New York Pro - Five Questions with Larissa Reis

Larissa takes New York? She does have one of the best single athlete member web sites that we have seen.

Brazilian Larissa Reis is fast becoming one of our favorite figure competitors in the pro ranks. We talked with her just before pre-judging at the New York Pro Figure Championships on September 5th.

September 5, 2008

Special for Bodybuilding Weekly

Larissa's Bodybuilding Weekly Profile

New York Pro Figure Main Coverage Page

Brazilian pro figure competitor Larissa Reis is moving up, because she has the type of ideal muscle lines and genetics that allow her to look phenomenal whether she is ultra-conditioned or softer on stage.  Trust as when we say that Larissa is amazing ... we like her so much that we forced two interns to learn Portuguese for this interview!

BW:  Hi Larissa!  We were blown away by the physique that you brought to the stage in Jacksonville.  What basic adjustments have you made since then, to prepare for New York?  (Que ajustes básicos você tem feito desde então, para se preparar para New York?)

LR:  Hello BW!  Well now I can't do much of anything ... I can't train my legs anymore. :(  In Brazil and South America the sport is very different from here in America.  Here the girls train more upper body and in Brazil they train everything.  So I think that Brazil is more hard work (and different genetics of course).  Now I feel like I am only a model .... so it's much easier now.  But I would prefer that everything be more difficult, I like my body when it is ripped, but the judges don't like that anymore.

Since I was a child I did all sports, especially extreme sports like surfing, skating, longboarding, triathlons, and Brazilian Jit Jitsu (I'm a purple belt).  And I worked out always ... so I think that my legs are from my mami and my papi :) and a lot of work of course.  My ex-trainer in Brazil is very hardcore so I learned how to train very hard there.  Now (IFBB pro bodybuilder) Monica Martin is my trainer and I'm so happy to have her, because she is a woman and she knows a lot about professional things like photos, videos, web cam, posing, and dieting and training for women.  I'm very lucky since I came here, so many good people help me so I am always thankful. :)

You mentioned that you prefer to come in well conditioned for shows.  We think most athletes agree, especially when it comes to photo shoots.  What feels most different when you are trying to come in softer, physically and mentally?  (Você mencionou que você prefere vir dentro poço condicionado para mostras. Nós pensamos que a maioria de atletas concordam, especial quando vem aos tiros de foto. Que sente o mais diferente quando você está tentando vir em mais macio, fisicamente e mentalmente?) 

I think that a soft body is much easier, so everyone can do it, so for me it is not a sport anymore!  It's like being a fitness model, that's it.  So I think they want to make it more popular, so everyone can do it, and I think it's great too because we can help other people have goals and healthy lifestyles.  Especially here in America, because there is a lot of fatty food.  So we need to see the positive in everything, but for me as I said I like to see my body ripped! :)  But I can do this, I'm going to try and go soft and then take pictures for my web site when I am more ripped .... I can do both.  So the world needs help in all things, we need to think more generally and not only about ourselves.

How often do you return to Brazil, and do you like Florida?  How is the competitive bodybuilding scene different in Brazil than in the United States?  (Como frequentemente você retorna a Brasil, e fazem você gostam de Florida? Como é a cena do competidor do bodybuilding diferente em Brasil do que nos Estados Unidos?)

Now I live here in Florida, but I'm going back to Brazil finally this year.  I'm going to go to Carnivale in Rio de Janeiro, I love Carnivale there.  I think I'm going to say in American forever though .... I like it here a lot.  And I'm going back to Brazil one or two times per year to see my family and friends.

Thanks for the interview and I hope you can understand everything!  I'm learning English here with friends, and when I get time I'm going to school because I really would like to speak English perfectly.  I love learning new languages and enjoy speaking with everyone in the world, everyone is special and everyone is equal for me!! :)

Thank you so much Larissa!  Good luck at the pre-judging and at the finals on Saturday.

Have a nice weekend and I hope I don't get last place again!!!  OMG .....

Interview conducted by Rada for Bodybuilding Weekly and FigureRX Magazine.