DOUBLE DUTY - Features - Muscle and Fitness Hers

DOUBLE DUTY

A rising star in both the fitness and figure ranks of the IFBB, Nicole Wilkins dishes on pulling double duty, multi-tasking in the gym and Britney

By Carey Rossi | Photos by Jim Purdum

"Britney Spears is everywhere, and as much as I hate to admit it, I always want to know what she's doing now." So says self-professed tabloid junkie Nicole Wilkins, which leads me to ask her what she thought of the pop princess' appearance at the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards: Were her abs that bad?

"I don't think she should've worn that outfit, but I didn't think she looked bad," Nicole replies. "Her body is definitely better than average, especially after having two babies."

I agree: Britney's choice of wardrobe could have been better. In fact, the black sequined bikini and fishnet combination was more appropriate for the fitness or figure stage - a place where Nicole herself is very comfortable. The 5'5 1/2" dynamo earned her pro card in both divisions on the same stage at the 2007 Team Universe contest in New York City, marking the first time that a competitor has swept both overalls at the same national-level show - and the feat still stands as one of her proudest accomplishments.

Another gratifying achievement for Nicole? Her invitation to participate in the Figure International competition at the Arnold Schwarzenegger Sports Festival earlier this year.

"I remember [in 2007] watching prejudging with Alan [her fiancé] and I said, 'I'm going to be on the stage next year - watch.' He just kind of smiled at me."

At the Figure International, where she made her professional debut, Nicole placed 11th. She didn't compete on the fitness side, but that doesn't mean she has abandoned the sport. "I'm going to do both," she promises. "At the professional level you can't cross over and do both at the same competition - you have to pick one or the other. My next contest is the New York Pro Fitness on April 12 [she finished third, which qualifed her for the 2008 Fitness Olympia this fall], but I have a good time doing both."

When it comes to training, Nicole also takes a multifaceted approach. "All my workouts are different," she says. "I rarely do the same thing twice." Constantly changing her exercise order helps Nicole avoid hitting a plateau, and the modifications keep her from getting bored.

"I incorporate the upper and lower areas of the abdominals as well as obliques in the same exercise," Nicole explains. "During all of my abdominal routines, I train the upper and lower parts of the muscle as well as the obliques. I also added a back exercise near the end of this routine because you have to have a strong back to have a strong core. It's extremely important so you reduce your risk of injury."

Nicole also manipulates time during these workouts. Sometimes, instead of choosing a particular rep range, she'll perform an exercise for 30 seconds for three sets; otherwise, she usually keeps her rep range pretty high - 20-30 reps. She'll also toss in a weighted abdominal movement every once in a while to add depth to her abs.

"I was actually very fortunate because it took me only a few years to get my pro card," Nicole says when asked about her quick rise to the professional ranks. "I know it has taken a lot longer for other girls, and although good genetics are important in this sport, you still have to put in a lot of work if you want to get your physique to look a certain way." Yep, hard work can lead to a stage-worthy physique - Britney, take note. HERS

SNAPSHOT - NICOLE WILKINS
Birthdate: Feb. 5, 1984
Current Residence: Sterling Heights, Michigan
Height: 5'5 1/2"
Weight: 128 pounds contest, 140 off-season
Occupation: IFBB fitness and figure pro, co-owner of Top Shape Fitness Personal Training Studio in Sterling Heights, Michigan
Contest Highlights: 2008: New York Pro Fitness, 3rd; Figure International, 11th. 2007: Team Universe overall fitness and figure champion

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>> 30 Minute Workouts that Burn Fat & Build Muscle >> Leaner Legs in 6 Weeks >> Beautiful Bi's and Tri's >> 6 Weeks to Leaner Legs >> Creatine: Not just for men anymore

>> 30 Minute Workouts that Burn Fat & Build Muscle
>> Leaner Legs in 6 Weeks
>> Beautiful Bi's and Tri's
>> 6 Weeks to Leaner Legs
>> Creatine: Not just for men anymore