NPC Amateur Figure
Featured 2008 “Impact Athlete†– JESSICA NORLANDER
NPC Figure FigureRX IFBB Impact athlete interview Jessica Norlander
FigureRX Online Magazine
Volume 3
To download a pdf version of this article please go
here.
We have heard it said that the proof of really knowing something is your ability to teach it the others. One of the many things that we really like about featured
FigureRX 2008 NPC figure impact athlete
Jessica Norlander is her commitment to both listening and learning new things as well as teaching others to follow in her footsteps and to strive for physique excellence. On one side, she has really elevated her game since she began working with uber-trainer
Kim Oddo. On the other, her appearance, success, and knowledge base is more than enough to inspire her personal training clients.
Jessica has gradually worked her way through the competition scene, and she has had success at every level of the sport. 2007 was a breakthrough year for her, as she won her class at the tough NPC Los Angeles Figure Championships and then placed in the top five at the USA Figure Championships. With her standout legs, improvements to her upper body, symmetry and beauty we expect things to be even better in 2008!
Las Vegas gymnast personal trainer Jessica
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Please tell us about how you were raised and did you have any interesting experiences while growing up?
I was raised in a very small town in Wisconsin by my mother, Yvonne and father, Kevin. We lived on a lake so every opportunity to be outside and active with water sports I was all about it! I was the type of child who rarely sat in front of the TV; my sister and I would always be outside playing or running around. I was a state-ranked gymnast for 8 years and really enjoyed the challenges that sport brought. I think my competitive nature came from that training and ultimately led me into figure.
You have been training for how long and why did you start?
I have been seriously training for about 8 years. I started training in college because I could feel the extra softness on my body and I hated it!! I walked into the gym and immediately loved pushing myself and my limits with weights! It was such a great feeling leaving the gym after a stressful day in school and it became a great habit for me! No matter how stressful school was I always knew that my time in the gym was the only time I could truly forget about the worries of exams and just have time for me. I needed something to look forward to and I found that in my workouts.
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What is your athletic background? Are there any notable achievements that you would like to relay?
I have always liked competing and I found that in figure competitions, it's not only a competition against who shows up but more importantly, the competition with myself… how far can I push, how many more reps. I love it! I guess my most notable accomplishments have come in the past year of competitions, 2007. It was an amazing feeling winning the C class at the NPC Los Angeles Figure but to follow that up the next weekend and break the top 5 at the USA's… what a rush!
What is your academic and professional background? What is your current occupation and how long have you been doing it?
I have a BA in Journalism and Mass Communications / Spanish from the University of New Mexico. I have studied abroad in Spain and Mexico and absolutely love traveling! I also have half a dozen Personal Training Certifications, which I use to further my current career in as a personal trainer. I was co-owner and founder of a personal training studio in Albuquerque, New Mexico before moving to Las Vegas. I have been personal training for about 7 years and love working with my clients and motivating them with my own physique.
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What is a typical day like for you, when do you usually train and how often? How much cardio do you do before a show?
A typical day for me is getting up around 5 a.m., eating a quick breakfast and a cup of coffee and then I'm off to train my clients. I usually work splits to allow myself the afternoon to train. I usually train with weights six days a week and cardio, three days in the off season and seven days in training. I love pushing weights in the gym and usually don't count calories until contest time. I am the kind of woman that NEEDS the mental break of competing but I know when it's time, it's time! I usually end up doing around two hours of cardio per day before contest and I find that if I break it up to smaller increments throughout the day, it's not that tedious!
What do you consider to be the strengths of your physique? Weaknesses?
I consider my legs to be a strength. I think it stems back from the gymnastics days! My weaknesses would be adding size to my shoulders and thickness to my back. Been working on that all off-season!!
What is your training philosophy (heavy or light, cardio, lifting)? What's your opinion on how figure athletes train, relative to bodybuilders?
My training philosophy is train hard and heavy until my body won't allow it pre-contest! I love lifting and I generally do my cardio immediately following a workout. I lift heavy 95% of the time, and 5% of the time I do more circuit training pre-contest. My opinion is that most figure athletes I know train hard all year, even pre-contest, but don't necessarily allow their body weight to go up as high as some off-season bodybuilders. Other than that, I think anyone in the “Bodybuilding†industry ultimately is looking for the same end result: leaner, harder, stronger!
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Where do you find the best training and diet advice? Is there anyone in particular who you would like to thank?
I get the best training and diet advice from other competitors but mostly I have to thank my coach, Kim Oddo, for changing my view on competing and dieting. I have made the most improvements to my physique and overall stage appearance hands down, since working with him. I am one of those pesky clients who asks lots of questions and Kim is always there with the legit answer! I also frequent the internet often to see other competitors and read articles.
What is your favorite thing about training or competing? What is your least favorite thing about competing?
My favorite thing about competing is actually the dieting! I take a true off-season and allow myself what I want almost all the time. So, when the diet part kicks in, I love the control and discipline of knowing what I'm going to eat and what I can't! It takes so much effort to eat clean and portioned meals and I love that. My least favorite part of competing is not being able to go out to eat and having to sacrifice a lot of events that are social. It's my life, though, and those who know me know that when it's time for the season to start, I become a different person… literally, and it shows!
What are your upcoming plans to compete? How will you determine when and where you will be on stage?
My upcoming plans include 2-3 pro-qualifying shows and a warm-up show. My schedule is ultimately determined by my coach, Kim Oddo, and I work around what he suggests. He's done a fantastic job with recommending shows so far and I trust him with what he thinks will be the best for me.
What are your areas of focus and how do you plan to get there, prior to your next show? What have you focused on since you last competed?
My areas of focus are my shoulders and back, as well as glute maturity. I have been lunging my way around the gym for the entire year along with lots of squats and other controlled moves. You could catch me working shoulder a few times a week on top of that! I love the challenge of making changes happen but even more, the reward to dieting down to see what I have accomplished!
What are some of your skills and hobbies?
My skills are working with my clients and taking time to just enjoy my “normal lifeâ€! I love being a trainer, being able to motivate and inspire people to change their lives with fitness as well. I am a firm believer in “Practice what you Preach†and my clients know that. I have been blessed to be able to work with so many wonderful people who appreciate me and respect that when I have to train and am in diet mode, things may change with schedule but they can always look forward to a good old butt kicking from me in the gym!
What makes you crazy – any pet peeves?
I think, being a competitor, the thing that drives me crazy or annoys me are negative people and negative comments. Oddly enough, I hear the most negativity from men in the gym! I don't know if it's a jealousy or insecurity in men to have a woman in fantastic shape but I get it all the time during contest time. I work in a gym so I am constantly around the same gym goers but it gets on my nerves when negative comments are made! I believe that negativity breads negativity and if you don't have something positive to say, don't say anything at all!
What are your future goals in sports, in your job and in your life?
My future goals are to turn pro and represent this sport as a more mainstream sport rather than a kind of misunderstood sport. I really like that the judging is going more toward a natural look as apposed to a super hard, swollen muscular look. I think it brings a positive spin on a sport that for women can be frowned at or assumed to be like male bodybuilding. I want to open my own gym in the future again and spread the word! In my life I want to be married with children and just enjoy my time with my boyfriend and family.
What's your general philosophy in life? How does training help you in your daily life?
My general philosophy in life is to live each day with intent and to stay focused and driven. I have always been a go-getter and continue to live my life that way. I focus on being productive each day, whether it be in work, my relationship, my future or even something small like paying a bill! When things are accomplished, I am happy. Training helps me stay focused and to take care of myself, allowing myself that two hours of every day to just have time for my own body. When I miss workouts or my diet is off, my life is crazier than ever! Training keeps me sort of grounded and on track!
What are your favorite supplements, if any?
Favorite supplements include, of course, whey protein, BCAA's and most recently, N.O. Explode! I love the energy and pump I get with my Amino Acid/ N.O. Explode stack! Off season is the time to play with new supplements, the rest I leave up to Kim!
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Is there anything else that you would like for people to know about you?
I just want to thank my family and friends for always being so supportive and my boyfriend for being the rock that holds us together! It can be challenging when in contest mode and I have the most amazing support network!
Thanks Jessica!!
Photographer credits: Juan Carlos Lopez, Marandi Productions, Merv
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