Bikini Competitor & Magnum Athlete Iris Salihagic Talks With Nutritionbeast.com

Meet Magnum Athlete and Bikini Competitor, Iris Salihagic. Iris is a young ball of fire who is all smiles! Her driven ambition has led to an impressive physique at a young age.

  • Hometown: Germany, Bosnian, Macedonian
  • Current Location: Mississauga, Ontario Canada
  • Height: 5’5”
  • Weight: 120 lbs
  • Age: 23
  • Favorite Color: Red and Yellow
  • Favorite Lifts: Squats, Deadlifts and Dumbbell Shoulder Press

Social Media and Website

Instagram 
Facebook 
Website

For those unfamiliar with you, can you tell us a bit about your background and how you got involved in the fitness industry?

I was born in a small town called Floersheim am Main in Germany, and although now I’m really into the fitness lifestyle, I haven’t always been fit. When I was in grade 8, there was a lot of partying, alcohol and no time for physical activity or eating healthy foods. Things did not begin to change for me until about almost 5 years ago, when I decided to move to Canada for college for Police Foundations, and I needed to start lifting weights and running. While in school, I met my current boyfriend who got me into lifting weights. At first, I really didn’t want to lift too much weight or too ‘heavy’ because I was afraid I would end up looking big and bulky like a male. But eventually, I did lift weights, and I found a huge passion for fitness and healthy eating because I was seeing progress. My waist got smaller, my flabby underarms started to take shape, and I started to see my veins popping out. I could not have imagined the way my body began to change, and I became very happy with the way I was looking! I started getting a lot of compliments, and after a while, my boyfriend encouraged me to do my first Bikini Competition. The first competition was so much fun, and I truly loved the feeling of being around so many ‘fit’ people; it was the very first opportunity I had to connect with so many beautiful ladies and men who all had the same determination and drive.

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What were your biggest challenges when you first started training?

My first challenge when I started training was actually finding an interest in lifting weights. (Laughs) I also had to overcome feeling I was being judged by other people because I really didn’t know what I was doing.

How did you become involved with Magnum Nutraceuticals? And what do you love most about the company?

I truly care about what I put into my body, and I have been using Magnum products for quite some time. I like the company and I love how they are very honest about their ingredients and what they put into the products. I used Magnum through my first Bikini Competition and quickly started seeing changes and noticing results. I also really loved how I felt being on Magnum products. After a while, I started looking into the company and their athletes. I got talking to the athletes and the company owner, Markus Kaulius, and I realized what an amazing team Magnum was. One of the things that impressed me the most was how very supportive and caring the Magnum Team was.

What Magnum products are you currently using?

Iris’s Magnum Stack

Pre Workout

  • Heat
  • Limitless

Intra Workout

  • Opus

Post Workout

  • Quattro (Vanilla Ice Cream or Chocolate Peanut Butter Addiction)
  • Primer

Before Bed

  • After Burner
  • E-Brake

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Iris’s Full Routine

Monday: Legs

  • Leg Extensions 4 x 20-30
  • Leg Press 6 x 10-25
  • Close Stance Smith Squats 3 x 10-12
  • Barbell Lunges 3 sets
  • Hack Squats 4 x 10-12
  • Lying Leg Curls 4 x 8-15
  • Seated Leg Curls 4 x 8-15
  • Single Leg Curls 4 x 8-15
  • Stiff Legged Deadlifts 3 x 15

Tuesday: Chest

  • Incline Hammer Press 4 x 6-10
  • Flat Dumbbell Press 4 x 6-8
  • Flat Hammer Press 3 x 10-12

Wednesday: Shoulders

  • Standing Side Lateral Raises 3 x 10
  • Front Dumbbell Raises 3 x 8-10
  • Upright Rows 4 x 8-10
  • Seated Dumbbell Side Lateral Raises 3 x 10-12

Thursday: Arms

  • Standing Barbell Curls 4 x 6-10
  • Incline Dumbbell Curls 3 x 6-10
  • Hammer Curls 3 x 6-10
  • Straight Bar Pushdowns 4 x 8-10
  • Close Grip Bench 4 x 6-8
  • Overhead Dumbbell Extensions 3 x 8-10
  • Skull Crushers 3 x 10-12

Friday: Back

  • Reverse Grip Pulldowns 3 x 8-10
  • Underhand Barbell Row 4 x 6-10
  • T-bar Rows 3 x 6-10
  • Single-Arm Dumbbell Rows 3 x 6-10
  • Seated Rows 3 x 10-12
  • Assisted Pull Ups (Wide) 3 x Failure

What is your secret to your incredible glute development?

I always make sure to really ‘squeeze’ my glutes, and I make sure to feel the contraction in my muscles during every set and rep.

Do you have a favorite line of clothing to wear to the gym and why?

I love wearing Gymshark because their clothing line looks and feels so amazing when you wear it. The fact that I can wear it really anywhere is so impressive too! I can put on a really nice shirt and wear their leggings, and it still looks really fancy or I can wear it and go for a nice jog in the park. You can just wear Gymshark anywhere at any time. (Laughs)

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What does your current diet look like?

I’m currently using IIFYM, so it’s very versatile. Daily I eat 125 grams of protein, 30 grams of fat and 168 grams of carbs. I do not have a set meal plan or a plan of how many meals I eat in a day. Usually, I eat 2-4 meals a day depending on how hungry I am. Every meal is balanced between fat, protein and carbs. Below are some of my favorite food choices.

Iris’s Favorite Food Choices

  • Proteins – Eye of Round, Beef Sirloin, Bison, Ground beef, Chicken, Turkey, Eggs, Salmon, Crab, Protein Powder and Chia
  • Fats – Avocados, Almonds, Cashews, Nuts, Coconut Oil, Goat Milk and Kefir
  • Carbohydrates – Sweet Potatoes, White Potatoes, Strawberries, Basmati Rice, Long Grain White Rice, Blueberries, Raspberries and Cabbage

I include vegetables and berries with every meal. Some of my favorite choices are kale, lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, sauerkraut and sour pickles

What’s the one thing you look forward to treating yourself to after a competition?

After the competition, I’m always very excited to go out for sushi with my entire family and friends.

What’s your favorite flavor of protein powder?

My favorite protein powder would definitely be Magnum’s Quattro, Vanilla Ice Cream.

Where’s the favorite place you’ve traveled to so far, and where would you like to go in the future?

Because I am European, I have mainly been all over Europe. I’ve been to Italy, France, Spain, Germany, Austria, Macedonia, Croatia, and I truly loved every place I went; if I could travel for a living that would be amazing! (Laughs) I have also been to Texas, New York, Ohio, Havana and Varadero. One day, I would love to go to China to experience their culture and way of life. To me, it would be very exciting and inspirational, and the variety of food, ‘oh my gosh’, I can’t even imagine. (Laughs)

Where do you see yourself this time next year?

I see myself helping others achieve their dreams and goals.

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Want to build your own incredible physique? Get started today, pick up a copy of Pantry Raid; fuel your body with the right stuff.

Beastly Blessings!

Lisa

 

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