Episode 12: Danai Michou by Hosted by Loz Vickers

This week on the podcast we are joined by multiple Pro World Bodybuilding Champion, Zoe Leeming-Watts.

Alongside being a serving member in the Army, Zoe has been competing as a Women’s Bodybuilder since 2016. After multiple seasons, Zoe has attained 2 DFAC Pro world titles & the WNBF Pro world title for the first title last year.

It was incredible to witness Zoe win the WNBF Worlds last year in person & I thoroughly enjoyed having her on to discuss her journey and experience in more detail.

I hope you all enjoy listening!

Zoe’s Instagram: @the_natural_physique

Podcasts Instagram: @naturalfemalemuscle

Time Stamps :

00:00 - 03:42 Introduction & transitioning into this off-season

03:43 - 07:19 Zoe’s earliest Context into Training in the Army & Route towards Bodybuilding

07:20 - The First Coaching & Competing Experience in 2016

10:00 - Taking on the 2017 as an improved prep & athlete to win the DFAC Pro Card

14:41 - 22:59 The difference when Zoe started working with Rob Waterhouse & the Training Approach

23:00 - 25:00 The Importance for Zoe to run High Carbs to function at her best

25:01 -32:12 Pushing past the mental barriers of Off-Season Change

33:13 - 39:59 Taking a mixture of results in 2019

40:00 - 53:59 Working to find the look the makes you most competitive: Prep & Peak Week Protocols

54:00 - 56:30 Going on Worlds Experiencing with a team

56:31 - 01:02:21 Zoe’s Future Competitive Goals & Competing in a non-tested Fed as a Natural Athlete

This week we are joined by Rachel Fewkes.

Rachel is a figure athlete, holding Pro Status with the ICN & along with competing highly at an international level.

Rachel is also a Care Registered Nurse and Mum of 3, which also makes her journey extremely inspiring as she has improved her relationship with fitness & mental health along the way.

Listening to Rachel talk about how her process has transformed into the way it is today, was extremely insightful.

I thoroughly enjoyed this conversation & hope you all enjoy listening!

00:00 - 02:03 Introduction

02:04 - 08:14 Background into Sports & Exercise for Mental Health Management

08:15 - 09:59 Dealing with Insomnia over the years

10:00 - 17:59 The shift in the relationship with training following Rachel’s first pregnancy

18:00 - 23:48 Working on taking time to improve mental health & leading into bodybuilding

(Sound drops at 22:00 but comes back at 23:00)

23:49 - 26:00 Feeling nervous about the stage aspect of bodybuilding

26:01 - 36:49 Transitioning into the first bodybuilding Prep in 2019 & dealing with higher levels of fatigue

36:50 - 42:59 Being nervous for the first experiences stepping on a bodybuilding stage

43:00 - 47:12 Have the show day experience that creates a positive perception of the female bodybuilding culture

47:13 - 50:57 The Broken Heels on Show Day story

50:58 - 54:16 The Differences in Rachel’s Prep in 2022

54:17 - 59:37 Managing the final String of Shows at the End of the Season

59:38 - 01:11:00 Coming away from 2nd at WNBF Worlds & Future Competitive Plans

Rachels Instagram: @rfewkes27

Podcasts Instagram: @naturalfemalemuscle

Amy is an Online Coach, Personal trainer & Natural Figure Athlete. 

Amy stepped on stage for the first time last year where she won the Heart of England Figure title & took home a top 4 placing at the UKDFBA Finals. 

After an incredible but challenging first season, Amy is actually competing again this year & recently just started her prep. 

This was an incredible, honest discussion about self belief and having resilience. I really enjoyed learning more about Amy, as well as being able to truly relate to her story.

I hope you all enjoy listening!

Amy’s Instagram: @agpt_coaching

Podcasts Instagram: @NaturalFemaleMuscle

00:00 - 01:40 Introduction

01:41 - 08:24 Life Background into Training & Coming from a Challenging Spot

08:25 -15:59 Being able to create change & becoming a PT

16:00 - 23:09 Transitioning over to Full-Time PT & the experience of this

23:10 - 29:59 Moving over to the Bodybuilding Community & Gaining a Coach

30:00 - 36:08 Building a Coaching Relationship & Gaining Confidence in your Capability to Complete

36:09 - 44:29 The Experience of the First Prep

44:30 - 53:40 Peak Week & Emotions of the Show Day Experience

53:41 -01:06:55 Falling Ill Over the last Stages of Prep

01:06:56 - 01:13:26 The Differences & Changes in Confidence with the Years Prep

01:13:26 - 01:14:44 Outro & Where to find Amy

This week I bring a solo episode to the podcast to give a breakdown of my own journey with bodybuilding & how this has developed over the years.

I aimed to share this story to help provide some insight & value from the lessons that I have been able to learn.

I hope you all enjoy listening!

My Instagram: @Loz.v

Podcast Instagram: @NaturalFemaleMuscle

NBW: @NaturalBBWorldwide

(I do want to give a Trigger Warning for this episode, as I do briefly touch upon sensitive topics including easting disorders & metal health. Please skip to 12:30 in order to avoid this portion of the podcast)

00:00 - 05:22 Introduction & Aim of this Episode

05:22 -12:29 Background Context Prior to Finding Training

12:30 - 16:33 Finding Purpose in Training & Changing Direction

15:45 - 20:09 Phase 1, Discovery & Mistakes

20:10 - 24:46 Making the Next Big Decisions in My Life & Bodybuilding

24:47 - 33:59 Phase 2, Test & Challenge

34:00 - 45:29 Phase 3, Development & Maturation

45:30 - 48:22 Main Take-Away & Outro

Hannah is a natural figure competitor, posing coach & also works as a research specialist for a multiple myeloma diagnostics company. 

Hannah began her competing journey in 2019 with the PCA, taking home a toned figure title that year & also a Top 6 placing in Athletic Figure in the finals.

In 2021, Hannah competed again within natural federations where she came top 4 at UKDFBA British & took home WNBF British Figure Title. 

This Year Hannah is embarking on her 3rd prep where she is aiming to step back on stage with a much improved physique!

As many of you will know - Hannah also shares a very positive and realistic influence on the bodybuilding community, especially for females. This was a lovely catch up discussion for us, so I hope you all enjoy listening!

Hannah’s Instagram: @_HannahsHealth

Podcast Instagram: @NaturalFemaleMuscle

00:00 - 06:40 Introduction & Physique Expectations as a Natural Female Athlete

06:41 - 25:39 Hannah’s 2021 Prep & Finding your Class as a Class

25:40 - Importance of Finding your OWN Healthy ‘Set Point’ Post Prep

35:00 - Learning & Developing more over the Entire bodybuilding Process

40:45 - 44:50 - Having a Trusting & Honest Relationship for your Coach

44:51 - 55:30 Having Improved Management with Social Life & Bodybuilding

55:31 - 01:10:00 Managing a Different Work Environment & Routine with Bodybuilding

01:10:01 - 01:16:11 This Years Prep Approach so far & Plans

01:16:12 - 01:17:15 Outro - Where to Find Hannah!

Nikki Began her bodybuilding journey around 10 years ago & in this episode we dive deeper into the experiences & lessons that have led to the success she has been able to have within the sport.

Most Recently this success came in 2022, where Nikki won multiple Figure Titles, 4 Overall Titles and 2 Pro Cards with both ICN & INBA.

Prior to this, Nikki spent some time away from competing, and there are no doubts that this massively transformed her as an athlete.

Most impressively, we discuss how Nikki has balanced bodybuilding with also being a Mother of 3. She highlights how being a successful athlete and an incredible mum can be possible - something that I find extremely inspiring.

I hope you all enjoy this conversation as much as I did!

Nikki’s Instagram: @Nikksimpson_icnpro

Podcast Instagram: @NaturalFemaleMuscle

00:00 - 05:54 Introduction to Bodybuilding

05:55 - 10:54 The Experience of the First 2 Preps & Managing Family Life - Improving Bodybuilding Management with Family Life across Different Preps

10:55 - 17:25 Feeling Finished with Bodybuilding after the First Harder Prep Experience’s in 2014/2015

17:07 - 20:33 Needing to Take Time away from Bodybuilding & Competing to improve Physical Health & Enjoyment

20:34 - 25:04 Returning to Training & Bodybuilding during Nikki’s 3rd Pregnancy in 2019

25:05 - 29:29 Seeing all the Benefits of Taking a TRUE Off-Season in 2019

29:30 - 31:59 Changing Training to a Lower Volume, Strength Focused Approach

32:00 - 37:59 Taking a Completely Fresh Approach to the Prep in 2022

38:00 - 40:48 Principle of Keeping Routined Across Prep

40:49 - 47:57 Entering the 2022 Season Shows after a Long Time Away

47:58 - 51:51 Having a Better Exit out of Prep into Off Season

51:52 - 56:20 Plans for Future Competitive Seasons

56:21 - 58:51 Final words of advice for other athletes

This week on the podcast we are joined by Athlete & Coach, Emma Currivan.

Over the past year, Emma has made an incredible entrance into the competitive world of bodybuilding as a figure athlete.

In 2022, Emma took home multiple incredible show results, including WNBF Ireland & NBFI Figure Title and Overall, PCA Ireland Toned Figure Title & INBA European Figure Champion.

This season was an accumulation of several years of hard work behind the scenes that ultimately led her into being the successful athlete she is today.

I hope you enjoy listening!


Emma’s Instagram: @Emma.Currivan

Podcast Instagram: @NaturalFemaleMuscle

Time Stamps

00:00 - 07:49 Reflecting on having a Big ’Build Up’ to a Competitive Season

07:50 - 13:44 The Journey into Bodybuilding

13:45 - 19:34 The Difference in this Fitness Industry now for Females

19:35 - 23:59 Having a Coach who gives you Validation as an Athlete

24:00 - 32:59 Handling your First True Off-Season Phase

33:00 - 38:54 Benefits of a Pre-Prep Diet for Confidence Building

38:55 - 44:44 Dealing with the drop-off of Training in Prep

44:45 - 54:48 Entering the First Show Day Experiences

54:49 - 1:02:59 Moving onto International Shows in Emma’s First Season

01:03:00 - 01:09:59 Winning the European Figure Title

01:10:00 - 01:15:44 Making the decision NOT to take the PNBA Pro Status

01:15:45 - 01:29:35 Learning how to lose & staying Mentally Strong to End the Season at Worlds

01:29:36 - 01:33:59 Emma’s thoughts ahead for her future Bodybuilding Career

01:34:00 - 01:35:57 Outro - Where to Find Emma!

Episode 04: PNBA Pro Nicola Truelove by Hosted by Loz Vickers

This week, DFAC Pro Megan McEveley joins us to provide an interesting insight into her success as an athlete.

Meg competed for the first time in 2021 as a Figure athlete. In this year she won the PCA First Timers & Overall, UKDFBA Heart of England, BNBF Northern, 2nd at the PCA Finals and Overall Winner at the BNBF Finals, where she was awarded her DFAC Pro Status.

Behind this though Meg has had an interesting background into competitive bodybuilding, through training from a young age & participating in powerlifting.

This year Meg makes her return to stage & her professional debut. We discuss the contrasts between her first season as an amateur and her second season as she enters as a Pro.

I hope you enjoy listening!

Meg’s Instagram: @megmlifts_teamdw

Podcast Instagram: @NaturalFemaleMuscle

Time Stamps:

00:00 - 02:30 Introduction

02:31 - 06:57 Meg’s Early Context into Bodybuilding

06:58 - 15:01 Family & Friends Support throughout the Bodybuilding Process

15:02 - 20:21 The Carryover over Powerlifting into Bodybuilding (*the integration of into bodybuilding to 17:33-18:16)

20:22 - 28:26 How Productivity at Uni & Work was improved through Bodybuilding

28:27 - 36:30 The Journey Into Meg’s First Prep

36:31 - 39:41 Managing Body Comp across a Longer Prep & the benefits of this

39:42 - 41:59 Winning the BNBF Finals & Gaining her DFAC Pro Status

42:00 - 48:33 How Expectations Shifted Across the Season

48:34 - 01:02:20 Making Decisions & Judging Readiness for this Years Prep

01:02:21 -01:03:37 Outro