Growing up in a small, wintry Canadian town hasn’t stopped Mindy Karuk from speeding to the top of the fitness industry. The first step to getting the body of your dreams is to decide what you want and make the commitment to doing whatever you need to get there. Mindy has made that commitment to her body and to her goals – placing top 5 in WBFF Competitions, receiving sponsorships from TOP companies like MAGNUM, and gracing the pages of magazines from Status to Inside Fitness.
Mindy’s just begun…found out how she does it…why she inspires us…and WHO inspires her….
Womens Ab Workout: TELL US MORE ABOUT YOURSELF. WHO ARE YOU? HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN TRAINING AND WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS AND ASPIRATIONS IN THE FITNESS INDUSTRY?
Mindy Karuk: Well I have been training now since around 2001 and competing since 2005! I’m from a small Ukrainian town in Manitoba called Dauphin. I currently live on the west coast in beautiful Vancouver British Columbia! I have been in the industry for a little while now! LOL I guess that sort of lends to my goals and aspirations…to be a positive role model for those who are going after their own dreams, to never give up and to keep going after them! Hard work and integrity pays off! Currently I would love to get my Pro Card as a Fitness Model with the WBFF and continually work with my current sponsors!
YOUR LIST OF TALENTS IS NEVER-ENDING – EVERYTHING FROM A MAKE-UP ARTIST, TO FREELANCE WRITER, TO BIKINI COMPETITOR – YOU HAVE BEEN DESCRIBED AS “WONDER WOMAN†– HOW DO YOU FIND TIME FOR IT ALL? WHAT TIPS CAN YOU OFFER OTHER WOMEN WHO ARE TRYING TO BALANCE LIFE WHILE STAYING FIT?
I often ask that of myself! Believe it or not I am a bit of a procrastinator! I think it gets easier to make time for things that you truly enjoy. If something is made into a chore than it’s easy to not want to do it and put it off. Find joy in all that you do and try to set aside at least one hour to do your three M.I.T’S ( most important tasks).
Photo by Eva Simon
HOW DID YOU GET INTO FITNESS MODELING? WHAT TIPS CAN YOU OFFER SOMEONE WHO IS TRYING TO GET INTO FITNESS MODELING OR SOMEONE WHO IS TRYING TO GET A SPONSORSHIP AS YOU HAVE WITH MAGNUM NUTRACEUTICALS?
I got into fitness modeling when I chose to rid myself of an unhealthy body! I wasn’t in good shape and I wanted to make a change! One day at the gym, I was spotted by a photographer and was asked to do a shoot for the local paper in Winnipeg called the Sun. It was outside on the boulevard in the middle of the street with a bodybuilder and another fit model. Traffic was cruising by and it was a lot of fun! So from there I started doing local competitions and did well. I later checked out one of the local modeling agencies only to be told at the time that they didn’t have any work for fitness models and that I wouldn’t be able to put on anymore muscle. Not satisfied with that answer I looked to fitness competitions as a way of getting to network with those in the fitness industry and meet fitness photographers! When seeking out a sponsorship you can’t just be a pretty face to sell the product. You have to bring something to the table, because chances are their product can sell just as good without the help of your body. In my experience, the sponsorship I have received was based out of an honest business working relationship. No fluff. Integrity and a willingness to work hard and bring something more to benefit the sponsor so that it’s a win win situation.
GETTING IN SHAPE FOR PHOTO-SHOOTS, TV APPEARANCES OR COMPETITIONS REQUIRES A DEDICATION TO THE GYM AND YOUR WORKOUTS. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR TRAINING? ARE YOU INTO BODY PART TRAINING OR FULL BODY TRAINING? WHY?
I train on a 5 day split I feel I get the best results from that and it gives me ample to for my body to recover! I will increase my cardio when I have to lean out a little extra for a shoot. But in the meantime I always maintain my cardio and keep up with my workouts. I incorporate plyometrics into my split to keep my legs looking tight and I train abs three times a week!
MANY OF MY READERS ASK ME HOW TO GET RID OF FLABBY ARMS. YOUR ARMS ARE PERFECTLY TONED – MUSCULAR YET FEMININE – WHAT DOES YOUR ARM WORKOUT LOOK LIKE?
Well thank you! I train my arms with bis and tris together I keep the rest time short and will superset my workouts sometimes to add variety! I train my shoulders twice a week. In the past I have also used a metcon workout with my arms. My arms and shoulders respond well to exercise so it’s easy for me to put on size!
ONE OF THE BIGGEST PARTS OF FITNESS, WHETHER ITS TRAINING FOR A COMPETITION OR LIVING A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE IS DIET. MANY PEOPLE SHUDDER WHEN THEY HEAR THAT WORD. WHAT DOES YOUR DIET LOOK LIKE? HOW DOES YOUR DIET CHANGE WHEN TRAINING FOR A COMPETITION VS. OFFSEASON (IF YOU HAVE ONE)?
The only thing that changes is my intake of carbs. When I train for a show, my only carbs will be in the am and post workout. Other than that I eat clean. I’m a creature of habit so once I get in a routine it’s just easier for me to stay like that. Don’t get me wrong I love a full dish of pasta or pizza but those are reward meals!
IN THIS CRAZY WORLD WE ALL NEED TO BE INSPIRED – I KNOW MANY WOMEN ARE AND WILL BE INSPIRED BY YOU – BUT FOR NOW WE WANT TO KNOW WHO IS YOUR INSPIRATION?
My parents inspire me constantly. They are so supportive of me and have the biggest hearts ever. I am absolutely blessed to have them as my parents. Erin Stern, Jamie Eason, Tanji Johnson, Danny J, Nicole Samonte, these women inspire me constantly to be my best and to keep going!
FROM YOUR LIST OF CREDENTIALS IT LOOKS LIKE YOU HAVE BEEN ABLE TO TRAVEL AND WORK IN MANY PLACES AROUND THE WORLD. IF YOU COULD DO A PHOTO-SHOOT ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD — WHERE WOULD YOU GO AND WHY?
Having spent most of my life growing up in a city covered in snow up to six months of the year, I’m usually pretty happy when I’m on a hot beach. ANY beach! But if I had to pick I’d say Bali would be pretty darn amazing!
Photo by GW Burns
AS A MAKE-UP ARTIST I HAVE TO ASK – WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE MAKE-UP PRODUCTS THAT EVERY WOMAN SHOULD BE USING?
Well I could be biased but I love and swear by M.A.C Prep and Prime Skin! Your skin is left soft and the surface is so smooth that your foundation spreads like butter! Plus it helps it last and wear longer!
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MOTIVATIONAL QUOTE?
“Strength does not come from winning. Your struggles develop your strengths. When you go through hardships and decide not to surrender, that is strength.†~ Arnold
WHAT’S NEXT FOR YOU IN 2011?
Well I started off the year with a bang being the first runner up in the Status Fitness Cover Model Search out of 159 women! I’m very happy and so grateful to be in that incredible line up of women! Each one of them should be so proud for the work they did! As of now I am finishing up my Ebook “The Best Fitness Friend Guide†(BFF), and that will talk about everything an aspiring fitness competitor and model could ever need to know about the industry and making a name for themselves! It’s going to cover many topics and it’s all from my 10 years of experience! On May 28th I will be competing at the WBFF BC Championships and my prep for that show will be starting very shortly! There are some more things on the way too but I can’t disclose that information yet!
WHERE CAN WE FIND MORE INFORMATION OUT ABOUT YOU?
You can find more information about me at www.mindykaruk.com www.hardmagnum.com www.smartshake.com
Related posts:
- Finding the Key to Success – Inspiring Women: Raechelle Chase
- The Definition of Inspiration – Inspiring Women: Emily Stirling
- On the Roller Coaster of Life – Inspiring Women: Maria Amantea
- Believe in Yourself – Believe in Success – Inspiring Women: Megan Moon
- From Out of Shape Mom to Bikini Pro Mom- Inspiring Women: Michelle Cagle
Tags: 99s, Ab Workout, Bikini, Competitor, Dauphin, Fitness Industry, Fitness Model, Goals And Aspirations, Inside Fitness, inspiring divas, Inspiring Women, List Of Talents, Magnum, MAGNUM Nutracueticals, Manitoba, Mindy, mindy kaurk, Positive Role Model, Procrastinator, Small Town Girl, Sponsorships, Ukrainian Town, Vancouver British Columbia, Wbff, WBFF 2010, wbff diva, West Coast, Womens Ab Workout, womens arm workout, Wonder Woman, workouts for women
Leave A Reply (No comments So Far)
No comments yet