Spotlight On IFBB Womens Physique Pro: Sheena Ohlig

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Published on Wednesday, 04 July 2012 10:59

Written by Sheena Ohlig

Spotlight On IFBB Womens Physique Pro: Sheena Ohlig

Category you compete in: Women’s Physique
Date of birth: 6/13/83
Hometown: Camden NJ
Career: Owner & Principal Trainer Grind House Fitness

Competition History:
May 2012 NPC Junior USA Championships Pro Qualifier
    1st Place Class B Tall (Earned Pro Card)
    2nd Place Overall
March 2012 NPC Steve Stone NY Metropolitan Championships National Qualifier 1st Place Overall
November 2011 NPC East Coast Championships National Qualifier 1st Place Figure Tall Class
June 2011 NPC Garden State Championships National Qualifier 3rd Place Figure Tall Class

Next competition:
IFBB Pro Debut
Titan’s Grand Prix
Oct. 20, 2012
Culver City, CA


In your opinion, how important is motivation and confidence when aiming to accomplish a goal?
Motivation and Confidence are extremely important when aiming to accomplish a goal. I’m a strong believer in visualization and claiming the victory even before it happens. I believe that thoughts become things and in order to accomplish anything you have to first believe that you can achieve it. Just like any athlete will attest, the more you picture yourself in a situation the more realistic it becomes. As a high school and college athlete I utilized this method throughout my competitive career. Seeing myself, in my mind’s eye, make the free throw or clearing the high jump, dreaming almost every night of making a game winning shot or dunking the basketball…all of this imagery gave me the confidence to believe it was all possible. Although it may not have “caused” it all to happen it motivated me each day to work hard to bring it to fruition. My motivation came from playing these images over and over in my mind; everything was choreographed right down to the overwhelming emotion and pride. Even today I am motivated by visualizing myself on stage amongst the top physiques. This drives me daily to train hard and work relentlessly. Staying true to myself and my expectations builds my confidence and the cycle just continues to spin on this axis.

In your eyes, what combination of hard work and natural ability is needed to reach the top?
That’s a really good question. I think perhaps it’s really a matter of effort; I think ability simply dictates the limits of your hard work. You can be the strongest person in the world but if you lack drive or work effort it’s really a waste of talent. On the same token I think we each have strengths that we can use to our advantage. You know, it’s like, you can’t slam dunk in a game of golf. The areas where we lack strength are simply opportunities to develop. I have to admit, it’s a bit of a pet peeve to have people attribute the success of a bodybuilder or other competitor simply to genetics. I mean, seriously, like the current Mr. O -Phil Heath just woke up one day with a Mr. Olympia body…he worked for that, he trains hard and is dedicated to his diet and every other method of contest prep he utilizes. I think that’s why it’s awesome that there are various categories now for women…and men…to choose to compete in. Personally speaking for instance, I was not built for bikini, I know this, I accept this…could I compete in bikini if I did the work it would take to re-composition by body?...sure…but why work against the grain when I can simply play to my natural physique…I’m all about working smarter…not harder. And it takes a combination of both to be successful.

What are some motivational strategies that have or currently work for you?
This may sound corny, but I like vision boards. My current vision board includes photos and quotes by some of the top competitors. I see this board every day and measure myself against what I see. I compile all of the parts and create in my mind, my perception of perfection. I see it and I measure myself everyday based on how I stack up. Not necessarily how I stack up against this physical perception, but morally, as well. I ask myself was I committed to my diet, did I cheat myself, did I quit early, did I leave it all on the gym floor?? Can I say, I trained hard as hell today or did I do JUST ENOUGH?? I like to think of everyday as a chance at battle. You can go to bed victorious or defeated. Call it the athlete in me but I hate losing…even to myself…no, especially, to myself. In addition to that I’m a praying woman. Since I was in high school I would sit to myself on the bus as we traveled to a meet or basketball game and pray over the entire competition. It felt like the world just lifted off my shoulders and I was then able to put all that positive talk to work to motivate me and keep me focused and pumped. 

Give me some examples from your life where confidence has helped you to achieve?
Confidence plays a major role in my life. Thankfully I was raised by a large family of strong confident women. My mom is the strongest, smartest, most confident woman I know. I like to think I got my personality from her. Confidence, in my opinion, helps you overcome fear which can be a major barrier to success. Fear is the little death that brings total obliteration. It destroys all your goals, dreams, possibilities, opportunities; even optimism…whereas confidence strengthens all of these. Confidence has helped me in starting and running my own personal training business. I was working a regular day job for the last few years but I knew it wasn’t what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I decided since I was spending so much time in the gym on my own time and I enjoyed helping people I could do one in the same and even profit from it. I decided to create my own model of personal training and I’ve been a full time independent entrepreneur for the last two years, the owner and principal trainer of Grind House Fitness…Where fitness is a state of mind and body!! Not only has confidence also helped me in my athletic career but also in the work I do with young people in the community. My confidence helps me to stand up for what is right, what I believe in and for those who can’t stand up for themselves.

What do you find the most challenging about competing?
Outside of the dieting, the most challenging part is the posing routine bar none. I’ve been the proverbial tomboy since I can remember. I’ve never been that great a performer either. Although I handle being the center of attention pretty well I cringe at the thought of putting on a show flying around on stage like a ballerina. Well, thankfully I had the opportunity to get to know and work with Stacy Simons, a current IFBB Pro who has been in the game for over 10 years and recently made the crossover to physique from Fitness. She choreographed my routine and when the lights came on I just wanted to conquer the stage. It takes a lot of self-coaching and hype music on my iPod but I put my game face on each show, step out front and center and the rest is history.

What are your top 5 key strategies for success?1. Pray on it and have faith…
2. Be optimistic and tune our negative energy
3. Good Enough Never Is…Expect more from yourself than others expect of you
4. Don’t take it too seriously, if you don’t enjoy what you’re working towards you won’t enjoy it when you achieve it….whatever “it” is
5. Set a goal…be SMART about it (specific, measureable, ambitious, realistic, timely)

What is your favorite protein powder? Why do you like it?
I have a few but I have to say VPX Zero Carb SRO Protein in graham cracker flavor…it’s not chalky or bland…it’s a whey isolate and did I mention its GRAHAM CRACKER FLAVORED!! My newest favorite would be Myotropics 2.0! it’s really tasty in both vanilla and chocolate ice cream flavors and is great in any healthy protein snack recipe.

Favorite Inspirational Quote:
I have a few but “Our Deepest Fear” by Marrianne Williamson is definitely number one because I think it speaks to every element of being successful not just in the superficial realm of wealth and fame but really succeeding in life, in living in putting your existence to good use. But I have to mention as well one of my newest favorites:

“LITANY AGAINST FEAR”
I must not fear.
Fear is the mind-killer.
Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.
I will face my fear…

This quote speaks to strength and relentlessness when I read this I feel like I can and must conquer any and everything that tries to stand in the way of my success.

In closing, Who would you like to give a shout out to?
Thanks to my all my friends and family who have put up with my contest prep craziness and have supported my endeavors from day one - always optimistic and encouraging. Big shout out to my sponsor Ernie Carbone III with Flexx Appeal Inc. and all of Team Flexx Appeal check us out on Facebook and at flexxonline.com. Stacy Simons McDowell and the whole Extreme Fitness Gym family in Laurel Springs NJ, Paul “Protein P” Harris and Team Map out of Grand Rapids Michigan, Steve Potenziano for helping me with my contest prep and anyone else I may have failed to mention by name…you know who you this goes out to you, thank you for your support!!

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