Where Are They Now with Valerie Waugaman

[Axe]

"Where Are They Now”

Valerie Waugaman
By
Shawn Ray

SR: Tell us what got you into the Sport of “Figure Competition” and when / where did you receive your Pro Card?
VW: It was in 2003 when I was a part-owner and manager of a healthy restaurant in Cleveland, Ohio called Octane Café. My business partner (& boyfriend at the time) and I had a vision to bring our fast-casual, healthy food concept to cities nationwide. We were introduced to the figure industry through the fitness magazines and decided to attend the Arnold Classic figure show and expo in Columbus to meet other fitness-minded entrepreneurs. As soon as I saw the pro figure women present their amazing physiques on stage, I was hooked. We thought that if I competed it would bring exposure to our business and at the same time allow me to get into the best shape of my life and inspire our customers to do the same. It was a no-brainer. I immediately started training with one of the top figure gurus, Mike Davies, and four months later I competed in my first show, The BodyRock in July of 2004. I jumped into the figure lifestyle head first and did four shows that year. One year later, I earned my Pro Card at the 2005 Jr. Nationals in Chicago. I was on the figure fast track with no looking back J

SR: What has being involved with the sport as a whole done for you with regard to “Self Identity / Self Worth?
VW: Showcasing my physique on the figure stage under bright lights in front of thousands of people has truly changed me. I gained a stronger sense of confidence and personal empowerment. My courage was tested before every show. It provided me with an outlet for self expression to share my unique femininity and strength. This sport truly inspired me to bring forth my hidden inner beauty and female power. It challenged me to develop a dedicated work ethic and discipline. With every visit to the stage I felt a sense of accomplishment. I got to celebrate myself and all my hard work. After a year of competing, I finally realized that when I work hard to recreate my body and do the impossible I inspire others to conquer their fears and accomplish the impossible too. When I felt like I was getting the hang of facing my body image issues and getting out there to strut my stuff, I thought to myself, “If I can do this I can do anything!”

SR: Being an athlete, did you find navigating your way through the sport with other female competitors “Catty” at times and how do you think you were perceived by the other women?
VW: Are you kidding me? Where there is more than one woman, there is cattiness! Now reveal our bodies on a stage and judge us against each other…….you've just upped the ante of cattiness J The good news is it only exists for those who give it energy. Whenever I sensed it negative gossiping, I turned the other direction. Working out on my own and with non-competitors was the best solution for me to stay positive and focused on my goals. All that said, the cattiness did not outweigh the hundreds of supportive figure friends. As a positive person myself, I gravitated towards the positive people. We encouraged each other to do our best by sharing supplies, ideas, tools, and experiences to help each other look our best for the show and also to improve for the next show. It’s in my nature to want others to live to their potential. There was a point when I wondered if I should be giving away all my secrets of success to my direct competition. I always struggled with that aspect. This inner conflict of “competing with others versus empowering others” is why I eventually left the sport. While competing, my goal was to always be considerate and respectful of fellow competitors at shows while simultaneously staying on my A-game and doing what I could to stand out in the crowd on stage. I took my time in the posing routines, and I stepped out in front of the line just enough to get noticed. Some may have perceived that as being selfish, but I really just wanted everyone else to take their time too and express themselves in their own unique way.

SR: Tell me about the time where you realized, “Ok, this it! I will make it to the Ms. Figure Olympia Stage.”
VW: The day I decided to start competing, I fully intended to be in the Ms. Figure Olympia, and ideally to win it! After earning a pro card in one year, I realized my goal of competing in the O was becoming very real. I was determined to earn an Olympia qualification that same year, no matter how many shows I had to do. It only took three. My trainer at the time was Mike Davies. He guided me on the path to choosing the right shows and gave me extra confidence that I could do it. I earned my first Olympia qualification with a 2nd place finish at the 2005 Europa Supershow a few weeks before the O. What an amazing feeling!

SR: Who do you think was your biggest competition and what competitor did you measure yourself against ideally?
VW: Honestly, the biggest competition was always my self. I focused on improving my physique and presentation each show. I would identify my own weaknesses, distractions and old disempowering lifestyle habits, and then create new habits that served my vision of being a figure champion. Whenever I shifted my focus to competing against other figure athletes I ended up losing focus and failed to bring my A-Game. That was a good lesson to learn. I was, however, inspired by fellow pros and their amazing physiques. I always told myself, if they can do it, I can do it too. And I always believed I could bring something entirely new to the stage that no one had done before. That’s why I put a lot of energy into unique posing routines and self-decorated suits. It helped me to stand out.

SR: What was the biggest complaint on your end, regarding the Pro Figure Scene?
VW: Well, I’m not a big fan of complaining. I believe we create our own realities in life. If you twisted my arm, I would have to admit I was disheartened by the negative rumors flying around about all of the competitors. Even if the rumors had no proof of truth, they still slightly jaded my opinion of people even if I didn’t choose to believe it. I’m sure it jaded other competitor’s opinion of me as well. If you persisted in twisting my arm even further, I’d say that the athletes and the sport could really benefit from monetary support from healthier supplement and fitness product companies. There seemed to be too many big supplement companies with products I would never use let alone endorse, and not enough natural, holistic companies which I would’ve been happy to endorse. Apparently, the consumers need a little more education and inspiration to support the healthier product lines to increase their sponsorship budgets. I certainly didn’t get rich from being a figure competitor and sticking to my values. If you were merciless in twisting my arm to a point of almost breaking it off, I’d also say that the judging criteria could stand some more clarity and consistency from show to show. It was difficult to pinpoint what was expected of us as the sport evolved. In general, I just brought a physique and presentation I thought looked best for me and that seemed to deliver positive results most of the time.

SR: You won the 2 Contests I ever Promoted in Denver, Colorado “Back to Back” years. Why do think that didn't roll over to the Ms. Figure Olympia Stage?
VW: First of all……..WOOOOOOHOOOOOOOO!!!! I’m so grateful for those two titles. My first pro win was your 2006 Colorado Pro where, to my own surprise, I won the championship title with some top pros in the lineup including Jenny Lynn who won the Olympia a few months later. This was one of the most significant turning points and certainly the highlight of my figure career. It was this show that I decided to train myself and develop my own nutrition plan. I learned everything I could about high performance training. I decided to compete for me and prove to myself I could do it on my own while taking good care of my body throughout the intense 8 weeks of training. I adopted the mindset that it didn’t matter whether I placed 1st, 5th, or last as long as I was living the life and qualities I truly valued. Who would’ve thought that would turn into a formula for success?! I felt on top of the world that day. Thanks for promoting such a great show, Shawn!

After that big win, I was secretly envisioning the ultimate big win at the Olympia. For the first time, I felt it was actually possible for me to earn the Ms. Figure Olympia champion title if I brought my A-Game like I did in Colorado. Well……..I didn’t quite bring my A-game that year and even the following year. I think I put too much pressure on myself to win and it took my focus off of my usual routine that had brought me success in the past. I was training myself without any professional help for your Colorado show and the Olympia that year. I was still experimenting with different nutrition and training regimens. And I also broke out an innovative posing routine that didn’t seem to fair so well with the judges at the O. When you’re in a tight competition with world-class athletes, there’s no room for error. Jenny Lynn and the rest of the competitors that year had it down better than I did and I congratulate them all. My 12th place finish in the 2006 Olympia was good, but not good enough for me. It sparked a fire in my belly to really crank it up and focus on bringing my best, banging body ever to the Arnold stage in 2007. And with the help of my new coaches, John Berardi and Carter Schoffer of Precision Nutrition, I did just that ( www.valspace.com/recommendations/ ). I literally gave the 2007 Arnold everything I had to give. I placed 5th and I really felt like a champion, because I knew I had exhausted all of my abilities and I celebrated myself that weekend. I even talked to Arnold himself back stage and that was worth every rep in the gym! Even though I was preparing to compete in your Colorado Pro show again and the Olympia later that year, I knew in my heart I was ready to move on from the figure sport. Although, it would’ve been a perfect fairytale story to have gone out with a big win like the O. Life’s not always about fairytales J. God had a different plan.

SR: You retired quietly from the Competition Stage and wound up on the American Gladiators TV Show for a year. What are you doing these days?
VW: Fortunately, my role as a superhero on American Gladiators set the stage for me to become a youth empowerment speaker. This is a career path I have been feeling drawn to for quite a few years. Thanks to motivated parents and former teachers, I’ve been invited to speak at numerous schools ranging from pre-kindergarten all the way to high school all over the country. I’ve done quite a few Siren (Gladiator) appearances as well including a trip to Iraq with the Stars for Stripes Foundation where we supported and entertained the troops with a live show. And a trip to Washington DC during Police Week with the Taser Foundation where we supported and entertained the families of fallen officers. The Green Goddess adventures continue!

SR: Tell me about the kind of diet you follow and what kind of training if any are you doing now?
VW: Currently, I’m inspired to be healthy and holistic. I eat a ton of vegetation, seeds, nuts, and mostly plant proteins like soy, lentils, hemp, and beans. I eat animal protein once in a while. Mostly fish and chicken. As many people know my nick name is “Green Goddess” because I love superfood green powders. I’m known to eat it right out of the packet with no water. My favorite greens supplements are Emerald Balance by SGNutrition, and Shakeology by Beachbody ( http://www.teambeachbody.com/greengoddess > SHOP ). I’m also really getting into raw food recipes. My favorite restaurant in San Francisco is Café Gratitude. They make amazingly tasty raw food dishes. I just feel better when I eat this way. As for fitness, I go hiking about 4 days a week. Every day I perform body weight exercises, yoga and Tai Chi. About 3 days a week I incorporate high intensity exercises like sprints and weight lifting routines. I travel a lot, so I created a workout poster with exercises that can be performed anywhere with no equipment needed. I call it the Energy-Time Matrix. There are no excuses because “The World is Your Gym”! Check it out at http://www.valspace.com/valerie-waugaman-products/energy-time-workout-poster/

SR: Your Top 3 Pro Figure All-time Favorites?
VW: I admired Elaine Goodlad’s beauty & poise, Davana Medina’s legs, Jenny Lynn’s abs and back, and Monica Brant’s consistent conditioning, her dedication and business mind. (Ok, so that’s four J) Thanks for the inspiration ladies!

SR: What contribution are you doing for the world now that you’re no longer showcasing your Physique?
VW: As I said earlier, my heart has been called to empower the youth of our world. I’ve been leading kids of all ages from pre-K through 12th grade in 60-90 min interactive school shows with audiences ranging from 15-500 at a time. The main focus of my presentations is to help kids dream big and give them empowering tools and techniques for facing challenges and fears as they move in the direction of their dreams. I then educate them on the importance of taking care of their bodies with healthy foods and exercise. They also learn about social responsibility with an emphasis on respecting their peers and their environment. My programs encourage kids to literally live green from the inside out. Each part of my presentation involves some kids from the audience. They learn so much more through interaction, and we all have a ton of fun. My next big goal is to bring these empowerment programs to school kids all over the country via a bus tour. I’ve already started building my team and we are gearing our programs for this summer and fall with a vision of launching a nationwide bus tour in 2010. Please send positive mojo and support as we embark on this exciting adventure! Learn more and keep up to date on our progress: www.valspace.com/green-goddess/ and www.iamthegreengoddess.com

SR: You can change 3 things today in the Women’s Pro Figure Contests, what would they be?
VW:
1. Drug tests for the figure athletes. I cringe to think of anyone just starting out in the sport being told that they’ll need to take a little bit of this and a little bit of that to achieve a lean, fit physique. It’s just not necessary. Let’s keep our bodies naturally healthy, beautiful and young and set a good example for our younger athletes in the next generation to keep our sport alive, healthy, marketable, and growing! Training hard, eating right, and posing practice (until you can do it in your sleep) should be the standards awarded. The rest is simply nonsense and disrespectful to the beautiful gift of being born a female.

2. I’d request the first introduction of each competitor to be a short posing routine round (15-30 seconds) that allows for creative expression of each athlete without rigid quarter turns. The comparison callouts would retain the quarter turns. And how about one a two-piece suit?! It would save so much time, hassle, and money to wear only one suit. The one piece covers up half of the physique anyway.
(ok, so that was two things in one)
3. Let us vote on the music to be played during the show. Most of the music played while I was on stage was awful and certainly not well thought out. The show would be so much smoother and more entertaining if the competitors had the option to choose music with the right vibe. Everyone would still pose to the same music, but it would at least be voted on by a majority a week prior to the competition day. And it would be ideal for all athletes to have access to download the music ahead of time so they can practice posing to it. It always helped me to choose a song to practice my posing to. I would listen to that song repeatedly backstage and while in line all the way until just before I walked on stage. This helped me maintain a specific rhythm and poise on stage, and also a level of calmness amidst the uneasiness and nervousness that arises right before show time. The show looks more professional when the athletes are comfortable on stage.
All that said, I’m a rule-breaker at heart. I love going off the beaten path to do things a new way. No matter what the parameters, I will always find a way to step a little out-of-bounds and push the envelope. That’s just my nature J

SR: Parting words to your fans………..?
VW: GRATITUDE, GRATITUDE, GRATITUDE! THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU for all your support!!! I am eternally grateful for everyone who has sent me words of encouragement throughout my career. I’ve never felt so loved and supported by people I’ve never even met. My life is forever changed and blessed from this experience. The best way I know to give back is with a few words of encouragement and a few things I’ve learned in the face of extreme challenge…..

• DREAM REALLY BIG! Follow your heart and you will live a fulfilling life of your own creation. Practice giving thanks and gratitude in advance for your dream already unfolding. It can and will happen if you believe. Stick to your intuition when it comes to recreating your body with a new fitness and nutrition regimen. Be mindful of whom you trust with your body. After all, it is your body and you’ve made it this far with your own intuition. Trust yourself. Be YOU to the maximum power. Bring forth your best self to the “stage” whatever your stage may be in life. Face your challenges and fears with these two powerful words…..”BRING IT!!!”
• Fans, friends, family, fellow competitors, judges, industry peeps, shmoes, even you “Catty” chicks,…….I LOVE YOU ALL! Thank you for being alive and contributing to my growth as a human being.

[Axe]

[Dragonlady]

Vond het erg jammer dat ze teonertijd stopte. Was toch mijn favo athlete. Wat is dat Americab Gladiators eigenlijk? Heb die naam al vaker voorbij horen komen.

[Axe]

Ken je dat niet? Was hier in de jaren '90 ook op tv.

[AnneP]

I miss her. There will never be another V-dub!

[Axe]

Always thought she was a bit overrated anyway.

[Dragonlady]

Ok, nee ken het niet ziet er wel gaaf uit btw
Hoezo vind je haar overrated? Vind haar nog steeds een van de betere athletes, maar smaken verschillen tuurlijk.

[Glenn]

Wist dat Cin zou reageren op de reactie van Axe

[AnneP]

Ah.. 2007 Figure International she was off the hook! Simply the best. Awesome frames with wide shoulders and nice v-taper ... great conditioning then ... everything was there... but right, sometimes she just brought way too soft package (like at the O)..

[Axe]

Wide waist.


Flat delts, skinny legs, not nice and full.



Look at those legs.

[AnneP]

Still better at the Arnold than winner Mary "H-frame" Lado..




Yeh, what awful legs and hams!!

[MrsMiami]

ik vind het echt wel een mooie athlete!!
stoere rug!

[Dragonlady]

Ja Glenn...dat was gewoon bijna een verzoekje van Axe he?
Had verdorie een hele map aangelegt met pics van Valerie, maar een gecrashte pc heeft daar korte metten mee gemaakt. Ze is en blijft gewoon mijn favo.