"Fitness Babe" Lea Newman!

Growing up I tried many different sports and physical activities, but wasn't very good at any of them. Unfortunately, unhealthy weight and weight related health problems (heart problems, high blood pressure, diabetes, bone and joint problems, etc…) also run on both sides of my family. I graduated enlisted basic training at 120 and always saw myself that way. Imagine my surprise when I had spent so much time and energy studying to get my degree and working that I completely neglected my health to the point where I found myself at an extremely unhealthy 170+ lbs (I stopped lookinga the scale at 170)! Once I had this horrifying epiphany, I put down the fork and got my butt to the gym. I started slow by committing to a minimum of 20 min a day of cardio activity. Quickly, I worked up to 30 – 45 min per day as well as weight training. I even got certified to teach step aerobics! I had come a long way but still wasn't satisfied. That's when I saw my first Ms. Fitness competition on TV. They all seemed to be the epitome of health and fitness. I knew that someday I would have to compete.

From then on, I worked out with varying degrees of intensity. However, I was always looking for local competition I could compete in. Finally, in Sep 2005 I was able to do my very first competition with the American Bodybuilding Association. Much to my surprise… I WON!!! Judges, friends and family then encouraged me to take it to the next level a couple of months later in Las Vegas at the Natural Olympia. Once again… I WON (well most of my events). I placed 1st in Ms. Fitness and Fitness Model Search, and 2nd in Bikini Diva.

This past September I was honored to take the stage at the Rio in Las Vegas with 39 other women to compete in Ms. Fitness USA 2007. I placed 12th overall.

Now I'm hooked! My sights are firmly fixed on Ms. Fitness USA in Sep 2007 at the Rio in Las Vegas. My goal is to make top 6 so that I can also compete in Ms. Fitness world the next day. Wish me luck!

What led me to compete in fitness competitions: I saw fitness competitions on TV and was inpressed that these women were not only fit... but could DO so much with it!

What my training typically consists of: I'm in the process of changing my workout routine quite a bit. I used to do: Monday – Chest and shoulders, 30 min cardio Tuesday – Back, bi's and tri's, 30 min cardio Wednesday – Legs and glutes, 30 min cardio Thursday – Chest and shoulders, 30 min cardio Friday – Back, bi's and tri's, 30 min cardio Saturday – Legs and glutes, 30 min cardio Sunday – Cardio and stretching only

Now, I do: 30 min cardio and 30-45 min flexibility training every morning in addition to: Monday –Upper body, 30 min cardio Tuesday – Lower body, 30 min cardio Wednesday – Upper body, 30 min cardio Thursday – 45 min cardio Friday – Upper body, 30 min cardio Saturday – Lower body, 30 min cardio Sunday – Long run (10+ miles) only

Everything is high rep/low weight. Super-setting all exercises... NO STOPPING!!! Sometimes my evening cardio is a run... other days it is routine practice. In between exercises I do 10 high kicks to each side, 10 high kicks to the front, as well as jumps. On Upper body day I'm working on getting up to 125 pushups and doing 1 arm pushups with impeccable form.

Supplements I take: Animal Pak multi-vitamins and Glutamine Powder by Universal Nutrition; Pure Whey Stack by Champion Nutrition and B-complex by Optimum Nutrition

Supplementstogo.com's recommended tanning product: Rebel Sun with Tingle Bronzer from Hoss Sauce