Where and when were you born? I was born on September 18, 1978 (Virgo all the way, baby!) in Edmonton, AB, Canada. I lived in Edmonton until I was 11 and then moved to Vancouver until I was 16, when I returned back to Edmonton, where I currently live. What is your profession? I currently work for Bacardi Canada (which is funny, because I’m not much of a drinker) as a merchandiser/sales rep. Eventually, my goal is to get into Pharmaceutical Sales as this is something I’m very interested in. I also personal train and work with a lot of competitors on show prep. Were you involved in sports or fitness prior to bodybuilding and how did you get started with weight training? I was a bit of a jock growing up, I played volleyball, basketball, ran track and played baseball. I started working out to pursue my “modelling” career, haha!! I wanted to get skinny, so did tons of cardio. After a while, I started playing with the weights and fell in love, so to speak. My Dad was always into bodybuilding, so it was always around me and was basically in my blood. My Dad does, and to this day, loves training hard even as he approaches 60! When I was 20, I travelled to Japan and came back a little “softer” than I liked, so I got a little more serious about my training and diet. On a dare, my friend and I entered our first show, where I took second place in the fitness model search. After that, I really wanted to challenge myself further, so I decided to enter a local fitness show and ended up getting my butt kicked!! Being the stubborn Italian Virgo that I am, I did some research, found an awesome trainer and made it my goal to win that same show in 2003… and I did! I was hooked! Can you give me your competition history? Competitive history: WNSO, Fitness Model Search, 2002: 2nd Muscle Beach Classic, Fitness, 2002: 6th Muscle Beach Classic, Fitness, 2003: 1st Alberta Provincial Fitness, 2004: 2nd Alberta Provincial Figure, 2004:2nd CBBF Nationals, Fitness, 2004: 2nd CBBF Nationals, Fitness, 2005: 2nd Alberta Provincial Figure, 2005: 1st Canadian Fitness & Figure Championships 2006: Figure 1st Tall & Overall (won my pro card) Which contest has been your biggest success; which has had the most meaning to you? I would say my most recent contest has been my biggest success, simply because some of the best Canadian athletes come from Alberta. It means a lot to me to hold a Provincial title amongst not only some of the best athletes in the country, but some of the best people I am fortunate to know! Please tell me something about your training routine (ie: how many days per week / training split /cardio, etc.) My training stays the same, regardless of the show. Off-season, I train 5 days/week (shoulders, back, off, chest/bi’s, shoulders/tri’s, legs, off) and do cardio 6 days/week. I also train gymnastics or dance 2 days/week. Closer to a show, my cardio increases as does my gymnastics training, both to daily. If I am getting ready for a Figure show, I cut out all gymnastics and dance and limit it to stretching only. What is your favorite exercise in the gym and which one you don’t like so much? I love training shoulders! I had to work really hard for 2 years to bring them up and still love the challenge. I also love training back because it’s my strongest body part. I hate training abs! They are so boring! My favorite exercises are any shoulder exercise, especially smith presses and lateral raises, and lat pull downs and 1 arm rows. I also love standing calf raise drop sets…burn! If you don’t mind would you give me some stats (best lifts and some body measurements)? No idea on my stats! Best shoulder press is 55 lbs. dumbell press. Measurements at my last show were 38-24-35, I was 130 lbs. and the leanest I’ve ever been. What do you enjoy about training for competition....what do you enjoy about the 'off season'? While training for a show, I love the challenge that is required by every single aspect of your being…body, mind and soul is required to be dedicated to being the best athlete I can be. I love the dedication, discipline and determination that I have to have in order to reach my goals. I also love the comraderie that I develop, not only with fellow competitors, but with “outsiders” as well. Some of the best compliments and encouragement have come from just your average “Joe” on the street. I am lucky because in Alberta the community is very tight and supportive…you always have someone to cheer you on. Off-season, I love the same things. To excel at this sport, you have to be just as dedicated off-season as on, and I love that. I love reaching new goals and peeling away the layers to see what’s going on! Please describe a typical day in the life of Jamie Senuk. My days are pretty boring…wake up around 7am, cardio, get ready for work, work from 9am until about 3 or 4 ish, head to the gym to train some clients, train myself, more cardio and stretching, head home to eat dinner and make the next days food. If I don’t have gymnastics or dance, I hang out with my awesome boyfriend or friends, catch up on emails/diets or chill out…I love reality TV and reading, but find I usually can’t sit still long enough to do either! I usually tend to do my reading or TV watching while doing cardio. I love renting movies though and enjoying a good slurpee and some popcorn, contest permitting! I also love being active outside and love to go rollerblading and for long walks in the river valley. What do you enjoy most about the bodybuilding/fitness lifestyle? Being invloved in fitness has allowed me to meet a lot of amazing people….some of my closest friends are people I have met through out this adventure. I love that I am able to apply qualities I already have into my sport and they help me become a better athlete. I am pretty driven and determined and I love having an outlet to put these qualities into. I also love the discipline that it has helped me develop in other areas of my life. I also really enjoy watching other people reach their goals…I was once in their shoes and thought I’d never get there. Helping someone reach that far away goal has got to be the most satisfying thing I’ve experienced so far and continues to drive me everyday. Tell me something interesting about yourself, something people may be surprised to hear. Something interesting about me…. I have 4 tattoo’s, very well hidden!! I plan on expanding my largest one, much to the dismay of my trainer! What are your competition goals or personal future goals? I plan on competing at the CBBF Nationals in 2006, although I’m not sure if in Figure or Fitness at this point. I’d love my pro card and think it’s a lot more attainable for me in Figure, but I love the challenge of fitness…did I mention that I have no dance or gymnastics background??? Eventually, I’d love to compete in the Pro-Figure circuit. Please note: Jamie does not do sessions or wrestling of any kind. Please don't ask!! |