Spotlight On NPC Figure Competitor : Shyrlena L. Bogard, MD

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Published on Thursday, 14 February 2013 21:34

Written by Shyrlena Bogard

Spotlight On NPC Figure Competitor : Shyrlena L. Bogard, MD

Date of Birth: Dec 2, 1971

Hometown: Millington,TN (Currently reside in Ottawa, IL)

Career: Obstetrician & Gynecology Physician

Competition History:

10/27/12  NPC Border States – San Diego, CA
                 Open Overall Winner, 1st Place Open Class C
                Master's Overall Winner, 1st Place Master's Class B
10/20/12  NPC Dexter Jackson Memphis Classic, Memphis, TN
                Open Overall Winner, 1st Place Open Class C
                Master's 35+ Overall Winner, 1st Place Master's Class B
09/08/12  NPC Tournament of Champions - Culver City, CA
                2nd Place Open Class C
                2nd Place Master's 35+ Class B
03/01/12  Arnold Amateur Figure
                6th Place Master's Short
12/03/11  NPC Excalibur, Culver City, CA
                5nd Place Open Class D
                2nd Master's 35+ Class B
05/14/11  NPC IL Grand Prix - Rockford, IL
                6th Place Open Class C
07/17/10  NPC Tim Gardner Extravaganza – Tampa, FL
                1st Place Master's Over 30
05/16/09  OCB Pride of the Atlantic, Richmond, VA
                11th Place Open Short
                 6th Place Master's Short
10/25/08   OCB Charm City Classic – MD
                 1st Place 101 Division (1st time competitors)
                 3rd Place Novice Short

Next Competition: NPC Jr Nationals, Chicago, IL June 14-15, 2013

How has your life changed since you adopted this lifestyle and started competing?
Wow, the short answer.....DISCIPLINE and STRUCTURE.  When I first began competing I was in an Obstetrics and Gynecology residency and I felt like I had absolutely no control over my life.  The hours were long, the days were stressful, and I felt like I was being pulled in a million directions with very little time for myself and the things that made me happy.  Through a friend I joined a local boot camp class where I learned about the sport of Figure competition.  Within months I decided that I wanted to compete and began my research on diet and training (no extra money for a coach/trainer back then, LOL).  In that very first prep, I developed a level of discipline in my life that I had never imagined.  It goes without saying that as a medical student, a lifestyle of discipline was something I was used to, but having discipline with my diet was something different.  I quickly learned that every moment of everyday counts and that I had to have a plan and stick to it.  My results were a direct result of my commitment, and life was not going to stop just  because I wanted to compete.
Over the years, this lifestyle has just become habit to me.  It gives me balance and provides a positive outlet for some of the stresses of my job.  The irony is that now when I am “off-season” and away from my structured diet and training, my anxiety and stress levels are increase tremendously.

Lastly, I will add that I have become very critical of myself in a whole new way since I started competing.  Sometimes it's positive and drives me to keep pushing and improving myself, but there are other times that I get caught up in not looking “stage ready” at all times.  That has been a long battle, but over the past year I have developed a much healthier perspective and understand the importance of balance. 

What have you found to be the best way to balance family, friends, career, this lifestyle, etc...
With each year I am getting better and better at this.  I was once told by my uncle that I have “tunnel vision”, meaning whenever I have a goal I set my sights on it and I don't see anything else.  Everything that I do in some way must get me closer to my goal, and anything else I make no time for.  And my competition journey began just that way.  All I did was work and work out and prepare to work and work out.  And I was content – or so I thought.  After realizing that not only was I not living a full life, but I was also missing out on valuable family events I realized that I needed to make some changes.   At that point I started prioritizing and focusing on enjoying life outside the gym.  The stage will always be there, but some things in life will only happen once.  I committed to enjoying vacations and letting them be about time with my family. During the competition season, I try to have one day a week to do things with my daughter.  What I have learned is that its not so much how much time I spend with family, but how involved I am during the time that we are together.  For some strange reason my family (ie, my daughter) is happier when I eat “normal” and sleep past 7am. 

As an obstetrician my work schedule is very unpredictable.  Because of this it is imperative that I have  structure to my training.  I get up every morning at 4:30 to get my cardio out of the way.  That way no matter what happens the rest of the day with patients and deliveries, I know that I completed my cardio.  Currently, I lift only four times a week and therefore I have some flexibility to make up any workouts that I might miss. 
As for friends.......I surround myself with like-minded people.  That decreases the pressure to go out  or  got to restaurants.  We all enjoy the gym and love clean eating.   Haha!

If you could change places with one competitor for one day who would it be and why?
Nicole Wilkins, because she just moved from Michigan to California.  I am not a fan of cold weather and San Diego is at the top of the list of places I am thinking of moving to.

Name two of the most inspirational people in your life and tell why they inspire you.
My grandmother who taught me to be the person that I am .  She had a sixth grade education and was the mother of 16 children.  She raised me and my brothers and she always stressed the importance of education.  When I was young I was never allowed to miss a day of school.  Even if I was sick, I had to go for at least half a day so that I was given credit for my attendance.  My grandmother also kept me in church.  Because of my relationship with God, I know from where my blessings come and I take nothing for granted. 

The other person who inspires me is one of my attendings from residency, Dr. Bonnie J. Dattel.  She exemplifies what it means to be a compassionate and caring physician.  She is an brilliant doctor and one of the smartest women that I know.  But what inspires me the most about her is how she manages to stay well rounded and enjoy her life outside the office.  She has traveled the world, participated in medical missions to 3rd world countries, and after deciding to get in shape, she lost weight and then started running marathons after the age of 50 years.  One day at a national conference I happened to see her across the room and she was knitting while listening to the lecturer.  There she was, an amazing surgeon sitting there knitting; I chuckled and thought to myself, “I want to be just like Dr. Dattel when I grow up”.  I remember I started knitting a blanket for my daughter when I was pregnant, and I still haven't figured out how to finish the ends.  LOL!


Tell one recipe or supplement you can't live without.
Supplement: OxyPro Elite – I don't believe in fat burners, but the energy I get from it gets me through the tough 5am cardio sessions when my dieting is really strict.
Recipe: Protein Chocolate Peanut Butter Brownies .  They always get my through  those chocolate cravings.

Tell about a typical training day for you.  What exercises, how many sets/reps...etc...
Currently, I am doing cardio 5 days/week for 30 minutes.  I always do my cardio first thing in the morning when my energy level is the highest.  Most days I do intervals or HIIT.  I typically lift on days that I do not have office hours, but if I do have to lift late in the evening after work, I will do chest or shoulders and arms. 

5am Cardio & Abs
 
A leg days looks like this:
Extensions – 15/12/10/8
Leg Press – 15/12/ 10/15 (45 degree or vertical)
Linear Hack Squat – 15/12/10
BB Walking Lunge – 20/20/20 (each leg)
Supine Leg Curl – 15/12/10/15
Straight Leg Heel Raise- 30/25/20/15
Standing Calf Raise – 30/25/20/15

In closing, who would you like to give a shout out to?
First, I thank God for blessing with the ability to live out my dreams and passions.  I am also thankful for the person who keeps me grounded and supports me through all the joys and stresses of competing, my daughter Alexis.  She continually reminds me to “keep it fun”.  My workout partner, Brittany “MissFitBritt” Ramsey, has been a true Godsend and we have big plans for 2013!  I'd also like to   thank my new trainer, Willes Ko, for  helping me to  “tweak some things”.  Lastly, I am shouting a big THANK YOU to my coach/nutritionist/life adviser/fashion consultant/etc, Kim Oddo for pushing me to be better than my best and for opening my eyes to the wings I already possessed.

I would like to thank RxGirl for recognizing me and giving me an opportunity to talk about my love for fitness and competing.  I am committed to this lifestyle and excited for the journey that lies ahead!

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