Fat Loss Tips with Fitness Competitor Bea Andrade

Q: What inspired or motivated you to pursue fitness the way you have?

Beatriz: It started when I was 16 years old when I first signed up at Gold’s Gym and saw a fitness model preparing for a competition. I used to do an aerobics class and she wanted to practice posing in front of us.

Then later in life I worked at a few gyms where I started meeting people and met competitors. I admired them for their hard work. I befriended a couple of them and would attend their shows. I knew I wanted to compete the minute I saw the women on stage.

Q: What advice would you give to someone who’s struggling to stay motivated, keep positive and stick to a proper nutrition and exercise program? After all, most of us are surrounded every day by a lot more negativity than we are positive people. It can be tough to break away from that.

Beatriz: I would tell them to imagine their own body but in a healthier form. We all strive for that bikini in shape body (women of course..laughs). I stay motivated by surrounding myself with people with similar goals and that are positive. It is easy to fall off of training and having that proper nutrition but the motivation comes back when I start to feel stress. I release my stress at the gym. When it comes to treating myself: everything in moderation. I do treat myself with goodies every once in a while but in moderation.

Q: One thing I’d like for you to address because I feel it’s a big one with women, is weight training. Even nowadays, a lot of women shy away from weight training because they don’t want to look like Arnold. If they train at all, it’s with the tiny pink weights and they never even break a sweat.

Beatriz: I’ve heard friends tell me they didn’t want to look like a “man” or get “too big” and that was their reason for shying away from weights. As women we don’t bulk up like men do. Our bodies are much different. Weights are as important as a proper nutrition program and cardiovascular training. Weights is what will tone you up I tell them….I personally do weights 5-6 times a week (i joke…and I don’t look like a man./nor am i too big..hahahahahah)

Q: You’ve developed a gorgeous, sexy, lean hard body and you couldn’t have done it without weights. What do you say to these women to get them to not just train with weights but train hard and make it an important part of their overall program?

Beatriz: Thank you!!! Weight training will help burn up fat faster. The more lean muscle you have the more fat you will burn even at rest. (look at the fitness girls in the magazines we all admire, they all do weights, eat properly, and do cardiovascular training.

Q: What’s the biggest mistake you made when you started and how did you correct it?

Beatriz: I would go on crash diets early 20’s because I wanted the quick fix and that would back fire of course. I learned through reading and working with nutrition experts what balanced meals were and changed my food intake.

Q: What do you think is the most important thing or skill you’ve learned with regard to health and fitness?

Beatriz: There is no quick fix. No miracle pill!! no crash diet that works. Proper nutrition, training program, hard work and consistency is the way to results.

Q: What are some common pitfalls you feel people can stumble upon and how do you help them avoid these obstacles?

Beatriz: I think the 3 common pitfalls are:

Over eating, not eating, and not having supportive people in your life

Overeating. everything in moderation. Have a cookie not a package of cookies.

Not eating: I hear over and over again women skipping meals/starving themselves to look skinny. Your body needs food to function properly. I always ask “how far will your car go without gas?” …not too far!! The same thing with your body, you need “gas” (food) to make your body go.

No support system: surround yourself with people with same goals. You want to lose weight? Make friends at your gym or take a friend with you to work out, it helps when someone is there rooting you on.

Q: Moving forward and knowing what you know now, what would you have done differently with your own journey, if anything?

Beatriz: When I am not feeling so motivated, I write down reasons why I am doing what ever goals I have to reevaluate my goals and get back on track

Q: The most common excuse I hear from people who don’t eat right or train is that they don’t have the time. What advice do you have for people who use ‘lack of time’ as an excuse to eat poorly and avoid exercise?

Beatriz: I used to work full time and go to school full time and have a fiance and I still had time so there is time you just have to prioritize and make time. You are important too!!

Q: What’s a typical day for you when it comes to training and nutrition?

Beatriz: I eat 6- 7 meals balanced meals per day and work out with weights and do cardiovascular training (45 min at least)

Q: How are you able to consistently fit them into your busy schedule?

Beatriz: I make time!

Q: What do you think are the keys to becoming successful, whether it’s competing or losing 15 pounds of fat?

Beatriz: Consistency with food, and training.

Q: What’s one of the things you find most challenging about what you do?

Beatriz: Eat clean. I come from a family that loves junk food. Mentally I tell myself I don’t need those tamales, cookies, nor pie. (laughs)

Q: What are your future plans?

Beatriz: I am going to compete more in 2010. Hopefully place high and earn my Pro card in Bikini. Look out for me!

You can learn more about Bea ==>> Beatriz Andrade