April 2013-
How’s it going ladies and gents! Today we have what we like to call a real “OUTWORKER” on the DDT blogsite. This woman is a true inspiration to others in the fitness industry and can teach us all a thing or two about hard work not only in the gym, but in all aspects of life. She has been through ups and downs in her fitness journey but she has fought and fought to get to where she’s at today. Please give your DYNAMIC attention to figure pro Brooke Erickson and get ready to learn a thing or two!
DDT: Could you give us a little background info on who Brooke Erickson is?
Brooke: I am a very busy mother of three little girls (9,6,4) and I am married to my soul mate who also happens to be my training partner. I am a Bodybuilding.com sponsored athlete, Outwork Apparel sponsored athlete, and published fitness model. My major was Sociology and for the longest time I wanted to be a social worker- so it makes sense to me that I have found my passion in helping others. I have continued hope to change the world by putting an end to poor body image.
DDT: Many women quit their training and nutrition programs too early on. We feel if they set themselves up for success by following a workout program and nutrition regimen that’s tailored to their lifestyle, goals, and preferences they would have a sustained and fulfilled journey. What do you think the biggest issue is with women quitting their training and nutrition programs?
Brooke: I think the biggest issue isn’t the lack of determination or will, but the lack of education during the process. Knowledge is power and when someone doesn’t feel empowered then self-doubt creeps in and slowly takes over. I also think that many women tend to get distracted with wanting to compete and far too often they are willing to change everything just to stand on stage. Don’t get me wrong, I am not saying competing is bad, but it shouldn’t distract from the true reason they started their journey in the first place.
DDT: We couldn’t agree more with that. What’s your favorite body part to work out? And what’s your current Team Norton training split look like 😉
Brooke: That’s tough because I like to train everything and I am always, always looking to improve, but since you asked what my favorite is…I would have to say legs.
My current split is:
Monday- Upper Body
Tuesday- Lower Body
Thursday- Back & Shoulders
Friday- Legs
Saturday- Shoulders, bi’s and tri’s.
DDT: We know you have that Team Norton strength. What are your best lifts in the gym?
Brooke: I can straight leg deadlift more than most and even more than my regular deadlifts. I also shoulder press quite a bit- I have worked my way up to 55lb dumbbells.
Here are some of my best lifts:
Pull-ups
Leg Press
Stiff Legged Deadlifts
DDT: When will be your next show? What areas have you been working on during the off-season?
Brooke: I will most likely compete at the end of the summer. I have been working on building bigger glutes and shoulders.
DDT: Gotta get those glutes to salute! You are a mother of 3, along with being a wife, a competitor, sponsored athlete, and a role model for others in the fitness industry, how do you balance all of this? Specifically finding time to train and follow your nutrition program?
Brooke: I do my best to make the gym a priority, but I also don’t beat myself up if something comes up and I can’t make it. I enjoy competing, but my priority is health and happiness. I have found that as long as I keep my priorities in order, finding the time isn’t a struggle because it’s not something that worries me or makes me feel guilty. I hope that makes sense.
My nutrition is not 100%, but I have learned a lot about food and what works for me. Everyone is different so what works for me may not work for others, but what’s important is dialing yourself in on what makes you feel good and do your best to not stray too far away from it. I also log everything I eat and because of that, I can make adjustments as needed. The more you know about what you are eating, the more in control you are.
DDT: At times life throws challenges at you to test your mental toughness and heart as a person. What has been your biggest challenge in life and how did you overcome it?
Brooke: I have been asked this question a lot and it’s very hard to talk about one particular challenge. I have had my fair share of obstacles and listing them off would seem like a downer, but I will say that overcoming my battle with poor body image and my eating disorder finally shined a light on an inner strength I never really knew existed. One day I just had an “aha” moment and I made the decision I was done with living in fear. Obviously it took a lot of faith and work to follow through with my decision, but it was honestly that simple for me and I haven’t looked back since.
DDT: That’s great to hear you’ve moved forward. What kind of advice can you give to an aspiring female competitor who’s barely beginning their journey in training and nutrition?
Brooke: Do your homework on finding the right coach; don’t just pick someone because you think it will help you win a show. Finding someone that will guide you, motivate you, and educate you is worth a lot more than any accomplishment on stage because your journey is life long…the stage lasts for 10 minutes.
DDT: Great advice! Okay so we gotta mix it up here and have some fun. What does Brooke like to do for fun?
Brooke: I love to mountain bike and to sprint in the foothills with my husband. I love, love, love to snorkel… I just don’t get to do it very often because I live in the mountains.
DDT: What’s your favorite protein shake recipe?
Brooke: 1.5 scoops of vanilla whey protein, ½ a serving of chai tea powder, ½ a serving of pure pumpkin, 1 packet of splenda, and almond milk… BLENDED!
DDT: Yumm! Might have to steal this one from you. We will leave you with this question. If Brooke could squat alongside anybody in the world, who would it be and why?
Brooke: Layne Norton, without a doubt; I know that if there was one person that could teach me a thing or two about intensity… it would be him.
DDT: Excellent Choice 🙂 Thanks for taking the time to do this Brooke, we really appreciate it. Where can our readers go if they want to start following you?
Brooke: They can find me on my facebook page HERE.
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