MARIAM POWER - BRITISH COLUMBIA'S BOMBSHELL!!!!!!

[Sareen]

The Real Testosterone Vixen
An interview with Mariam Power
by Chris Shugart




We get requests every week here at T-mag to provide more information geared towards women. Too bad! This is Man Land, baby, go read Good Housekeeping and fetch me a Sam Adams while you're up. No, no, I'm just kidding! We like women; heck, most of our mothers are women. Still, we're not about to post some frilly article aimed at a bunch of Oprah-watching Jenny Craig rejects. No, if we post something for the fairer sex, it's going to be geared toward our kind of woman.

See, there're two basic categories of women these days and you can differentiate the two quite easily in the gym. The first type of woman doesn't even call it a gym. It's a "fitness studio." She doesn't want to get "too big" so she doesn't lift heavy weights. She sticks to machines because her personal trainer told her free weights are only for men and are dangerous to boot. She attends jazzercise and yoga classes. This type of female seems to be allergic to sweat, especially her own. If you were to overhear her conversations in the gym, you wouldn't hear about sets, reps or TUT, instead you'd hear about little Bobby's soccer game or those darling earrings shaped like Christmas trees she picked up at the craft show. Sure enough, she never seems to be making much progress.

When the second type of woman walks into the gym, you'd better hope your spotter doesn't see her. If he does, then not even your gurgling death rattle will break her hypnotic spell long enough so that he'll remove the bar from across your throat. Who could blame him? She's a total hardbody: tight and tan, sexy and strong. She'll likely head straight for the squat rack, causing every man she passes to lose count of his reps. If you watch her train (and you know you will), you'll notice she doesn't play around. She lifts with focused intensity as delicate droplets of sweat run down her tanned belly until they slow and catch on her navel ring, dancing there, glistening, glimmering, beckoning? sorry, got distracted there for a minute.

We're not talking about a nasty female pro bodybuilder either. No way, this type of woman is the epitome of feminine beauty. What you're seeing is a genuine alpha female, the quintessential Testosterone Vixen. Now you may be thinking that this species of female is not only rare, but perhaps even extinct. You'd be wrong. We found one. We not only found a real life T-Vixen, we may have found their leader.

Mariam Power is Canada's pound-for-pound top female powerlifter, but she's also a bikini model, fitness competitor, actress, a certified teacher and martial artist. Beauty, brains, and a 400-pound squat — definite T-Vixen material. If you're a guy, then this is the article you'll want to print out for your wife or girlfriend. If you're a female type person, then listen up as Mariam tells you how to get on the real path to Babedom

[Sareen]

T: First things first. Just to prove to our readers that you've got the brawn to back up the beauty, let's hear the numbers.

MP: Well, I'm 27 years old, 148 pounds. I bench 250, squat 400, and deadlift 406.

T: You also practice Kenpo, right?

MP: I'm at my purple belt right now and plan on getting a black belt before I'm through.

T: So basically, you could kick my ass, huh?

MP: Most likely [laughing, but only a little bit].

T: Where did you grow up and how did you get interested in weight training and powerlifting?

MP: I was born in Stephenville, Newfoundland, in 1973. Ever since I was a little girl, I would always go to the gym with my father. He's been my personal coach ever since I was small and all through high school. I remember watching him compete in powerlifting for years, when I was a kid.

T: Does your dad still compete?

MP: 1981 is when he says he retired from the sport, competition wise. In Newfoundland, this was when all the drugs were coming onto the scene really heavy and that's when he quit. He held all the records for years and then one day the big drug users showed up and wiped them all out.

T: Dr. Kinakin told us in a past interview that Canada had to go back and throw out a lot of records because the steroids were so prevalent.

MP: That's correct. At the time, my father had two kids and he and my mother always went to church. He admits he had thought about taking steroids several times and going to the Worlds and beating everybody. That's what everybody else was doing. But he says something always told him not to do it. Now he's 47, about 245 pounds, and not only does he look better than most of the younger guys in the gym, he can beat them in most every lift. He's always been natural and he's instilled that belief in me.




T: Did you play other sports?

MP: Yes, at 19 I went to college and played soccer on scholarship, but I wanted to do something more for my body. I remember coming home at age 21 and asking my dad to put me on the same program he was on. At this point I wasn't thinking of competing; I just wanted to stay in shape. I started training with my dad and three weeks later I entered my first powerlifting competition. It became my favorite sport. I was hooked. Before that I had played everything — hockey, Canadian ringette (a game sort of like hockey), track and field, and soccer.

T: I read on your web site that you played on the boy's team. Is that right?

MP: Yes, I always played sports with the boys, right up until grade 12. I never played with girls in soccer until college. When I was 14, I played with the under 16 boys all star team. I've also played on the provincial soccer men's team. I never played rugby, because that was a new thing when I first moved to B.C., but they did call me out to be their kicker.

T: Did your dad work with you on these sports as well?

MP: When I was 15 I remember him taking me down to the basement and having me do squats with 135 pounds. I wasn't powerlifting then, just getting my legs stronger for soccer. I'd do ten to twelve sets of 22 reps with about 30 seconds in between sets. Then I'd do as many push-ups as I could do in a minute, rest 10 seconds, and then do sit-ups. Then my dad would get in his truck and I'd run beside it. Sometimes we'd do wind sprints together, too, just all around conditioning for sports.

T: That's a tough program for a 15 year old girl!

MP: Yeah, but he's a really good dad. I still talk to him every single day. All we talk about is powerlifting and steroids — who's doing what and how we can beat them.

T: You have a very strong drug-free stance and always advertise that fact. I'm guessing people assume you use steroids?

MP: Some people do. Even a few powerlifting friends of mine assume I'm using something. Some will come right out and ask and I can tell them no. One friend of mine, a top powerlifter in the 165-lb class, couldn't believe the progress I had made in two years. I think he assumed I was using drugs but didn't come right out and say it. Of course, I could bench the same weight he could, so maybe that had something to do with it! Actually, my lifts had improved so much because I was training with my dad again where I had been training by myself for a time.

T: How bad is the drug scene? We hear the "natural" competitions are a big joke.

MP: To tell you the truth, Canada is probably not as bad as the States for steroids, but when you go to the Worlds that's what it is, a drug world. But I know people that compete in "natural" bodybuilding shows put on by the World Natural Sports organization who are far from natural. I competed in the Ms. Figure competition just for fun myself and while I can't prove it, I think it's all drugs. I read newspaper articles where these people are claiming to be drug free, but I know these people, and I know it's a bunch of crap. It makes me sick.




I know one female powerlifter who was caught in the States, but was allowed to lift anyway here in Canada. It caused a huge stink and many BC athletes, including myself, didn't lift for two years because of it. She came back this year in my weight class and couldn't even squat 225. She bombed. As my dad says, she's can't do anything without her sh*t.

T: Is the dishonesty in the sport depressing to you as a natural competitor?

MP: You know, I don't care if another woman wants to do it, but it's not for me. I don't want to look like that. Even when you look closely at some of the Ms. Fitness Olympia ladies, they don't really look good.

T: I've always thought Monica Brant looks better out of competition.

MP: You're seeing more and more signs of drug use like the protruding jaw. Think about it, Rachel McLish wouldn't stand a chance against today's fitness girls!

T: Our readers, for the most part, tell us they hate the pro bodybuilder look. Now the fitness girls are starting to look unnatural. It seems like the judges aren't listening to the public. Look what happened to Monica this year.

MP: I'm really proud of Monica Brant this year, actually. I have a tape of the 98 Fitness Olympia where she won and there's just no way she's clean. She obviously went overboard, but the thing is she won. This year she toned down a lot and was the sexiest, most-fit person up there, yet she didn't win. In my mind she wasn't fourth, she was first.

T: What's the trend there? Are we going to see fitness competitions self destruct with drugs?

MP: I think it's going to crash pretty soon. It's not going to go the other direction and become drug free, though. It'll never clean up completely. Today, the fitness girls look like bodybuilders from the early 80s and when you look at the top female pro bodybuilders? Well, you look at Kim Chizevsky. That's scary. How much further are they going to go?

Here's the really sad part. When I competed in the Ms. Figure competition, they told me the drug tests were going to cost 50 bucks. I thought, great, that's quite cheap! I paid $175 for my drug test at the Canadians. It turned out to be nothing but a money maker. No one had to pee. All you did was sit down at a desk and answer a questionnaire. It asked, "Have you ever done steroids before? Yes or no?" It was a joke.

T: That was the drug test?

MP: That was it!

T: No urine test, no lie detector or anything?

MP: Nope, 50 bucks and answer this question.

T: I suppose they advertised that this was a drug-tested competition?

MP: Yes! The word "natural" in these sports is sort of a joke.

T: You've said flat out that you plan to set a new standard in the sport. Being an actual drug-free champion is almost a crusade with you, huh?

MP: You know what, Chris, in a year you're going to say, "Hey, Mariam said she was going to do this and she's doing it." When I started competing at 21 years old, I set the goal of breaking every record in my province. Then I wanted to place first at the Canadians. Then I wanted to go to the Worlds some day have a crack at the record. But, I didn't want to do it with steroids and I wanted to do it looking sexy.




T: So far, so good, but you must be tempted to use steroids.

MP: Sure, I've been tempted and I've been curious about steroids. Luckily, my "dream team," consisting of Dr. Sal Arria of ISSA, Fred Hatfield and Charles Staley, would steer me away every time. They would remind me that I can't become a champion overnight and that it was going to take years. Dr. Sal helped me to see that I could set a new standard in this sport and I could do it naturally.

T: Your next goal is to set a bench press record, right?

MP: Yes, in fact, I just missed 258 at the Canadians. So right now I'm not going to enter any more Ms. Fitness or Ms. Figure competitions or any of that crap. For a full year I'm just going to train powerlifting to keep my base up. Before the Worlds in December, with a bench shirt, I should be cracking a 280 "touch and go" in the gym. The record that's been standing for 14 years in my weight class is 264, so I'm very close. Now, there is another record pending in my weight class, but I'm not sure if it's gone through or not. It's a 319-lb bench press, which I'll never be able to touch. That's crazy; it's nothing but juice really.

T: Tell me about your training. How does it differ when you're training for a meet and training for a Ms. Figure? Don't tell me you use a powerlifting routine to prepare for a bikini contest.

MP: For the most part, I do! I made the mistake last year of getting off my powerlifting program in preparation for a Ms. Figure competition. I trained lighter, used lots of lunges, didn't squat as much etc. Oh my God, I lost my bum, I lost my legs? I'll never do that again! It took away from my physique. From now on I'll stay on my powerlifting program.

If I were going to enter a fitness contest, I'll still use my deadlift, squat and bench at about 80 to 90 percent of max, but on my assistance work I'd probably go to sets of 10 to 12 instead of six like I usually do. My goal is to look like a fitness competitor, but be one of the top powerlifters in the world.

T: How about cardio? Powerlifting and cardio don't mix for most people.

MP: I do cardio everyday.

T: Really?

MP: Yes, but not for very long. For example, the other day we did heavy bench, back, and then arms. Then Dad got me on the treadmill for 12 minutes. I do sort of a fast power walk and then I bust into a hard sprint for 30 seconds. Then I walk for a minute and do another hard sprint. If I just jog on the treadmill my dad tells me I'm wasting my time and just going through the motions. He's hardcore, even on the treadmill!

[Sareen]

T: Alright, let's talk diet.

MP: Right now I'm trying to stay within my weight class and look good for some upcoming photo shoots. I'm getting about six small meals a day. Each meal consists of protein and complex carbs from brown rice or a small potato. I also eat a lot of fruits and veggies. One day a week I'll have a cheat day and eat what I want, but the rest of the week I'll eat healthy about every three hours.

T: Do you use supplements?

MP: Yeah, I use a variety of vitamins and minerals, primrose oil, and protein powder. I only recently tried creatine and I really responded well to it.

Note: After the interview, we sent Mariam a box of Biotest stuff. She describes her results so far as "wonderful" and says Grow! tastes awesome. Of course, we'd love it if she set a new record with a little Power Drive coursing through her body!

T: Now you have a lot of non-powerlifting things in the works, too, right?

MP: Well, I'm taking acting lessons right now and I'm scheduled to do two movies.
Also, you know how Pamela Anderson first got noticed by LaBatt Blue beer, right?

T: Of course. Any self-respecting man knows his Pam Anderson history. [Pam is actually from Comox, where Mariam currently trains and resides.]

MP: Well, I'm sponsored now by Molsen Canadian beer, so I'll be sort of a Canadian "Bud girl" for the next year as they sponsor me through the next two World Championships. I think this will be a great chance to show the world that a natural, strong woman can be sexy. I hope to be a healthy role model. Sometimes, when people think of a strong women, they think of Chyna from WWF. But to me she's not a role model. This crank-monkey look just isn't sexy for women and ultimately isn't healthy.

T: What do you think of the waif look and the wave of skinniness that is washing over Hollywood?

MP: I think they all look sick. I think Pamela Anderson looked sexy, but even she is starting to look coked out, like she doesn't eat.

T: How about breast implants and fitness competitors? Everyone is buying a pair these days.

MP: I think it's a personal thing. Some of the fitness competitors get so lean they get the implants to look more voluptuous and usually they look better.

T: Do people accuse you of having implants?

MP: It's funny, my agent phoned up the other day and said, "Mariam, you swear to God you're 100% natural, everything is natural, right?"

T: He was referring to your breasts?

MP: He was referring to everything, but yes, I get that a lot. If you were to see me in person you'd know that they're real. That also runs in the family. My grandmother had to have two reductions, actually.

T: Well, at least you can get really lean without going Mia Finnegan on us!

MP: Yes, definitely.

T: Many of the fitness chicks are also doing some nude work now. Have you ever been approached to do something like that?

MP: Yes, in fact, since January I've received three or four offers, one with Playboy's Hardbodies magazine. Right now, though, I'm not going to do that kind of stuff. It's just not for me at this time. I'm just starting out and I feel I have so many other things to do right now. It's an honor that people are interested in that kind of stuff and I'm not saying I wouldn't want to do some work for Playboy, but at this point I'm just being really careful.

T: Do guys ever get intimidated by you? Does the fact that you can out lift most guys affect your relationships?

MP: Actually, I just left a four-year relationship for that very reason. I was engaged in fact. My ex was a strongman competitor, 260 pounds, so it wasn't like he had to worry about competing with a woman, but he did. He felt we were always in competition and if he wasn't competing with me, it was like he had no drive in life to do anything for himself. He also tried to tell my dad what do with my attempts at the Canadians and I almost bombed on squats. Finally, I just thought, hey, I don't need this sh*t and said addios.

T: How would you respond to women who want to get in shape, but are scared to lift weights because they think they're going to get "too big" or "bulky".

MP: Two things. First, they need realistic, drug free role models. Although I realize it's not a completely natural publication, I would recommend they read Oxygen magazine. They'll be doing an article on me in the summer, by the way. Men always write me asking how they can get their wives into training. I would tell them to maybe get their wives or girlfriends to pick up the magazine or go to my web site. Second, the everyday woman just needs to be educated about steroids. They think they're going to look big weight training because they don't realize that many of the women in muscle magazines are using steroids. You just don't look that way without them.

T: What bugs me is these women think they're going to wake up and accidentally be huge one morning. You know, like putting on massive amounts of muscle is easy.

MP: Yeah, I get women coming into the gym all the time saying they want to look like me. When I tell them how I train they say, "No, if I did that I would get twice as big as you." And these are just genetically average, non-athletic women! We've got to educate them and give them natural, realistic role models to look up to.

T: How would you start a woman out if you were her trainer?

MP: Every woman I train, beginner or not, I get them to do your three basic movements that work 90% of the body — bench, squat, and deadlift. The basic movements are so important. If she'll eat to a "t" (except for that one cheat day) and use these big compound movements, she'll make progress and look better. As I said, if I start to neglect these movements, I lose everything.

T: So you're saying that when you train like the normal women we see in the gym everyday, you start to lose that bod?

MP: You know what I was doing when I started losing my muscle tone? I was doing those stupid things other women were doing: getting on the treadmill for a bloody hour, using cable crossovers etc. These are things I call "stupid exercises." Women need to stick to basic free weight movements, work up a sweat and put some intensity into it.






T: Okay, let's say you've convinced a woman reading this to adopt your style of training. Give us a Mariam-style program.

MP: Sure, here's how I train women who want that sexy, hard look:

Monday — Deadlifts, Back, Biceps: This is a tough workout, so I'd have my clients do it on Monday when they're the freshest. Also, we always stretch 10 to 15 minutes before every session.

Deadlifts: 5x6 ( I see no need to do over 6 to 8, maximum.)
Lat pulldowns: 3x8
Barbell rows: 3x8
One arm rows: 3x8
Straight barbell curls: 3x8
Hammer curls: 3x6
Seated dumbbell curls: 3x10

Tuesday: 25 minutes of cardio. Walk one minute on the treadmill and then run 30 seconds, repeat. We'd also do ab work on this day- side bends, sit-ups or crunches. Ab work not only makes you look good, but I believe it's very important in preventing injury.

Wednesday — Chest and Triceps:

Bench Press: 1x8, 1x8, 1x5, 1x5, 1x3, 1x1
Incline barbell press: 3x6-8
Incline dumbbell flyes: 3x8-10
Close grip bench: 4x6
Tricep pushdowns: 3x8-10
Dips: 3x15-20

Thursday: Cardio and abs again.

Friday — Legs and Shoulders:

Squats: 1x8, 1x8 1x5, 1x5, 1x3, 1x3 1x1
Leg press: 3x22
Leg curls: 3x10
Seated calf raises: 4x10
Behind-the-neck press: 3x6-8
Dumbbell laterals : 3x8
Dumbbell raises: 3x8
Barbell shrugs: 2x12-15

Weekends: REST, REST, REST!

Sometimes we'll do more cardio and abs after a regular workout, depending on the person.

T: Give us a rough idea of the kind of training you're doing now.

MP: My training revolves around an eight week program. If I feel I'm not in condition, though, I'll do about the same program but I'll use higher reps. Once I'm conditioned, I'll bench twice a week — Monday and Thursday. Mondays are always 80% and Thursdays are done at 90%. I try to work up five pounds every week. That's the idea of the conditioning phase. We can start off at a high base and work from there. This program works every time.

On our 80% day, with squats it's all sets of eight. With bench, it's two sets of eight, two sets of five, and two sets of three. On heavy day, it's two sets of eight, two sets of five, two sets of three, and a single. Then we do barbell inclines on both days right after. On 80% day, my incline will always be done to sets of eight because I want to bodybuild a little and get some hard muscle mass going.

T: How many sets of inclines?

MP: Three sets. On our heavy day, we smoke up the inclines and do heavier reps of six during the first month. Then we go to reps of five. I always hit five reps but I'll add weight to bar each set, always trying to get that fifth rep. The next week I'll do the same thing, but I'll start out heavier. After that I'll usually do some dumbbell bench presses to work on my stabilizers. I usually do three sets of six reps with 70 pound dumbbells.

T: Give us one of your bench press secrets. We won't tell anybody.

MP: Here's one that I've always found effective. To get your bench up, try doing barbell rows using the same width grip you'd use when benching. I do these on light and heavy days, after benching, for reps of six. Since I've been doing these I feel better on the bench. I have some muscle to push into the pad with. I'll usually follow rows with pull downs, either to the front or to the back. Finally, for a finisher, I'll do some one arm dumbbell rows for reps of eight and then throw in some biceps.

T: Do you use any gadgets like Swiss balls or the Full Speed Device?

MP: I never use anything like that. Actually, one of the best things I've done to improve my lifts, especially my squat, is to improve my flexibility. Charles Staley showed me a few techniques that really helped me out.

T: Do you use a belt?

MP: We're trying to eliminate the belt on squats. For example, on my light squat day I'm not wearing a belt. On heavy day I won't start wearing a belt until after 250.

T: Thanks for taking the time to talk with us, Mariam. I think you have a lot to teach women and are a great role model for them.

MP: Hopefully we've helped change a few women's minds about hard and heavy training.

[Sareen]

An Illustration of Sensuality and Muscularity
By: Curtis Schultz




Occasionally someone comes along with "that certain something", "that certain look," which sets her apart from others right away. This honor goes to World champion powerlifter Mariam Power who is impressive looking at anytime. This 5'8", 36 - 23 - 36 140-pound Canadian carries a fabulous structure with a high level of fitness modeling skill. She is a powerlifter built like a bodybuilder with fitness type looks who truly has not even scratched the surface of just how good she could be should she choose to continue in her endeavors. Miss Power has a 400-pound squat, a 275-pound bench press, and a 425-pound deadlift to her credit. Yeah, that pretty face and extraordinary body can crank the iron. Girls that lift are great! To top it she's a World Champion to beat. Lets talk to the World Champion powerlifter gone fitness.

CS: Hi Mariam, Can you tell us what nationality you are? MP: I am of Lebanese and Irish nationality. My father is Irish, my mother, Lebanese.

CS: Where did you grow up Mariam? Did you grow up with a big family? MP: I grew up in Stephenville Nfld Canada. My parents are still together, and I have one brother, 26 years old.

CS: Can you describe your family and how it was growing up for us? MP: My family is the greatest. I was brought up in a Christian family. I had a lot of fun living at home when I was young. I went to the gym with my father (my hero) and still do that with him today. We went on a lot of trips out of town with my parents because my brother and I were involved in a lot of sports. I really think my parents are the perfect role models!!! There is a lot of love in our family.

CS: Tight family. What did you do in high school? MP: Where you athletic there too? In high school, I played a lot of varsity sports. I was captain of all the teams I played for. After 14 years of age, I got chosen to play with the all-star boys soccer teams, and basketball teams. I excelled in academics. In grade 10, I completed all grade 12 courses. Playing the guitar, and singing at weddings and at school ceremonies was what I did a lot. High school was so much fun for me.

MP: KEEP THE QUESTIONS COMING! CS: I will Mariam. This is fun huh?

CS: Which sport do you like to participate in more, Powerlifting or fitness events? MP: I love the both equally because they are very rewarding, exciting, and personal! Powerlifting is what I grew up with, so it is in my blood, now that I have retired from the sport and picked up the sport of Fitness, that is where my desire is currently!

CS: Common, don't you miss competing in powerlifting? MP: Yes, I do miss competing in Powerlifting! It is a GREAT sport, very satisfying.

CS: Yeah, I miss it too. Can you give us a short outline of your training? What do you change when not getting ready for a power meet? MP: My training is very technical, but to give you a basic outline, it would look something like this on the surface:

Workout with weights 4x/week
Different aspects of endurance/power and speed training 6x/week.
I've actually never met anyone that has a similar program and what it entails that my father and Dr. Sal Arria have designed for me. It's neat stuff!
CS: You do a lot of work. Six days a week of lifting combined with other training. When do you take a break? MP: Sundays are my break days. My boyfriend takes me out for a morning brunch, which is used as our cheat meal. We sit there for a long time eating and chatting about our future goals. Then we go for a walk or a roller blade, and then off to the grocery store to get everything we need for the next week. Then we usually go home, relax, watch a movie, and then if it's nice out still, we go play a game of 21's! As you can probably tell, we really enjoy each other's company a great deal!

CS: Mariam, you told me earlier you missed powerlifting, do you think we'll see you on the platform again? MP: Yes, I really do miss Powerlifting. The most part missed I would have to say is training for something like the world championships with my dad, and going to an event such as this with him coaching me. My father is a phenomenal athlete, and he is so much fun to hang out with. Also, when I was Powerlifting, I'd go to Santa Barbara for some unreal training through Dr. Sal Arria, from the ISSA, and I totally miss these trips! Needless to say, these two men played 95% in my life as a World champion Powerlifter!!! Right now I do not see myself back on the Platform, but you can never say never right!

CS: Being so athletic and goal minded do you for see yourself ever stop competing? MP: No, I do not ever see myself not competing. Competition is something that makes me feel very good. I have goals to compete even when I reach my 40's!

CS: Mariam, sounds like your dreading the big 4-0? MP: I am having such a wonderful time in my 20's. I wish I could stay this age forever. The older I get however, the better shape I want to stay. My mother is 45 years old, and she is the most beautiful woman I have ever seen for her age. If I turn out like her, then I will look forward to my 40's!

CS: How long have you and your boyfriend been together? Are you two planning marriage yet? MP: My boyfriend Scott and I have been together for only nine months, but we've known each other for 5 years, and used to hang out as only friends. I always thought him to be a very special person. The only difference is that we are now boyfriend and girlfriend, and the unique thing is, we are best friends. The spark is definitely there, and I feel I have met the person I am supposed to be with. Yes, I do want to get married, and Scott has told me that someday in the future when I least expect it, he is going to do a surprise proposal! He is always going out of his way doing extra special things for me, and surprising me all the time. I used to be nervous of the thought of marriage because I hadn't yet fallen in true love. I think when you find someone who is your soul mate and absolute best friend like Scott is to me, thinking of spending the rest of your life with that person is such a wonderful thing!!! I think what we have is hard to find.
CS: What is your favorite binge out food when you're not prepping for a contest? MP: My favorite binge food in the off-season is a regular, everyday menu breakfast. This would consist of pancakes, bacon, eggs, and coffee w/ cream and sugar! This is a real treat for me.

CS: You kind of gave us a short run down of your workout, but what specific technical exercises do you add to your weekly workout? MP: My workout does have a lot to it. Dr. Sal Arria (executive Director of the ISSA) and my father have put together a competitive fitness and nutritional regimen that I stick to religiously. The only difference is now I am training for a Ms. World Tri-Fitness show, not a Powerlifting meet. I train in periods of 3-week mesocycles, beginning 12 weeks out. I am however keeping in my ever so important exercises like deadlifts, squats, and bench press in my program. The intensity of my program is high, but not high in poundage's. I am concentrating a lot on muscular endurance now, and it involves a lot of aspects of fitness. I would have to say it is more time consuming than Powerlifting, however it is still very intense training. Believe it or not, we are incorporating closely to a program designed by Dr.Arria and Dr. Fred Hatfield that is layout precisely in their ISSA personal trainers book. When I took the personal trainers course from the ISSA, I received that same study book, and we are going by that same program, only difference is that is has been personalized for me!!! It is the BEST around...top secret shall we say.

CS: Thanks Top-secret girl, James Bond has nothing on you Mrs. Power. So, the next time you think of the word "Power," you'll remember what image should fallow that expression. An impressive 36 - 23 - 36, 140-pound Canadian has power many of us wish we could handle. Whether she is doing fitness competitions or modeling swimsuits, Mariam Power will always be a powerlifter at heart with bodybuilder looks who's beauty is commanding. Miss Power, keep the muscle you look fantastic

[Sareen]

Women are often told that they cannot get as strong as men. Moreover, many women believe that they will look like a gorilla if they pick anything up that is heavier than some color coded "Ken and Barbie" dumbbells. Mariam Power shows clearly that women do not have to compromise their femininity to get super strong.

When I say super strong, I do not mean strong for a woman, but strong under any definition of the word. In addition to holding several powerlifting records, Mariam is a fitness model, personal trainer, and is preparing for the Women's Tri-Fitness competition in Las Vegas this July. I had the opportunity to talk to Mariam recently regarding her training, diet, and philosophy for success.

The Interview

Mike Mahler: Hi Mariam, how is it going today?

Mariam Power: Great! It is actually my birthday today and I am talking the day off.

Mike Mahler: Happy birthday and thanks for taking the time to do the interview.

Mariam Power: Thanks! Glad to do the interview.

Mike Mahler: What motivated you to compete in Powerlifting?

Mariam Power: Initially, I had no interest in powerlifting at all. I was a college soccer player for a while and decided that I wanted something more individualized to compete in. In addition, I wanted to get in better shape. My father stated that if I really wanted to get stronger, I would have to start doing some compound movements such as the squat, deadlift, and bench press. I pulled 275lbs on my first deadlift attempt and my father was impressed. He encouraged me to compete in a contest that was coming up. I did that and broke several records and qualified for the Canadians. I broke all of the junior records there.



Mike Mahler: What are your best lifts?

Mariam Power: My best personal lifts in the gym are 415lb deadlift for three reps, 275lb bench press, and a 400lb squat.

Mike Mahler: Wow, at what bodyweight?

Mariam Power: 149lbs.

Mike Mahler: Very impressive! Are you still competing in powerlifting?

Mariam Power: No, I finished in February. I am focused now on going to Las Vegas in July and competing in the Ms. Tri-Fitness.

Mike Mahler: What motivated you to want to compete in that?

Mariam Power: I was working part-time as a bartender and saw the event on TV one day and knew immediately that it was for me.

Mike Mahler: Sounds like an event like that allows you to apply overall fitness rather than just brute strength like in powerlifting?

Mariam Power: Totally! Although, I enjoyed powerlifting, there is not really a feminine side to it. Don't get me wrong, it was fun and a big stepping stone for me. However, I really want to do something more fitness oriented. The Tri-Fitness event offers a military style obstacle course, a grace and physique round, and then a routine round. There are world records involved as well.

Mike Mahler: Sounds very exciting. What is great about your powerlifting background is that once you tap in to those deep levels of strength, you pretty much have them permanently. You can tap into them at anytime.

Mariam Power: You have got that right.

Mike Mahler: You have it as part of your arsenal and can compliment that arsenal by adding in the cardiovascular training and muscular endurance.

Mariam Power: Absolutely. I felt good when I was powerlifting. However, I have never felt as good as I feel now. I feel more energetic and healthy than I ever have.

Mike Mahler: Give me an example of what your training routine looks like now?

Mariam Power: I get up each morning at 4:30am, go to the gym, and run for twenty minutes. I do one minute all out and then one minute walking.

Mike Mahler: Sounds like interval training?

Mariam Power: Correct. After that, I do some skills training that are sports specific to the contest. That usually takes about forty-five minutes. Later in the day around 7pm, I will go back to the gym and train with weights. In addition to that, I will do plyometrics three days a week.

Mike Mahler: How do you break down the days?

Mariam Power: With weights, I train Monday-Friday. With plyometrics, I do them Monday-Wednesday-Friday. In addition to that, I do interval training six times a week. I take Sunday as a cheat day and just relax. This type of training is much different than what I used to do as a powerlifter. As a powerlifter, I would only hit the gym four times a week. Powerlifitng is just too intense to do daily. However, training for a Tri-Fitness event involves three rounds that require much more preparation.

Mike Mahler: Does anyone help you with your training regimen?

Mariam Power: My dad and Dr. Sal Arria design everything for me. The first month of training is relatively easy. The purpose is just basic conditioning. Then I will move into a more intense training phase. About three weeks before the contest, I will tone down the program and train three days a week.

Mike Mahler: As you get closer to the event, you tone down the program to avoid going into the event overtrained?

Mariam Power: Exactly.

Mike Mahler: Do you do a lot of bodyweight exercises such as gymnastic type movements?

Mariam Power: Yes, I do a little bit every day and feel that it is very sport specific. In addition, I am training some women that are going to be competing in an upcoming fitness contest. I use my time with them to get in all of my stretching and practice my one arm-pushups, splits, etc.

Mike Mahler: How important is flexibility training in your routine?

Mariam Power: It is extremely important. Fortunately I manage to get it in when I train my clients which has worked very well for me. I can do a full split now and there is no way that I could have done that a month ago.

Mike Mahler: How important is visualization and meditation for an athlete?

Mariam Power: Both are extremely important not only to athletics, but to everything in life. I do visualization and meditation daily and as a result experience deja-vu all the time. When I competed in powerlifting, every lift felt like something that I had done before. In fact, everything that I have achieved in life was visualized in my mind first.

Mike Mahler: I have had a chance to talk to a lot of successful individuals over the last several months and the one thing that they all have in common is the application of visualization. Moreover, they all developed a laser-like focus to achieve goals that they were going after. Where do you get your drive to do the amazing things that you have done?

Mariam Power: I think that it has a great deal to do with one's upbringing. My parents were awesome role models. My father always told me that I can do anything and that I can match or beat any man out there. He told me that if I believe strongly enough in what I want, I will get it. I have always believed that and still apply it today. I also think that you either have the personality to go after goals, or you do not. You do not just wake up one day and have it.

Mike Mahler: What do you think are some of the mistakes that a lot of people make regarding their workout regimens?

Mariam Power: The biggest mistake that a lot of people make is not being consistent. Many people will take a program and stray after two weeks. They don't keep journals and follow training programs to the letter. When I want to achieve a goal, I am very disciplined and follow every detail of a program to the letter.

Mike Mahler: What is your nutrition program like.

Mariam Power: Monday through Saturday, I pretty much have the same meals every day to make sure that I am getting everything that I need. I have oatmeal with a scoop of protein powder every morning. I have 2-3 servings of fish a day with vegetables, two glasses of fresh fruit juice, and three protein shakes daily.

Mike Mahler: Do you take any nutritional supplements?

Mariam Power: I took creatine when I was powerlifting. However, right now I just take protein shakes and a good multi-vitamin.

Mike Mahler: Thanks a lot for doing the interview Mariam. It has been a real pleasure and good luck with the tri-fitness competition.

[sapphire]

Great article!! She is amazing!!

[beckie]

Wow thats one kick a** woman-I like her!! shoots straight from the hip!!