| Apr. 14th, 2011 @ 12:26 am Spotlight on NPC Nationally Qualified Bikini Competitor... |
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Bianca Maresca! Follow Bianca as she preps for her biggest contest to date- the 2011 Jr. Nationals in Chicago.
Bianca on stage at the 2010 Team Universe! Orange "suits" her quite well! =)
Contest History: My first contest was the Bev Francis Atlantic States. I placed second in my class (Class A.) From that show, I competed in the NPC CT State Championships- sponsored by the Montanari Bros., owners of Gold's Gym New Haven, my home gym! I took home 1st place in Class A and also the overall. I finished out my 2010 competitive season by going to Team Universe; where I was hoping for my IFBB Pro Card. I took home 5th place in my class that night- (class C) so I'll be trying again this year for that pro card!
Stats: Bianca is 5'3". Her offseason weight, she says, "is between 138-140. My contest weight is around 122-123. This year, I'm shooting for 120, though.Measurements? We'll check back later, as she says she hasn't done them since January!
Bianca, hitting a few warm-up poses backstage at the Bev Francis Atlantic States.
Loves to Train: Bianca looks forward to her leg days- she says, "I LOVE to train my legs- well, quads to be more specific. Leg day has always been one of my favorites because I feel strong when I do legs, and I feel I can really push myself! Plus, after I'm done, I love the feeling that I've had an amazing training session. I also LOVE training my abs."
But Not So Fond Of... The petite bikini competitor laughs, "OK, so I know I said I LOVE to train legs...however, note that I specified QUADS. My LEAST favorite body part to work on is my hamstrings! I hate training hams because, quite frankly, I think it's boring and tedious!!! I'm also not a big fan of training my calves either, for the same reason I don't like to do hamstrings." Ashley's Note: Bianca, I feel the same way! I thought I was the only one!!! =)
Speaking of Change...When asked what body part has changed the most since she started training, she answered, "It's somewhat hard to say what has changed the most, because I don't really notice any changes until I "lean out." (which is the case for..... um....... everyone, lol!!!) However, as I get leaner and leaner, I notice a lot more separation in my shoulders and biceps. Also... my hip abductors (aka "saddlebags") become a lot tighter. I really know I'm losing weight when the back of my arms and my upper back come down- I tend to "hold" there.
Bianca, and her coach/trainer, Dean Correia! He's also her boyfriend of over a year- he's a hottie, huh? ;)
Putting It All Together: For her prep this year, Bianca (or "Bink," as some of her close friends like to call her) began at 17 weeks out. She says, "I really want to bring in a tighter package than I did last year, so I gave myself some extra time. As of now, I am doing a "zig-zag menu." Basically, this entails having a series of "low" and "high" days, adding more food to each high day. This menu works on a 7-day cycle. On days 1, 3, 5, and 7, I eat around 1100 calories. On days 2, 4, and 6, I eat 1200, 1300, and 1400 calories, respectively. So far, this diet has been going really well! I have been dieting for almost 8 weeks and I have consistently lost weight without increasing my cardio or dropping my calories.
As for training strategies for Jr. Nats, she says, "I am doing a full-body routine 3x a week; calves, abs, and lower back twice a week; and cardio, four times a week at thirty minutes a pop. The key to the full-body routine having success is to keep the intensity high and the pace consistent. The focus of my training right now is to burn calories while keeping my body tight. I love it because I don’t have to spend hours in the gym to get great results! Ashley's note: And isn't that what we all want? Fabulous!!! =)
Somebody To Lean On: Getting ready to compete in a physique competition is definitely not a one-man show. Support is needed... Bink tells us about hers. "My boyfriend, Dean Correia of DC Training, is also my coach. We have been working together since July of 2009, and, he has always brought me success! He is everything one needs in a coach: consistent, knowledgeable, and honest! Any sort of knowledge I have about nutrition and training is learned from him. He knows exactly what it takes to take someone’s physique to the “next” level. I trust him completely and know that if I listen to him, I will be successful! Plus, he has always been a great support system, both on and off stage."
Bianca and Dean taking a snooze after a long morning of prejuding at the Atlantic States.
Bink also credits her friend, Al Defrancesco, to helping her out a lot while she was getting ready to compete. "And of course, I have to show some love to the Montanari Brothers at Gold's Gym in New Haven, CT! Their gym is more than a gym... it's a home."
Bianca also plans on doing the 2011 Team Universe in July in New Jersey. She hopes to walk away from one of these shows with her IFBB Pro card, and I have very little doubt she'll accomplish just that.
Be on the lookout for my next spotlight, readers! Let me know what you think of this blog entry, and Bianca, at BikiniAshley_62@yahoo.com- I LOVE your feedback.
Follow Bianca on Twitter, @Btm025!!!
-XOXO, BikiniAshley
"Picture yourself winning. Success starts with a vivid picture, held in your imagination, of what you would like to do or be."
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