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From beauty to fitness queenDate: 12-11-2003
Posted by: Anabolic Info TeamPhilippines |
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BEAUTY is in the eye of the beholder. For some, being tall and lanky like a model makes a woman beautiful. For others, athleticism and muscularity makes a woman look great. Well now, Julie Cruz has all. Tall, beautiful, athletic and muscular, Julie recently won the title of Ms. Bikini Philippines during the Iron Pinoy Challenge last October at the Hard Rock Caf‚ in Malate, Manila.
A novice at bodybuilding competitions, Julie however, is a veteran in beauty contests and ramp modeling. After becoming the first runner-up in the Mutya ng Davao competition in 1987, she went on to model for well-known fashion designers like Rene Salud, Frederick Peralta and Davao's famous designers like Boy Guinoo and Juliet Pamintuan.
Since Julie needed to be in great shape, she had to work out to stay fit.
Her need soon turned into a lifestyle. A businesswoman, real estate broker and mother to a 7 year-old daughter, Julie has, since then, made fitness one of the priorities in her life. She works out at Fitness Advantage six days a week, spending two to three hours per day at the gym when her schedule permits. Her workout involves 30 to 60 minutes of cardio aerobic exercise and an hour of weight training and stretching.
In case some of you women out there are scared that weight training might make your muscles look like a man's, Julie is proof that there's no need to be. She bench presses 50 to 55 pounds, works her shoulders with 15-pound dumbbells and bicep curls 10 pounds.
Yet she doesn't look like Arnold Schwarzengger. In fact she contributes her shapely look to weight lifting because it increases the body's metabolic rate, allowing her to burn more calories throughout the day, even while at rest.
Staying motivated can be difficult so Julie gives herself mental pep talks.
According to her, as long as you love what you're doing, you can always
make things happen. And she relies on her own strength to make that difference.
This perseverance has won her several fitness events, such as the Myra 300 E Aero Kickboxing Marathon where she won second place, and the first Davao Open Aero Marathon last May, where she finished first place in the amateur category.
Always open to new challenges and opportunities, Julie hopes to compete in the Ms. Bikini Universe next year, which will be held in the US.
But Julie also says that exercising to stay in great shape is only 20 percent of the look good equation. The other 80 percent is food. Her advise to other women who want to look good is to watch what they eat even if they're working out, because this doesn't give one a license to eat more. In case you're wondering if this girl ever eats, yes she does and it's six times a day.
Her meals though are smaller in portion and she prefers fish and veggies cooked in very little fat, which adds flavor. Dessert is mostly fruit and she drinks a lot of water to keep herself hydrated.
Julie is ready to start training for her next physical challenge at a gym with personalized training, including instructions on the proper form and execution, updated scientific training and exercise programs that are customized to meet her fitness goals.
Julie's last three pieces of advice to those who aspire to look and feel good: Exercise at least three times a week. Eat the right way and the right stuff because you are what you eat. And always stay active until the day you die.
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