By: Shane Carnithan
"...I'll be there in 5 minutes, I promise! " I could tell she was slightly annoyed but I'm a SOUTHSIDE kid and us SOUTHSIDERS get lost on the NORTHSIDE like a 5 yr old in a grocery store.
I arrived in front of her home about 7 minutes later as she walked to my car shaking her head in disapproval but in good nature as she had a smile on her face that soothed my discomfort of being late. On our way for a workout together and a late lunch afterwards, 2007 Illinois State Figure-Short Class 2nd place winner and 2007 Jr. Nationals competitor, Kim Currie asked me point blank for the 3rd time in 2 days..."Why do you want to interview me again...out of so many other girls, why me? "
I told her like I am telling those of you who are about to read this now. It is because she is a girl who I always knew to have the tools to do well in competiton but never seemed to really stand-out nor place in the many shows she has competed in over the last 2 years in Illinois to come very close to taking the Overall at the Illinois State against a very tough lineup. I wanted to know HOW she did it and what she did DIFFERENTLY. I felt it was my duty to share with other potential or current competitors that sometimes just simple changes in formula and positive mental outlook towards everything els makes all the difference in the world. Kim Currie is a testimony of that. This is what she had to say...
SC: Kim! Can I call you 'Kimbo'? As in 'Kimbo Slice?' How the hell are you and what are you up to these days? Give us a little something-something about you. Some factual tidbits. Shoot!
KC: Kimbo who?!? Well, let's see...I just turned 25. Yay! I've done 7 shows so far all in Illinois. I had a pretty good year for me this past season. I'm very excited.
SC: You should be. I've seen you compete at most of your shows. You pretty much went back to back and hit every show on the calendar. After the 2007 Illinois State show, which I contend was your best showing, you stirred up a lot of buzz. You went from, sort of blending in to almost winning an Overall against a very tough lineup. What was the difference between THEN and NOW?
KC: Thanks! To be honest with you over the last couple years I've had lots of personal things going on in my life. Family matters. It was hard for me to focus on being at my best with distractions plaguing you. I couldn't give it 100%. I'm sure you know how that is. Besides that, not to blame but my FIRST trainer, who shall go nameless here, I see now wasn't the wisest choice for me to hire but back then I honestly didn't know better.
SC: Preaching to the choir. How was this person a bad choice? Why do you feel that way?
KC: Well, as I look back now I was never explained in detail what or why. This person was very ANTI-CARDIO, never taught me how to control my water and sodium levels and basically never really stayed on top of me to bring up my weaknesses. Posing and basic fundamentals were a void subject and as a result I never placed where I wanted to place. I felt that I was spinning my wheels. I knew I needed a change because I want to go somewhere in this sport.
SC: Good eye noticing that and kudos to you for taking that step. So what did you do? How did you handle it?
KC: I decided to work with someone who was more credible in my eyes. So at last years' Arnold Classic I met Kirsten Haratyk and asked her if she would help me and she did.
SC: I know Kirsten. She works at XSport-Lakeview gym, right? What did she do different?
KC: Yep. She's a trainer there. She sat down with me and I discussed my goals with her. We had a long talk and she told me how tough it was going to be for me to change and to be more competitive. I was up for the challenge so she took over my diet a few months before the 2007 Illinois State.
SC: Tell us about that. Don't spill all her secrets but give me a rough draft.
KC: Well, first she taught me about nutrients and macro-nutrients and how each affect the body. She also taught me how certain combinations will give you certain results based on what your goal is. I needed to lean out and tighten up so she put me on a diet and supplementation program that was very meticulous and very strict. Every week we would meet in person to assess my progress and by the time I got home I'd have a e-mail from her with the upcoming week ahead diet/meal plan. For breakfast, as an example it was usually 35-40g of whey ISOLATE and 1/4 cup of plain oatmeal. A usual midday meal was one plain chicken breast w/ 1/2 a baked potato or 1 cup of green veggies.
SC: So she got you to be very strict about your food(s) and very portion-controlled. How about supplementation? Did she outline your supplementation program? Do you even believe supplements are necessary?
KC: Oh, very much so! I think they help very much especially when dieting down. It's so hard to cook and prepare 5-6 meals so a shake is perfect to get the nutrients I need at the exact time I need it, you know? Pre-Contest I just basically used whey protein which was BSN-Syntha6, Lean Dessert protein powder which is also by BSN, a women's formulated multi-vitamin, CoQ10, Omega 3,6,9 caps, a calcium tablet and Fiber Wafers. That's basically it.
SC: Very good. Give me a rough draft on your OFFSEASON training & supplementation program and how it differs from when you are IN-SEASON.
KC: Well, this OFFSEASON as I am gearing up for the 2008 season, which I plan on Jr Nationals and probably another 1 or 2 National level shows depending on how I do at JR's but I am focusing on building a little bit more muscle especially in my back and arms so my training is a little bit heavier with my reps in the 8-10 range. I try pushing myself a little bit more right now and training like I am a bodybuilder, even though I do FIGURE and my cardio is kept to a minumum now. The only supplements I am using are my BSN Syntha6 shakes and I'm even trying out a little bit of creatine now, which I never done before. IN-SEASON I do lots of cardio in the morning and after weight training in the evening depending on how I look. My training is slightly different as I like to do more sets and more reps because I don't see myself putting on muscle when my calories are cut so my goal is to just maintain what I have and get the fat off of me.
SC: The same objection bodybuilders have during that time. Does your weekly training split change? Break that down for me. Tell me about your cardio and training split IN-Season versus OFF-Season.
KC: Well, right now I get my cardio from the BOOTCAMP class I teach at XSport-Niles on Monday nights and 2 other days. Usually post workout I'll walk on the treadmill or use the Precor for about 20-30 minutes. I just do it to keep my body fat levels in check as I eat more carbs now and overall more calories. Nothing too hard. In-Season I will usually do 45 minutes of cardio 6 days a week first thing in the morning before I eat anything and another 45 minutes post-workout in the evening depending on how I look and how many weeks out I am from the show. My split is always the same. Monday I will do hamstrings and abs before I teach my Bootcamp class. Tuesday I will train back, Wednesday I take off and just get my cardio in, Thursday I will do chest and delts and Saturday, I train arms.
SC: How about during your IN-Season training. Before your early morning cardio session do you use any stimulants? Any 'fat burners' or anything to slightly amp you up? Lot's of competitors have mixed feelings on this one. Where do you stand?
KC: Just during my In-Season, Yeah...I used ATROPHEX by BSN. It's their 'fat burner'. I love it. I just use a serving 15 minutes before I get on the treadmill or stairs. It makes cardio easier for me and I get a sustained energy kick from it without that crash when it wears off. I only use it before morning cardio, though. I never bother taking it on my OFF days or when I am not doing cardio because I never want my body to get too dependent on them so I use them sporadically. Off-Season before cardio I just may have a cup of black coffee with a little Splenda in it.
SC: I agree with you. Stimulants have a place in a physique competitors repertoire of supplementation but they can be somewhat addicting and too many people depend on them for weight loss when they don't realize that they can eat away at muscle when used too often. Very good. Moving on...how did you get into all of this? Figure competition, the gym, training? Did you just stumble into this?
KC: It just came naturally. I was always very athletic. Even in grammar school I remember being able to run faster than some boys and I was able to do push-ups, like...a lot of them back then even. I was always athletic. I went to Fenwick Highschool and I was a part of the swim team. I went on to Arizona State and swam and played Water Polo. I always found myself picking up SHAPE and OXYGEN Magazine at the store and always admired the women in them. They looked so powerful and beautiful to me and I guess I was attracted to that look so I wanted to do the same thing. I just thought it was so cool that you can change and shape your body how you want, you know? I was also always into eating right and being healthy so it was a perfect fit for me.
SC: That usually seems to be the case with a lot of us. I started weight training to be a better hockey player back in the day and somewhere along the way I realized that I love this more. So I notice now as of late as more and more girls are coming out of the woodwork to compete in FIGURE and the judging criteria is so damn subjective, I notice lots of Figure competitors are 'flipping' and training to compete as Bodybuilders due to the less subjective criteria. At least they can be in a weight class without 40 other girls as we see on the National level. You ever think about flipping? Do you have any interest in bodybuilding?
KC: No way! I've been told by people to try going to the bodybuilding side because of my structure but it just isn't for me. I give props to the girls who do it because I can imagine how much harder and how much more strict it can be. Plus the bodybuilding girls have to worry about SUITS like we do unlike you boys, not only that but hair, make-up and all the girly cosmetic things. I also don't like or don't think that more muscular look will look good on my. Already now I'm muscular but not THAT muscular and people at work or wherever accuse me of doing things, using things and it irks me. "Hey Kim, how much you bench? Hey Kim can you pick me up? How much weight do you lift? I bet you can kick my a**!" It's annoying and if I was a bodybuilder I'd bet it would be worse.
SC: Just backing up a little I want to cover a few aspects of your contest-prep details as I am hoping aspiring or seasoned competitors read this interview and take a few tip or learn something as I believe information should always be shared and never stored...tell me quickly how you prep and color your skin for the shows. You're a very fair skinned girl, I'd imagine UV tanning is a challenge, right?
KC: Sure. Because I'm very fair skinned I still will fake-bake but not too much because I'll burn and burnt skin makes you hold more water underneath the skin so when I do UV tan it's only 2-3 times a week the last 5 weeks. I use a lower powered stand up bed for like 9 minutes. I also Mystic Tan 3-4 times a week the last 4 weeks as I think it gives me a great base for the Pro Tan. Then with Pro Tan I apply about 6-8 coats starting Thursday before the show. It's an all day thing Friday but one of those necessary evils.
SC: I used to think that until 'Michelle From USA Gym' taught me how to properly apply Pro Tan. The secret is to FORGET THE BRUSH. Now I can get a coat on somebody in about 10 minutes or less. That's another story though... How did you approach your last week of training/dieting before your last two shows with Kirsten as your trainer? Anything different or unconventional you'd like to share?
KC: The last week out I'll do a couple full body routines hitting all body parts during the week except for legs. I'll deplete by carbohydrates early in the week and when I stop my training and cardio I'll start having carbs again to fill me out which is usually oatmeal, rice and white potatoes. My sodium is very low that week so I am not concerned about water retention plus EXPEL by MHP works well with me to keep me flushing out the water. Nothing crazy...we just kept it simple.
SC: Let's start to wrap this up a little bit, Kim...how about a little of 'Kim's Favorite Things'. Ready? Your best showing?
KC: 2007 Jr. Nationals.
SC: Your favorite show you competed in or had the most fun in?
KC: 2007 Illinois State Show.
SC: Favorite ALL OUT cheat meal?
KC: Waffles! Waffles with bacon on the side. Oh, strawberries and whip cream on top of the waffles. Ice cream for desert. Dang, I'm so hungry right now just talking about it.
SC: Favorite movie?
KC: 'The Notebook'.
SC: Favorite book?
KC: 'The Tao of Pooh'. I can't think of the author's name, though.
SC: Favorite music?
KC: I like punk or rock mostly. I love Fall Out Boy, 3 Days Grace, Guns N Roses and Metallica. Bands like that.
SC: Rock on! I love the 80's metal bands...what's your favorite song?
KC: 'Unforgiven' by Metallica.
SC: From the BLACK album? Wow...I didn't expect you to say that one. Anyway...how about your favorite thing about the OFFSEASON?
KC: I get to be more of a social butterfly. I can go out, hang with friends and let loose a little and not be so worried about my meal timing. Also cheesecake. Definitely cheesecake!
SC: Favorite thing about Pre-Contest/In-Season?
KC: The structure of it all. I sometimes need that.
SC: How about a little bit of WORD ASSOCIATION? I'll say a name or place and you blurt out the first thing that comes to mind. Ready?
KC: Uh oh...why am I nervous now?!? Go ahead...
SC: Okay...XS-port NILES.
KC: My Bootcamp Class.
SC: Monica Brant.
KC: Beautiful. My idol.
SC: Kirsten Haratyk.
KC: Hardcore.
SC: Very, good. Kim, it's been fun. Anything you want to say before we sign off? Anything you want to plug?
KC: Sure. If anyone wants to contact me or if anyone is interested in taking my Boot camp class on Monday nights can e-mail me at swimbee@aim.com
I'd just like to thank you for this interview and of course, thank my good friend and trainer Kirsten for everything she's done.