1. Where were you born?
In a small town in Northrhine-Westphalia, Germany. In 2000 I moved to Boston, MA.

2. What is your profession?
Back in Germany I worked as an optician, since my move to the States I’ve been working for a pharmaceutical research company.

3. What kind of activities/sports did you do before you started lifting weights?
Horseback riding. I had my first pony at the age of 12, then “big horses” after that. I did that for quite some time, also took part in competitions.

4. How and when did you get involved into lifting weights?
There was a women’s gym across the street from where I worked in Germany. I had to kill two hours during lunch break every day so one day I just walked right in and checked it out. That’s how the whole thing started, I spent every lunch break in there from that point, sometimes even went back there at night for another training session or one of the aerobics classes.

5. Goal to compete right away?
Honestly, and I hope that doesn’t sound too vain – it was. I remember when I touched the weights for the first time - it just felt like the right thing and I was hooked. The gym owner was a competitive bodybuilder and we started training together pretty soon after I joined her gym. Of course it took me quite some years to actually get up on stage for the first time.

6. First competition and placing?
Well the first one wasn’t such a great shot ;-), I placed 5th out of five at a local IFBB qualifier for the German Championships in 1994 if I remember correctly. I think I erased that from my memory ;-) !

7.Which contest /biggest success?
Definitely the Jr. Nationals this year, where I won the Heavyweight class.

8. List of competitions
1997: NABBA qualifier for the NABBA German Championships – 1st place 
1997: NABBA German Championships - 1st place 
1998: NABBA Night of Champions (qualifier for the European Championships) – 1st place
1998: NABBA European Championships – 1st place and Overall
1998: NABBA World Championships – 5th place
2002: Musclemania World Championships – 1st place Heavyweight
2003: NPC New England/New Hampshire – 1st place Heavyweight and Overall 
2003: NPC New England /New Hampshire Tournament of Champions -1st place Heavyweight and Overall
2004: Qualifier for the German Championships 1st place Heavyweight and Overall
2004: IFBB German Championships 2nd place Heavyweight
2005: NPC New England Championships-1st place Heavyweight and Overall
2005: NPC Jr.Nationals-1st place Heavyweight

2006: NPC Nationals - 8th Place Heavyweight

2007: NPC USA - 6th Place Heavyweight

9. Typical day:
I get up at 6.30am and take my two boxer dogs for a walk. Then I get ready for work. Usually I get home around 6pm, eat, take the dogs out again and get ready for the gym. Training is from 8pm -10pm, then back home, eat, relax and off to bed around midnight.

10. How often do you train a week?
Off season I train two days on, one day off. I like to train heavy as my body responds best to that.

11. Main differences competiton /off season
I try to go heavy as long as I can, usually until about 4-5 weeks out. Well and then there is the hatred cardio, it always takes me quite some effort to really lean down so I add two cardio sessions/day in pre-contest time. The first one is from 5am-6.30am before breakfast, the second one after training at night around 10pm-11pm. And then not to forget the diet, always hard for me. I’m a confessing chocoholic and especially at the beginning of the diet it is hard to stick with it and stay away from the “nasty stuff”. Once I see my body transform it’s easy to be “good” ;-).

11. Stats:
Best lifts: Bench 225 lbs, squats 285 lbs, leg press 1000 lbs.
Some stats: Biceps 15.5 inches, quads 24.5 inches.

12. Best body part
Oh that’s easy, definitely my back!

13. Favorite exercise / least favorite
I love training arms, I don’t necessarily have a favorite exercise. I really like to hit them with supersets. What I really hate are preacher curls.
My least favorite exercise is squats. I’m definitely stronger in my upper body so I have to work hard to make my legs grow.

14. Hobbies
Shopping, inline skating, going to the beach, walks with my dogs, going to the movies or just hanging out with friends. Off season I like to go clubbing but that is over once a contest preparation starts.

Please note:

Bettina does not do sessions or wrestling of any kind. Please don't ask!!