Healthy Nutrition, Mind, Body and Soul
For this week’s Health Seat interview, we sat down with the multi-talented Allison Williams.
1: What inspires you to stay fit and eat a clean diet?
My inspiration is the desire to look and feel good. It’s so important to live this type of lifestyle for yourself – not for an occasion or a person or anything outside of yourself. You need to truly “want this” for it to work. And after being in the health and fitness industry for over 30 years, it really comes naturally to me now. I love good food so I will splurge on “anything” every now and again.
2: Did you always want to be a chef or a business owner? What got you into your field of work?
I have always had a passion for food and fitness; and over the years, I just found a way to merge both worlds. There are many businesses out there that make healthy food. However, for me, it’s not just about the food, it’s the intention, the energy and the love I put into making every meal. For me, it’s not just cooking.
3: For those who are interested in a fitness regimen, what kind of training do you offer?
At the moment, I only train one on one. I have done group classes in the past; however, for my style of training, I prefer to focus on one or two clients at a time. This way, they get the attention they need because everyone is different and requires that undivided attention, especially beginners.
4: When would you say is the busiest time of year for you and your team?
The busiest time of the year is around the holidays, because everyone wants to look good and eat good as well. Carnival season is also popular; however, I prefer to train clients who have long-term goals and not seasonal goals. I can always train a person to get that costume- or beach-body. However, I get more satisfaction from knowing that I was responsible for someone being able to play with their kids without getting out of breath.
5: Are you involved in any community events, charity efforts or church groups?
I do get involved in community events occasionally, such as the Heart Foundation, women’s groups and schools. I enjoy sharing the knowledge I have gained throughout the years.
6: Do you have a favourite beach on St. Maarten?
My favourite beach is Plum Baie, Long Baie, or Mullet Bay on a quiet day.
7: How do you balance your time between work and working out as well as downtime?
I work pretty much any day, once I have a job scheduled; and I do try to work out at least three times per week, which could be at the gym, or outdoors hiking or biking. Downtime is extremely important to me, as not getting enough rest could hamper your fitness goals. It is just as important for the body to get rest as it is to train. They go hand in hand.
8: Are there any exciting specials or deals in the pipeline?
I am currently working on something for the ladies. I have been getting more and more requests from the “more mature individuals.” As we age, things change, so we also have to change the way we train and eat to make the process more comfortable.
9: How did your journey into bodybuilding begin, and what inspired you to pursue it competitively?
My bodybuilding journey actually started by accident. When I was 16 years old, I was waiting to go to an aerobic dance class and then decided to venture into the weight-room because I was early. I have stayed in the weight-room ever since.
10: What’s one myth about female bodybuilding that you wish people would stop believing?
The biggest myth is that if you lift weights, you will look like a man. The appearance of your body depends on the type of training you do, your body type and hormones – and, remember, training is not a one size fits all, the same routine will have different effects on different people.
11: Can you share your most memorable competition experience?
My most memorable competition experience was actually not on stage. It was having the opportunity to meet my fellow professional competitors from all over the world, especially the ones you normally would only see in the magazines. The one person who comes to mind was Lenda Murray, eight-time Ms. Olympia Champ – and I was also told we resembled each other.
12: What advice would you give to young women interested in getting into competitive bodybuilding?
If you are going to compete, you must go all out. It must become your life because the amount of effort, energy, money, and time you spend preparing cannot be just for the fun of it, especially if you want to succeed.
13: What’s your signature dish that surprises people when they learn it’s also nutritious?
My famous gluten-free chocolate and carrot cakes – people are always amazed because of the wholesome ingredients that go into that batter.
14: How do you integrate your experience as a competitive athlete into your personal training?
Being a retired competitive athlete has trickled into every area of my life, especially when it comes to the time, energy and most of all, discipline. It’s also important to know that training for competition and everyday life is totally different.
15: Can you share with us one challenge you have had in your career?
One of my biggest challenges was working fulltime while prepping for a professional competition. Normally, the majority of the other professional athletes I met while competing were sponsored athletes who only had to focus on the competition, whereas I worked a full-time job while preparing for my competitions, as well as raising my own funds to cover all of my expenses. I trained seven days per week – one hour of cardio in the morning, went to work until 5:00pm and then did at least one hour of weight training and another hour of high intensity cardio training and beach cardio and tanning on Sundays. I also taught myself basic gymnastics as they did not have classes back in those days.
Visit www.chefajw.com for more information.
