For Bikini competitor, Cristina Vujnich it would be fair to say that this has been quite a year.
Now every success story has a beginning where the initial seeds were planted and like
many of today’s competitors you have said that you were drawn into the contest scene after
seeing your first show, but what I want to know is, what made you go to a bodybuilding
show in the first place?
“I would have probably never attended a bodybuilding show on my own, but a friend of mine was competing. It was his very first competition and, being a good friend, I wanted to show my support. I had no idea that this one show in St. Louis would have made such an impact on my life and future career.”
After seeing that first show in 2007, you joined a gym for the very first time in 2008. Did
you work with a trainer in those early days or did you figure things out for yourself?
“Well, that “friend” who competed eventually became my boyfriend, so he was the one who
helped guide me in the right direction…helping me with diet, training, etc. Aside from his help, I also did research on my own. Through articles and magazines I was able to develop a strong foundation for myself.”
Where did you get your early inspiration from, magazines or existing competitors?
“Believe it or not, it was the big muscle magazines that inspired me the most. Seeing the
Olympia contenders, both male and female, kept me focused on my goal. I looked up to Ronnie, Jay, and Kai, all of them, who truly made an impact on the bodybuilding scene. While I had no aspirations to be a female body builder, I also respected them for paving the way for “little ole’ me” to have a future in this sport.”
I guess you have met a lot of top competitors by this time, who would you say has had the
biggest impact on you?
“As for men…well…I have one of Dexter’s videos in my DVD player right now actually. I’ve
always been a huge fan of his physique and overall personality. For females, it’s definitely
Jessica Paxson-Putnam. From the beginning I looked up to her, and when I had the chance to travel with Optimum Nutrition to Australia with her– she proved that she’s not only beautiful on the outside, but is one of the most genuine people I’ve met.”
Do you find that your friends are mostly within the sport now?
“Yes, and I think that was inevitable (and I wouldn’t change it for the world). When you live a lifestyle that’s so “out of the norm”, it’s difficult for outsiders to understand. I began to connect better with fellow athletes…sharing funny workout stories and tips and tricks for dieting.”
What a lot of people may not know is that you suffered from Panic Disorder for almost
two decades. How bad did that situation get and did the confidence you gained through
working out assist your overcoming it?
“It was bad. Crowded stores, alone at home, anywhere…I would find myself full of anxiety
and having panic attacks daily. I started journaling and it hurts to read back sometimes. At my lowest point, I was in a “self destruct” mentality. I was stubborn (blame that on either my Puerto Rican or Serbian side) and while I tried to go through therapy, my gut said there was another solution. Enter: The Gym. The gym was a safe-haven in some sense, a place where nothing else matters. I focused only on the weights and was able to channel my anxiety into each heavier set. And after a solid 5 months of training (my body and mind), I was able to overcome the Panic Disorder.”
Many people rely heavily on medication these days for these disorders, what are your
thoughts on the effectiveness of these treatments?
“I am not against medication. I actually started on medication myself. But pills alone are not
the cure for anxiety or depression. Personally, I believe the medication helps us cope with
the physical symptoms while we are confronting the source of the problem. Of course each
individual is different, though. I truly believe that whether it’s the gym, sewing, skiing, or
painting…finding an outlet is just as important as finding the right medication.”
Returning to the world of working out, I believe you were naturally skinny and could
pretty much eat anything you wanted. Given that, prior to getting involved in the sport
how was your diet and what changes did you make to accommodate your new goals and
lifestyle?
“That’s right; I was skinny and never followed any sort of diet. I’m talking post-contest victory meals every single day. But as I created goals for myself, it was time to focus mostly on my protein intake and incorporate supplements in to my routine. Also, previously I would eat two, maybe three meals a day (with at least one meal being soup), so the biggest change was upping my meals to 5-6 times a day instead.”
Some people use the fact that they are ‘naturally skinny’ as an excuse NOT to work
out…how would you convince people with that mindset that it was still important to
exercise?
“Naturally Skinny does not equal Naturally Healthy, nor does it mean Naturally Fit. When I first started lifting, sure I had a flat stomach, but I had no shoulders, no hips and no booty. But once I started making friends with the weights, I developed those parts of my body and created my own curves, good curves. The gym isn’t just for people who want to lose weight.”
Can you give us an idea of an average day’s diet in the off season?
“Without going into the fine details, this is the framework for my off-season diet:
Meal 1: 5 egg whites, 1.5 cups oatmeal, 1 banana
Meal 2: ON 100% Whey Gold Standard shake
Meal 3: 6-8oz Lemon Pepper Chicken, 1.5 cups brown rice
Meal 4: Post workout: ON Hydro Whey shake
Meal 5: 8oz Lean Beef with green veggies and brown rice
Meal 6: ON Casein shake or cottage cheese
Any foods that you miss when you are on a contest diet?
“I miss the occasional Chicago style pizza!”
You are currently sponsored by two companies. Would you like to tell us how that came
about? Since most athletes are continually in search of sponsorship…
“I consider myself blessed to be part of two amazing companies, Optimum Nutrition and
American Body Building because I’ve believed in their products from the very beginning. My
connection with ON and ABB came out of the blue honestly. My friend and I did a quick photo shoot at my gym one morning; I edited the pictures myself and somehow ON got hold of them. They then contacted me and after a test shoot, I was on board. I always tell athletes that in order to get ‘out there’, you have to ‘put yourself out there’. Network. Network. Network. It’s about meeting the right people, taking chances and often going out of your comfort zone. But in the long run, the reward is worth it.”
You just competed in the bikini section at the NPC Nationals…how was that whole
experience for you?
“Taking 3rd place at the NPC Nationals blew me away. This was my 2nd bikini show and my first time on a National Level stage so I wasn’t sure what to expect. I tweaked my diet a little and felt confident going on stage. The best feeling is walking on stage thinking, “I’ve done everything I can do and am satisfied with how I look today”. And that’s how I felt. I kept my mind clear and didn’t concentrate on how well I’d place…but instead focused on how I’d let everyone see my personality.”
The bikini section itself is still being subjected to scrutiny and criticism. What would you
say to anyone out there wanting to compete in this division but perhaps holding back due
to its current controversial status?
“Just like anything new, there are going to be growing pains. But for us ‘athletic’ girls who
aren’t quite muscular enough for Figure but still enjoy lifting…Bikini provides a fresh avenue
for us to travel down. Eventually, the judging requirements and qualifications might standardize a bit more. But regardless, to those girls who want to compete, I say do it. Give it a shot. Do some research, maybe contact a coach and go for it.”
Outside of the sport you have a degree in Broadcast Journalism…given that, where do you see yourself going in the future in terms of your career?
“I’ve heard this question several times actually. For years I was focused on one passion: TV
News. But when fitness entered my life, I quickly realized I had two passions. So now what?
I’m now bringing both of these passions together into one. I’ve had the opportunity to shoot
some promotional and training videos recently and am looking forward to some up-coming radio and broadcast opportunities within the industry.”
How can people contact you?
Face book: www.facebook.com/CVujnich
Blog: www.RippedAcademy.com/Cristina
Body Space: CristinaVujnich
Twitter: @CristinaVujnich
Email: [email protected]
Also, look out for Cristina’s web site…..coming soon!
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