Today we’d like to introduce you to Erin Avery.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Erin. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
As a freshman college athlete in volleyball I had never really lifted weights so it was a great surprise to me when I found out that part of our practice regime included a few days of straight weight lifting.
At first, I really hated it and didn’t understand why it was necessary. I was intimidated by all the guys in the gym, I didn’t want to get “big and bulky” and to be honest protein powder kind of scared me. However, I wanted time on the court so I did what my coaches told me to do. Interestingly enough, the more sessions I put in, the better my performance became on the court and I enjoyed the more shapelier, toned physique that came with it. I was getting faster and stronger along with adding curves to my body in all the right places. Hm, maybe the weights weren’t so bad. Eventually, I got bored with the 2-3 workouts a week my coach had us doing and I wanted to learn how to improve even more so I turned to the internet. I spent numerous hours on bodybuilding.com forums, YouTube, and following different fitness Instagram pages so that I could educate myself. With education came confidence and soon I felt like a pro walking into the gym.
Lifting weights for fun wasn’t enough for me though as I am a very competitive person and wanted to do more with it. I noticed a lot of female fitness pages I followed competed in something called NPC bikini which is the smallest tier of mass in women’s bodybuilding. I liked their look, toned while still maintaining a feminine physique. I also liked how the sport was a way of showcasing the everyday hard work you put in at the gym. So after a year of lifting weights consistently, I found a coach and signed up for my very first NPC bikini competition. The first prep was brutal, I was naturally skinny and had never dieted my entire life. I underestimated how hard the journey to the stage would be. Consistent weight lifting, a very rigid diet and numerous cardio sessions on top of being a student and collegiate athlete had me questioning if I had bit off more than I could chew. None the less, I figured out how to make it work in my schedule (lots of google calendar lol) and 22 weeks later I stepped on stage for my first time ever in 2015.
For my first show, I was incredibly nervous. There are so many variables you would never think about going into show day like the super dark spray tan and oil, the glittery bikini, the posing routine, the walk, everything, there’s a lot. After piecing together my final package, I stepped on stage and the rush was like no other. Getting a chance to showcase your physique in front of an audience after a long grueling prep is an unmatched feeling to me. It’s scary, it’s exciting, it’s just electrifying. Despite not placing in open in my first show, I was hooked on the sport. At 19 years old, I knew what I loved and wanted more. Fast forward six years I have competed in 2 powerlifting meets (1 overall win), 8 NPC bikini shows (4 national qualifications and one overall win), and 1 NPC bikini national show along with coaching several other bikini athletes on their journey to the stage. My ultimate goal is to get my IFBB pro card and compete as a professional bikini athlete.
Has it been a smooth road?
There have been many struggles along the way over the six years time frame. Moving across the country to the opposite coast to pursue a PhD at UCLA, multiple breakups, and juggling school, many jobs, and a social life with different preps are the main ones. Keeping focused and knowing my “why” are the biggest ways I stay disciplined and motivated.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Airin Avery Fitness – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of and what sets you apart from others.
I own an online coaching business for both lifestyle clients and other bikini competitors. I specialize in working with natural athletes to create customized workout plans for different goals, and implementing macro based nutrition advice into the everyday lifestyle. What sets my approach apart from others is that I am trained as a scientist. I am currently working on my PhD in chemistry and I feel that being organized and extremely regimented in my approach is very beneficial in fast-tracking results. In addition to the organization, being able to read and translate the most recent scientific studies and literature in the field keeps my approaches relevant and cutting edge.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I moved out to Los Angeles, California from a small town in New York about four years ago now. To be honest, I am absolutely in love with this city and all the opportunities LA is constantly offering me. I always use the analogy of an oak tree potted in a sapling pot to explain my transition here. Where I was located in New York was the sapling pot, it was a great place to start and grow up but after I grew out of my pot I had to be repotted in a bigger one. LA is the bigger pot that provides me with an abundance of space to grow. I’m in love with the life I’ve created for myself here starting with just two suitcases knowing absolutely no one.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.airinaveryfitness.com/
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @airin_avery
- Facebook: Erin Avery
Image Credit:
Gilbert Molinet, Joe Mikoli, Jose Reyes, Rob Tom Browning
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