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Spotlight On Bikini Competitor: Giovanni Long
Category you compet
e in: Bikini masters 40+ and 45+
Date of birth: September 25, 1968
Hometown: Panama City, Panama
Career: Full time mom of two beautiful boys with special needs ages 7 and 3, Zumba Instructor and Mary Kay Consultant
What is your favorite contest prep recipe?
A. I will have to say my eggs and oats….during prep season, I get up in the morning just dreaming about it (probably because I’m very hungry!).
What part of your physique are you currently working on?
A. Well I’m working on my whole body, but really concentrating in two parts of my lower half—my calves and glutes. I’m Latin, so I wasn’t blessed with calves, they are more like chicken legs; now I’m working on growing meat on them. While I thought glutes were part of being a Latina (we typically have booty), I learned that when you exercise and lose fat, you also lose your butt. So I’m also working really hard on building muscular glutes.
Name one piece of nutrition/fitness advice that has stuck with you.
A. My first trainer emphasized consistency and patience in striving for my fitness goals. By setting my expectations on the time needed for training, he helped me stay focused on my goals and achieve them without losing patience.
If you could compete in one other event (FBB, physique, figure, fitness, bikini) which would it be and why?
A. I would definitely try figure. I just love to see that beautiful V-shape on the ladies and the thought that I could challenge my body even more. Working against my genetics is thrilling for me.
Why NPC:
A. Being a military spouse is hard, but at the same time you have a sense of belonging and closeness within the military family because we all share similar experiences in moving, deployments, etc. When I first relocated to Colorado Springs and thought about competing, I started to network with social media such as Facebook and came across NPC Colorado where I found that same closeness and belonging from people willing to help and guide. So I networked even more, did my homework, and realized I wanted to be part of this organization.
What d
o you like best about competing?
A. I love seeing my body transformed and shaped to a physique I didn’t know I could achieve, especially at my age. But being back stage with all the competitors, it’s awesome! The energy, the ups and downs, moods and specially women and our crazy hormones! All of that culminates with a sense of accomplishment when I successfully complete my posing routine (without falling) and I can go for my celebration meal knowing I have left everything on stage.
What are your goals for the future?
A. My goals for the next year are Masters Nationals and hopefully being able to win my pro card. While this is a challenging goal, I believe it is also possible. When I think about where I came from; a small country in Central America, not speaking very good English and very scared even to drive on the interstate, it’s amazing how far I have come.
Competition history:
A. Southern Colorado in Colorado Springs May placed 2nd, Max Muscle Mile High June placed 3rd, GNC Natural October placed 3rd and MET-Rx Rocky Mountain placed 1st.
Next competition:
A. Max Muscle in May 31st Denver, Co and Masters National in July.
Hobbies:
A. My hobbies include the gym and Salsa dancing.
What is the biggest lesson you have learned over the years when it comes to competing?
A. Patience and consistency.
What is yo
ur favorite contest prep supplement?
A. Love, love, love Amino Energy and 100% isolated whey protein from Optimum Nutrition and Quest protein bars from Quest Nutrition. I survived this past year with these supplements.
Favorite Quote:
“Why do we fall? So we can learn how to pick ourselves up.” from the movie Batman. Life has challenges and obstacles for everyone, but when you have special needs kids the challenges are double. I teach my kids that it doesn’t matter their disabilities, they can do whatever they set their minds to as long as they learn from failure and keep moving forward. If you fall, you get up, dust your knees off, and keep on going.
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