Today I speak with IFBB Bikini Pro Marina Marks, born and raised in San Antonio TX, who is married and has two children. She started lifting in 2015 but her competition journey began after the birth of my son in 2019 where she competed 10 months postpartum and took the Open Bikini Overall. Shortly after, she left for basic training and starting a whole new chapter in the US Army as a physical therapy tech. She is currently serving as an Active Duty Sergeant and station at Fort Sam Houston. She earned her Pro Card in December at 2023 Nationals.

As a dancer, she struggled with an eating disorder as a teen and works hard to love herself.

TOPICS COVERED

-overcoming an eating disorder

-healing her marriage

-starting your competition journey

-competing postpartum

-when and why to change coaches

-competing as a mom

-competing in the military

-married couples who both compete

-family members who may not be supportive

-why not me?

CONNECT WITH CELESTE:

Website: http://www.celestial.fit

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/celestial_fit/

All Links: http://www.celestial.fit/links.html

CONNECT WITH MARINA:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marina_sauce/

TIME STAMPS

1:00 introduction

4:10 competing and motherhood

14:45 prepping with two kids

18:20 healing her marriage

26:50 the roll of her faith

31:40 competing while in the military

34:30 lessons from the military

43:15 deciding to compete

49:20 setting the goal to go Pro

53:30 feedback at national shows

56:30 changing coaches

63:09 goals for competing

64:30 journey to self-love

78:16 advice fro competitors

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE FREE FOOD RELATIONSHIP COACHING SERIES

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE FREE POST SHOW BLUES COACHING SERIES

LEARN MORE AND APPLY FOR MY 5 WEEK FOOD RELATIONSHIP HEALING & DISCOVERY COACHING PROGRAM

FOR OTHER FREE RESOURCES, LIVE EVENTS, AND WAYS TO WORK WITH CELESTE CLICK HERE

Today I speak with IFBB Bikini Pro Cindy Van Empol-Popowich, a 55-year-old who started lifting at 17 years old after she saw her first bodybuilding event in 1989. Cindy earned her Pro card in 2019 at North Americans. She been involved in every aspect of the sport from judging to expediting, and is currently the Director of social media for the Canadian Physical Alliance. She is married to a firefighter, has two children, ages 16 and 19. My husband is a cancer survivor and she is navigating 3 auto immune diseases. They are an incredibly strong team which makes her successful in her endeavors.

TOPICS COVERED

-having a supportive spouse

-motherhood and bodybuilding

-competing as a masters athlete

-friendships in bodybuilding

-finding ways to contribute

-changes in the industry

-getting involved in the sport

-comparison tap

CONNECT WITH CELESTE:

Website: http://www.celestial.fit

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/celestial_fit/

All Links: http://www.celestial.fit/links.html

CONNECT WITH CINDY:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cindyvep_ifbbpro/

TIME STAMPS

1:00 introduction

9:38 having a name

18:00 her husband battling cancer

22:10 time away from the stage

28:30 finding ways to contribute

35:30 changes in Canadian bodybuilder

40:42 women in leadership

49:54 her favorites

52:19 opportunities to get involved

57:08 comparison mindset

62:13 knowing it’s okay to step away

66:37 masters versus open

75:37 coming out of the darkness

86:42 getting married quickly

95:20 advice for competitors

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE FREE FOOD RELATIONSHIP COACHING SERIES

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE FREE POST SHOW BLUES COACHING SERIES

LEARN MORE AND APPLY FOR MY 5 WEEK FOOD RELATIONSHIP HEALING & DISCOVERY COACHING PROGRAM

FOR OTHER FREE RESOURCES, LIVE EVENTS, AND WAYS TO WORK WITH CELESTE CLICK HERE

Today I speak with IFBB Bikini Pro Tanya Johansen, a kidney cancer survivor and single mom of two, who lives in Utah and works as a posing coach. She earned her Pro card at Master’s USAs in 2022, where she won the overall, and made her Pro debut last year at California Night of Champions. Tanya is coached by Aimee Delgado at Fit Body Fusion and plans to begin her rookie season this summer.

TOPICS COVERED

-pushing through no matter what

-not delaying pro debut

-kidney cancer

-environment is key

-age is just a number

-making it work with kids

-when people don't believe in you or what you're doing

-favorite tips and advice for amateurs

CONNECT WITH CELESTE:

Website: http://www.celestial.fit

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/celestial_fit/

All Links: http://www.celestial.fit/links.html

CONNECT WITH TANYA:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tanyajobikinipro/

TIME STAMPS

1:00 introduction

3:20 who can achieve a pro card

7:23 the desire to keep pushing

13:21 building muscle tips

19:45 fostering friendships and relationships

24:30 prep is self-care

27:15 going through kidney cancer

34:55 deciding to change her life

41:20 becoming resilient

44:10 learning from chaos

48:25 coming to the road to Pro

52:00 deciding what you want

59:25 getting involved with the industry

66:50 navigating being a single mom

69:49 advice for competitors

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE FREE FOOD RELATIONSHIP COACHING SERIES

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE FREE POST SHOW BLUES COACHING SERIES

LEARN MORE AND APPLY FOR MY 5 WEEK FOOD RELATIONSHIP HEALING & DISCOVERY COACHING PROGRAM

FOR OTHER FREE RESOURCES, LIVE EVENTS, AND WAYS TO WORK WITH CELESTE CLICK HERE

Today I speak with IFBB Bikini Pro Phillipa Ferreira who started competing in ICN back in 2020 and turned pro in that federation in her first year of competing. She moved to IFBB last year and earned her Pro card at Nationals, where she placed first. She was the first Australian bikini athlete to win two state titles in one season, as well as the first Australian bikini athlete to turn pro in their first season and finish undefeated with 11 gold medals. Having struggled with depression for most of my adult life, Phillipa is passionate about heaving open discussions about mental health. She studies law full time, works 2 jobs, dances professionally, and wants to show people you CAN do it all!

TOPICS COVERED

-bad coaching experiences

-mental health

-mindset sets you apart

-balancing a busy life

-working with a life coach & psychiatrist

-having big dreams

-being a professional dancer

-trusting your coach

-prepping while on antidepressants

CONNECT WITH CELESTE:

Website: http://www.celestial.fit

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/celestial_fit/

All Links: http://www.celestial.fit/links.html

CONNECT WITH PHILLIPA:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/phillipa_ferreira/

TikTok: phillipa_ferreira

TIME STAMPS

1:00 introduction

5:39 heaving an undefeated streak

9:13 focusing on the process and not the outcome

19:19 focusing on the mental side

27:09 rebuilding her life

39:00 bodybuilding as an identity

53:07 possibly living in the USA

59:15 navigating a busy life

65:30 the price of competing

67:03 from dancing to competing

69:20 having a coach you trust

83:15 having a history of disordered eating

89:42 doing it for yourself

97:30 dating while in prep

100:40 creating the next physique

106:30 advice for competitors

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE FREE FOOD RELATIONSHIP COACHING SERIES

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE FREE POST SHOW BLUES COACHING SERIES

LEARN MORE AND APPLY FOR MY 5 WEEK FOOD RELATIONSHIP HEALING & DISCOVERY COACHING PROGRAM

FOR OTHER FREE RESOURCES, LIVE EVENTS, AND WAYS TO WORK WITH CELESTE CLICK HERE

Today I speak with IFBB Bikini Pro Lisa Reid, a 32 year old newly crowned Bikini Pro from Australia who entered her first competition back in 2014 and was immediately hooked. Now, almost a decade later I has competed in 23 shows and her passion and love for the sport only continues to grow. She started in the Natural Bodybuilding federations first: winning pro status and world titles in two federations (ICN & WNBF), before working towards building a competitive physique for her NPC Debut in 2022. At the end of 2023 she traveled to America to compete at the Amateur Olympia, and then her dream became a reality when she earned her Pro card at the Caribbean Grand Prix Pro Qualifier in the Bahamas.

TOPICS COVERED

-the difficulty to win a pro card in Australia

-experience training & competing internationally

-background as a dancer growing up

-importance of consistency and patience

-passion is one of the keys to success

-having her partner as her coach

-a strong support network

-maturing as an athlete

CONNECT WITH CELESTE:

Website: http://www.celestial.fit

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/celestial_fit/

All Links: http://www.celestial.fit/links.html

CONNECT WITH LISA:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lisajanereid/

TIME STAMPS

1:00 introduction

5:00 competing in different federations

12:01 posing practice and different standards

14:07 earning a Pro card in Australia

16:31 competing internationally

21:31 differences in competing locally and internationally

30:40 developing over 10 years

36:53 comparison hurting your preps

41:55 personal growth

44:32 focuses outside of bodybuilding

47:55 being coached by her partner

54:37 growing muscle overtime

57:48 prep versus off season

62:32 goals for the Pro league

66:23 relating posing to dancing

69:30 advice for competitors

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE FREE FOOD RELATIONSHIP COACHING SERIES

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE FREE POST SHOW BLUES COACHING SERIES

LEARN MORE AND APPLY FOR MY 5 WEEK FOOD RELATIONSHIP HEALING & DISCOVERY COACHING PROGRAM

FOR OTHER FREE RESOURCES, LIVE EVENTS, AND WAYS TO WORK WITH CELESTE CLICK HERE

Today I celebrate six years of the Confessions of a Bikini Pro Podcast! Sometime I feel like it’s been longer and sometimes I feel like it was just yesterday! So much of my life has changed over the past six years, but the one constant has been the podcast. Join me today as I look back on the past guests, lessons learned, and what the future holds!

TOPICS COVERED

-6 lessons learned

-6 mental health tips

-6 goals for the podcast

-6 reflections

CONNECT WITH CELESTE:

Website: http://www.celestial.fit

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/celestial_fit/

All Links: http://www.celestial.fit/links.html

TIME STAMPS

1:00 introduction

3:30 podcasting as a passion project

5:45 lessons learned

14:13 mental health tips

20:40 goals for the podcast

28:40 reflections on the podcast

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE FREE FOOD RELATIONSHIP COACHING SERIES

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE FREE POST SHOW BLUES COACHING SERIES

LEARN MORE AND APPLY FOR MY 5 WEEK FOOD RELATIONSHIP HEALING & DISCOVERY COACHING PROGRAM

FOR OTHER FREE RESOURCES, LIVE EVENTS, AND WAYS TO WORK WITH CELESTE CLICK HERE

Today I speak with IFBB Bikini Pro Amanda Lam, from Hong Kong. She and her partner Isaac, are the first Chinese IFBB pro couple. She is the director of PUMP Personal Training Gym in Hong Kong and is also a transformation and Prep Coach. She is also an occupational therapist with 2 years working experience in the psychiatric department working with adolescents with autism, depression, and eating disorders. Amanda is currently studying functional medicine and integrative nutrition. She earned her Pro card in Hong Kong 2020 and has since placed second call outs at the 2023 San Antonio Pro and first call outs in Korea Pro and Japan Pro.

TOPICS COVERED

-growing trend of bodybuilding in Asia

-relationships in bodybuilding

-working on feedback & building glutes

-balancing all aspects of life

-from occupational therapy to coaching

-taking a break from bodybuilding

-having a heathy pregnancy & postpartum

-stress management

-pursuing your passion

CONNECT WITH CELESTE:

Website: http://www.celestial.fit

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/celestial_fit/

All Links: http://www.celestial.fit/links.html

CONNECT WITH AMANDA:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amandajayden_ifbbpro/

TIME STAMPS

1:00 introduction

4:27 competing in Asia versus USA

8:30 how her family views bodybuilding

14:10 having an IFBB Pro boyfriend

19:05 working towards the Olympia

26:00 balancing bodybuilding and her career

29:43 being a prep coach

30:59 leaving her hospital job to coach

36:44 taking time to start a family

43:50 studying functional medicine

48:30 lessons from bodybuilding

51:31 goals outside of competing

55:20 Amanda’s approach to prep

60:38 advice for competitors

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE FREE FOOD RELATIONSHIP COACHING SERIES

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE FREE POST SHOW BLUES COACHING SERIES

LEARN MORE AND APPLY FOR MY 5 WEEK FOOD RELATIONSHIP HEALING & DISCOVERY COACHING PROGRAM

FOR OTHER FREE RESOURCES, LIVE EVENTS, AND WAYS TO WORK WITH CELESTE CLICK HERE

Today I speak with IFBB Bikini Pro Pamela John, a certified personal trainer, strength coach, and nutrition coach, who started competing in 2012 and earned her Pro card at Masters Nationals in 2015 and has competed over 50 times! After the birth of my last daughter in 2000, her body went haywire which eventually led to a diagnosis of Graves disease. Along the way, she discovered that no matter where we are in life, most of us desire to be better than we are right now. Her specialty is helping women restore their bodies through proper mindset, improved nutrition, movement and hormonal balance and as a result they look and feel even better than they ever thought possible!

TOPICS COVERED

-overcoming adversity

-holding commitments to yourself

-becoming disciplined

-Her recipe book- “Fit and Healthy Her”

-being a long time smoker

-fighting Graves disease

-dealing with grief

-coping through prep

-advocating for your health

-having a growth mindset

CONNECT WITH CELESTE:

Website: http://www.celestial.fit

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/celestial_fit/

All Links: http://www.celestial.fit/links.html

CONNECT WITH PAMELA:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pamela.fit.for.life/

Website: www.pamelajohnfitness.com

TIME STAMPS

1:00 introduction

3:57 changes since reclaiming her health

7:05 explaining Graves disease

14:35 finding gratitude in the journey

18:00 having complicated pregnancies

21:20 her love for her mother

25:19 how grief affects us

33:40 understanding pre-grieving

41:36 overcoming challenges

44:44 finding a love for fitness

47:30 be your own health advocate

48:30 changing habits

51:00 being married over 30 years

56:40 things to master before competing

1:01 milestones in competing

1:02:30 changes in bikini division

77:13 competing for reasons other than physique

78:24 creating a recipe book

84:39 advice for competitors

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE FREE FOOD RELATIONSHIP COACHING SERIES

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE FREE POST SHOW BLUES COACHING SERIES

LEARN MORE AND APPLY FOR MY 5 WEEK FOOD RELATIONSHIP HEALING & DISCOVERY COACHING PROGRAM

FOR OTHER FREE RESOURCES, LIVE EVENTS, AND WAYS TO WORK WITH CELESTE CLICK HERE