James Collier: Hi Liz, you're a very active MT member and have been for some time - even before you were famous! All your contributions in the past with helping others out are much appreciated and thanks for agreeing to take part in this interview for us!
You've come so far in bodybuilding in a relatively short space of time, right up to winning the 2005 Miss Fitness at the UKBFF British Finals, showing you're a very dedicated trainer and an inspiration to others
I'm aware that your background in sports, before fitness bodybuilding, is in gymnastics. Can you give us a brief run down of your experience in gymnastics, please?
Elizabeth Kinsella: When I was a kid I was always throwing myself about in the garden and trying to teach myself back-flips, all I wanted was to be able to do a back-flip! I went to a local gym club for a 3 hour entrance assessment, I remember coming down the stairs at the end of it with my legs like jelly and a huge grin. From then on, aching muscles were a way of life!
JC: What made you decide to start weight training and move into bodybuilding?
EK: I joined a gym when after a period of inactivity I decided I didn't look fit, even though I was skinny I didn't think I looked right. So I joined a gym and fell in love straight away, it took me right back to the familiar feeling of pain and progress and feeling alive.
JC: Where about are you from and where do you train?
EK: I live in Hemel Hempstead and I train in a few places. I've recently started going to Monster gym in Cheshunt which is so fantastic, you have to go there to appreciate it! I also train at a couple of more local gyms when I need to be quicker.
JC: How do people outside of bodybuilding circles react to you as a bodybuilder and your bodybuilding lifestyle?
EK: They all think it's really interesting, unfortunately for me, because I have to answer the same old questions all the time!
JC: What competitions have you competed in and where did you place?
EK: All of the following in the fitness category:
2005 UKBFF British winner
2004 EFBB South east winner
2004 NABBA south east winner
2004 NABBA British 2nd place
2004 NABBA England winner
2004 NABBA Universe 5th place
2004 EFBB British 2nd place
JC: What's next for you in your competitive career? Have you got any shows coming up?
EK: I have been making decisions as to which way to take my career, whether to stay amateur another year or apply for my pro card right away, I haven't come to a firm conclusion, but I have been asked to guest at the UKBFF Pudsey show in September.
JC: What's you ultimate goal in bodybuilding competitions?
EK: My goal was to win the British so I guess now I need to set a new one!
JC: Off season do you like to stay relatively lean or do you bulk up a fair bit?
EK: I'd like to stay lean; unfortunately what I'd like and what happens aren't always the same!!
JC: How strict is your diet off season? Do you eat clean while trying to gain size or do you allow any junk food in your diet?
EK: I don't need to gain any size because I'm already on the big side for fitness, so I've no excuse for eating junk other than lack of self control I'm afraid!
JC: How many times a week do you train and for how long?
EK: I do some cardio virtually every day. I weight train 4 or 5 times, more during contest preparation as I split body parts down further. Off season I try to keep a bit of balance by not being overly concerned with a day off here and there.
JC: What kind of cardiovascular work do you do?
EK: I cycle to work when it's not wet (30 mins each way). I have a stepper I use at weekends. If I do CV after workout I tend to use cross trainer or walk on an incline treadmill. I also play the Playstation dancing game if I don't really feel like doing cardio but know I will feel better for doing something!
JC: Very briefly, what's your typical daily pre-comp diet like?
EK:
| 7.45 | 1 scoop oats, 1 scoop protein blend |
| 10.15 | 8 egg whites, 1 yolk, virgin coconut or flax oil, veg |
| 12.30 | 8 egg whites 1 yolk, virgin coconut or flax oil, veg |
| 3.30 | Tub cottage cheese, veg |
| 6.30 (Post workout) | 1 scoop oats, 1 scoop whey isolate |
| 7.30 | 8 egg whites 1 yolk, virgin coconut or flax oil, veg |
| 9.30 | 8 egg whites 1 yolk, virgin coconut or flax oil, veg |
At night I might cook some more eggs (usually wake and eat while dieting). As the diet goes on I replace the cottage cheese with eggs to clean up a bit more. I cycle approx three days like this followed by one day higher carbs with more oats and sweet potato.
JC: Which supplements do you use? Do these differ on and off season?
EK: I use fewer supps off season as I'm eating more food. I currently use USN Pure Protein or Met-Rx Protein Plus with my oats. Isolates when dieting I use EAS Precision Protein. I try to remember to use creatine and glutamine! I have Prolab Creatine and Extreme Glutamine. Dieting, I will use CNP HMB and any fat burner! Extreme's Lean-R is a good one.
JC: While we're on the subject of supplements, I notice you're sponsored by www.musclefinesse.com; how long have you been with them and why did you choose to go with them as your sponsors?
EK: As you can tell I'm not loyal to any one brand and like different things from different manufacturers. Because Muscle Finesse stock a range of brands I have freedom to use exactly the product I need, from the manufacturers I want. I have been very fortunate to have Muscle Finesse as my sponsors from early on in my career, they have invested in me and looked after me well, and I always have supplements I actually want and use, and like!
JC: Do you ever have problems with motivation for either sticking to your diet or for training?
EK: Not really. I find it hard to eat clean off season but when I'm in diet mode, that's it, I'm in diet mode. I find it hard of course but not through lack of motivation. If I'm lacking motivation to train, I train anyway! It's not something I consider a choice, it's what I do. On one occasion my motivation stayed down for some time so I took a week off and then got back to it.
JC: Do you have any useful tips to share with other MuscleTalk members which you can draw from your experience?
EK: If you're planning to compete, pick one person to give you advice on diet and/or assess how you're looking; otherwise you'll go crazy trying to listen to everyone. Make sure you can really trust that person though.
JC: Other than training and living the Bodybuilder's lifestyle, what else do you like to do in your spare time? Do you get much time to relax?
I like going to the cinema, reading novels (when I have time!), being out and about with friends, but I'm not a bars/clubs person at all.
JC: We have linked to your website (www.lizkinsella.co.uk) in the MuscleTalk Directory. Do you have your site solely to promote your profile, or do you hope it will have any other uses too?
EK: It's to promote my profile yes, and also to credit people who have helped me on the links page. If anything else comes through as a result, I'm open to offers (within reason!) Sometimes people ask me for diet or training advice, etc and I'm happy to help when I can.
JC: Liz, as you're a regular on MT, do you feel that people's knowledge of nutrition and training has improved since bodybuilding and fitness forums have become so popular?
EK: I don't know because I don't know what it was like before forums. But I know for a fact that I wouldn't be where I am now if I hadn't discovered MuscleTalk. I didn't even really realise competing was an option; I was just a girl who loved to go to the gym. I think people have a lot more access to information now.
JC: You look fabulous in your photos Liz, and many of our male members enjoy looking at your pics! I know the question on many lips is do you have a boyfriend or are you single!?
EK: I have a cat! Who needs a boyfriend? Ha ha! I am happily set in my single ways but that's not to say I couldn't try to adapt if the right person came along.
JC: Many thanks for taking the time to be interviewed and on behalf of all the MuscleTalk members, I'd like to wish you all the best in your future career. See you on MT!!
Sponsored by: Muscle Finesse