Where and when were you born? I was born in Australia on the 30 July. My mum is Chinese and my dad an Aussie. What is your profession? I own my Personal Training business and I am a contract PT / Gym Instructor to a local PT Studio. Were you involved in sports or fitness prior to bodybuilding and how did you get started with weight training? Yes, always! As a child I played hockey, softball, athletics and when I began working I took up ‘’aerobic” classes. One day on a visit to another town I was looking for a gym that held classes but this particular gym I went to didn’t cater for them and the gym owner simply asked “Have you ever tried weights?” I had a session that day and I have never looked back! (I was 20 at the time). Was it a goal for you to compete in bodybuilding 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? No it wasn’t something I had thought about doing right away. I secretly admired the bodybuilders at the local gym and at that time didn’t believe I had what it took to be able to get into that kind of shape. I first started to get interested in competitions about 9 years ago when I was going through a personal crisis. Training for competition was a fantastic release for me during that time. I can still remember my first comp clearly, I was really unsure of what to expect and placing third created a drive in me to improve my physique to want to win! So my goal has been to improve on my symmetry as my legs have always been an overpowering body part. In 2004, I was able to prove to myself I was on the right track with a win and so from that point on another personal goal I set for myself was to win an Australian Title, which I finally did 3 years later in 2007. Now I am totally addicted!!! Can you give me your competition history? 2011 - IFBB NSW State Titles (O52kgs) Womens Bodybuilding 1st Place 2011 - IFBB Australian Titles (O52kgs) Womens Bodybuilding 1st Place 2011 - IFBB Australasian Championships (Open) Bodybuilding 1st Place 2011 - IFBB Amatuer Grand Prix (Open) Bodybuilding 1st Place 2010 - IFBB Australian Titles - 1st Place Bodybuilding(under 55kg) 2010 - IFBB NSW State Titles - 1st Place Open Bodybuilding 2009 - INBA Olympia - 4th Place Open Bodybuilding 2009 - INBA Australian Titles - 1st Open Bodybuilding 2009 - INBA ACT Titles - 1st Open Bodybuilding 2008 - INBA Olympia (San Francisco) - 6th Short Class Bodybuilding 2008 - INBA Australian Titles - 9th Open Bodybuilding 2008 - INBA ACT Titles - 1st Open Bodybuilding 2007 – INBA Ms Australia - Overall 2007 – INBA Australian Titles – 1st 2007 – WNBF Australian Championships – 4th (Best Posing Routine) 2007 – WNBF ACT Championships – 1st (Best Posing Routine) 2006 – INBA Australian Titles – 4th 2006 - INBA ACT Titles – 1st 2005 – INBA Australian Titles – 3rd 2005 - INBA ACT Titles – 1st 2004 – INBA Melbourne Titles – 1st 2004 – INBA City v’s Country – 1st 2004 – Dubbo International Bodybuilding - Overall 2004 – Dubbo International Bodybuilding - 1st 2002 – INBA NSW Natural Physique Titles – 1st (Best Posing Routine) 2002 – INBA Canberra & Country Natural Physique Titles – 2nd 2002 – Dubbo International Bodybuilding Championships – 3rd Which contest has been your biggest success; which has had the most meaning to you? Up until 2007, without a doubt it would have to be the INBA Australian Titles, winning not only my division but taking out the Overall Title as well. It’s every bodybuilders dream to win an Overall Australian Title. And it’s not just meaningful because I won, two weeks prior I had placed a disappointing 4th within another federation. I wanted that title so bad so for a further two weeks I increased my cardio to 3 hours a day and reduced my calorie intake further. It was really tough but I wanted to win and fortunately for me all that hard work I put in paid off! I proved to myself that once again I was capable of succeeding. And in 2010, I decided to make the transition over to IFBB. My first year competing with this federation was an awesome experience. I placed 1st in the State Title and 1st in the Australian Title. My coach Perry Venakis has helped me reach my best condition ever to date. Please tell me something about your training routine (ie: how many days per week / training split /cardio, etc.) I weight train 6 times per week. My training split is: Sunday: Legs / Butt Monday: Chest Tuesday: Back Wednesday: Legs / Abs Thursday: Shoulders Friday: Triceps / Biceps Saturday: REST DAY I walk everyday for one hour. I love going for walks, not only does it help keep me in shape, it’s good thinking time. I also do a 5 km run twice week and have a half hour kickboxing session once a week for a bit of cross training. I am very passionate about my training. I train hard and my nutrition is a whole let better these days. What is your favorite exercise in the gym and which one you don’t like so much? I have many favourites ... there's not a lot of exercises I dont like. If I have to pick an exercise I couldn't say just one. I love doing chin ups, deadlifts and bench press especially. I challenge myself to lift heavier all the time ... it helps keeps me motivated. The exercise I least like is anything to do with biceps! I hate bicep training. I'm not sure why, I just know I dread training biceps! Which body part is your best in your opinion? In my opinion, my shoulders. Over the past few years I have been training them hard and I finally have shoulders! I would still love to have them a little bigger though! I am sure the guys at the gym would say my legs/calves are my best feature ... I get a lot of comments in regards to them! What do you enjoy about training for competition....what do you enjoy about the 'off season'? I actually love the comp training. I really enjoy the personal challenge! I love pushing my body to its limits and I love the strictness of comp dieting. I like routine and with comp training you really need to be in a strict routine to make sure you get your training and food in for the day as well as live your everyday life. My off season actually doesn’t change terribly much. The only difference is if I feel like a treat (cashews or cheese - yum!) I have it or if I’m having a really busy day and can’t make training I don’t stress too much about missing a session (doesn’t happen a lot!). Please describe a typical day in the life of Christine Zadel. I get up at 6.00 am most days, have breakfast and then out the door by 6.30 am and go for a 1 hour walk or a stationary bike ride. I shower, do a few household chores and then out the door again by 8.30 am ready to start with my first client for the day at 9.00 am. After I've finished with my morning clients, I get to train myself! I go home have lunch and then I have afternoon clients to train or I do my shift at the gym. Depending on the day, I am usually home by about 7.00 pm where I write out the next days PT sessions, check emails, dinner, shower, maybe go for another walk and in bed by 11.00 pm ready to do it all again. Please tell me about what you do when you don’t work out (hobbies, what do you do to relax?, etc.) When I am not working out, I love having a coffee with friends, spending time on the computer, study (I like to keep updating my knowledge on fitness) and maybe watch a DVD (which is not very often). What do you enjoy most about the bodybuilding/fitness lifestyle? Absolutely everything about it .... I live it and teach it. I love the feeling of looking and being fit & healthy. It’s exciting to see how weight training can manipulate the shape of your body. Exercise keeps you young! Tell me something interesting about yourself, something people may be surprised to hear. I am the mother of three children. Two boys and a girl aged 19, 17 & 14. I also am a mad collector of Betty Boop and I adore Japanese Cherry Blossom "anything"! What are your competition goals or personal future goals? To keep on improving my physique, create new challenges for myself, to always be healthy and to be a positive example of fitness & health. I would also love to have the opportunity to compete and travel overseas in the near future! Please note: Christine does not do sessions or wrestling of any kind. Please don't ask!! |