She was very active in sports growing up. She was a a dancer for 14 years, and focused on ballet, point, tap, jazz, and kickline (like the Rockettes). As she entered high school in 2004, she caught an interest in running. She made the Varsity cross-country and track team during her freshman year in high school. At first, she wasn’t the best as she was new to the sport, however she trained every day and practiced hard. Her hard work paid off when she became one of the school’s top track athletes and helped bring her team to the state finals.
Unfortunately, a few weeks before the meet, she fractured her leg. It was crushed. This was her opportunity to show off her new talent and hard work to her friends and family. She took time off and healed and began training again for the next season. Her injury continued to hold her back, so she then was forced to leave the team. She went on to do Varsity cheerleading as it was the least invasive sport on her injury, She succeeded in that sport as well and became captain in her senior year.
After I graduated high school in 2008, she attended Jacksonville State University in Jacksonville, Alabama. It is a mid-major school about 2.5-3 hours west of Atlanta. The school is close to the Georgia state line, so she received instate tuition and was provided an opportunity to go to school in a different state and experience a new life on her own terms! Perfection for a freshly-graduated 17 year old. College was fun, she was very successful. Throughout the summer, she went to the gym. This was her first time having a membership to a gym. Yes..at 21 years old. She did bootcamp, group fitness classes and wrote up workout plans. She started noticing changes in her physique! She began seeing little bumps of muscle form and she quickly became addicted to this lifestyle.
In August 2012, she headed back to school to complete her senior year. She took her new knowledge of lifting weights and fitness to the school weight room. She would either finish her nights or begin her days in the gym. She took a Body Shaping class which brought her back to her running roots, and she began doing old track workouts to complement her weightlifting. They had to do a timed mile at the beginning and end of the semester, in both she beat everyone, even the boys except for 1. She became stronger, faster, and so athletic that JSU’s women’s XC and track coach saw her running one day and literally followed her to the car to recruit her to run for the school. She couldn’t sign because she was graduating in 2 months.
She started using Instagram and seeing pictures of bodybuilding competitors. She was instantly attracted to the glamor, the sparkly suits, the dark tan, make up, and most of all the bodies! She wanted to look like that. She took up training and began her competition prep in the spring. She graduated April 2013 with a B.S in Marketing and Spanish. Part of her graduation gift from her dad was helping her pay for her prep. Her first competition was in July 2013 where she competed in the NPC Georgia and placed 3rd in Bikini. She went on to compete in the NPC USA Coastal in August 2013 where she was placed 4th in Bikini. She has found her strength, confidence, and passion in fitness.
Elizabeth Dickerson is exceptionally talented Bikini Fitness Competitor and stood third at NPC Georgia. She is in conversation with Namita Nayyar, President Women Fitness.
All content on this site is copyright of Women Fitness and no part of any article found on this site may be reproduced without an express permission and highlighted, do follow link crediting http://www.womenfitness.net/ or preferably the original page as the source. This interview is exclusive and taken by Namita Nayyar President womenfitness.net and should not be reproduced, copied or hosted in part or full anywhere without an express permission.
All Written Content Copyright © 2016 Women Fitness
Ms. Namita Nayyar: Tell us about your journey that took you to the the world of fitness and as a winner in NPC Bikini competitions?
Ms. Namita Nayyar: How your experience and background of 14 years as a dancer in ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, and kickline has helped you in your present profession of being a Fitness Model and Bikini competitor?
Ms. Elizabeth Dickerson: I definitely know for a fact my experience as a dancer helps my stage presence. I’ve been performing in front of large audiences of hundreds and sometimes thousands (even on tv) since I was the age of 3. Being on stage and in front of a large audience is comfortable for me. It’s like a second nature. I love it! I actually get a high from it. Performing, having all eyes on me, and sharing with others what my hard work and practice has resulted in is so rewarding. I have confidence, and I believe my years in performing arts helped mold that. When I would dance at my recitals, I would have to smile. Even during practice, I had to smile. I didn’t want to smile though! I was always very concentrated on my movement, but I had to fake it. Eventually, it became a part of me. It is like putting on a mask for the world to see. Putting on a show—literally!
Ms. Namita Nayyar: Share your exercise routine that you do to maintain such a bikini perfect physique?
Ms. Elizabeth Dickerson: Haha my physique is far from perfect in my eyes. I prefer more muscle, and unfortunately my body likes to stay skinny! My goal right now is hypertrophy, so I am lifting as heavy as I can, high volume, and eating a ton!
A leg day looks like this for me:
- Leg Extensions 4×20
- Squats 5x 30,20,15,12,10, superset with straight leg deadlifts 5×10
- Leg Press 5×10
- Leg Press 5×20 superset with Dumbbell sumo squats 5×10
My friend CD Mayhew is an Elite/VIP Personal Trainer in Atlanta where I am from, and he is the one over my nutrition and workouts.
Ms. Namita Nayyar: What is your diet? Do you take a particular fixed regulated diet comprising of nutrients and vitamins to keep you in perfect health?
Ms. Elizabeth Dickerson: I follow IIFYM (If It fits your macros). I have a set daily intake of Carbs, Protein, and Fat. I eat very nutritious food and lean means, but my plan allows flexibility and balance. So,everything I eat I track in My Fitness Pal App. If I want a piece of chocolate, I just count it towards my daily macros! I am in taking a lot right now, since I am trying to gain mass.
Ms. Namita Nayyar: What is your motivation to take a multi-faceted personality of a fitness model, bikini competitor, graphic designer, web designer, branding & social media consultant and nutritional expert?
Ms. Elizabeth Dickerson: Thankfully I am one of those people who can handle A LOT on her plate at one time. I actually enjoy it. Everythin
What I do is fun. Besides my job in retail (yes, I work 10hrs a week in a retail store too! haha), I make my own hours. I have the ability to work from anywhere! It’s refreshing.
Currently, I am doing freelance design work, social media management, work in retail, study at the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), studying to become a Specialist in Fitness Nutrition, and working on starting my own business to be launched within the next year. And I still MAKE the time to train hard in the gym every day. Life is too short to be bored. If I’m not busy, I’m not happy..and that’s the honest truth. My passion is what keeps me going. And I want to be able to pay off my parents bills, buy them both a new car, and pay off their house within the next 3-5 years. THAT’S how big my goals are, and that’s why I work hard like I do.
Ms. Namita Nayyar: You have glowing skin and gorgeous hair. Do you take some kind of skin treatment to keep it young and glowing and secondly what you do to your hair to make it look so stunning?
Ms. Elizabeth Dickerson: Honestly, I don’t have any skin treatment. I use bar soap on my face. Always have! I use a sample tube I have of Lancome moisturizer my mom gave me..I don’t know what it is called and I use it every other night. My heritage is Cherokee Indian, so my hair is thick and wavy. I have pretty good hair, I need to be better about getting it trimmed! It can get bushy. I braid my hair a lot because it tames it and makes pretty waves. I straighten my hair if I know I’m going out to dinner or an event. I do like to put moroccan oil in my hair, especially on the ends, to keep it moisturized!
Ms. Namita Nayyar: Fitness modelling is about bold photo shoots. What advice you wish to give to the women of today to be body confident in order to do such bold modeling?
Ms. Elizabeth Dickerson: It’s all mental. Fake it ’til you make it! I get nervous sometimes during photo shoots, but I like to have upbeat music in the background and I think of my goals. If you are new to modeling, just tell the photographer to give you some direction at first. Look up your favorite models and practice their poses! That should definitely help you become more confident in moving around in front of the camera.
Ms. Namita Nayyar: You became one of the school’s top track athletes and helped bring your team to the state finals. Unfortunately, a few weeks before the state meet, You fractured your leg. How you were able to overcome such a physical injury/setback and what advice you can give to fellow sports person in a similar situation?
Ms. Elizabeth Dickerson: This was a truly devastating experience for me. I wanted to get a Division 1 scholarship for college. Running was my everything. It gave me hope and a goal. Yes, as a freshman I was one of the top runners on the Varsity team. Only the top 5 could run in the State meet, and I was one of them. After being forced to give up my running career, I tried out for the school cheerleading team and made it. I cheered for 3 years in high school, and my senior year I became one of the co-captains of the squad. This was the only sport I could do that would not further injure my leg. For anyone in this situation, I say don’t give up. Find another sport that is less invasive on your injury, or get a personal trainer to assist in building up strength and rehab the injury so you can heal correctly. My leg still bothers me when I run, and it’s been 10 years since my injury.
Good news though, when I started running again in college, I was able to build up strength. I dedicate my strength to LIFTING WEIGHTS! Yes, women, you need to lift and get strong! I took a body shaping class my senior year of college (2013), and I beat all 30 students in the timed mile except for one male. Yes, I even beat the boys except for that 1! After that day, I was walking to my car, and the school track and cross country coach followed me to my car… guess what he did? Offered me a spot on the team. Too bad this happened 2 months before I was set to graduate and move home. I now go to SCAD, and I was offered a scholarship there to run as well. Unfortunately I can’t take it because of to specific program I am in.
Never give up! Heal, and move on!
Ms. Namita Nayyar: Elaborate about your website www.fromskinny2strong.com?
Ms. Elizabeth Dickerson: From Skinny 2 Strong represents my journey. I’m skinny by nature, prone to injury, hard to gain mass, high metabolism, etc. I determined to be fit, strong, powerful, and my website shares my story in depth. I know there are many women out there who are like me. I hope to inspire them and help them realize they can beat genetics. Want curvy beautiful muscles? YOU CAN GET THEM! I am in the process of gaining mine now! It takes a lot of time, hard workouts, and a lot of food. It will be worth it. Most fitness stories are of bigger women wanting to lose fat. Many people make fun of skinny women and say “Real women have curves”. I have faced a ton of shaming and criticism about being thin my whole life! Read more on my website. I just want women to feel confident in who they are, and also be confident in their ability to make a change and accomplish their goals.
Ms. Namita Nayyar: What you wish to say about the website Womenfitness.net and message for its visitors?
Ms. Elizabeth Dickerson: Thank you for taking the time to read this interview. I hope you check out my website www.fromskinny2strong.com and follow me on Instagram.com/fromskinny_2strong and Facebook.com/elizabethdickersonfitnessmodel . Don’t let anything or anyone get in the way of reaching your goals! Put your trust in God, and let him lead you. Make smart decisions, don’t compromise yourself to meet others expectations. Be happy and passionate about life 🙂
To know more about Elizabeth Dickerson, check her out at: http://www.fromskinny2strong.com/
Women Fitness Team thanks Elizabeth Dickerson for giving her valuable time for this interview and quenching the thirst of her fans to know more about her and made this interview happen.
All content on this site is copyright of Women Fitness and no part of any article found on this site may be reproduced without an express permission and highlighted, do follow link crediting http://www.womenfitness.net/ or preferably the original page as the source. This interview is exclusive and taken by Namita Nayyar President womenfitness.net and should not be reproduced, copied or hosted in part or full anywhere without an express permission.
All Written Content Copyright © 2016 Women Fitness