May 14, 2021
Today, Celeste chats with Jessica
Johnson, an Australian Pro who is also an online and in-person
fitness, nutrition, and posing coach. She begins talking about how
before she steps on the stage, she takes a deep breath and reminds
herself she put in all the work and she deserves to be there.
In university, Jess studied psychology and takes mindfulness
into everything she does. Jess talks about her previous experience
in the Air Force and that is still a Reservist. She explains how
living the Air Force life made it difficult to settle into a
routine and train.
Before Jess joined the IFBB league, Jess was a Pro in two natural
federations. After she competed in the Natural equivalent of the
Olympia, she returned to Australia and decided to switch to IFBB
for more opportunities.
When Jess was competing in the natural federations, she was told to
compete in Figure because she was too muscular for bikini. She was
glad she did figure but her heart was in bikini. It taught her how
to be a chameleon, to change her posing to change her body.
When she does virtual posing classes, she uses different camera
angles so she can see what they are doing, there are advantages and
disadvantages to virtual posing. She loves the challenge of
catering to different learning styles.
Jess talks about placing third at her first pro show only and hour
after she earned her pro card! It gave her the confidence to push
forward and improve as a pro. In the whole country of Australia,
there are only three Pro Cards given in a year.
Jess speaks to her struggles with IBS and how it affects her preps.
Because of this, she is very sensitive to carbs. She and her coach
have open discussions about when the plan needs to change and when
it needs to be followed. Communication is key to coaching. She
always talks with a potential client on the phone before committing
to coaching them.
Jess explains the effect doing 12 back-to-back shows had on her and
how mindfulness was the key to pulling herself out of a
restrict/binge cycle. Moving into an improvement season, Jess likes
to stay consistent but with less structure to help herself not
fixate on the food. When in prep, she likes to do longer preps to
allow for diet breaks to help her metabolism stay healthy.
In her youth, Jess used to get called harsh names making fun of her
thin figure, she never thought she would be know for her
glutes! Jess talks about the techniques she used to grow her glutes
and offers some things to avoid. It’s not always about adding more
weight. Work smarter not harder!
Jess leaves us with advice for new competitors to find a good coach
and work with them to put on muscle before prepping. For
competitors on the road to pro, Jess says to be consistent and
persistent. If you want to be a pro you have to act like a pro.
Just don’t give up!
CONNECT
WITH CELESTE:
website: http://www.celestial.fit
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CONNECT
WITH JESS:
instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessjohnsonfitness/
business instagram: https://www.instagram.com/worldgymburleigh/
all links: https://linktr.ee/jessjohnsonfitness
Time Stamps:
[1:00] Introduction
[2:01] Importance of mindfulness
[3:25] Jess talks about her time in the Air Force
[7:40] Difference between the Australian and American bodybuilding
leagues
[10:20] Benefits of competing in IFBB
[13:00] How past experiences influence current outlook
[15:05] Virtual posing classes
[17:11] Jess talks about her journey to pro.
[22:10] Competition structure in Australia
[29:20] Feedback from pro debut
[31:55] Jess talks about how her body responds in different
scenarios
[38:00] Knowing when to change things from your plan
[40:05] prioritizing communication in a coaching relationship
[45:50] Daily mindfulness habits
[51:27] Red flags that you may struggle post-show
[52:25] Shifting mindset from prep to improvement season
[57:10] Success through consistency and taking your time
[60:45] How Jess transformed her gluten
[68:45] advice for new competitors and those on the road to
pro
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