and showing my face it doesn't matter about the placings as long as people can look to me and see that they could attain my physique, I am very excited to get the publicity that i did whilst in the States.
Thank You

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

I was raised by my mom with my sister I had a very normal life a little sporty but nothing major. My father was a carpenter/magician so when I was growing up I got into doing all the magic and I became the youngest female to join the magic circle at 14yrs then i was on stage performing not my physique but my skills of a magician.

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

I had a small athletic background I did a bit of running and net ball at school but no gymnastics, my sister was always more sporty than me.

19) What is a typical day in the life of Lynsey Beattie-Ahearne? From waking up to until going to bed?

My day starts

8am get up and get my son ready for school have breakfast

8.45 take rhys to school and come home and eat some more

10am Head to the gym and train

12pm Go home and eat post training meal

1-3pm train clients

3pm eat

4-6 train clients

6-10 go to my wine bar and golf centre and check things and to what needed

11pm go home and do some house work

12am bed

20) Last one I promise... What is your current occupation? Do you have a fitness related business? If so please tell us more about it.

I did have a gym but we have just sold it, I am the owner of a wine bar and golf centre were you can play indoor golf and a Cafe. So I keep myself pretty busy

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