Erin Stern’s Road to The Figure Olympia


Top IFBB Figure Pro Erin Stern is back and she’s giving you an exclusive look at her return to the Olympia stage. Erin is making a run at the Figure crown and has positioned herself as one of the favorites heading into the big dance.

sternroad

Contest prep is never the same from show to show. The body changes, we add more muscle, get a little older, have more/less stress, or change gyms! I started my “diet” last week… this will be my first prep in my new hometown of Tampa, Florida. Everything is great except for the EZ-Bake oven in my apartment, which makes cooking in bulk a near impossible feat. The first time I placed a pan of chicken in the oven, the oven door wouldn’t shut. Then, with a pan that fit, it took an hour to cook. So, I’m learning to love boiled chicken! I’m eating six clean meals a day and increasing the volume and intensity of my workouts. I’m lifting six days a week – with legs twice in the rotation – a heavy day with powerlifting and a functional day with more traditional bodybuilding exercises. I’ve been meeting people  for “track practice” twice a week, with a high intensity day and a sprint endurance day. It has been great because I still get the jitters (or a nervous tummy-ache) when I know the practice will be a hard one… just like I used to feel in college!!!

Physical training is going really well, I’m taking progress pictures every week and comparing shots side by side on my computer. It’s great to see the subtle changes in the pictures! For the mental preparation, I revisit “Egylo,” my alter-ego stage persona from the last few shows. Egylo isn’t me, and I’m terrible at pretending/acting… my true emotions show on my face every time (see “terror” on my face at Arnold Classic ’09, “joy” at Arnold ‘10). I really enjoy going up on stage, I just get nervous!

My goal for this show is to just be me… I can walk in heels, pose, and smile like I’m having fun…because I will be! I don’t need to hide behind a persona or squeeze into a character who just doesn’t fit me! I’m also learning that being “polished” for the stage doesn’t require a bump-it and teezed-up beehive hairdo… goodbye Aqua Net!

More to come on my Road to the O.

Erin
www.erinstern.com






Disclaimer: Reader discretion advised, please consult your physician before beginning any exercise or diet program.