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11 Questions

11 Questions with Stephanie Marie

One of Fitness Gurls Magazine’s top superstars

How did you get started in the fitness industry?
I grew up playing sports like soccer & track, a lot of running. I always wanted that “skinny” model body. So as I got older running 10-12 miles every day was normal. I was an extreme “cardio bunny” on top of having Crohn’s Disease. I was afraid of lifting heavy because I wanted to be “skinny”. On top of that, I didn’t understand the importance of a proper meal plan. I rarely consumed a carb source & was always on the go, living off easy green salads & chicken. I guess you could call that healthy.. but for how active I was & with my health condition I ran myself down.

I realized my body was designed to feel much better than that. I started being consistent with a regular lifting regime & educated myself on the proper diet. Believe me, it took years to learn what worked for my body. I started seeing results & that’s when I lost my fear of lifting heavy & eating more. I began getting shape & curves in places I never had. I finally felt like a woman!

What is the most challenging thing about being a fitness model?
I always feel like I have to be on point. With Crohn’s disease, I have my good months, bad months, weeks where I’m fine then all the sudden I have a flare, Completely unexpected. It throws me for a loop & holds me back. When my Crohn’s is flared it’s really hard to eat because I have a lot of stomach pain. I lose my appetite & then I have no energy to lift. It’s hard to feel like I stay on point or progress when I’m fluctuating an unsteady meal plan & gym regimen at times. I just do the best I can when struggling with Crohn’s & when I have my good days, boy do I make sure to make up for the bad :)

What products and supplements do you swear by?
I’m not a huge believer in “supplements” especially supps with stimulants. I think some of the more natural products are beneficial. The ones that I personally stick to are; protein powder, which I take right after my workouts for immediate nutrition replacement & as a snack. L-carnitine is a great amino acid to take, this aids the body in using stored fat as energy during workouts or cardio sessions. Bcaas are great as well, to help reduce muscle breakdown, support hydration & increase muscle repair.

Do you ever encounter stereotypes with the way you look?
Yeah, being in the fitness industry people always think you eat a certain way & are obsessed with the gym & themselves, taking protein shots at the bar, etc… nope, we’re not all like that! I’m no different than you. ;)

What is your current training style, routine or split?
Right now I’m focusing on maintaining my current physique while gaining a little more size in my legs. I lift a split routine for example: (chest, back & abs) (hamstrings & glutes) (shoulders & abs) (quads & glutes) (arms & abs) start back over with (hamstrings & glutes) (chest & back) etc… I do 40 min of cardio post lifts & add in about 3 days of fasted cardio just to keep extra tight & lean.

What are your favorite clean foods and splurge foods?
Hmm.. my favorite clean foods, I love salads, especially made from home with lots of different veggies. Fresh grilled fish with lemon is pretty amazing! My favorite splurge food has to be ice cream!! & I love a good burger ;)

You’re known for your outstanding glutes. What are your go-to exercises for glutes?
My go-to exercises for the booty that I’ve seen the most improvements with:
Cable kickbacks (many different variations!)

– To the Side, to the back, many different angles, you can’t go wrong. Also, different kinds of resistance, like; cable, bands, ankle weight, dumbbell, machine, etc)
– Outer thigh machine
– Cable pull throughs
Main lifts like:
– Squats (wide, shoulder-with & close)
– Barbell hip thrusters
– Step ups
I don’t avoid anything!! I work my entire leg so I have balance throughout. I do “extra credit” booty work on my upper body days as well. A lot of resistance band work so I can focus on, heavy main lifts on my leg days.

If you were trapped on an island, what 3 things would you bring with you?
A knife, firestarter, a Blanket, because I’m always cold & I’m sure it’s bound to rain or get windy on that island & I can use it to make a net to catch fish ;)

What is the craziest thing you’ve ever done?
Skydiving! I wasn’t scared until I looked out the door & was about to jump.. I immediately regretted every second with my eyes shut sneaking peaks until we hit the ground. Now I dream of doing it again with my eyes wide open the whole time! Defiantly the craziest thing I’ve done yet :)

What tips do you have for a beginner at the gym?
Stay true to yourself. Don’t get wrapped up “trying” to make it big. Just be you inside & out, people will gravitate towards you naturally. Hard work is a must & never compare yourself to another individual, you are you. Make yourself.

Gym romance: yay or nay?
Defiantly depends on the kind of romance! Now I got you all thinkin’ ;)

For more Stephanie Marie:
IG: @stephaniefitmarie
Beautiful Photography by: @fitnessmodelphoto

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