Confessions of a Bikini Pro Celeste Rains-Turk

Today I speak with IFBB Bikini Pro Sam McDonough, from Kansas City, MO, currently living in Sacramento. She recently earned her BA in Psychology plans to eventually be a Marriage and Family Counselor. Currently, she is a coach at a couple gyms and a Posing Coach for Bikini and Wellness athletes. She has been competing since 2017, first in the NANBF. At her first NPC show in 2020, she started in Wellness and Bikini. She earned her Pro Card at the 2024 Arnold Amateur and is now in a long improvement season!
 
TOPICS COVERED
-eating disorders
-stage presence and showcasing the physique 
-pursuing marriage and family counseling
-being in the queer community
-going through sexual assault
-being a presentation coach
-common posing mistakes
-looking like you belong
-training intensity & junk volume
-falling in love with the sport
 
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 SAM:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andthats_showbiz_baby_ifbbpro/
Posing: https://www.instagram.com/360posing/
 
TIME STAMPS
1:00 introduction
5:58 how her mentality has changed
11:52 competing while in school
15:22 pursuing marriage and family counseling
20:40 working with the queer community
26:00 exploring her identity
32:43 the desire to help others
36:43 plans for the future
38:09 going through a traumatic experience
46:40 being a presentation coach
51:32 working on feedback
60:25 posing for the Pro league
67:29 taking time away from stage
71:25 wellness & bikini
78:35 don’t complain about competing
79:40 overcoming body image issues
84:00 my “last” competition
91:20 advice for competitors
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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
 
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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 
 
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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
 
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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