Spotlight On NPC Figure Competitor: Karli Funk
Category you com
pete in: Figure
Date of birth: March 12, 1995
Hometown: Ellicott City, Maryland
Career: Student Pre Physical Therapy
What is your favorite contest prep recipe?
During contest prep, I tend to keep my foods very simple! However, one of my favorite things to do is to make a stirfry with a wide variety of vegetables, quinoa, and grilled chicken breast. I opt for things like mushrooms, bell peppers, onions, and snap peas. I first cook these in a pan with Bragg’s liquid aminos, and then add in my quinoa and chicken. I love to use red quinoa! This is equally delicious when made with brown rice. Additionally, to keep things interesting, I love to grill my vegetables, or even my sweet potatoes. Variety is key! Polenta is another one of my favorite things to make in place of something like sweet potato or rice.
What part of your physique are you currently working on?
Currently, my program is a specialization for my legs and my back. I’ve struggled to grow my legs in the past, so I train them twice per week, with one day focused primarily on quads, and another day focused solely on hamstrings. For my back, I’ve utilized a variety of techniques such as dropsets, supersets, and a system entitled FST7. I absolutely love compound movements, so deadlifts and squats are an integral portion of my training.
Name one piece of nutrition/fitness advice that has stuck with you.
The greatest piece of advice I have ever received regarding nutrition comes from IFBB Physique Pro Roxie Beckles she emphasizes the importance of recognizing that food is fuel, nothing more, nothing less. Many competitors often develop distorted views towards food, and keeping a level head is the key to maintaining a healthy body and mind. Adopting this viewpoint can make all the difference in one’s mentality!
If you could compete in one other event (FBB, physique, figure, fitness, bikini) which would it be and why?
I would be absolutely thrilled to compete in the physique division if I was not in figure! Being that I have been training for only about a year, this is just the beginning for me. I would love to someday possess the beautiful muscularity Women’s Physique competitors have. They are the epitome of grace and muscularity combined, and they always seem to light up the stage! I also love that Physique competitors are given additional time to rock the stage and demonstrate their personality through their routine performance. The conditioning these competitors are able to bring always floors me, as well. I greatly admire competitors such as Juliana Malacarne, Karina Nascimento, and Tycie Coppett.
Why NPC:
The NPC has always been the way to go, for me! I had always envisioned myself as an NPC co
mpetitor; I love its overall representation of what Figure should resemble. The NPC not only treats its athletes well, but it also offers competitors wonderful opportunities to promote themselves, branch out, and obtain the opportunity to earn the coveted pro card. Additionally, being that the NPC and IFBB are linked, it is a wonderful way to meet those involved in the IFBB, from judges to professional competitors to photographers.
What do you like best about competing?
As soon as I stepped on stage, the feeling was electric. The sensation of the spotlight on your skin, the music in your ears, the crowd cheering everything seemed to fade away when I stepped on stage. I had spent months visualizing this very moment, and when things came to fruition, it was the most amazing feeling I’ve ever had. The weight of the trophy in your hand and the judges eyes critiquing and rewarding your hard work is nothing short of incredible. But beyond the moments I was able to spend on stage, the most wonderful thing about competing was that it transformed me not only externally, but internally as well. Fitness is my passion; I fell in love with it during my junior year of high school amidst a time of turmoil and stress. I had always been active, but gymnastics and cheerleading were no longer enough to satiate my desire to transform myself. I found solace amongst the iron, and it was there in the gym that I experienced a metamorphosis. I obtained new found confidence in who I had become. Goal setting became such an integral part of my fitness regimen, and this translated into my everyday life, as well, allowing me to accomplish a variety of academic and career oriented achievements. Competing changed my life as a whole, and I can’t wait to continue on this journey.
What are your goals for the future?
Where should I even begin? I am so extremely enthusiastic about the future! I have two shows on the horizon, and I look forward to stepping on stage after having nearly five months to grow. Balancing my training with my academic and career goals is of utmost importance to me as well, and I hope to continue to learn more about the sport of figure. To me, though it may sound cliche, my ultimate goal for my next competition is to reveal a physique much stronger than my last showing. This is just the beginning for me! Being that I am eighteen, I have ample time to gradually improve my physique and take the stage by storm. I am in competition with myself, and my primary goal is to improve and enhance all aspects of my physique through hard training, flawless dieting, and complete mental dedication to this sport!
Competition history:
NPC Natural Pennsylvania Championships: 1st Place Figure Class B, 1st Place Novice Figure
Next competition: NPC Atlantic States 2014
Hobbies:
Training is, of course, my favorite thing to do! I am also extremely close with my family, so spending quality time with them is the best. I’m currently a pre physical therapy student at UMBC, and I couldn’t be happier. I absolutely love school!
What is the biggest lesson you have learned over the years when it comes to competing?
I am brand n
ew to the world of competing, but thus far, I greatest lesson I have learned is to trust my intuition. Often times, it is our hearts that can guide us in the right direction, whereas our minds can be so malleable. When we learn to trust our instincts and have faith in our abilities, only then can we harness our full potential.
What is your favorite contest prep supplement? By far, Trace Minerals GreensPak! Sometimes, a contest prep diet can be rather nutrient deficient, and this has an effect on all aspects of our bodies especially our skin, hair, and nails, each of which thrive on the micronutrients and vitamins found in foods. Having clear, beautiful skin is something every girl loves, and for me, GreensPak is a miracle in a packet. It is overflowing with incredible nutrients and worked wonders for my skin and energy levels. Not to mention, it tastes delicious!
Favorite Quote: I am a huge fan of any of Norman Vincent Peale’s work. I highly recommend that every competitor listen to or read “The Power of Positive Thinking”!
“There is beauty in the battle, poetry in the perseverance… if it came easy, what’d be the worth?
So, fight, unwavering.. and pull your dreams to Earth.” Erin Stern
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