Bonjour to arms! - Interview

Muscle & Fitness/Hers, April-May, 2002 by Christine Bergeron

* I'm working on my symmetry, so I'm working more on my triceps because my biceps are more developed. That's why I train triceps a second time during the week. But that's not for everybody. Once a week should be enough if you're using heavy enough weight. Resting the muscle is crucial.

* In fitness, being explosive in your routine is very important. You need to contract your muscles very fast, and if you don't do it in your workouts, you won't be able to do it well in your routine. So I complete the contraction [positive portion of the exercise] in one second, then take three seconds for the negative. Because I'm going heavier now, I don't generally hold the peak contraction of the movement.

* For size, I think the best thing is to work on the basic movements, go heavy (6-8 reps per set) and the muscle will grow. In six weeks, you may be ready to lighten the weight and reduce your rest period to better define the muscle.

* In your routine, when you're doing a push-up, for example, it's critical to use a full range of motion, all the way down and all the way up. I do the same in the gym. You need to work the muscle so that it can handle resistance throughout the entire movement, If you don't work through the full range, you won't develop the muscle maximally.

* I recommend that beginners start on machines and learn to feel the muscle working. A seated preacher curl will help you isolate the biceps, for example. When your strength improves, add a little more weight. After that, try a standing dumbbell curl, which calls more secondary muscles into play because you have to stabilize your torso and balance the weight.

* A lot of women ask me how to firm up the area on the underside of their arms, and the answer is more complex than just training your triceps. You cannot lose fat on just one body-part; you need to lose fat everywhere. Doing cardio, weights and watching your diet -- that's how to reduce overall bodyfat and firm up your physique.

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Christine Bergeron

Birthdate: Feb. 22, 1975

Birthplace: Quebec City, Quebec. Canada

Current residences: Quebec City and Miami Beach, Florida

Height: 5'4"

Weight: 118 pounds contest, 129 off-season

Contest history: 1997: Drumondville Bodybuilding and Fitness Show, overall; Quebec Provincial Show, overall. 1998: Canadian Nationals, 2nd. 1999: Canada Cup, overall; North American, 1st, tall class; Canadian National Bodybuilding and Fitness Championships, overall (pro qualifier); Natural Canadian Bodybuilding and Fitness Championships, 2nd; World Championships, 7th, tall class. 2001: Fitness International, 19th.

What's your favorite time of day? I think it's my workout. Ridiculous, right? Because when I'm working out, I'm happy. I know I'm doing something for me. I feel great afterward.

What kind of music do you like? Dance music. I like Britney Spears, Destiny's Child -- the kind of music that puts you in the mood to dance. But Janet Jackson is my favorite -- she's in good shape. too!

What do you like to shop for? I really like shoes and boots. I have maybe 30 pairs of shoes. I like running shoes, boots, everything for my feet!

What else excites you? I like to go to restaurants, of course! My favorite is Japanese food and I'm all the time craving sushi because we don't have a lot of sushi restaurants in Quebec. So when I'm in Miami, I eat out all the time. My favorite restaurant is China Grill. There's one in South Beach and another in Las Vegas. My favorite is the Szechuan beef and the Caesar salad there. This is the best Szechuan beef in the world -- addicting!

Do you have a chance to read? I always have a book next to my bed. Every night before I go to sleep, I read for half an hour. Right now, I'm reading Adelaide by Marie Laberge, an author from Quebec. It's the best book I've ever read, a story about my city in 1910.

Do you have any role models in fitness? I work on my routine with Adela Friedmansky. She's my mentor. She has helped me a lot and encouraged me. I like her because she's very positive, all of the time.

TO CONTACT:

Christine Bergeron. 33 Saint Louis St. #702, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada G1R 5X6

e-mail: cbergeronifbbpro@hotmail.com

Due to the volume of mail Christine receives, she may not be able to respond to individual reader inquiries.