INTERVIEW: IFBB FIGURE PRO STEPHANIE MOEN

SW 2

 

Next in line among the IFBB Pros for an interview is Stephanie Moen from Tacoma, Washington. Stephanie was raised in a home were health and training was Steph SW 2prioritized, so the steps to become a fitness athlete was there from the beginning. However, she did battle some weight issues growing up, but did eventually find the key to reach the physique she felt comfortable with, and that was to become a figure competitor!

State: Washington
City: Tacoma
Occupation: Health Care Administration
Age: 32
Division: Figure
Height: 5’7” / 170 cm

Contest background:

Oct, 2011: Ft. Lauderdale Cup IFBB Figure Placing: 14th
Nov 16, 2009: Kentucky Muscle IFBB Figure Placing: 10th, Pro Debut
Sep 19, 2009: NPC Team Universe – Placing: 1st and (Received IFBB Professional Status)
Aug 29, 2009: NPC North American’s – Placing: 15th
Mar 07, 2009: NPC Arnold Amateur – Placing: 3rd
Jun 22, 2008: NPC Junior Nationals – Placing: 10th, Class F
Jun 07, 2008: NPC Indianapolis Championship – Placing: 1st
Aug 11, 2007: NPC Europa Super Show – Placing: 11th
Jul 28, 2007: NPC Caveman Classic – Placing: 1st
Jul 14, 2007: NPC Indiana State Championship – Placing: 2nd
Apr 07, 2007: NPC Cincinnati Championship – Placing: 3rd
Mar 24, 2007: NPC Northern Kentucky Championship – Placing: 4th

 

Eva SimonRM: Stephanie, whould you like to tell us about your athletic background, and your road to becoming a figure competitor?

SM: Growing up, I was raised in a football centered home, my dad and both my older and younger brother. Playing sports and lifting weights was a staple in our lives. I could not wait until I was old enough to workout at the YMCA with the rest of my family. We have photos of us flexing our arms and now, as adults, we still flex for one another! As an active family we not only lifted heavy, but they also ate heavy! All my life I have struggled with my weight and body image. These issued have plagued me my entire life… even at the age of 5 on the t-ball field; I had to make sure I had a bow in my hair! Growing up I played baseball, basketball and anything that would contain my competitive spirit (and showing that I was just as tough as my two brothers!), however, it was cheerleading that stuck with me from third grade until I graduated high school. This too added to my lack of confidence since I was not the ‘typical size’ of a cheerleader. Although beneficial for my current endeavors, my broad shoulders and long legs were not conducive to cheering in college, and no matter how hard I worked and no matter what titles I received, a 5’7″ cheerleader is not on the top of a recruiter’s list. So I hung up my pom poms and conformed to the “college” lifestyle. Processed food, alcohol and lack of exercise followed suit and the inevitable happened, I had become a societal stereotype.

In January of 2005, I saw myself in a music video, put together by one of my former college classmates, and was completely faced with a true picture of my physical self: 180-pounds and 30 percent body fat. The person I saw on the screen could not possibly be me! It was at that moment I knew it was time for a complete lifestyle change; I bought a treadmill, a dry erase board, diet log and got to work. At that time, I knew little about diet and exercise but enough to know I had to burn more than I consumed in order to start losing weight. I immediately started educating myself about nutrition and what it would take to maintain muscle, while burning fat. gabeEight months later I had lost over forty pounds through hard work, a healthier diet and a new outlook on life.

Later that fall, I went to a bodybuilding competition to watch one of my friends compete. As the girls lined up on stage something clicked! This was what I wanted to do! At that moment I had an epiphany. I saw myself on stage, in the jeweled suit and clear 4-inch heels, reveling in the stage lights and listening to the onlooker’s cheers. Plans were immediately put into action to step on stage. Four months later at my first show my life changed forever, I became a figure competitor.

It was immediately after my first show that I knew I had found my niche. Determined to obtain professional status, I competed at the 2009 Team Universe. This was my third national show, and tenth show competing. Leading up to the show, everything felt perfect and show day, everything fell completely into place. My dream came true and I left the stage a new IFBB pro.

RM: What does your weekly training schedule look like?

SM: I weight training about 5-6 days a week – and I train legs twice a week- breaking up my quads and my hamstrings. I try to hit my upper body at least twice a week too.

Right now I am doing steady state cardio. For years I completed HIIT cardio, however, my body adapted and my coach decided it was time to switch it up – so now I do 45 minutes of steady state daily.

My training regimen changes depending on where I am – but I am always doing my best to train as hard and HEAVY as I can!

RM: How would you describe your training style?

SM: I stick Stephanie-studio-494with a lot of compound movements and most of the basics. I try my best to train as hard and heavy as I can.

I am a natural athlete and a HUGE proponent for women against steroid use, and I find that my intensity sometimes needs to be adjusted – but, my body responds the best when I am training super heavy.

RM: What are the main things that keep you motivated to train?

SM: I train at my husband’s gym – GStandard Gym in Tacoma, WA – and you cannot get much more motivation than that!

We are like a family- and we are all there to train – and train hard.

Many are training for competition and others are training for personal goals – so it is a great environment to be in and certainly keeps me motivated!

RM: When are you planning to compete again?

SM: Fall 2015. I have not competed for a few years due to a couple of injuries and changes in my career. I have taken a lot of time to invest in my personal career – and my hard work and dedication is certainly paying off!

RM: Where in life is Stephanie 10 years from now?

SM: I recently married the love of my life- and I am certain we will be blissfully happy & loving life for many, many years to come.

We hope to have a family – praying for God to bless us with 2 kiddos! – And we plan to build and grow my husband’s gym (GStandardGym) and I personally plan to grow in my personal career.

I know that no matter what – I will be loving life! J

RM: Ok, it’s time to wrap up this interview, if there is anyone you want to thank or something you might want to add, please go ahead.

SM: Of course, I want to thank my amazing husband, Gabriel Moen and I thank God for blessing me in abundance!gustavo6

I would also like to thank my current coach, Tad Inoue (Tad the Diet Coach) – he has been wonderful – and he certainly enriches my life daily!

Layne Norton for helping me through a BIG transition in my life and teaching me how to enjoy food and training!

And – my amazing family! My beautiful mema – my mom, dad and my two awesome brothers!

 

Thank you for telling us your story about how you got involved in fitness and also your career goals. We at Rising Muscle wishes you all the best and are looking forward to see more from you in the future!

 

To reach Stephanie:

Facebook: IFBB Pro Stephanie Moen
Instagram: StephMoen00
Twitter: StephMoen00
YouTube: StephBillings00

 

Photo credits:

Featured picture: Rob Rosetti
Studio shots: Eva simon
Arena picture: Private
Face picture: Gustavo Alfaro

 

 

Know why WINSOL gets our GOLDEN DUMBELL OF APPROVAL seal

rising muscle quality seal
Scroll to Top