Name: Erin Marie Riley
Personal Website: www.erinrileyfitness.com
Hometown: Port Reading, NJ
Height: 5'4"
Weight: 125-128lbs in competition shape
2009 Season Wrap-up
Goals set and reached for 2009
At the very beginning of 2009, I was still trying to get invited to the Fitness International happening in March. I did get it, and even though I was very focused on that show, my main goal for the year was to re-qualify for the Fitness Olympia in September. I had taken tenth place my first time there in 2008, and I wanted to improve on that. In Columbus, I didn't come close to top three, but in Orlando I was only three points away in the final score from third place and an Olympia qualification. The New York Pro was next, and there I wound up in sixth. My immediate plan was to start training for the Europa show in August, but first I had to address a very serious shoulder injury. Since the 2008 Fitness Olympia, there had been a nagging pain. I did my best to train around it, but it only continued to get worse. It even hurt when I slept, so I knew something had to be done. It was not going to get better on its own. I had an MRI done, and that showed I had torn both the labrum and the rotator cuff, meaning there were injuries to both cartilage and tendons. I scheduled the surgery for July, and my orthopedic specialist estimated the procedure would take around 45 minutes. Once he got the arthroscope in there and had a better look around, he saw things were worse than he thought. There were actually two separate tears in the labrum, a torn rotator cuff, a bone fragment lodged in my joint, and a crack in the humerus bone of the upper arm. The surgery took close to three hours. I was under strict orders not to do any type of resistance training at all, not even with a two-pound dumbbell or a resistance band, for twelve weeks. For someone used to training hard a few times every week, that was tough to hear. That pretty much knocked me out of the remainder of the 2009 competitive season. But on the bright side, I also completed my nine-month internship as a Registered Dietician and passed the exam. So while my career as an IFBB Fitness Professional was on hold for half the year, I did accomplish another major goal, which was to complete my training, pass the exam, and begin working as an RD.
Most memorable appearance of the year
Back in late January, the first-ever Dragon's Den seminar was held at the gym I trained at, Apollon Gym in Edison, New Jersey. It was the first time I met other
Gaspari Nutrition athletes Flex Lewis and
Mark Alvisi. We had a great turnout, and I handled the portion of the seminar that talked about and demonstrated proper leg training. Everybody was very attentive and appreciated the tips on correct form and various techniques that I shared. But just being a part of the whole event was a blast.
Favorite new Gaspari Products of 2009
I love the new
Cytolean V2. It gives me the extra energy kick I need for the type of cardio I do, which is HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training). It also helps during routine practice, which by the way I can't wait to start doing again. And nothing beats the taste of
Myofusion. I could drink those shakes all day!
Looking forward
It's a little early to say exactly which shows I will be competing in for 2010. I am still rehabbing my shoulder and should get the clearance very soon from my doctor to start training light again, so the Fitness International is too soon. If I really pushed it I could possibly do that show, but it wouldn't be smart. I am thinking more like the Orlando Pro fitness show in April, the New York Pro in May, or at the latest the Europa show in August. My shoulder is more stable now than it's been in a very long time, but there's still pain there that won't be gone until the surgery is completely healed up. I finished up my physical therapy and now I am working with a guy who specializes in post-rehab rehab for competitive athletes who need to get back in the game. I just need to be patient. But all in all, I am very optimistic about next year. The injuries I had were holding me back from being my absolute best, and now they have been addressed and repaired. So even though I can't pinpoint the exact show I'll make my comeback at, I do look forward to representing
Gaspari Nutrition on an IFBB Pro fitness stage sometime soon!
Fitness Background: NCAA Division 1 Academic All-American Gymnast & Parallel Bar Specialist from the University of Missouri
How long have you been into fitness and how did you get started?
I am heading into my 3rd year competing in fitness. My boyfriend was getting ready for a bodybuilding show when I first met him, and I was intrigued by the whole process. I was still doing college gymnastics at the time, and I thought he was crazy with the type of diet he was following. Fast forward a year or so, and there I was getting ready for my own first show. I started my career with one figure show and then decided it wasn't for me. So I made the switch to fitness and haven't looked back.
Why do you train and what motivates you?
I have been an athlete basically my whole life, so I love the challenge of training. I prefer to train like an athlete, incorporating a lot of agility and strength movements. I'm always up for trying new things and I love anything challenging (like flipping a 500# tire!)
What are your goals regarding IFBB Fitness and becoming a registered dietician?
My goals for fitness are to continue to improve my physique and routines, and hopefully my placings along with that. I have a goal to win a show at some point in my career, and I would like to place top 5 at the Arnold and Olympia. As far as my RD, I am nearing the end of my clinical portion of my internship (8 more weeks!), but I haven't made any decisions as to what exactly I want to do once I'm done. It will really depend on what opportunities open up.
What are the underlying principles behind your approach to fitness?
I try to compete against myself and always work to make myself better. It may mean getting stronger, changing my physique, or adding something new to my routine. As long as I feel I am improving myself and I am enjoying the process, I am happy with how things turn out!
What advice would you give to someone who is just getting started as a serious fitness athlete?
I would tell them that its a lot of hard work,. but its definitely well worth it in the end! Look to other fitness competitors (myself included, I'm always happy to answer questions...) for help and advice, because there will be bumps along the road. But we've all been through it and often can help put things into perspective. And most importantly, Have FUN on stage!
Off-Season Supplements: SuperPump, Chocolate IntraPro, Myofusion, PlasmaJet
Pre-Contest Supplements: Mitotropin, Cytolean, Chocolate IntraPro, Myofusion
Competition History:
| Year |
|
Event |
|
Division |
|
Results |
|
| 2009 |
|
IFBB New York Pro Fitness |
|
Fitness |
|
6th
|
| |
|
IFBB Europa Show of Champions Orlando |
|
Fitness |
|
4th
|
| |
|
IFBB Ms. Fitness International |
|
Fitness |
|
13th
|
| 2008 |
|
IFBB Fitness Olympia |
|
Fitness |
|
10th |
| |
|
IFBB Europa Super Show |
|
Fitness |
|
2nd |
| |
|
IFBB Houston Pro |
|
Fitness |
|
3rd |
| 2007 |
|
IFBB Atlantic City Pro |
|
Fitness |
|
6th |
| |
|
NPC Team Universe |
|
Fitness |
|
2nd |
| |
|
NPC Bev Francis Atlantic States |
|
Fitness |
|
1st |