Interview With Mary Kay Valenti NPC Figure Competitor

Hey Muscle-4Life-Nutrition.com readers. I finally caught up with NPC Competitor, motivational speaker, and my good friend Mary Kay Valenti

Now people, I have met a lot of really nice people in the fitness industry but Mary Kay is truly in class of her own. She is an outstanding lady who really cares about people and their success.

Muscle-4Life-Nutrition.com donates to Child Haven a place dedicated to helping and protecting abused and neglected children, when Mary Kay found out about this she was donating clothes right away. She has a heart gold! Let's get on with the interview.

EC: Hey Mary Kay tell us a little about yourself and how you got started in figure bodybuilding?

Mary Kay: My name is Mary Kay Valenti a.k.a. MK Figure Doll. I’m a motivational speaker, a physique artist, a figure athlete/model and singer. I’m 34 years old and I have a four-year-old son who is my little Superman. I created a company called “Figure Doll,” which is a website dedicated to providing motivation and inspiration to men, women and children.

I’m a woman who has struggled with her weight all her life. I was teased as a child and teenager. I enjoyed playing sports and being athletic but I was always the girl who never felt good in her uniform. My weight often held me back from doing more. I had poor self-esteem and body image.

As an adult I constantly yo-yo dieted. I’m an emotional eater as I used food for comfort and celebration. I have seen my weight go up and down for years but I never won the war. I became withdrawn, sad and anti-social after I gave birth to my son. I reached the highest weight of my life at 230 pounds and realized I did not want to continue on this road. I decided to change my life and began to educate myself.

I worked out at home and changed my diet gradually whereas I was able to lose the first 40 pounds. I was always replacing what I was eating with better choices. I started to read labels and made many choices based on my own education. I joined a gym so that I could continue changing.

I knew I had to add resistance training. Initially, the weights and the fit gym members intimidated me. I decided to push past all my fears and just work hard towards my goal. I met a woman named Kathy Clark who planted the seed about competing. She believed that I had the right genetics. She was an amazing woman who had also won a battle with her own weight.

I continued to train hard and was encouraged to compete in an NPC Figure competition. I was making great progress, quickly and the goal helped me to stay focused. I competed three times in 2007. I did not place but I had the best experiences. I met some amazing people who encouraged me to continue with my journey.

My family surprised me with an engraved trophy that I cherish. Today I continue to learn and grow both physically and mentally but I have learned it’s a “marathon not a sprint.” I will get there. In the meantime, I am giving back and helping others to choose a healthy lifestyle and to keep reaching for their dreams. Everything is possible when you believe.

EC: Great! Figure Doll suits you perfectly. What is your competitive history?

Mary Kay: I competed in May of 2007, October 2007 and November 2007 as a NPC figure competitor.

EC: Do you have a trainer or contest coach or do you do it on your own?

Mary Kay: I trained on my own. I received many spots and all my contest prep information from Derek Rapaduski. He’s a very successful competitor and newly named NPC judge. He wants to see people reach their full potential. With his help I was able to stand proud of my results, knowing I got my body in the best condition possible.

EC: Derek sounds like an awesome guy! What is your training philosophy?

Mary Kay: Always do more than you did before.

EC: Keep those muscles guessing. If you could thank one person for helping you reach your fitness goals, who would it be?

Mary Kay: God.

EC: Glory To God. What does your current training workout look like?

Mary Kay: I still train with intensity whether it’s lifting the weights or hitting the cardio. I want results so I give each workout everything I have. I train 6 days a week, and take one day to rest. I have recently added more cardio but I used to concentrate on lifting. I am finding that balance that will bring the results I desire

EC: Is this training routine something that our readers can use to build muscle and lose body fat or is this something that is more suited for an advanced athlete?

Mary Kay: I was able to make muscle gains and lose fat at the same time. The key for me was intense workouts at a fast pace. I used many supersets and moved from one exercise to the next.

EC: Sounds like a winner. What would you recommend for a beginner who is starting out and wants to design a routine to build muscle and lose body fat?

Mary Kay: Keep moving. Lift with intensity and use many drop sets and supersets. Train another body part in between as you rest, like abs.

EC: Could you share with us your philosophy on nutrition for the off season and contest prep?

Mary Kay: I’m still working on my physique, so I haven’t had a true “off season.” I don’t know that I will. I like being lean.

EC: I feel that is best, stay lean all year round. How important are supplements in your bodybuilding program and which supplements do you use year round?

Mary Kay: I take a good multi-vitamin year round. I like CLA and extra B vitamins. I use protein powder on occasion. I have tried some fat burners with varying results. I think there is much value to supplements but I am very new to this lifestyle and I am still learning what works for me.

I am very fortunate to have used the services at Muscle-4Life-Nutrition.com. When I was searching to find the exact supplements that would take me to the next level of my training, Eddie Cervantes was there to fulfill my needs. I gave him the information about what I was using and together we came up with the best products for my training.

His knowledge is vast and the personal attention is like no other. He also went a step above and looked into stocking a product that I currently use. I received my products quickly and was very pleased with the overall service. I have reordered because of the great experience I had initially. I highly recommend this company not only for their great products, pricing, customer care and interaction but for their dedication to helping others. God bless all that you are doing!

EC: What supplements do you feel are essential when doing a figure bodybuilding show?

Mary Kay: Always a multi-vitamin. I also think a fat burner during prep is key. When you find one that works it can really aid in your progress as you diet down.

EC: What advice would you give to someone who has tried a number of weight loss programs with no success?

Mary kay: I was in that same situation and what I found to be true for myself is that I needed to be ready. I needed to believe that I could be successful. You must stay consistent in your efforts to make real changes. Many of the plans I tried failed because I gave in too quickly. I stopped before they began to make a difference. This time I noticed that it took me three months to make a noticeable change. I remember it well because just as I wanted to give in again I fought that feeling and pushed past it. I soon started hearing compliments from friends and family that I looked like I lost weight. It was a great feeling and it kept me motivated to keep going.

EC: Where and when is your next competition?

Mary Kay: I haven’t decided. I believe I will compete again one day but it will be when I feel I am ready. I compete against myself.

EC: What are your big plans for the future?

Mary Kay: My plan is to do motivational speaking. I am putting together materials to help people with their own journey. I have a book that I began writing but I have found outlets to reach people now so I am pursuing them. The funny thing about my own journey is that this has always been my struggle in life. It has never been my dream or passion to compete. I enjoy it and all the rewards that come from living a healthy lifestyle but my dream is to sing. I used to perform before I lost my mom to a heart attack. Now the song in my heart is ignited once again. I am currently working to record my own music and show others that as long as you believe anything is possible.

EC: . Anything else you would like to add?

Mary Kay: I would like to mention how important hope and faith play in my success. There is no secret to weight loss like many want to believe. It takes hard work. When you have your mind, body and spirit all working together you can accomplish anything. Please visit me at www.mkfiguredoll.com and let me help you with your journey to health and wellness!

EC: It has been a pleasure to bring your success story to all the Muscle-4Life-Nutrition.com readers.

If you are having a hard time starting or sticking with a weight loss or fitness program, make sure to check out Mary Kay's website.

Her website will give you the motivation, inspiration, and the answers you need to reach your fitness goals.

Good luck Mary Kay! I know you will succeed with all your dreams. God Bless!

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