Carmen Michelle James: Moving Forward
Human curiosity is one of the things that mak
e us unique. Our desire to explore the unknown has led us to incredible places and allowed us to achieve incredible feats. Thomas Edison, one of the greatest inventors of our time and man who was infinitely curious, once said “Show me a thoroughly satisfied man and I will show you a failure.”
So when Carmen Michelle James, a lifetime drug-free powerlifter, started to wonder what was next in her fitness career; her curiosity led her to the bikini stage. Now, with a contest under her belt and her competitive fire reignited, Carmen is ready to take on the challenge of moving forward and trying her earn her pro card.
Recently Carmen and I had a chance to discuss her transition from a singlet to a bikini, and you can find all of the details here, in this Rx Muscle exclusive interview.
Q.) Before we talk about your recent venture onto the bikini stage, let’s take a look back at how you got started. When did your love of fitness first begin?
A.) I was always interested in lifting weights after watching Cory Everson on TV and thinking how beautiful and strong those girls looked. I would dabble with weights trying to get my scrawny arms buff, but I really didn’t know what I was doing at that time and they had no weight training classes at school.
But as far as fitness itself, it didn’t become something I liked until I did it for myself trying to get in shape after my first child. I used to look at fitness as a competition that you had to be really good at or don’t try. When I realized the health benefits and I focused on that, it became a passion. I just remember being pregnant with my first child promising myself I would start taking care of my body. I joined an aerobics class (Jazzercise was the Zumba of my time) because they had babysitting.
I still wasn’t really consistent though until I decided I needed to quit smoking in 1994. So, I got on the treadmill trying to get my lungs healthy again and lifting a little so I didn’t get osteoporosis like two of my grandmothers. My slow short walks started turning into runs so I could hurry and have time to lift weights, because that was what I was really interested in.
I later became an ACE certified personal trainer, trying to learn everything I could about my body. And luckily I stayed pretty consistent through three more pregnancies af
ter that as well.
Q.) You’ve mentioned previously that at times during your childhood you struggled socially. Did those events impact yourself esteem during that time of your life?
A.) Definitely! Sports were really big in my small school, and I wasn’t coordinated. Plus my parents weren’t into sports so they couldn’t have cared less if I was in them or not, so I never had that background.
I was laughed at when I ran (always the last one in) and usually the last picked in the gym. I remember coaches (who were also teachers) making me feel dumb because I wasn’t a superstar sports player. In high school I just didn’t even try because of that, and if you weren’t in sports, you were no one in my school.
I didn’t really fit in because of that, so I turned to a lot of bad behavior trying to find somewhere to fit in. I think that type of mentality in some of the school sports is one reason why we have an obesity problem. At a young age we are taught that being active is about being “the best” rather than “our best”, so right away we develop a bad attitude on working out.
Q.) It’s been said that most change comes from some form of struggle or crisis. How did those moments early on impact the person you’ve become today?
A.) Luckily I’m pretty stubborn. I realize now that I CAN do anything anyone else can, it’s just of matter of attitude. When you do it for yourself and concentrate on being “Your Best” then things just happen. Powerlifting, running, and bikini competitions are all individual sports so I focus on beating myself and nobody else.
I guess I’m always trying to prove that you can do ANYTHING you set your mind to if it’s for positive reasons. And if someone says I can’t, I am willing to prove them wrong. I was always like that. In band I remember a teacher telling me girls couldn’t play drums. Well, guess what? I played the DRUMS!
It has also given me a heart for teens who feel lost and unaccepted. Kids go through even more pain nowadays, and nobody seems to want to help, but rather just judge. I have been involved in many programs for teens including one I started called RockTheYouth.
With my older kids out of school, and being busy with little kids, I haven’t been as involved as I previously was, but I will when they get older. My experiences have given me empathy and a non-judgmental heart that wants to encourage others that there is always Hope!
Q.) I’d like to shift gears and focus on your accomplished career as a drug-free powerlifter. How did you first become interested in powerlifting?
A.) My husband. I thought it seemed like a silly sport until he competed at his first competition. There was a gal there lifting who was just a weight class above me, and she could lift a lot! She didn’t look like some guy, and she was stronger than a lot of guys, so I decided to give it a try.
Q.) When you first began training, did strength gains come easily to you? Or were they more a result of relentless hard work?
A.) I had to work dang hard! I started barely using the bar. My heroes were always tough woman like Wonder Woman, Charlie’s Angels, and the Bionic Woman growing up, so that always gave me drive to be tough. And once 
I started to actually powerlift, I discovered that I was born to deadlift (my best being 350lbs at 132lbs). My long skinny arms made bench a struggle that always held me back in powerlifting, but they were good for deadlifts. My best squat is 300lbs, but I only managed to bench 135lbs at best, both being done this year at 129lbs.
Q.) How did you come to the decision to start competing?
A.) Competitions gave me something to train for, a goal. So it helped keep me focused and disciplined. I started with 5k runs, then powerlifting, and now bikini. And, because they were individual sports, I think it was less intimidating because it’s not like I would be letting the team down if I didn’t perform the best.
Q.) What would you say has been your most gratifying moment in competition?
A.) Qualifying for the Nationals in the Open was an amazing feat for me. In the 132lb weight class you had to lift a total of 710lbs, which was around 100lbs more than what I started with, and at one time seemed impossible.
I’ve also made lifelong friends that have been involved in these sports and understand me. But, what really keeps me driven is inspiring others. When someone says that I’ve inspired them to work out and get healthy that motivates ME. It makes me feel like I have a purpose, and that I’m making a difference.
Q.) Despite a great deal of success as a powerlifter including a state record in your weight class you decided to push yourself even further by entering into bikini competition. What spurred the decision to jump into bikini competition?
A.) I didn’t know if bodybuilding was something I could do until they came out with the bikini division a few years ago. I was at the Arnold Classic in 2009 running the 5k (in which I placed) and it was the first year bikini was there. It seemed like a more attainable look for me. And after turning 40 this year, I felt like I was in better shape than when I was 20, before I had my four kids.
I felt like my body type was good for it. My husband really encouraged me as he thought I would be a natural. It was really just to keep my workouts interesting and cross it off my bucket list at first.
Q.) Although you’d competed at an elite level for a number of years, bikini and powerlifting are at two different ends of the competitive spectrum. What aspect of preparing for your first competition would you say was most difficult?
A.) I would say just not knowing much about bodybuilding in general was difficult, plus it takes more time than powerlifting alone. I am a learner and crammed everything I could in a few short months to prepare myself. I read blogs, web sites, watched YouTube, and asked my nephew (who was a bodybuilder) a lot of questions. But where I live nobody actually competes in this sport so it was a challenge.
In powerlifting you train to peak “strength” but in bodybuilding you train to peak “look”. I knew a lot about working out, but the diet aspect I was unsure of for this sport. I was also a little unsure of my posing given that I didn’t have anyone to help me, but I just videotaped myself, studied, and practiced A LOT.
I watched the pros on YouTube trying to see what looked good and what didn’t. I’m also used to competing in Vans, a lifting singlet, belt, and wearing chalk. In bikini I was training in 5” heels, a barely there suit, bling, and fake eyelashes!
I had never done pageant stuff EVER in my life, so it was something I worked very hard at. But to be honest, I think I’ve been training for bikini for fifteen years and didn’t know it. I was always an unconventional powerlifter because I ran fifteen plus miles a week during training. Cardio isn’t very big in powerlifting generally, and I tried to keep a lean look AND be strong. It turns out that it helped me transition well into the new bikini division!
Q.) Although you were a newcomer to the bikini stage, you managed to have quite a successful debut by taking 1st place in the Masters and 2nd in the novice division. How did you feel when they announced your name as a class winner in your very first bikini competition?
A.) It was an amazing addiction. I say that because I want to feel that again! There were 118 bikini competitors at this competition. I looked around and wondered what I was doing there with so many beautiful fit women. I really couldn’t believe I did it! But, it has given me the confidence to work at it even harder.
Q.) Now that you’ve been bitten by the competitive bug once again, what would you say is your ultimate goal in bikini?
A.) Well, like most in this sport, I’m ready to GO PRO! I want to put most of my focus on bikini primarily right now. And, of course, I’d love to get sponsored and supplement my hobby. I also want to inspire other woman to be their best too!
Q.) Despite all of your amazing accomplishments onstage, away from the stage you’re a very busy wife and mother of six. Talk about the supportive role your family has played throughout the course of your career.
A.) My husband has been my lifting partner for my entire lifting career. We encourage each other. We are both USAPL referees and have helped at numerous national and local events, including being meet directors ourselves. It is something we do together, and it helps us keep out of trouble and be positive role models for our children. He is very honest with me about what I need to work on and really has a good eye. We have six children from ages 3 to 22 (4 birth babies and 2 step children) and they all have been there cheering me on. I try to make them proud of me.
Q.) If you could give a word of advice to other female competitors, what would it be?
A.) Women are always afraid of lifting and gaining muscle. I realize 
some woman gain muscle easier than others, but muscle is what keeps us youthful, healthy, and a calorie burning machine. It’s a myth to think as a woman you will look like Arnold from merely lifting heavy weights. Do not let your insecurities stop you from being YOUR BEST just because you’re not THE BEST. Don’t compare yourself to other woman, but rather be inspired by their accomplishments. Get fit to be healthy and happy!
Q.) If someone would like to reach you, or find out more about you, where should they go to contact you?
A.) I just started a new athlete page on Facebook at Carmen Michelle James, and I also blog at SeeYaAtTheGym.blogspot.com. You can follow me on Instagram, @seeyaatthegym as well. And if I could, I would like to thank Flared Photography of Denver, Colorado, for the pictures along with my friends and little family who always believed in me and stuck by me no matter what!
As she attempts to make the successful transition from powerlifting to bikini, Carmen realizes that no matter where her journey into the world of bikini takes her, she’ll end up in a place where she was meant to be. After all, her curiosity coupled with an endless desire to pursue happiness has led her this far, and we never know where our curiosity might lead us next.
Subscribe to RxMuscle on Youtube
