WNBF Figure Pro

Kristina Brunner

1.      How did you get started in Bodybuilding?

I have been interested in bodybuilding since I was a young girl and I grew up admiring female bodybuilders like Cory Everson and Rachel McClish. I started lifting weights in high school with my cousin and lifted primarily to stay fit and be competitive in high school sports.  Through the years, I have stayed fit and exercised regularly.  I met my boyfriend Mike in January of 2008 and he has been lifting weights all of his life.

We started training together and he mentioned that I should try competing in a figure or bodybuilding competition.  We trained and dieted hard (he lost 55 pounds) and I entered my first competition in June of 2008.  It was a natural competition sponsored by the NANBF in Tulsa and I ended up winning the overall figure championship.  I was thrilled and inspired to compete again.  I did my second competition sponsored by the INBA in July and won there as well.  I competed again in the NANBF in August and won 1^st place in the open tall figure division. The last competition I did was with the NANBF this month in Kansas City and I won the overall figure championship and I earned my WNBF Pro figure card.  I am excited and nervous about making my pro debut and will probably do so next year.

2. What is your training philosophy?

I do cardio every morning before breakfast and lift Monday – Friday.  I train two body parts a day (chest and triceps, back and biceps, shoulders & hamstrings) and I train my quads twice a week on Monday and Friday.  I lift heavy until about two or three weeks before a competition and then I switch to a high rep moderate weight workout.  I train hard and concentrate on my workout and the muscle being worked the entire time.

3. What is your diet like?

My diet consists of lean proteins (mainly chicken, some lean ground beef and sirloin), carbohydrates in moderation (sweet potatoes, brown rice, grapefruit, apple, berries and spaghetti squash) and lots of green leafy vegetables (spinach, broccoli and asparagus).  I eat six small meals a day and use a protein powder for snacks.  I keep my fat intake very low and avoid saturated fats almost always.  I eat clean almost all year round, but I allow myself a few cheat days especially in the off season when I am not competing.

4. Who are your role models?

I admire anyone who sets a goal for themselves, focuses on it and accomplishes it no matter what adversities might be in the way.

5. What advice would you give to new athletes?

I would tell them to surround themselves with positive people and people who are going to support their dreams and avoid the negative people because they will only bring you down.  This sport takes a lot of self discipline and inner strength and you need to be able to rely on the people in your life and look to them for inspiration.

Kristina Brunner  krissybrunner@yahoo.com

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