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Published on Friday, 25 December 2009 03:00

Looking at Stacey Pillari it is hard to believe that she is not only the mother of two children but also Grandmother to a 22-month old grandson. She has one of those classic physiques that takes me back to the days when I used to leaf through the pages of Women's Physique World (beautiful woman bodybuilders displayed in glamorous poses).

Another hard-to-believe fact is that she's only 5' 1"!  Photographically, she appears Amazonian!

Having just made a very impressive return to the bodybuilding stage this year, where she placed 3^rd at the IFBB Arnold Amateur and 4^th at the NPC Nationals, Rx Muscle felt it was time to find out more about this visually striking competitor as she prepares to stun us all in 2010...

So Stacey, where would you say your interest in bodybuilding came from originally and were there any people who particularly inspired you?

"It all started with my athletics... my coaches for track, cheerleading, and diving recommended I do a sports/weight training class for strength (especially for my legs) and I did and loved it! Then my best friend's mother was a bodybuilder and she inspired me to get into the sport...not to mention the fact that I wanted to look like Rachel McLish and Cory Everson...graceful, beautiful, fit, strong, yet feminine."

You entered your first bodybuilding show at the age of 19, what made you decide to step into competition and what was that first show experience like?

"Again my friend's mother inspired me, and a few other people from the gym I was going to told me that I had the physique and genetics for it. Then a trainer who was well known and had been a  Natural Mr. Universe encouraged me to do it.  It was a small local show in a high school gym in Burlington, NC. I placed 3^rd in lightweights, weighing 98 lbs... boy was I tiny! But even though I was lean I still had good legs. I guess my legs started to develop from weight training at age 15 and 16 where I was already squatting 250 lbs!"

You also did some power lifting competitions, so I guess you must be pretty strong....

"I was intrigued... and  it was the guys in the gym who encouraged me to do power lifting. The gym team was sponsored by Adidas, and they needed some females. I did pretty well actually, my best was placing 2^nd. My bench was 150 lbs, squat 350 lbs, dead lift 305 lbs., all this and weighing in at 104 lbs!"

During an eight year break from bodybuilding competition you competed in equestrian events...now that is quite a departure. What led to your involvement in that sporting arena?

"I grew up loving horses and being around them since my uncle trained them. He was actually a racehorse trainer for Burt Reynolds. So I finally got my own and started riding, and my competitiveness kicked in. I did eventing, show jumping, dressage, and cross country. Eventually I ended up getting more horses and my love grew to teaching and training myself. So my husband built me a horse farm where I could ride, train, and teaches and I ended up working with "special needs" children, mostly autistic. I learned so much from them, and was so touched to be a part of this interaction and therapy.  It is magical what the horses do for the kids and in return what the kids actually teach the horses.  I no longer have my farm, we moved to Wilmington, NC, but I do still have 2 of my horses, and I still ride...my own therapy now."

On returning to competition in 2007 you competed very successfully in the figure class -although the judges felt that you would be better off switching to bodybuilding because of your physique. What was your initial reaction to this suggestion?

"I knew it already I think. I know my body and I was already going against where it wanted to go, and I was not enjoying the training since I had to tone down the weights a little.  However, one of my thoughts was, "am I not pretty enough?", "am I not young enough?"...but then I had to face reality...no I wasn't young anymore, and I wasn't nearly as pretty as some of the figure girls, some were just beautiful, but I was an athlete and I enjoyed the sport and I enjoyed the training, and I respected the judge, Lee Thompson that said he thought I would make a great lightweight bodybuilder and that I should switch, so I decided to consider it."

I believe our very own Dave Palumbo also recommended the switch.....

"Yeah... funny story actually. I had finished my photo shoot with Dan Ray during which he suggested I switch and that he thought I would make a great lightweight bodybuilder. He told me to go talk to Dave and see what he said. Well Dave just so happened to be staying in the room next to me at JR USA, so I knocked on his door, and said ‘I want to ask you what you think about me switching from figure to bodybuilding.' He said ‘well I need to see what you look like'...so right there and then I dropped my pants (I did have on a bathing suit!), and that is when he said I had great legs and yes I should switch."

Given the fact that you do train very hard and had indulged in power lifting was it relatively easy to transform your physique from figure to physique?

"Yes, my body was grateful for it, it was able to go in the direction that was natural. When doing figure I was fighting with trying to trim down my legs and my arms and not lifting too heavy -which made my training seem easy. Switching to bodybuilding I was able to grow again, lifting heavy, doing drop sets, forced reps, intense workouts, etc., everything I love. . My training went back to the way it was before figure, and my ‘muscle memory' kicked in...So it was on!

"Unfortunately, I had a set back. While doing front shoulder raises, I pulled a piece of bone off of my elbow. The doctor said I was lifting so heavy and my tendons were so strong that the bone gave way and not the tendon. He said he had never seen anything like it before! I had to have surgery in August 2008 and then bounced right back and did the Arnold this year."

In your bodybuilding debut you placed 3^rd at the Arnold Amateurs this year at a weight of 102lbs, then you went on to compete in the Nationals and placed 4^th weighing 107lbs...what went on in between those contests that led to that impressive gain in lean mass?

"Mike Davies my trainer had me on a lean mass building diet, the man knows his stuff! He is excellent with using diet to manipulate your body, for gains and losses. Not everyone knows that it is not just what you eat but when you eat it. Also, since I was fully recovered from my surgery and I could once again go really heavy with my upper body I was able make the gains where they were needed the most.  Also, Mike brought me in a little fuller for Nationals".

Are you a believer in high protein, low carb, and moderate fat in terms of diet?

"Yes somewhat... I think you do need adequate complex carbs for growing and you do not need to have them too low even when dieting for competition until you get closer. Your muscles need them and you need them to make your workouts still productive...not too mention your brain needs them! Ever try to talk to one of us the week before a competition?

"Also I believe in carb cycling, especially on days that you are working a larger muscle like legs or when you are working a weak muscle that you really want to make grow. Off season I up my complex carbs to closer to 2 grams per body lb., and some days little more. I try and keep them clean though and my fats healthy, for example peanut butter, avocado, nuts, etc."

How close to contest weight do you stay year round?

"My off season weight after the Arnold was 126 lbs I like to keep my gains between 15 and 20 lbs off season."

When you made the switch from figure to physique how easy was it to accept the physical changes i.e. the extra size on your frame?

"Tough this go round, since this was the heaviest I have ever been other than being pregnant! Cardio was harder since I was heavier; I do cardio year round as it keeps my conditioning good.  But I think the worst thing was that I had to go and get a whole new wardrobe! I, like most other competitors, have an "on season" and an "off season" wardrobe.  My legs especially...it is pretty tough fitting into a pair of jeans off season."

Figure competitors are probably more accepted by the general public in terms of the ‘look' they present...have you noticed any change in people's attitude towards you since you made the switch?

"Yes, some people like it and are like "wow, you look amazing!", Then others just STARE...kind of funny. My husband always takes up for me, and will say things like, "she looks great doesn't she", or in the case where people are rude or say or whisper something ugly, he confronts them. My hero! I guess it is to be expected. I do see that it depends on where you live. For instance in Wilmington, NC where I live, it seems that there is a higher percentage of people that are healthy and in shape and accept how I look and even like it.  But in less ‘health orientated' places people see you as a freak if you are a woman with muscles.  To each his own... I am healthy, I feel good and I have inspired many people, especially my daughter and my mother, and that makes it all worth it!"

Many people would find it hard to believe that you are 44 years old and both a mother and a grandmother...in fact some women may even use those facts as an excuse not to work out let alone compete! What would you say to those women?

"I say they are obstacles that are in your head and need to be overcome. Yes it is tougher when you have a family, or a career, or both, but you can still do it. To workout it only takes 20-30 minutes a day and you will see and feel a difference... do it before or after work or during lunch. I have a friend that does her cardio at midnight! If want to compete that is another ballgame, you do need to be able to be dedicated and put in 1-2 hrs a day at least, but if you want it bad enough you WILL find a way. As far as age....we only get better.  Bodybuilding was made for the older woman! As we get older our skin thins, our estrogen either decrease or stops, we have lost all that baby fat, we have muscle maturity, and those are necessary ingredients for a bodybuilder."

Are there any allowances you have to make for your age when it comes to your training schedule?

"Are you kidding, ask anyone, I train harder than most people half my age or men at my gym.  At least that is what I am told. I have always trained hard and always will as long as my body will let me. I have good training ethics from my sports coaches and from Mike Davies.  As far as age...most definitely not a factor! I am addicted to my training, if I miss a workout not only do I feel guilty but I ache more!"

You are apparently known for your legs and attract a group of ten people to train with you on leg night...that must be quite a spectacle!

"Ha ha! Yeah people stay away from us! We are watched needless to say and draw a lot of attention especially when we are doing 800 lb. + leg presses and weighted walking pump lunges across the gym...well that one is where I lose people. I have a good friend, Sherwood Strickland who is a bodybuilder but does not compete anymore and he and I keep everyone moving.  We have even had people from Facebook that do not even know us ask if they could join us on leg day! I think our hardest workout is the day we do 50's...normally someone always gets sick."

So what are your goals for the year ahead?

"For my physique, I want to put on a few more lbs of muscle in my upper body, especially my lats, triceps and shoulders, build my calves, and trim my waist.  Competing, I am doing the Masters Nationals in PIT then USA's in Vegas in the summer, and back to Nationals in Atlanta in the fall.  I would like to get my IFBB Pro card in 2010, so I have my work cut out for me!"

How can readers contact you?

"My email is [email protected] also I am on Facebook, under Stacey Pillari. Or my new website is coming soon, staceypillari.com.  Also, I am sponsored by Scivation, and can be found under Team Scivation.  I love to hear from fans! Please write me and come see me at the Arnold where I will be working and cheering for friends competing.

Thank you RX Muscle! Thank you Leigh!!"

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