MP: What has fitness brought to your life? How has it changed you as a person?

Alycia: I’ve been so blessed since I’ve brought fitness into my life. My main goal was to lose some weight after having my 2 children which had fantastic results on the outside but it was what it did also for my health that made me never look back. The amount of energy I have for myself and my family is overwhelming. I feel energetic from morning till night. I’m much more capable of keeping up with the kids, gym time, and my business. After incorporating a healthy diet, many injuries I had in the past disappeared and my body feels better now than it did when I was 20 years old! I’m proud to be a role model for other mothers.

MP: What is the single best exercise that has worked for you?

Alycia: I love the one-legged cable kickbacks. This is my favorite exercise for my glutes because it isolates them well without building muscle in my quads. I used to figure skate when I was younger and so I build muscle quickly in my legs. Finding an exercise that will build up my glutes but not my quads has always been a challenge and so this particular exercise has always worked for me.

MP: In your opinion, what do you believe is the ideal amount of protein an active woman should have and why?

Alycia: With increases in training intensity, you need additional protein to support muscle growth and increases in certain blood compounds.  I recommend that you eat 2.0 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight (0.9 grams per pound) a day. Here's how you would figure that requirement if you weigh 130 pounds or 59 kilograms:

2.0 g protein x 59 kg = 118 g of protein a day

0.91 g protein x 130 lbs = 118 g of protein a day

Strength trainers living in high altitudes need even more protein: 2.2 g per kg (1.0 g/lb) of body weight daily. If you do 5 or more hours of aerobic/endurance exercise during the week you need the same amount as the high altitude strength trainer. And, vegan vegetarians should take in 10 percent more protein. I recommend 2.2 g of protein per kg (0.91 g/lb) of body weight a day to make sure their diets are providing all the amino acids their bodies require.

MP: Do you have any awards/recognition as a competing fitness model?

Alycia: I started competing about 2 years ago and my first competition, which was the ABBA Fall Classic, I placed 1st in Figure medium. Then I placed 2^nd in the WBFF Figure category in 2009. After that, I decided to see how my body responded to dropping down a couple categories to bikini model and Fitness model and I placed 3^rd at the Fame competition in 2010. I now know what needs to be adjusted in order to achieve my goals in this category.

MP: What has fitness model competitions taught about yourself?

Alycia: It’s taught me that anything is possible if you put your mind to it. All the dedication, sacrifices, blood, sweat and tears pays off in the long run. The discipline is something I use throughout my life, not just in competing in fitness. I’ve surprised myself at how far I can push myself to reach my goals and this has given me great confidence.

MP: What are the challenges that come with running your own medical spa? How do you balance your time with your own business with other things?

Alycia: Well, owning my own business works to my advantage because I can make my own schedule with my clients which enables me to fit in my workouts throughout my day but even then, to ensure the success of my business and quality time with my family,  I sometimes need to make those early 6 a.m. trips to the gym . Every day is different so I need to adjust my workout time accordingly to ensure their is balance in my life  and when I know a part of my life isn’t being neglected, I feel I’ve multitasked well and have accomplished every aspect of my day.

MP: Do you train differently during the summer as you would oppose to the winter?

Alycia: Everyone is different but for myself, it’s been easier on my body to train the same throughout the seasons. If I’m not preparing for a competition, I may not be as strict with my diet but I still follow a maintenance diet to make sure I’m still giving myself the proper nutrition and energy I need. It’s really become a lifestyle change for me.

MP: What is it like being a mother of two children aged 10 and 11?

Alycia: It’s been the best part of my life! I love my kids so much and I feel they really look up to me in regards to health and fitness especially. I enjoy being a good role model to my kids and to teach them the importance of a healthy balanced diet and lifestyle. Being active is a big part of my family life. My son plays hockey and soccer and my daughter figure skates and is in a swim club. I always ensure my workouts are finished or don’t overlap with the quality time I have with my kids. They both support my fitness competitions and love to come and watch them, cheering me on in the audience. When I know they’re there watching, I can’t stop smiling. It’s one of the best parts of the competition.

MP: What are your favorite things to do during the summer?

Alycia: Living in Calgary where usually it’s so cold, by the time summer comes around I like to take my workouts outside as often as possible. Running, bike riding, and rollerblading with the family are my favorites.

MP: How do you cope with the stresses of everyday life?

Alycia: I take it hour by hour, and day by day. I try to overcome each challenge as it appears and not to sweat the small stuff because at the end of the day-It’s all small stuff. I enjoy reading a good book on my time off or simply doing nothing, just clearing my head and preparing for the next day. I learn from my mistakes and move on with a positive attitude because life really is GREAT!

MP: If you could travel to one place, where would it be and why?

Alycia: I’ve always wanted to go to Dubai. I can’t say why though, LOL, just that anyone I hear that’s gone has said great things about it. To see the Great Wall of China would be my second choice though.

MP: What are your future goals?

Alycia: For the future I’m focused on improving my physique for bikini and fitness model categories and to obtain my PRO card. I’ve always wanted to be on the cover of a fitness magazine as well. Being new to the fitness scene at later stages in my life, I really want to inspire other moms to live a healthy lifestyle and to let them now that age is just a number and it’s how you feel inside that matters. You can accomplish many different goals at different ages.