Home Contests Nutrition Homegrown Galleries Muscle Scoop Die Welt About Us		Lori Victoria Braun interviews Talk Live Bodybuilder Lauren Powers.   Lauren's Gallery LVB: What opportunities has bodybuilding opened up for you? LP: That is a great question!!! In the short time I have been considered a bodybuilder so much has happened to me. I got discovered at the 2001 Ms. Olympia contest by Lori Braun and the crew at femalemuscle.com By the time I got home from Las Vegas I was all over the internet and had filmed my first Jenny Jones Show. Since then I have been on commercials, talk shows, radio shows, game shows, TV and films. I am coming out in a Hallmark Movie with Justine Bateman where I am her supporting cast. I play a National Competitor Bodybuilder and also the pool girl!!! To see more of my accomplishments please visit my video reel on my website. www.laurenpowers.com Lauren Powers The REEL ß The Reel I also in the last 3 years collected over 7 titles and at least 20 trophies from the competitions. I am now being featured as a guest poser for NPC and Muscle Beach Classic in Venice Ca. I love my career, so much more to come....................................... LVB: When you compete, do you always think you can win first place? LP: I compete for me, not for the judges! I always want to win, and I usually do, however there is so much outside influences that are considered. It seems that the criteria changes from show to show and it can get confusing if you let it. I enjoy the stage and I love to entertain so that is why I compete. LVB: Please tell us a little about the competitions in which you placed the highest. LP: My first contest was only 2 months after being at the Olympia. I did not have a clue what to do, but with the help of some friends I pulled it together and won a few trophies. I then went on the win the Jan Tana Heavyweight and Overall. That was fun!!! I also won the Orange County Classic Heavyweight 2 years in a row. That is my local show. I also won the Calif. State Championships Novice Overall and then the next year won the Masters at the Cal State Championships. I also that year won the Overall at the Muscle Beach Classic. That was fun and was also made into a documentary on the Travel Channel. I got a lot of exposure from that win!!! LVB: Share with us your typical weekly training schedule and routines. LP: I go in and out of training to be honest. I got so busy with my appearances and traveling that I couldn't train. I am just coming back from a 8 month break. I had 2 surgeries this year and had to recover. I am fine now and am back. I am up to 175 lbs. right now and going strong. I try and get to the gym 3 to 4 times a week. I train for shows with Paulina Talus from Finland. She is responsible for the wins last year. I learned alot about hard core training, diet, and posing. LVB: What first got you interested in bodybuilding? LP: I was a former firefighter. All my training was for the academy and passing the physical agility test. It was a lot of upper body training so as it turns out I have this incredible upper body. The legs are now catching up!!! I just crossed over from the firefighting to bodybuilding....... LVB: How long have you been bodybuilding? LP: I have always been an athlete since I was young. I started out as a professional skateboarder, then moved on to be a surfing instructor in Hawaii. I also paddled for 3 years on the Hawaiian State Canoe team. We were champions. Again a lot of upper body strength. I have really only been bodybuilding for shows now for 3 years. I am the baby in the sport!!! LVB: How has our sport changed your life? LP: The sport has totally changed my life in so many ways. I have now become this international celebrity. I am recognized everywhere I go now, which is pretty wild. I don't mind signing autographs and talking to the public. In fact, I really enjoy it. I am very approachable if you have the nerve!!!!! LVB: Where are you living and training now? LP: I own a beautiful home in So. Orange County with a yard for my dog and a big garage for my toys. I just bought a RED 500SL Mercedes for my birthday and I of course have the WonderWoman Harley and trailor. Oh yea the 4 Runner Truck to go snowboarding etc in. I train at 3 different clubs in the area. I train at Laguna Athletic Club where I am the local celebrity. I do private training there with my trainer Gordon Duffy. He is Paul Chek certified and specializes in Core Strength and Functional Fitness Training. I also go to the huge 24 Hour Sport Club where I used to be a personal trainer. I still hold 3 National Certifications. Then of course, the infamous Gold's Gym, Venice Beach. This is where I work with the IFBB Pro Paulina. I drive 60 miles each way to train in the MECCA!! LVB: Tell us about your gym; is it a small local place or a chain? Do you have a trainer? LP: I just answered all that!! I use 3 trainers and just hired Diana Dennis to help me prepare for all my upcoming guest posing appearances. She is the best in the World!! LVB: How do people outside of the gym react when they see you? LP: I tend to get several different reactions from the general public. Most people go out of their way to say something positive to me. When I travel, especially in the airports I get stares from men, women, and children. I am usually unaffected by it unless they actually come up and say hi and want to talk. I don't mind all the attention, I am used to it. My attitude is of you don't like it, don't look at me and if you do, tell me!!!. LVB: Are there many bodybuilders living in your area? LP: Not really, I guess more than in most areas. Of course when I spend time in Venice there are more. I am the only female in this area that I know of.....????. LVB: Do you supplement your income with work outside of bodybuilding? LP: No I am totally into this now. I do the touring as a wrestler for the big bucks and the rest is modeling, movies, and my website. LVB: What do your friends and family think of your serious dedication to the sport? LP: My mom and grandma totally encouraged it. In fact my grams insisted I pose for Muscle Elegance Magazine. My mom said, " Leave it to you to put a little bicep on and make $$$" So far so good!!!. LVB: Tell us about your diet for the 3 or 4 weeks before a competition? LP: Now that is a secret! I love pizza and ice cream so I am not a typical dieter. I do what it takes obviously. My secret is I try to stay lean all year long so it is not so crazy to prepare for a show. However, none of it is easy and I always admire my friends who diet so religiously. LVB: What is your usual competition weight? LP: I went from 149 my first show to competing exactly at 160 all year. This year I have put on more muscle so a little heavier. There is never no sweat for me as far as making weight. I am always a Heavyweight and that is that. It was 132 lbs and up. LVB: What really encourages you to keep competing? LP: Like I said earlier I enjoy the stage and I really love to entertain. I do the night show for the fans. I have always made up my routine on stage. That was my trademark as I never had a routine. I literally walked out in front of the audience and moved to the music. Well that way I could never forget my routine!!!! Now I have to get serious and actually practice. It should be exciting ... LVB: Are you planning on competing in the near future? LP: I think this year 2004 I am going to focus on my guest posing and my acting. Don't worry I will be at all the shows. I have proved to myself that I can do it and that was my goal. I will always be ready no matter what... LVB: What are your bodybuilding goals? Do they include a shot at the Ms. Olympia title? LP: No I am not one of those that always dreamed of being Ms. O. Like I said I am still really new to this sport and still learning as I go. I aspire to be more of a spokesmodel for the sport and try to get on TV as much as possible to show the public that women can still be women and strong at the same time!!! LVB: When you compete, do you have a sense of what the judges are looking for and does this affect your training? LP: Yes I have a sense, but sometimes it is not consistent. I am not knocking the judges it just seems to be all over the place. One show they want mass and muscle, the next soft and smooth. I don't know, I do it because I like it. I was told that I was too muscular, with too much definition and way too much vascularity for a heavyweight bodybuilding contest. So go figure!!!! I thought that was what a bb should have ...... ??? LVB: When were you in the best shape of your life? Was it for a competition or some other event? LP: In April 2003 at the Emerald Cup in Seattle. They were calling me the best conditioned athlete in the show. I took 3rd in the Heavyweight out of 11. I was very proud of that show. My routine at the night show will never be forgotton!! I came out in my cape and when I untied the bow around my neck I also got my top, well needless to say the audience got a freebie!! It was pretty funny and embarrassing at the same time. I recovered and went on to do my thing!!! LVB: Are there any training tips you would like to share with up and coming female bodybuilders to help them succeed in the bodybuilding world? LP: Sure just email me and let me know your goals and plans so I can customize something for you. Everyone is different so it is hard to just give tips. Just watch your diet, train hard and correctly, and most of all have FUN! LVB: What changes in female bodybuilding competitions have you seen over the years and do you like these changes? What would you change? LP: I have not been in it long enough to really comment on the subject except I believe they just changed the weight classes. It is not fair that a 132 lbs has to compete next to 170 + That I think is a big long overdue change. I also think if there were some criteria we could go by it would be easier to know how to train!! LVB: How do you feel about the fitness competitions? What about figure? LP: Well another wild topic. I admire the fitness girls so much!! I am friends with most of them and I think it is really awesome to watch. Not only do they have to be drop dead gorgeous, they have to do gymnastics, dance, hip hop, and be so flexible. They are incredible in my book. Now the figue, well that is interesting. I truly think it is a money making class for the promoters. The girls are yes beautiful but the contest always take so long when they come out and quarter turn themselves to death. Again, I am friends with a ton of the figure girls and love them, but sometimes it gets boring to watch. I do like the suits!! LVB: Which professional female bodybuilder is your favorite of all time? What is it about her that motivates and inspires you? LP: She is so awesome. I think she has it all, and especially a great personality. She goes out of her way for her fans and makes everyone feel special. I admire her for that! What a lovely lady all around. I also admire all the girls to tell you the truth. It is a lot of hard work and discipline with such little pay off. Out of all the sports I think female bodybuilders are so under rated and definately not rewarded financially. It costs more to prepare for a contest than the prize money!! Oh well got to LOVE IT!! LVB: What do you feel is your biggest contribution to the sport of female bodybuilding? LP: I feel I have been a role model for several new upcoming ladies. I try to maintain a feminine look as well as have size and I think that is my claim to fame!!! I like the look of the bodybuilder and I like to show off the body with the physique modeling. I am proud to show my body and hope others appreciate it as well. LVB: Do you intimidate some men by your size and power? LP: All the time!!! That is not my goal, but some men just don't know how to handle it. On the other hand, my fan base absolutely love it and are there to support me and worship me!!! That is what matters. LVB: What is your vision of the future in female bodybuilding? In which direction is the sport heading? LP: I think the promoters are trying to elimate it and focus on figure. That would be a shame, but hey that is where the money is at. I would love to see it make a big comeback and the athletes get rewarded accordingly. One can only hope, pray, and DREAM...