Elena Seiple earned her IFBB Pro Card by winning the light heavyweight class at the 2008 NPC Nationals. Since then, she's been missing in action and the bodybuilding world has wondered where she's been and what she's been up to. I tracked down the extremely busy Seiple and found out a few interesting updates. Read on!
TP: So Elena, the bodybuilding community has not heard much from you since you won your pro card at the nationals in 2008. What have you been up to?
ES: Hey Tammy! Thanks for reaching out to me. I appreciate it. I know I have been MIA as it seems to many the last few months. So let's see if I can bring you up to speed. I have been involved in bodybuilding since 1997 and began competing in 1999 in the NPC. I did my first Nationals in 2000 where I took second and over the next eight years, I competed in either the Nationals or USA's. I consistently placed in the top four with four 2nd place finishes, three 3rd place finishes, and two fourth place finishes and finally the TOP SPOT in 2008. I went from a LW to a LHW during that time as well, competed as an Elite Powerlifter and Strongwoman having the opportunity to compete Internationally and in the Worlds Strongwoman Championships . So after beating my body up consistently for ten years, my plan was to just sit back and let it rest and heal after the nationals as the pressure was finally off. I have always had a great career corporately as well so I wanted to focus on that once I won the nationals as well as just take a year where I did not have to diet. I still continued with my training, but made no immediate plans to get on stage. I needed time to NOT diet as that does take a toll on the body. I am now 36 years old and I take much better care of myself. I have to...Im not getting younger.
TP: What did that pro card mean to you after trying for it for so long?
ES: It's interesting. I went after this card for so long. I sacrificed quite bit to attain it. I knew 2008 was my year. I knew after pre-judging that this was going to be it. I didn't feel I looked as good as I had in other shows but I knew I had better lines and not as harsh looking. However when I won, and I walked off that stage , as exciting as it was...it didn't leave the satisfaction i anticipated. Someone very wise said to me, "It never feels as good as you expect it to feel when you win, but it hurts more than you can imagine when you lose." I mean I was proud of what I accomplished and I appreciated it, but I didn't get that sense of satisfaction. I think if I had looked my best in my mind I would have felt beter.
TP: Now that you are doing triathlons, how has your physique changed?
ES: Ahh you found out about those eh? Well my father who is almost 70 still does them , so I joined in October of 2009 and did my first. Remember I was a swimmer for 11 years competitively, I was a Div-I scholarship Soccer Player, Basketball player, etc etc. i am competitive ad and so is my family. I have always been infatuated with triathaletes. So I did a small one in Oct. I did it as a team with my sisters and we took second in our division ( considering my one sister just had a baby and the other was in the early stages of pregnancy...not too bad...LOL) One of my brothers also competed in it. We had a great time. This lit a fire in me to do even more. My goal someday is a half Ironman. 1 mile swim, 56 mile bike 13 mile run.
My physique didn't change much until recently. My muscle was so mature and dense you would be surprised how hard it is to lose muscle and I still carry quite a bit. It makes swimming a chore. A triathalete wants to get in a rhythm and do long slow strokes but i have to continue to keep my feet moving me pretty hard so I dont' sink. LOL So that will come in time. I even changed up my diet but its not easy to get rid of the muscle. I train pretty hard too still and heavy. Still have quite a bit of strength. I pull 315 on my deadlift days and that's fairly easy and I don't wrap or anything for that. I just don't push to go as heavy anymore but it's hard. Its boring not going all out balls to the wall. I love strength and power lifting . I enjoyed that so much.
TP: Tri training and dieting is very different from what you are so used to. What is your training and eating regime like now?
ES: I still eat clean. Not much has changed there just not as much. But training as I stated above I don't go as heavy . Its rather boring to be honest. I can't' just do high rep light sets, i want to just fall asleep. Running though is fun but it's been cold out so once it warms up I will get back into that pretty heavy. Swimming is great and I love those workouts. But weights, unless I'm going heavy and hard, is just soooo boring.
TP: Will we see you on the PRO stage any time soon?
ES: Well never count me out is all I am going to say! Right now I'm focused on my work, family (so many new nieces and nephews) , orchestra ( I play in a fantastic orchestra ) and just now that I have lost a little muscle I am reshaping my body...I am dieting...and that's all I will say about that! :) If you do see me on stage it will be done my way...:):)
TP: Any regrets within the sport?
ES: Nope. I made mistakes but they are what mold character.
TP: Now that you have been in Atlanta for some time, do you consider it home? Will you ever return to NJ?
ES:: Oh heavens no ... and never will consider it home. I'm a northeastern girl! I like my snow! I hope to return to anywhere north of VA someday .....time will tell!:):):)
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