LISA ARKSEY
http://www.amg-lite.com/lisa_arksey/
Where and when were you born?
Hamilton ON Canada
What is your profession?
Accounting / personal tranier
What kind of activities/sports did you do before you started lifting weights?
As far as my athletic background goes, I have played various sports since grade 2 including Basket Ball, Volley Ball, Track & field, Soccer, Rugby, Baseball & Wrestling. Through out my schooling I have had dreams of being a professional athlete of some sort...flirted with the thought of being a track star, then basketball then a WWE Diva and finally a Lenda Murray...I have always had an obsession with muscle.I had a passion for bodybuilding, which i had always thought it was unattainable, which I am proving that theory wrong right about now.
How and when did you get involved into lifting weights?
I had kept active and been weight training since 1990 off and on trying to build my physique. Deep down inside i was not going to give up! I started to read a bit and try many different diets and started to experiment on ways to try and lean out! Well that was impossible! My body was and still is a hard one to figure out! (I am very middle heavy and is abs are playing hide and seek an awfull lot!)
Was it a goal for you to compete in bodybuilding competitions right from the beginning or was it something that grew in your mind as time went on and you saw the progress in your body?
I did work out for 14 years off and on, but it was not evident by looking at my unappealing physique! I decided to get serious in March 2003 and hired a trainer, which was a huge ego crusher...I thought i knew everything and could not believe I had to now pay someone? My original motivation was simply to lose some body fat and tone up. I also needed to finally learn the tricks of the trade! However, as time went on I became more serious, my motivation switched to fulfilling my dream of bodybuilding. This became more attainable after I saw a drastic change in my physique in the summer of 2003. I went from 24% body fat in March 2003 to 10% in August 2003 and all of my years of weight lifting finally became evident. From then on I have set my goals high to continue to sculpt & fine tune my physique.
What was your first competition and how did you place?
My first competition was October 2003, and there was two of us…I came in second lol * that was a trial competition to get me warmed up for my first one in November 2003 (where I placed 4th place)
Then I advanced to Level 2 competition & competed the following year June 2004 where I place 1st overall.
And which contest has been the biggest success for you yet?
Mississauga South Central Championships (Laura Benetti & Melanie Horton’s show) Where I advanced to Provincial (level 3) *placing FIRST OVERALL!!
Could you please add a history of all contests that you have entered so far?
October 2003 – Windsor Cup – Placing 2nd
November 2003 – Western Ontario Championships – 4th place
June 2004 – Mississauga Southern Ontario Championships – 1st –OVERALL
Please tell me something about your daily training routine.
How often do you train in a week?
I generally work one body part a week:
Mon – Chest /Triceps (Seeing the triceps are the secondary muscle used during chest, I tend to do High rep triceps at the end of my chest day.
Tues – Back / Biceps (Also biceps are the secondary muscle used during back workouts, so I do high rep biceps at the end of back day)
Wed – off (cardio if training for a show)
Thursday – Shoulders
Friday – Arms
Sunday – Legs
*During my dieting time I am in the gym every morning doing cardio(30 –40 mins) abs, lower back & calves.
What are the main differences when you train for a competition and in off-season?
There is not much difference in my off season/competition training during the first 12 weeks of dieting. I still lift heavy & do moderate reps (8 to 10) The only major difference is the cardio added in the morning along with the after workout cardio for 20 min. The last 8 to 6 weeks is usually when I try to do higher reps but still maintain a working weight. I add some variation in as well, like on leg days *walking lunges.. more cardio based movements.
If you don’t mind would you give me some stats (best lifts and some body measurements)?
Measurements
Biceps: 14 1/2”
Chest: 38”
Forearm 11 3/4”
Quads: 25”
Waist: 30 - 33”
Calves: 15 3/4
Hip: 35 -37”
125- 135 competition weight / off season (ranging from 155 to 180 lbs YIKES)
Maximum lifts:
Dumbbell Press: 75lbs 8 reps / Flat Bench Press : 160lbs 6 reps
Dead lift: 305lbs 5 reps / Leg Press : 720 lbs 20 reps / Bicep Curls: 45 lbs 8 reps / Dumbbell Shoulder Press : 50 lbs 8 reps
Squats: 225lbs 10 reps / Dumbbell Rows : 75 lbs 10reps
Which body part is your best in your opinion?
I have been told my quads, I have noticed there is a different shape to them. I have also been told my shoulders too.
What is your favorite exercise in the gym and which one you don’t like so much?
My favorite is deadlifts!!! And my definite least favorite is calves & abs!
Judging in Women’s Bodybuilding has always been criticised in one or the other way. Please tell me your honest thoughts about today’s judging in Women’s Bodybuilding.
In my opinion Womens bodybuilding is following in the footsteps of the mens… where the “monsters” seem to be winning. The real meaning of bodybuilding is forgotten. I do agree that muscle mass is important, but I do also agree that symmetry & conditioning is also just as important. The total package is in my opinion the winner not just size. That is my goal …to keep the femininity into the sport…and keep going as far as I can naturally but trying to get and keep the overall package. I am hoping that oneday the judging follows that route as well.
Please tell me about what else you are doing when you don’t work out.
When I am not working out I am spending all of my spare time cuddling with my boyfriend, or my two favorite animals: Monster & Tipper (my cats). I really like to hang low. I do however bartend every Friday for 8 years at NRG Kingdom in Burlington ON … that has been my “night life” (keeps me out of trouble) Since I have got into bodybuilding it really is hard to do much as I am usually eating every few hours.. and cannot drink or eat junk. In the summer, I do enjoy rollerblading & playing Beach Volleyball.
What are your future plans for 2005?
My future goals are to keep training hard and sculpt and refine my physique. Try and keep the competitive juices flowing, i have sucessfully made it into level 3 bodybuilding as my next competition will be the Ontarios in June 2005. I also have interest in exploring different avenues in the fitness industry, whether it is some type modelling or promotional venues… I will continue try to expose myself as much as I can to do what I can to fulfill all of my dreams and work towards my pro-card. Trying to bring a more feminine side back to female bodybuilding, as i do it naturally!! ! I love this industry! To top it all off I have “the best workout partner” anyone could ever ask for! My boyfriend Jimmy has definitely changed my physique with his training techniques & his continuous support. For those of you that don’t workout with your significant other, you do not know what you are missing!!!
**Maybe one day I will be the next addition to the WWE!!!!!
Please note:
Lisa does not do sessions or wrestling of any kind. Please don't ask!!
