Spotlight On NPC Figure Competitor: Paulina Gialanella

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Published on Tuesday, 11 September 2012 18:45

Written by Paulina Gialanella

Spotlight On NPC Figure Competitor: Paulina Gialanella

Category you compete in:  
·    Figure Class A – Masters & Open Class
Date of birth:  
·    June 19th, 1967 –  I am 45 years old and although I’m sitting here trying to figure out how all the years have flashed before my eyes, I have to say whole-heartedly, I feel better, I look better and I am by far the  strongest that I have ever felt before!! True story :)
Hometown:
·    I was born and raised in Rochester NY.   
·    I moved to South Florida in June of 1992 (2 weeks prior to being struck by one of the largest hurricanes of all time – Hurricane Andrew) ! !  I am still a  current resident here today in Palm Beach….or better yet as I like to call it “Paradise” :)

Career:  
·    Before starting a family,  I worked as a Human Resources Manager in Boca Raton Florida for one of the largest technology firms in the Nation – Siemens Corporation
·    For the last 14 years I have been a wife, a homemaker, and  a stay-home-mother of two very beautiful kids (my son Michael who is 12)  and (my daughter Nikki who is 6).  I must say, my job as a mother has, by far, been the most rewarding  job on the planet….The toughest, but MOST rewarding
·    I am in the process of obtaining my Personal Training Certification as well as my Spinning Certification.  I hope to  inspire and educate more women like myself about health awareness and possibly recruit some of my (Park Bench Moms) to compete as well

Competition history:  
·    March 2011 – CJ’s Annual NPC Sunshine Classic Wheelchair, Bodybuilding, Figure and Bikini Championships. I placed 1st and overall in Masters (30+) Figure  and 3rd in Open Figure (A)
·    April 2011 – NPC Diamond Classic, Boca Raton FL.  I placed 1st in Open Figure (A)  and 1st   in Masters (30+) and 1st in overall Masters
·    July 2011 – Peter Potter’s Southern States Championships.   I placed 2nd in Open Class A Figure and 1st in Masters (40)
·    July 2011 – Gary Udit’s NPC Pittsburgh Masters Nationals.   I placed 4th in my first National Show in Figure Class A (35+)
·    April 2012 – Panhandle Showdown in Pensacola, FL.  I placed 2nd in Open Figure Class A and 2nd in Masters (40)
·    July 2012 – Gary Udit’s Pittsburgh Masters Nationals.  I placed 1st in Figure Class A (45)  and 2nd in Figure Class A (35).  Made it to   the overalls but did not earn my pro-status.  Still, I did what I set out to do….Won my class and made it to the overalls at Nationals….This was the most amazing feeling EVER!!

Next competition:  

·    My first plan is to compete at The Arnold Amateur in March 2013 in Columbus OH – This is something I have been dreaming to do for as far back as I can remember

·    Depending on the outcome of The Arnold Amateur, I will go back to Gary Udit’s Masters Nationals in Pittsburgh in July of 2013 and fight for my pro-card once again

How has your life changed since you adopted this lifestyle and started competing?  
·    Honestly speaking, my life is…as it always has been…with the exception of one thing;…I have gained so much more respect and confidence IN MYSELF.  I have learned and obviously proven that no dreams are “impossible” but they are also not “given”.  You must first find your goal….After that, it takes hard work, dedication, persistence, consistency and last, but by far least, DRIVE to achieve anything in life.  We are here but once….so choose wisely. Enjoy EVERY MOMENT (win or lose) of whatever it is that you are going after and never ever ever give up.  Regrets are purely a waste of time and energy that you can’t get back.  I try to instill these same values in my children.  I don’t ever want them to think that they “can’t” do something in life.  If you don’t at least “try”….how will you ever know?  The not knowing is a prime example of a regret.

What have you found to be the best way to balance family, friends, career, this lifestyle, etc…
·    I have been thru a lot of ups & downs in life so I have found that the best way for me to keep my life balanced is to try and keep everything as simple as possible.  I am naturally OCD so I’m extremely organized which helps when getting prepped for a competition.  Although it makes everyone around me crazy, this definitely helps keep me in check.  I have been training non-competitively most of my life so health and fitness is just an everyday occurrence for me.  I don’t “think” about it….I just “do it” When I’m getting ready to compete, that’s when I kick it up 10 notches. Tunnel vision sets in and I don’t stop til I hit the stage!  I’m very focused.  In fact, at times I can be “overly competitive”.  I just stay in that tunnel and I don’t come out.  That’s not always easy on everyone around me.   But it’s just ME…..it’s the way I have always been…..

·    My family is obviously my number one priority.  My husband and  kids are my biggest fans so when I’m training and dieting for a competition and I’m not such a happy camper (that’s putting it mildly) knowing they understand helps me immensely. Again, I just try to keep my life as simple as possible.  My husband plays a big part in my contest preparation….he measures, cooks and packs ALL my meals and is a very involved Father as well.  Don’t know if I’d be able to do this without him.  My kids….they’re simply amazing little miracles!
·    With regard to balancing friendships, that can get a bit lonely at times because of all the discipline that comes along with being an athlete.   Most of my friends are very supportive and cheer me on 100% but it is still difficult when during training season, it’s girls-night-out and I have to decline because I might slip and go off my diet.

If you could change places with one competitor for the day who would it be and why?
·    I really admire Erin Stern so it would have to be her.  She’s a huge inspiration in this industry.  She leaves me with the perception of being a very confident woman but not stuck on herself.  In my opinion, Erin is very grounded and truly believes in her spirit as an athlete.  She’s beautiful, she’s successful and has a great bubbly sense of humor. She’s highly educated and has a career outside of the competition world, she’s not a quitter, she’s strong but at the same time she’s very humble.  Erin to me just seems like a very down to earth person that’s not “showy” at all and never comes across to me as feeling “better” than everyone else.  She reminds me a lot of myself.


Name two of the most inspirational people in your life and tell why they inspire you.  
·    Without getting too personal and into a whole lot of detail, I will have to say my Mother.  I have 5 older sisters and she basically raised us all by herself.  Life was not always easy for us and we didn’t have a lot of the extras that most kids had, but we always had what we needed and we were loved dearly.
·    For my second choice, I would have to say Dara Torres.   She is a Mom, just like me.  She’s in her mid 40’s, just like me.  And she doesn’t care about the age of the competitors she’s up against.  And although Dara is not in the same industry as I am….She’s an OLYMPIC MEDALIST that never gave up on her dream despite her age !!!

Tell one recipe or supplement you can’t live without.
·    My favorite supplements are my Anavite Multi-vitamins by Gaspari Nutrition.  I take 3 tablets in the morning with my breakfast and they give me all the strength and energy I need for the entire day.  There’s really no need to take anything else because they have it all.  They are truly, in my opinion, the “Ultimate Enhancing Multi-Vitamins”   just as it says on the container.  I have tried so many other multi’s….they are just NOT the same.

Tell about a typical training day for you.  What exercises, how many sets/reps…etc…
·    I’m very obsessive with regard to my training so I treat all my workouts just as I would be training for a competition.  Here’s an example of a leg day for me:
·    Butt Blaster is always first for me:  40 lbs / 12, 15, 18, 20 reps with a 12 second hold on each.
·    Lying or seated leg curls w/ pointed ballerina toes:
40 to 50 lbs / 20, 30, 40, 50 reps 12 second hold on each.
·    Step-Ups w/ karate kicks: 100 reps total.
·    Inners & Outers:  Weight varying – 4 sets of 30 with a 12 second hold on each.
·    Seated Leg Press Machine Jumps:  30 lbs / 4 sets of 30
·    Seated Leg Curls:  20 lbs / 4 sets of 30 with a 12 second hold on each.
·    Squat Jumps: 4 sets of 25
·    Seated and standing calf raises: 4 sets of 30

In closing, Who would you like to give a shout out to?  
·    Okay, so this is a good one and a true story so hold on when you hear this……I would like to give a “shout out” to the person that told me I’d never make it as a figure competitor.  The same person that insisted I would get “stomped on in this industry”.  Without that comment from you, I never would have challenged myself (and secretly, you as well) to enter into this world of fitness.  The NPC is the most prestigious and I’m proud to be a part of this organization.  I know you have followed me along my journey and in some strange way, I almost feel like I owe this all to  you (LOL).  I’m a very shy person at heart but one thing I am definitely not….and that’s a quitter.  I did the homework…..I train hard…..I eat well…..I have spoken to and have worked with some of the best trainers in this industry…..at the end of it all…..my track record speaks for itself.  I may have started later than most of the ladies in this industry, but because of my hard work and dedication, it really really speaks…..volumes.  I have lacked confidence in myself most of my life but today, I can finally say how proud I am of myself for not giving up and being afraid to walk out on that stage and show everyone how hard I work.  I am 45 years old and I just won a National title….Wow, can I just say how good that feels.   I’m not done yet either; better things are waiting for me out there.  I am a firm believer in karma so watch your words and use them wisely, be kind and be humble.  Thank you and God bless :)

·    Thank you Dave Palumbo and Gail Auerbach for this amazing opportunity.  Proud to be a new-comer to your site.  I whole heartedly appreciate this more than words can say.

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