AFAA's Personal Trainer Online Library
The
following article for personal trainers and fitness professionals appears courtesy
of American Fitness magazine, which is published by the Aerobics and Fitness Association
of America (AFAA).
AFAA offers personal trainer certification and other fitness certifications. If
you are interested in becoming a personal trainer, please click on our personal
trainer certification link at
http://www.afaa.com/Personal_Fitness_Trainer_Certification.htm
Amanda Beard
This champion swimmer is making waves as the fashion-forward face of Speedo's new Axcelerate Activewear Collection.
BY BONNIE SIEGLER
At the tender age of 14, she was the second youngest gold medalist in United States swimming history and in 2001 she turned pro. But world records, numerous medals and perfect swimming form have not always come easy for swimming sensation Amanda Beard. The seven-time Olympic medalist says she doesn't take no for an answer.
"I go for what I want," explains the 5-foot-8-inch Irvine, Calif. native, who now lives and trains in Tucson, Ariz. "I had a real rough time swimming between 1996 and 2000, and if I would have listened to people around me saying I was all washed up, then I wouldn't be here still swimming today."
After her phenomenal performance in the 2004 Olympics, the now 24-year-old athlete experienced fainting spells, headaches and memory loss, which continued for three months. After a slew of tests, she was told these symptoms were due to stress. "I took that as a sign that I should take things a little easier," she says. "I can still be completely committed to the things I want to do, but I don't have to stress about them. I've learned how to have a more laid-back attitude in the way that I work." And swimming is a big part of her stress reduction program. "Swimming is my work and it is what I do, but I completely de-stress when I'm in the water. I can't hear anything, I can't talk to anyone—it's just me."
Beard hasn't let a few challenging years or setbacks affect her skill and determination. "I'm not really afraid of anything," admits the world-record holder. "Every time I've raced or done things in my life, I haven't always won or come in first place. I'm not always successful. If I was afraid, I would be a pretty boring person."
Instead, her philosophy is to put herself out there—which only makes her a stronger person. "Sure, I've been knocked down a few times, but it's only made me learn how to stand on my own two feet," she says.
Though she attends the University of Arizona in Tucson, Ariz., Beard has taken a hiatus from her studies to parlay her fame into a cottage industry. Since the summer of 2003, she has juggled photo shoots for highprofile magazines with her intense training schedule, all while becoming "the face" of Speedo's multimillion-dollar ad campaign for their Axcelerate Activewear Collection.
Beard's training schedule takes her to the pool twice a day where she focuses on strengthening her legs, a feat that has positioned her for future competitions and, perhaps, another gold medal. "My legs are very crucial to my stroke," she says. "They have to be very strong when I'm swimming. Basically, Tuesdays and Thursdays are devoted to working my legs in the pool. If you can imagine using just your legs for two to three hours it's exhausting. On my alternate days, I lift weights, jog and perform a sit-up/push-up routine."
Besides a daily exercise routine, the 130- to 135- pound swimmer sticks to healthy eating with an emphasis on nutritional balance. "I don't rule anything out completely—except for maybe ice cream and soda," she laughs. "I had made that my New Year's resolution this year." To ensure she has enough energy and stamina for her workout sessions, Beard starts her day with "yogurt topped with dried fruit and granola or Egg Beaters¨ on top of an English muffin and coffee." Lunch is pretty light since it precedes her afternoon swim session. "It might be a sandwich and some fruit, or a salad with an iced tea—I drink a lot of iced tea." Dinner always includes plenty of vegetables with chicken or steak, a salad and a big glass of milk. And, like many women, Beard takes a daily iron supplement and a multivitamin. "I drink a lot of green tea to keep my immunity up, especially on the days when I throw in a hike with my two dogs."
As if this schedule isn't enough to keep her busy, Beard is launching her own signature beauty line later this year that includes skin and hair care, fragrance and body wash products. "I want to establish myself as someone other than a swimmer," she says about venturing into the business world. "The product line I'm working on now is something that I would love to continue doing for the next 10, 20, even 30 years. I've done the most damage anyone could do to their skin and hair by being out in the sun and in the chlorine, and just living a very active lifestyle. So I want to make these products for the active female, like myself." If she has learned anything from her fame since the summer of 2003, it's balance. "I've learned how to balance out my schedule and fit in 30 different things in one week," she says. "Fame hasn't changed me personally, it's just made my life more hectic."
The down-to-earth Beard does not limit herself to making a splash in the pool. "My boyfriend (NASCAR driver Carl Edwards) and I go out dirt bike riding and in the winter we snowboard. We relax and watch The Simpsons and Family Guy. There's so much more to my life than swimming."
Bonnie Siegler has covered celebrity fitness for American Fitness since 1990. Based in Playa del Rey, Calif., she is an internationally known writer whose work has appeared in McCall's, Redbook and InStyle.