Where and when were you born? Pontiac Michigan What is your profession? Fitness Expert – President of Mak Attack Fitness Wear and Nutrition What kind of activities/sports did you do before you started lifting weights? Gymnastics, earned a college scholarship at Michigan State University How and when did you get involved into lifting weights? Junior year of high school, I had stress fractures in my lower back and so my coach wanted to strengthen the muscle around it, so I learned how to Olympic lift, and even competed in two National competitions and placed first and second! Was it a goal for you to compete in Fitness competitions right from the beginning or was it something that grew in your mind as time went on and you saw the progress in your body? I knew when I got into fitness, I was changing my body to become a fitness body vs a body of a gymnast. I always was strong in the routine round, so it was more challenging in the diet and training to see how my body could change and transform. What was your first competition and how did you place? My first one was a fitness America pageant, and the girl who won did two seconds of her routine and ran off stage cuz she forgot, well, she didn’t get to go again, but WON the show! I had a bad taste for fitness for 5 years after that. Basically the judges said her two seconds were better than the rest of our 2 minutes! HA – not what I was interested in. And which contest has been the biggest success for you yet? I think there are several shows that are significant to me. I won the NPC Nationals in ATL – it was my hometown, with my family and friends. I placed 6th at the Arnold Classic, and that was a year that both my mom and dad were diagnosed with cancer. I qualified for the Fitness Olympia and my parents were there to see it. I placed in the top 10 at the Fitness Olympia. I had the thrill of competing in 3 overseas shows. Could you please add a history of all contests that you have entered so far?NPC Nationals, 1999 Great Lakes Pro Fitness, Jan Tana Pro Fitn, Midwest Pro Fit, 2000 Arnold Classic, Jan Tana Pro- broke foot, 2001 Arnold Classic, NY Pro, Jan Tana Pro, Pittsburgh Pro, Fitness Olympia, European Pro 2002 Arnold Classic, NY Pro, Slovakia Pro fitness, Budapest Pro Fitness, Jan Tana- tore Plantar Fascia 2003 Arnold Classic, NY Pro, GNC Pro Fitness Please describe a typical day in the life of Laura Mak. Begin with emails and coffee, train at gym- yoga, cardio or weights, breakfast, phone calls and appointments, sometimes in evening a hip hop dance class, sometimes dance rehearsal, cook dinner or go out to dinner with friends. Please tell me something about your daily training routine. I only train weights now about 3 times a week, more for maintenance, unless I am getting ready for a photo shoot. I love yoga and keep learning more about it. I do more for endurance with plyos and high rep with medium weights. I lift quickly – finish in about 30 minutes. What are the main differences when you train for a competition and in off-season? Off season for me is for maintanence, and competition is for business. If you don’t mind would you give me some stats (best lifts and some body measurements)? My biceps are 11in, chest27in, legs 20 inch, calves 15 in Which bodypart is your best in your opinion? I typically get the most compliments on my legs, I have had a hamstring sweep all my life but it seems to be the favorite. What is your favorite exercise in the gym and which one you don’t like so much? Favorite-Lunges Least favorite – don’t really have one Please tell me about what else you are doing when you don’t work out (profession, hobbies, etc.) Love Basketball Michigan State and NBA, beach volleyball, rollerblading. What are your future plans for 2005? Plan to continue to grow Mak Attack and I am branching into some new areas. I am very excited about this. The new areas are fitness related, but new. Please note: Laura does not do sessions or wrestling of any kind. Please don't ask!! |