July 2004
More pictures?
Hi Emmanuela,
I hope things are going well for you. I was just curious if
you will be adding any new photos to your gallery.
A fan -- Scott
Hi Scott,
Yes, sorry it's been so long. I've been busy with
school and stuff. I'll get some up within the next week for sure!
Thanks for checking the site!
Emmanuela
Supplements
Ms. Pintus,
My name is Michelle. I am 32 years old. I have been
bodybuilding a little over two years. (I LOVE IT!!) My best friend/trainer was doing
research when I first started training and found your picture. He said that it was helpful
to find someone to model so I can have a visual of what I want my body to look like, and I
have been a fan and admirer ever since. In fact, through reading about you I am a big
Greens+ fan. This supplement is something I recommend to everyone. (Of course, when they
see what it looks like they make an ugly face.) I am 5’ 3" and I have a pretty
proportionate lower body. I have had to build my upper body (still needs some work) so I
look symmetrical. I know that I have come a long way in a short amount of time, but I
still do not have the physique that I want. I carry a lot of body fat in my lower body
(hams, quads, abs). I have lost quite a bit, but still need to loose about 15 lbs. of fat.
It has been a challenge. My trainer and I have had many discussions on supplements. I have
taken a wide variety of supplements to help with my training, but want to know (from a
woman's standpoint) what you take when you are training, and what would you suggest for
ridding myself of the last 15 lbs. of stubborn fat. I am bodybuilding to not only look
good, but also to be healthy, so I am concerned about how many supplements I should take
and the amounts. How do you figure out what is the right amount to take (i.e., glutamine,
creatine, etc.)? I was taking a fat-burner, but I want to be stimulant free. I do not like
the way it makes me feel, especially when I stop taking it. I feel like I am going through
withdrawals. Have you ever experienced anything like that?
I want to thank you in advance for your time. I hope that
my questions are appropriate. I would love to hear your thoughts. I admire your dedication
and your physique, so I thought maybe you could shed some light over these questions.
Thank you and take care.
Michelle
Hi Michelle,
It’s so nice to hear from you! I am happy that I
could be of any help to you in your bodybuilding endeavors. I agree about the Greens+ (I
take the capsules). Ohhhh, those last 15 pounds -- that's tough. I know.
For contest prep, I find glutamine to be helpful in
preserving muscle mass while being on such a low-calorie diet. I do take thermogenics
while dieting, too. I find it helps with the early morning cardio. I agree that the
stimulants aren't the healthiest way to go, so I only use them if I need it. The
withdrawals you are experiencing are normal. Just like anyone who is trying to cut
caffeine from their diet -- headaches, tiredness, etc. I would recommend using them
sparingly, and preferably not at all -- no more than three days in a row, and only if you
need it for a boost. Creatine can be used when you're not so concerned about losing
weight. It makes your muscles hold water, so you will be a little bloated. It is an
excellent supplement, though, for building mass and increasing endurance and strength in
the gym. Of course, the first and foremost in supplementation is protein powder. I'm sure
you use that. Always be sure to use a multivitamin and take extra antioxidants: A, C, and
E. Don't worry too much about that last 15 pounds, though. The most important thing is to
be healthy and strong in the gym. I would love to be in contest shape all year round, but
it's that "last 15 pounds" that always seems to come back. The tortuous dieting
and cardio that I do two months before a show is really just for those 15 pounds, and it's
just not maintainable. Finally, supplements are good, but real food is better: lean meats,
complex carbs -- you know the drill.
Thanks so much for writing. I hope I've helped.
Good luck, and keep training hard!
Let me know your progress!!
Emmanuela
