NG......I grew up with 2 older brothers, who were extremely athletic and participated in numerous sports & fitness training. They were my role models and I was greatly influenced by them. Great admirers of Arnie, they would show me many of their bodybuilding magazines from Arnies early days. So I had a young introduction into that of the sport of bodybuilding and the elite bodybuilding athletes of that time. .

  At 14 years old I forged the date of birth on my school library card to read 15 years old so that I could join the gym one year early. I was impatient and excited to start training harder. My love at that time was athletics, and  made the school athletics captain and qualified for the State team.!

  Through my 20s I continued to compete at high level sport taking my enthusiasm to international level with my new sporting love of outrigger canoing.

  In 2006, aged 29 with 15 years of weight training experience and 10-15 years of national & international competitive athletic experience, I took to the stage for the first time as a Figure athlete.

  Figure was something I was both genetically blessed for, and something I had been subconsciously preparing for throughout my 15 or so years training, sculpting and strengthening my body. I mistakenly fell upon a bodybuilding show in 2005, and from that day I knew my love of entertaining people along with my physique, would combine together to one day stand on the stage as these girls were…only better!!!

FFS....A second place in your first show, what do you contribute you rapid success to?  

NG....In the four years I have been involved in the sport of bodybuilding I have noticed that the best physiques I have seen, are those of men and women who were athletes of one or more other sports prior to taking to the stage.
For me, having been actively training and competing in numerous other sports from the age of three, I was able to display for the judges a package that was surprisingly dense and maturely developed, with a structural thickness that also contoured balance and proportion.
I have a great love of entertaining and a confidence in the stage that displays all the years of devotion and dedication, the one thing I know best, and that is my sport

           Hand full of trophies at the Nationals

FFS....Have you thought about moving on to bodybuilding shows?

NG....Technically my sport is called bodybuilding. However there are 2 categories. Physique and Figure. I compete in the Figure category. The category ‘physique’ is the classical bodybuilding which I think you are referring to. It is identical to the class that the men compete in with regards to the judging criteria and weight category splits. For me personally I am not attracted to this physique on a woman. Whilst I respect all athletes for the lifestyle and mental abilities they have, it is not something I aspire to. The category of figure display what is considered by society to be the best female physique. Athletic and lean yet still curvy and feminine. I am an athlete but I am still also a woman who likes to feel sexy and glamorous and I can have all of that on stage as a Figure athlete.

FFS....You certainly do have all of that! How many days a week do you train and how do you usually split your cardio and weights or do you combine the two?

NG....I train everyday with cardio and 6 days a week weight training. My weight training body split at the moment is as follows: Monday chest & abs, Tuesday Quads & Calves, Weds: Bis & Tris, Thurs: Shoulders & Abs, Fri: Hamys & Gluts and Sat: Back & Abs. This split varies through my off season. On Season cardio I do 60mins 7 days a week upon waking and before my first meal. Followed by a second cardio session immediately after weight training 6 days per week, duration of 30 – 60mins.

FFS.... In the off season what exercises, reps and sets do you favour?

NG....Off season I train hard and heavy. Reps & Sets vary, normally higher reps I will do 3 sets of and lower reps/heavier weights I will do a 4 set range. I often superset too. I change things around every 5 weeks or so to keep my muscles and mind fresh!! I hit a variety of solid, compound movements plus more isolated singular movements. I love doing single arm/single leg supersetted with a compound double arm/leg movement.

FFS....Does the above change for you leading up 2 a show?

NG....Yes, leading into a show, with a depleted diet I am often a little weaker and sometimes more fatigued. I lift lighter due to this but also to prevent injury. I super set or monster set more to force out the lines and hardness in the muscle and treat the workout more as cardio so im always burning maximum bodyfat

              On stage at the Nationals

FFS....What sort of diet are you on prior to a show?

NG....I am currently on a 1,200kcals and have a 5-6 meal diet plan. I am likely to reduce this calorie quantity 1-2 months out from a show. I am always on a very low carb diet but I am currently on a zero carb diet to shock my body into burning fats. Protein is always kept high, and being a fish eating vegetarian I am limited with my proteins. I only eat egg whites and fish!

FFS....Do you stop paddling leading up to a show or do you include it in your training?

NG....This I normally make up as I go along. I am currently 11 weeks out from a show and I am paddling 1 x 2hour session per week. I would do a second but I am actually restricted with work hours. I am normally ok to paddle a 1hour session up to 3-4weeks prior to a show, but for me personally I'm more concerned about not being able to give 100% equivalent to that of the other girls. I am of course more fatigued during prep phase so due to this I will judge my ability week to week. Rest, sleep and recovery play a huge role in my decision.

FFS....What role do supplement play in your preparation?

NG....I have actually competed both with a complete range of supplements throughout the day and also with absolutely none what so ever. The latter was not out of choice, but due to finances. The body is under a huge amount of stress in this sport from both the extreme levels of training as well as a restricted and depleted diet and the psychology of the sport most importantly. Having a degree in Naturopathy I am of course in favour of natural supplementation so if I was to have a complete days supps they would be as follows:

Carnitine upon rising and before cardio. Glutatmine after cardio. Multi vit, Vit C, B-complex, Co-Q-10, Zinc, and Flaxseed with breakfast. Glutamine before & after weight training. Pre-training energy formula before weights. BCAAs after weight training. Ginseng complex at lunchtime. Glucosamine & Chondroitin 3 times per day with meals. Flaxseed 4 times per day with meals. Glutamine and fibre mix before bed.

FFS....What is you  favourite exercise in the gym?

NG....Hmmm…toughy…I love seated row & Tbar row, they give the Lats a huge isolated fill of blood and it makes me feel solid, lean and strong. I have a very strong back so It is often hard to get this fill for me from other exercises, these hit me the best. I love also decline leg press, It makes me feel like I'm going to vomit and if I superset it with a leg extension the room actually disappears from my vision and I go to into a temporary coma!! Lol Oh and kneeling Rope crunch…PIN SET TO FULL STACK!!!

                                    Pumping up in Canada

FFS....Favorite bodypart?.....(I know whats mine! LOL)

NG....Ummmm lol…Abs, shoulders, back, legs, gluts,…ha-ha I'm not sure, maybe Abs? I like my gluts though too….sorry can I pass on that one? lol

FFS ....Whats your plans for the future?

NG....Well my dream would be to compete in the ANB Asia Pacific Championships in May followed by the ANB Australian National Championships in October and win both titles. Id then like to go onto compete for a few years with IFBB gradually working my way up through the circuit to earn my Pro card and once day stand on stage at the Arnold Classic, and stare Arnie in the eyes, whilst I shake his hand and receive my first place trophy!!!

   FFS wishes Naomi all the best in her future competitions and has no doubt that one day her dream will come true!