20 Questions with Cover Model and IFBB Fitness Pro Hollie Stewart

Hollie Stewart

1) Please introduce yourself? What makes you special? Who is Hollie Stewart?

Hollie Celena Stewart-special because from small town, do my own training, diet, choreography.

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

My parents are Judy & Anthony Stewart & I have a younger brother, Chris. I live in Calhoun, GA where I own a dance studio.

3) How did you start competing in fitness?

My brother saw one on TV, videotaped it for me & said I should try it--after watching shows for 2yrs I decided to give it a try.

4) What is your personal policy (not what the judges want) about conditioning and muscularity when coming into a show? Soft or hard?

I like to come in a show fairly hard. My body type is naturally muscular, especially my legs & I'm naturally vascular. I think competitors need to look more muscular than the avg. gym trainee, but still look athletic & feminine.

5) What is your idea of what judges want in a Fitness 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.

I've seen the top 5 in a show look completely different, which can be confusing. I do, however believe that different body types look better in various stages of conditioning. Fitness competitors should be "harder" than figure & its all subjective, which we know going into a show.

Hollie Stewart

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

More outer thigh sweep, width in back.

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 3-4 exercises per body part, 3 sets (usually dropsets), my cardio starts @ 1 1/2hrs & goes up or down depending on my conditioning & what stage I'm in.

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

Diet is:
*Meal 1-4egg whites/4oz tuna
*Meal 2-1/2c oatmeal w/scoop of protein powder
*Meal 3 4oz chicken, 1 unsalted plain rice cake
*Meal 4-4 oz tilapia, 4 oz sw.pot
*Meal 5-4oz chicken 3 oz asparagus
*Meal 6-4oz chicken

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 drink 1 1/2 gallons up until 4 days out, then I cut to 1 gal, day before I cut to 1/2-3/4 gallons up to about 7pm, then I just sip. Day of show just sip until routines.

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

I love to compete, and to see what I can do with my body. Its amazing what you can accomplish when you set your mind, heart & soul to it!--I admire Jen Hendershott for her creative routines, but I think everyone is a motivating factor because you know what each competitor goes through to be able to step on that stage. Its like a special sisterhood.

11) Please tell us an interesting experience you had at a show recently, be it a fun thing or something rather not so fun?

I landed a back handspring then began to rotate fwd for the next flip, but there was no stage under me!!! I fell off & fractured ribs, but jumped back onstage & went on to finish the routine. The stage in West Palm Beach was way too small--the video is on Youtube.com & has over 2,000 viewing hits !!!

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

I love it! I wish we had more recognition for the women, and I think it would be extremely helpful to have judges score sheets with the criteria & a breakdown of scoring as well as comments. At dance competitions, we get a CD where the judges talk into a mic as you perform, so you hear there critiques spontaneously as they watch you. That would be great!

Hollie Stewart

13) What has been your hardest challenge to overcome either in your personal life or competing career?

Greatest challenge has been lack of knowledge & finances. I'm from a very small town & until recently had no one to get info from. I basically kept quiet backstage & listened to girls talk about their training, diets, etc and read everything I could get my hands on! Also, without sponsors, competing can be very expensive. I've always done my own training, diet & choreography because I knew I couldn't afford outside help. Until the last year, a lady in my hometown made my suits, and still makes my routine outfits.

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

I dieted longer & intensified my leg training.

15) What is your opinion about the 20% rule the IFBB issued to some female athletes in which the more muscular competitors had to loose 20% of muscle mass? Why do you think they did it? Do you think competitors will follow it? Or it will get lost around somewhere?

Again, I think it depends on the competitors natural physique as to how muscular she should come in. It definitely needs to be kept in check, so girls don't try to reach unrealistic goals by unsafe means. Also, it will help the sport become more marketable if the women aren't too extremely muscular.

16) How did you feel about being invited to the 2007 Arnold Classic, what steps did you take in order to be accepted for this event, sending out letter, phone calls etc.. and how and when did you hear back from them?

It was a tremendous honor, I still can't believe I was on that stage. Very surreal! I sent in a letter of request and some photos. I was sent a letter of invitation and a contract early January.

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

I have a wonderful family! I was raised by two very supportive & loving parents, and I have the best little brother anyone could ask for. I began dancing when I was 3, and not once did my mom ever "make" me practice. She instilled in me the belief that if I wanted to compete & be good, then practice was up to me. The outcome was a direct result of what I put into it. If I didn't practice hard, then I better not whine about getting my butt kicked! Because of that I am very self motivated. I'm also a christian and believe that God has truly blessed me with a healthy strong body and will power.

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

Gymnastics, softball, cheerleading--plus challenging the guys in the gym to go pound for pound against me in any event!!!

Hollie Stewart

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

Typical day starts @ 4am, I get up & head to gym to open. I run the front desk & do training sessions from 5am-10am, then I work out & do cardio. Then I run errands & do the "business stuff" for my dance studio. By 3pm I'm teaching dance classes until around 8pm. Then I usually head back to the gym to finish cardio or practice. In bed, hopefully by 11pm.

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

First and foremost, I own & operate my own dance studio. I LOVE IT!!! I've danced since I was 3 and plan to keep on until my feet can't move anymore! I adore my kids & consider it an honor to be a part of their lives. I also work at a local gym & do personal training.

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