Spotlight On NPC Figure Competitor: Lia Taylor

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Published on Wednesday, 27 March 2013 20:15

Written by Lia Taylor

Spotlight On NPC Figure Competitor: Lia Taylor

Category you compete in: NPC Figure
Date of birth: 7/5/87
Hometown: East Dorset, Vermont
Career: Personal Trainer, Nutrition Educator, Zumba Instructor, part-time Server

What is your favorite contest prep recipe? Hmmm…I have several, but my favorite meal of the day is usually my last meal, I eat it every day all year round :)

Chicken Avocado Mash
~4 oz grilled Cajun seasoned chicken breast
~100g roasted broccoli seasoned with red pepper
    flakes, garlic, sea salt, and rosemary
~1 oz fat free feta cheese
~2.5-3 oz avocado (about ½)
~A little siracha hot sauce (careful, this has sugar so
I measure it out to 10g=2g sugar and cut it out closer to competition)
Mash it all together…delish!!

What part of your physique are you currently working on? I’m constantly working on improving my v-taper and bringing out my lats, especially because I have a thick waist.  For me my quads are very dominant, so maintaining my upper body and keeping balance from top to bottom while bringing in the right conditioning is my challenge.

Name one piece of nutrition/fitness advice that has stuck with you.  Be patient and stay positive.  It’s easy to get stuck in the mindset that you want results quickly, but I believe the quicker they come, the quicker they will also go.  It takes TIME for your body to change! Keeping a positive mindset and believing the results WILL come has helped me continue to improve with each competition.  Trust the process!

If you could compete in one other event (FBB, physique, figure, fitness, bikini) which would it be and why? Probably fitness or physique.  I have a little bit of a dance background, so being able to express myself on stage and show off some dance moves would be fun.

Why NPC: I started competing with the NPC from my very first show.  It is the most professional and recognized organization and the only one that, in my opinion, will lead me to the top.  Living in New England the NPC offers a lot of competition options for me throughout the year.

What do you like best about competing? I like the feeling of empowerment and accomplishment after pushing myself through every workout every day leading up to my competition and feeling good about myself.  There is no better feeling than pushing through a heavy set or a hard session of intervals, even when you don’t want to do it, and knowing you didn’t give in or back down.

What are your goals for the future?

~To earn my IFBB pro card in figure                       

~To become a sponsored athlete                                                  

~To start my training/nutrition consultation business online and expand locally                                                       

~To travel to new places in the world                  

~To make a comfortable living so that I can always be somewhere warm when I want to be.

Competition history:
2012- NPC Vermont- 2nd place
   NPC Jay Cutler Classic- 4th place
   NPC Team Universe 16th place
   NPC Nationals- 14th place
2011- NPC New Hampshire 2nd place
   NPC New Englands 4th place
2010- NPC Jay Cutler Classic- 3rd place
2009- NPC New Englands 7th place
    NPC Eastern USA’s 13th place
2008- NPC NH- dnp
2007- NPC New Hampshire State- 1st place in Novice category, 2nd place fitness model category

Next competition: NPC Vermont Championships-April 27th followed by Jr. Nationals in Chicago- June 14-15th

Hobbies: When I have time outside of the gym and the kitchen I like to paint & draw, dance, do anything outside in the summer, bargain shop

What is the biggest lesson you have learned over the years when it comes to competing? Keeping BALANCE! Be smart about how you prepare for competition and seek the help of an experienced coach.  I put myself through hell for the first few years I competed, way too low calories, way too much cardio and rebounded up and down for several years ending up with some metabolic damage, and thinking that was what it took to compete.  If I had only started off with the right knowledge or help of my current coach, Kevin Myles, I believe I would have been much more successful with my competition career at this point.  HOWEVER, I also wouldn’t have learned from experience everything I have over the past 7 years that I can now teach others who are just getting started, and help prevent them from making the same mistakes.  Listen to your body and BE PATIENT.

What is your favorite contest prep supplement? Emerald Balance Plus- a chocolate superfood powder that tastes awesome! You can mix it with hot water or coconut milk for a little “hot chocolate” treat.

Favorite Quote: “The rough is only mental”

Photos by Celia Kelly

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