Fitness Competitor & Magnum Athlete Carmen Telford Talks With Nutritionbeast.com

Meet Fitness Competitor and Magnum Athlete Carmen Telford. Calling Carmen a ‘super’ fit mom would be an understatement. Carmen has a stunning physique and a sincere passion for fitness and her family. Carmen manages to keep her household running smoothly by planning ahead and prepping healthy meals for her entire family. Find out how this more that ‘fit’ mom does it all!

  • Hometown: Lake Lenore, Saskatchewan, Canada
  • Current Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada
  • Height: 5’6”
  • Weight: 125 lbs
  • Age: 33
  • Favorite Lip Gloss: Baby Doll Gloss by Sephora
  • Favorite Style of Cardio: It really depends on my mood. I do HIIT, treadmill, elliptical, or the Stepmill. And I enjoy chasing my kids every day! (Laughs)

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

Growing up, I was always sporty! I played competitive sports from as early on as I can remember. Being from a small town that’s just what you did, play sports! (Laughs) Once I began University, I didn’t have the same drive to continue on in competitive sports, so that’s when I started working out at the campus gym. I knew a little bit about working out from playing team sports. But looking back, I really had no idea what I was doing, but I still enjoyed myself. I began to read fitness magazines, and I would observe ‘fit’ people in the gym who looked like they ‘knew’ what they were doing. The gym was a fun atmosphere and such an energizing place to be, so I started working at the gym part time. I eventually redirected my studies to Kinesiology, and shortly after that, I got my first personal training certification. Around that time, I decided to compete in my first competition, and I began training more seriously. I really loved having such an ambitious goal, and it pushed me both mentally and physically. That year I competed twice, I placed 2nd at the Novice show and I won provincials; it was the most amazing and motivating experience I had ever had. From there, life continued to unfold, I finished my degree and I completed the CEP through the Canadian Science for Exercise Physiology. I began teaching exercise science at a College, which moved me out to the west coast. I also continued to train clients, and myself.

What were your biggest challenges when you first started training?

I would have to say that learning how to execute effective workouts for every time I trained, and making the most of my time at the gym was my biggest challenge. When I was first starting out, I would say the only thing I knew how to make ‘intense’ was my cardio. (Laughs) The weights took time, lots of reading, trying different things and getting tips from some people who really ‘knew’ their stuff. It was also a learning process to see how my body would respond to different things.

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

I am a big advocate for taking vitamins and supplements; to me, quality is everything! Over the last several years, I had been using primarily all Magnum supplements, and I was lucky enough to know some of the girls on the Magnum Team. From there, an opportunity unfolded. Magnum is so much more than a company that sells incredible supplements; they are an entire culture that promotes its athletes and those who are passionate about the health and fitness industry. The Magnum Team is like a big family that genuinely wants to see each of us accomplish big and exciting things.

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What Magnum products are you currently using?

Carmen’s Magnum Stack:

Morning

  • Acid (before breakfast)
  • Vanilla Quattro with my oats for breakfast
  • Primer

Pre Workout

  • Rocket Science
  • Volume
  • Carne Diem

Intra Workout

  • Hi5
  • Opus
  • Post Workout
  • Greens
  • Quattro

Night Time

  • Acid
  • After Burner

For big carb meals, I use Mimic!

What does your current training look like?

Carmen’s Routine:

  • Monday: Legs/Glutes
  • Tuesday: Back/Triceps/Cardio
  • Wednesday: Shoulders/Chest
  • Thursday: Abs/Mobility/Cardio
  • Friday: Glutes/Hamstrings
  • Saturday: Full Body/Stretch
  • Sunday: Recovery

What’s your favorite exercise and why?

My favorite exercise is Smith Machine split squats because I love feeling the burn. And it’s the only leg exercise that I can go heavy on, so I feel like a little powerhouse! (Laughs) I also love doing the shoulder press with dumbbells or barbells. Shoulders are my favorite to train; I love, love to train them!

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Carmen’s Daily Diet:

  • Meal 1: 1 scoop Vanilla Quattro Protein, 1 Cup Oats and 1 Tablespoon Nut Butter
  • Snack: 1 Apple or Quest Bar
  • Meal 2: 4 Ounces Protein, ½ Cup Carbs and 2 Cups Vegetables
  • Snack: 1 scoop Half Baked Cookies N’ Cream Quattro Protein and 1 Cup Almond Milk
  • Meal 3: 4 Ounces Protein and 2-3 Cups Vegetables

If I need a snack, I’ll have a handful of cashews.

Do you prep your meals and if so how long does it take you?

Yes I do prep, usually twice a week. I cook up two different sources of protein, several servings of each, and a bunch of vegetables to go with it; some fresh and some cooked. I keep everything in large containers in the fridge, so my family and I can grab it for our lunches and snacks. I have that over a period of 3 to 4 days, and then I prep again. Most days, I make family dinners and that gives us a break from prepped food. I try to add some variety to our meals, but I always like to keep them healthy.

What’s your favorite way to drink your coffee, and do you add protein powder to it?

Coffee, I can’t say enough about coffee! (Laughs) I drink coffee so many different ways, but I usually only have it in the morning. When I’m prepping for a show, I will have my coffee with a little almond milk and a packet of Splenda. Sometimes I’ll put a scoop of protein powder in my coffee while it’s hot or on ice; it’s like having a protein frappe, and it’s really tasty! (Laughs) The best coffee I’ve ever had is Bulletproof Coffee; I think everyone who likes coffee needs to try it. I do the whole nine yards, French press, I use the brain octane, grass fed butter and blend it up; it’s out of this world!

Do you have a favorite cheat meal?

Yes, I love a good cheeseburger and fries, and I take lots of ketchup; LOTS! (Laughs) I also love a good Moscow Mule if I’m having a cocktail, and anything sweet makes me happy! (Laughs) I just really love food!

Tell us a little about your two boys. Do they like to eat healthy too, and what are some of the activities you enjoy doing together as a family?

I have 2 boys, a 4 year old and 2 year old. I always say that spending my days with them is like having a 2nd, 3rd and 4th workout everyday. (Laughs) They are rough and tumble, and they are full of energy. So my day typically involves trying to burn off their abundance of energy! (Laughs) Anything outdoors is definitely a favorite, we like going to the beach or the park, and we have an outdoor pool in our building which is great in the summer. As far as their eating habits go, they eat very similar to me since I do the food prep for all of us; it keeps meal time quick and easy. That said, I do make them their favorites too; they are like most kids. They love grilled cheese, I make them turkey hot dogs, chicken strips and yam fries. I think they love me more on those days! (Laughs)

Do you have any tips for mom’s you’d like to share?

Carmen’s Tips:

  1. Keep the sugary treats, crackers, chips, ice cream, or whatever your weakness happens to be, out of the house; if it’s there you will grab for it.
  2. In terms of diet, I would definitely say to prepare food in advance. I know how busy the day can get, so opening the fridge or cupboards looking for inspiration will most likely lead to unhealthy choices.
  3. By keeping the junk out of your house and having healthy options available, you will have a much greater chance of keeping your own diet on track!
  4. For exercise, do anything active that you enjoy that gives you a good sweat and schedule it in like everything else.
  5. If you work exercise into your daily routine, it will become a habit. Some days will feels harder, some easier, but you will always feel good for having done that workout!

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Do you have any special beauty tips you’d like to share?

Sleep! Ever since I have had kids, I believe that beauty sleep is a necessity! (Laughs) The days when I am extremely short on sleep and I look in the mirror, I think to myself WOW; just WOW, this is bad! (Laughs) I’m not sure why sleep makes such a difference, but for me, it’s everything. I don’t necessarily have the option to sleep more, but it’s definitely on my mind most days!

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

Barcelona Spain was incredible; the beaches were so big and beautiful! The weather was amazing and there was so much culture and history to see. The night life was buzzing, though Cole was only 6 months old at the time, so we didn’t really get to experience any of that. I think that means we need to go back! (Laughs) Oh, and the Sangria is outstanding! I definely took advangage of that while we were there! There are so many places I would love to go to. One day, it would be amazing to go to Bora Bora or the Maldives; it looks like paradise!

Photo credit: Ali Sohrab, Bam Phototography

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Beastly Blessings!

Lisa

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