Today I speak with IFBB Bikini Pro Manuelita Acuña, a 20-year-old from Colombia, who has lived in the USA for 2.5 years. A former member of the Columbian National Trampoline team, she retired after winning the 2019 National championships and sustaining an injury. Who her mom came to visit her in March of 2022, she realized she wasn’t in a good spot mentally or physically, so she decided to make a change and began working out again. She began her bodybuilding journey in March of 2023 when she began coaching with Daniela Benitez.   She won the overall at her first show and then won her Pro card in December 2023 at Nationals, only her second show ever!   TOPICS COVERED -health, discipline, passion, hard work,  -inspired to dream  -put in the work & trust in God -trusting your coach -being patient -being an elite trampoline gymnast -growing her relationship with God   CONNECT WITH CELESTE: Website: http://www.celestial.fit Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/celestial_fit/ All Links: http://www.celestial.fit/links.html CONNECT WITH MANU: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/manuacuna_ifbbpro/   TIME STAMPS 1:00 introduction 5:10 winning Pro at her second show 15:17 having a team you trust 19:30 being an elite level trampoline gymnast 23:35 finding bodybuilding 27:55 going from injured athlete to Pro  35:48 moving to another country 42:12 fear of judgement  50:34 trusting in God& giving him glory 56:00 life outside of bodybuilding 60:33 missing family 67:10 feedback after Pro card win 69:30 plans for the future 72:00 advice for competitors     CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE FREE FOOD RELATIONSHIP COACHING SERIES   CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE FREE POST SHOW BLUES COACHING SERIES   LEARN MORE AND APPLY FOR MY 5 WEEK FOOD RELATIONSHIP HEALING & DISCOVERY COACHING PROGRAM   FOR OTHER FREE RESOURCES, LIVE EVENTS, AND WAYS TO WORK WITH CELESTE CLICK HERE

MANUELITA  ACUNA; God's Glory, Columbia to America,  Injured Athlete to IFBB Pro

The Confessions of a Bikini Pro Podcast is the only place where IFBB bikini pros share their struggles, strategies, stories, insights, and advice in a real, raw, and vulnerable setting.
​
​The goal of this podcast is to educate, inspire, and remind other competitors, athletes, or the every day gym goer that even the most elite professionals face hardships, health problems, mental obstacles, and other adversities.

All show notes, time stamps, links, and information can be found on this page, just search the athlete you want to listen to in the alphabetized categories section or keep scrolling. 

​Make sure to subscribe, rate, and review this podcast if you love it as much as we do so we can continue spreading the message to people worldwide! And be sure to follow @celestial_fit on instagram too for behind the scenes, sneak peeks, and more! Tag her and the guests in your posts and stories loving on the podcasts too!

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Fitness

Health & Fitness

Mental Health

Today I speak with IFBB Bikini Pro Lisa Reid, a 32 year old newly crowned Bikini Pro from Australia who entered her first competition back in 2014 and was immediately hooked. Now, almost a decade later I has competed in 23 shows and her passion and love for the sport only continues to grow. She started in the Natural Bodybuilding federations first: winning pro status and world titles in two federations (ICN & WNBF), before working towards building a competitive physique for her NPC Debut in 2022. At the end of 2023 she traveled to America to compete at the Amateur Olympia, and then her dream became a reality when she earned her Pro card at the Caribbean Grand Prix Pro Qualifier in the Bahamas.    TOPICS COVERED -the difficulty to win a pro card in Australia -experience training & competing internationally  -background as a dancer growing up  -importance of consistency and patience -passion is one of the keys to success  -having her partner as her coach  -a strong support network  -maturing as an athlete   CONNECT WITH CELESTE: Website: http://www.celestial.fit Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/celestial_fit/ All Links: http://www.celestial.fit/links.html CONNECT WITH LISA: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lisajanereid/   TIME STAMPS 1:00 introduction 5:00 competing in different federations 12:01 posing practice and different standards 14:07 earning a Pro card in Australia 16:31 competing internationally 21:31 differences in competing locally and internationally 30:40 developing over 10 years 36:53 comparison hurting your preps 41:55 personal growth 44:32 focuses outside of bodybuilding 47:55 being coached by her partner 54:37 growing muscle overtime 57:48 prep versus off season 62:32 goals for the Pro league 66:23 relating posing to dancing 69:30 advice for competitors    CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE FREE FOOD RELATIONSHIP COACHING SERIES   CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE FREE POST SHOW BLUES COACHING SERIES   LEARN MORE AND APPLY FOR MY 5 WEEK FOOD RELATIONSHIP HEALING & DISCOVERY COACHING PROGRAM   FOR OTHER FREE RESOURCES, LIVE EVENTS, AND WAYS TO WORK WITH CELESTE CLICK HERE

LISA JANE REID; Australian Road to Pro, Changing Federations, Joy in the Journey, Taking your Time

Today I celebrate six years of the Confessions of a Bikini Pro Podcast! Sometime I feel like it’s been longer and sometimes I feel like it was just yesterday! So much of my life has changed over the past six years, but the one constant has been the podcast. Join me today as I look back on the past guests, lessons learned, and what the future holds!   TOPICS COVERED -6 lessons learned -6 mental health tips -6 goals for the podcast -6 reflections   CONNECT WITH CELESTE: Website: http://www.celestial.fit Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/celestial_fit/ All Links: http://www.celestial.fit/links.html   TIME STAMPS 1:00 introduction 3:30 podcasting as a passion project 5:45 lessons learned 14:13 mental health tips 20:40 goals for the podcast 28:40 reflections on the podcast    CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE FREE FOOD RELATIONSHIP COACHING SERIES   CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE FREE POST SHOW BLUES COACHING SERIES   LEARN MORE AND APPLY FOR MY 5 WEEK FOOD RELATIONSHIP HEALING & DISCOVERY COACHING PROGRAM   FOR OTHER FREE RESOURCES, LIVE EVENTS, AND WAYS TO WORK WITH CELESTE CLICK HERE

6 Years of Podcasting; Lessons, Mental Health Tips, Goals for the Show, and Reflections

Today I speak with IFBB Bikini Pro Amanda Lam, from Hong Kong. She and her partner Isaac, are the first Chinese IFBB pro couple. She is the director of PUMP Personal Training Gym in Hong Kong and is also a transformation and Prep Coach. She is also an occupational therapist with 2 years working experience in the psychiatric department working with adolescents with autism, depression, and eating disorders. Amanda is currently studying functional medicine and integrative nutrition. She earned her Pro card in Hong Kong 2020 and has since placed second call outs at the 2023 San Antonio Pro and first call outs in Korea Pro and Japan Pro.   TOPICS COVERED -growing trend of bodybuilding in Asia -relationships in bodybuilding -working on feedback & building glutes -balancing all aspects of life -from occupational therapy to coaching -taking a break from bodybuilding -having a heathy pregnancy & postpartum -stress management  -pursuing your passion   CONNECT WITH CELESTE: Website: http://www.celestial.fit Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/celestial_fit/ All Links: http://www.celestial.fit/links.html CONNECT WITH AMANDA: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amandajayden_ifbbpro/   TIME STAMPS 1:00 introduction 4:27 competing in Asia versus USA 8:30 how her family views bodybuilding 14:10 having an IFBB Pro boyfriend 19:05 working towards the Olympia 26:00 balancing bodybuilding and her career 29:43 being a prep coach 30:59 leaving her hospital job to coach 36:44 taking time to start a family 43:50 studying functional medicine 48:30 lessons from bodybuilding 51:31 goals outside of competing 55:20 Amanda’s approach to prep 60:38 advice for competitors    CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE FREE FOOD RELATIONSHIP COACHING SERIES   CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE FREE POST SHOW BLUES COACHING SERIES   LEARN MORE AND APPLY FOR MY 5 WEEK FOOD RELATIONSHIP HEALING & DISCOVERY COACHING PROGRAM   FOR OTHER FREE RESOURCES, LIVE EVENTS, AND WAYS TO WORK WITH CELESTE CLICK HERE

AMANDA LAM; Asia vs America Culture & Standards, Integrative Nutrition, Chinese IFBB Pro Couple Goals, Excelling in YOUR Passion

Today I speak with IFBB Bikini Pro Pamela John, a certified personal trainer, strength coach, and nutrition coach, who started competing in 2012 and earned her Pro card at Masters Nationals in 2015 and has competed over 50 times! After the birth of my last daughter in 2000, her body went haywire which eventually led to a diagnosis of Graves disease. Along the way, she discovered that no matter where we are in life, most of us desire to be better than we are right now. Her specialty is helping women restore their bodies through proper mindset, improved nutrition, movement and hormonal balance and as a result they look and feel even better than they ever thought possible! TOPICS COVERED -overcoming adversity -holding commitments to yourself -becoming disciplined -Her recipe book- “Fit and Healthy Her” -being a long time smoker -fighting Graves disease -dealing with grief  -coping through prep -advocating for your health -having a growth mindset   CONNECT WITH CELESTE: Website: http://www.celestial.fit Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/celestial_fit/ All Links: http://www.celestial.fit/links.html CONNECT WITH PAMELA: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pamela.fit.for.life/ Website: www.pamelajohnfitness.com   TIME STAMPS 1:00 introduction 3:57 changes since reclaiming her health 7:05 explaining Graves disease 14:35 finding gratitude in the journey 18:00 having complicated pregnancies 21:20 her love for her mother 25:19 how grief affects us 33:40 understanding pre-grieving 41:36 overcoming challenges 44:44 finding a love for fitness 47:30 be your own health advocate 48:30 changing habits 51:00 being married over 30 years 56:40 things to master before competing 1:01 milestones in competing 1:02:30 changes in bikini division 77:13 competing for reasons other than physique 78:24 creating a recipe book 84:39 advice for competitors     CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE FREE FOOD RELATIONSHIP COACHING SERIES   CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE FREE POST SHOW BLUES COACHING SERIES   LEARN MORE AND APPLY FOR MY 5 WEEK FOOD RELATIONSHIP HEALING & DISCOVERY COACHING PROGRAM   FOR OTHER FREE RESOURCES, LIVE EVENTS, AND WAYS TO WORK WITH CELESTE CLICK HERE

PAMELA JOHN; Graves Disease, Grieving, Growth Mindset

Today I speak with IFBB Bikini Pro Christina Sanggor, a 27 years old who was born & raised in Houston, Texas. She started working out at age 19 while in college for her education degree. She decided to go back to pursue her passion of exercise science and will be graduating this spring. Christina works as a personal trainer and is a caretaker for her mother and grandmother.    She first competed in wellness in 2022, but switched to bikini in 2023. She switched coaches in August and went on to take overall in both novice and open bikini divisions at Battle of Texas in December. One week later, she took first in her class and earned her Pro card at NPC Nationals. Outside of the gym, she is a foodie and loves attending EDM music festivals.   TOPICS COVERED -Mental aspect of bodybuilding -personal growth over the years -self awareness -past coaching protocol compared to current  -future goals or aspirations   -other hobbies such as raving -practicing self-love -patience with building muscle -raves and EDM festivals -goals to start her own company -willingness to change   CONNECT WITH CELESTE: Website: http://www.celestial.fit Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/celestial_fit/ All Links: http://www.celestial.fit/links.html CONNECT WITH CHRISTINA: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xtinastar_ifbbpro/   TIME STAMPS 1:00 introduction 5:09 starting in wellness 13:25 finding fitness in college 16:38 switching coaches 20:30 being a foodie and a competitor 25:30 changing your mindset 33:00 loving your body in all seasons 46:05 feedback and long improvement season 52:35 keys to success as an amateur 54:02 experience earned her Pro card 59:25 enjoying raves and EDM festival 66:10 growth in her relationship 69:25 going back to school 73:40 willingness to change plans 77:40 being a caretaker 82:50 advice for competitors    CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE FREE FOOD RELATIONSHIP COACHING SERIES   CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE FREE POST SHOW BLUES COACHING SERIES   LEARN MORE AND APPLY FOR MY 5 WEEK FOOD RELATIONSHIP HEALING & DISCOVERY COACHING PROGRAM   FOR OTHER FREE RESOURCES, LIVE EVENTS, AND WAYS TO WORK WITH CELESTE CLICK HERE

MANUELITA ACUNA; God's Glory, Columbia to America, Injured Athlete to IFBB Pro

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