ASHLEY PARKER

In this episode, host Celeste Rains-Turk sits down with IFFB Pro
Ashley Parker, a soon-to-be 26-year-old who has been competing
for two years and was the overall champion at Junior USA’s in
2019.
 
Even though Ashley had never been to a show prior to competing,
this Tennessee woman shares how her competitive nature drove her
to take on her first prep and how that determination helped her
bring home the overall the first time she had ever seen the
stage.

​Ashley talks about how her commitment to the process helped her
achieve the incredible result of not placing below second as an
amateur, despite anxiety around not being ready for shows.
 
Ashley shares how it felt to transition from the amateur level to
the pros as she became “such a small fish in a huge pond”. After
the lowest placing she had received in her competitive career,
she talks about the comments she received from the judges and how
she built muscle without an extended offseason to fulfill the
feedback.
 
As Ashley entered a recent offseason, she talks about letting go
of that signature lean look and how she changes her mindset to
embrace the new phase of her training. She also shares a few
tricks she uses to keep herself feeling full and satisfy her
sweet tooth.
 
Ashley also talks about feedback she received from her coach
about her hips being uneven and how prioritizing body work such
as scraping, foam rolling, ice baths and more has helped her to
correct the imbalance and how prioritizing sleep has improved her
overall physical and mental wellbeing.
 
Ashley shares how she maintains muscle mass in a conditioning
phase, an awesome power stance and changes she’s experiencing in
her life and circle of friends.

You will not want to miss this!
 
CONNECT WITH ASHLEY
HERE: https://www.instagram.com/ashleyrae_ifbbpro/

CONNECT WITH CELESTE
HERE:  https://www.instagram.com/celestial_fit/


TIME STAMPS:
[1:38] Stage Ritual
[2:37] Handling Anxiety and Stress Leading Into a Show and the
Positive Side of Stress
[7:24] Best Pieces of Show Day Advice
[13:36] A Rapid Rise from Amateur to Pro
[15:37] The Introduction into Competing
[20:57] Stage Inspirations
[22:49] Life Changes Since Entering the Competing World
[25:33] Embracing Judge’s Feedback Going into Nationals
[30:22] Body Work to Fix Muscular and Skeletal Imbalances
[34:24] Prioritizing Sleep
[36:16] Letting Go of Leanness and Embracing an Off Season
Body
[38:06] Controlling Cravings and Feeling Good with Food
[43:10] The Importance of Going Pro in her First Year
[48:48] Maintaining Muscle Mass in a Conditioning Phase
[50:51] Accepting a Lower Placing Despite A Favorite Package