Interview With Gina Trochiano - IFBB Figure Pro
Competitor of the Month - February 2010
Interviewed by: Angela Courduff
WP: Gina Trochiano was born in Brooklyn and currently resides at the Jersey Shore. Healthy living has been her way of life. In 2009, Gina reaching IFBB Pro status and she became the first signed IFBB Pro Sponsored Athlete for Cellucor Sports Nutrition. Gina has her sights on qualifying for the Ms. Olympia for 2010! With all the accomplishments she has made in 2009, 2010 looks very promising!
“My advice to anyone would be that you can reach your goals if you have the dedication and willpower. This is a proven science; you get out what you put in. There are no short cuts!”
WP: Hello, Gina. It is a true honor to be interviewing you today. I am sure every one of our readers are dying to learn more about you. Can you tell us a little?
GT: Thank you for having me! Well, I am a sponsored IFBB pro figure competitor from the Jersey Shore. I won my first ever pro-qualifier this past September which was a huge thrill! I still can barely believe it.
WP: Congratulations! You must be ecstatic! When did you first become interested in exercise and fitness?
GT: I have always been interested in competitive sports and staying in shape. As a child, I participated in competitive cheerleading, dancing, and gymnastics. After a five year career in the telecommunications industry in Manhattan, I started working as a personal trainer. So, my competitive spirit and passion for fitness have always been there.
WP: When was your first figure competition? Can you describe your experience?
GT: My first figure competition was in 2007. I got the idea to compete after reading through some fitness magazines. I wanted to see how I far I could go. I had no trainer, no nutritionist, no experts, and no idea what I was getting into. I did it all by myself. I ended up placing third and it was a learning experience. After that I wanted more and began working with my now figure coach, Glen Nowland of G-Force.
WP: It is truly impressive that you did it all on your own. What was running through your head when you realized you won your pro-card?
GT: Honestly, I still cannot believe it! I have followed the sport for a long time so it is really incredible to be among the same pros that I have seen in magazines and on television for years. I feel so blessed.
WP: What competitions do you have planned for 2010?
GT: My first pro show will be the New York Pro Figure, My overall goal is to qualify for Ms. Olympia with in the next two years! I get chills just thinking about it!
WP: No downtime for you! When you win the Ms. Olympia, we want the first interview. Ha-ha!What do you enjoy most about competing?
GT: I truly love it all! I love the dedication that is required to be great in this sport. I love to surpass my own expectations and the expectations of others who doubt me. This is a proven science with guaranteed results. You just have to be strong enough to put in the hard work.
WP: Being the expert you are, what advice would you give to someone interested in competing in figure for the first time?
GT: My advice to anyone would be that you can reach your goals if you have the dedication and willpower. Like I said, this is a proven science. You get out what you put in. There are no short cuts!
WP: That is excellent advice! What do you feel you’ve learned from competing?
GT: This sport has taught me a lot. I have learned how to live a structured life and how to visualize my goals and make them a reality. Competing has definitely made me a better person who is capable of getting the most out of life. ‘Tutto e’ Possibile’ means ‘Anything’s Possible’ in Italian. That is what this sport has taught me more than anything. If you set your mind to something, you can achieve it.
WP: Can you tell me how your training has changed over the years?
GT: Since I started competing I have become much more regimented. My training has also become more intense as I push myself further and further. I am learning more about my own body and that has a huge impact on my training. I change my workout and diet as I discover what works for me and what does not. It is still early in my career so I am learning as I go along.
WP: What are the key factors that dictate the way you train today?
GT: I always want to be better than I was the last time. That keeps me motivated. Also, I realize there is always someone out there trying to achieve the same goal as I am. I cannot give them the opportunity to get a leg up on me. The person who is willing to sacrifice the most blood, sweat and tears will walk away victorious. Therefore, I have to make every workout and every meal count.
WP: You really have that competition edge and seem prepared to do whatever it takes! What do you consider to be the hardest part of training?
GT: The first four days of getting into competition mode are always the hardest for me. I have to change my mindset completely and that can be difficult. But, once I make that mental transition I love it!
WP: That is true, mindset can be the biggest factor in overcoming hurdles and reaching your goals. Can you give me an example of your current workout?
GT: Right now, in the off-season, I have been lifting heavy and mainly focusing on my lower-body. I have been doing a lot of squats, duck squats, hack squats, and leg presses. As far as my upper body goes, I have been trying to dial it in and make sure my symmetry is just right. I have been sticking to isolated movements and supersets.
WP: You have quite a bit of experience working in the fitness industry. Tell us about it!
GT: I started in 1995 as a personal trainer. I was also a spinning and aerobics instructor. After that, I began working for a sports nutrition company where I first fell in love with this sport. It was inspirational to see the best of the best first hand at the Arnold Classic and Olympia! Currently, I work for Cellucor. I am the Director of Athlete Relations and Corporate Accounts. I am also their first sponsored IFBB pro which is an accomplishment I am very grateful and proud of.
WP: What an accomplishment! You have come so far! Can you give us an example of your daily diet, on-season and off-season?
GT: I always eat six meals per day. In the off-season, I eat a meal with carbs in the morning and another post-workout. All my other meals are protein and vegetables. I eat very clean even in the off-season. I allow myself two cheat meals per week. One of them will usually consist of a small piece of cake. The other will often be something like a grilled chicken wrap.
While on-season, I carb-cycle. For the last six weeks before a show I take in almost zero carbs and get into ketosis. My favorite part of show season starts two weeks out when I am running on no carbs, little fat, and PURE adrenaline. I go to the gym with almost no energy and work harder than I thought possible. During that time, I wake up everyday looking like a different person.
WP: It is amazing what the human body can do when adrenaline comes into play! What supplements do you currently take?
GT: Right now, I am taking Cellucor M5 as a pre-workout mass builder and Cellucor N Zero as a pre-workout energy boost. I always follow up my workouts with Cellucor R3 for recovery. That helps me survive my grueling leg workouts. Also, I always take Isopure Ultralean as my protein supplement.
When I’m getting ready for a show, I use Cellucor’s Stimulant-Free Weight Loss System which includes T7, WS1, and L2. I will also use Cellucor’s D4 for energy if I’m lagging in the last few weeks. For more info, see www.cellucor.com.
WP: You definitely have your supplements down to a science. What is the hardest part of dieting for you?
GT: I love to eat large portions. For me, it is not as much about what I am eating but the amount I’m allowed to eat which makes it difficult. Three ounces of tilapia just doesn’t cut it.
WP: What are your stats?
GT: In the off-season I weigh somewhere between 120 and 128 lbs. My projected 2010 contest weight is 112 lbs. I am 5'4-1/4” tall.
WP: How about lifting stats? Bench, squat, or deadlift?
GT: I squat 160 lbs. for 4 sets of 12 reps and getting stronger!
WP: Are you involved in any other sports or activities?
GT: I have been incorporating a UFC cardio class and some sparring. I train at Rhino MMA Fight club in NJ. It is a great substitute for a cardio workout and extremely empowering!
WP: Besides earning your Pro-card this year, are there any other titles/accomplishments you’d like to boast of? Tell me about them.
GT: I am so grateful to have been accepted into the Cellucor family as their first sponsored pro athlete and as a full time employee. I really feel honored to be in my position.
WP: Who are some of your idols? Who do you admire most in your business?
GT: Tanji Johnson has been a huge inspiration to me. She is an absolutely beautiful person inside and out. She is also very spiritual and a great motivator. I have been a fan of hers for years and now and am happy to say she is a dear friend.
WP: Are you currently doing any modeling? Can you tell me some of the photographers you’ve worked with, or someone you’d like to work with?
GT: I have done multiple shoots with Chris Zimmerman of RX Muscle. He is fantastic and has been amazing to work to with! He will also be shooting me in the near future in a two part pre-contest video I will be doing with Dave Palumbo at RXmuscle.com.
WP: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
GT: I hope to be married with children and sitting on a judges’ panel somewhere. I can say for sure I will be in the industry in one way or another. I would be miserable without it!
WP: What do you consider to be important in life? Why?
GT: I think it is very important to give back to those who have helped you and to be appreciative of the people who have showed you support. I also think it is very important to be proud of yourself and your accomplishments. But, you don’t want to get cocky. You can be proud of yourself, yet remain humble.
WP: I absolutely agree with you. How have you changed over the past few years when it comes to thinking, actions, and life in general?
GT: Competing has made me a better person in general. I am more structured and disciplined. I have learned to not take things for granted. I know that nothing will be handed to me if I do not work hard for it.
WP: Do you have any future projects in the works?
GT: Right now, I am focusing on my two main goals for 2010: qualifying for Ms. Olympia and continuing a successful career with Cellucor.
WP: Any shout outs?
GT: I would like to thank everyone who supported me along the way. I would especially like to thank my trainer, Glenn Nowland, for believing in me and pushing me to new levels everyday.
WP: It has been a pleasure interviewing you! I wish you the best of luck in 2010!
GT: Thank you so much for taking the time to interview me!
