Cover Model Interview

ATHLETE: RACHEL DILLON bodiesbyrachel.com.au // @racheljdillon HAIR & MAKEUP: CYNTHIA SMYTH cynthiasmythmakeup.com.au // @cynthiasmyth_makeup PHOTOGRAPHER: JESSICA APAP jessicaapap.com // @jessicaapap_photographer STYLIST: TULLY HUMPHREY tullylou.com.au // @tullylou

Curves and Career

From small beginnings, big things come. Instagram personality, business owner and three-time WBFF Bikini World Champion Rachel Dillon began her highly successful career as a personal trainer in tiny Townsville, North Queensland. Today, her online training business Bodies By Rachel (BBR) and activewear line Crop Shop Boutique continue to grow in leaps and bounds, while her killer lower-body is renowned worldwide. Here’s how she did it.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS The three times I’ve been crowned WBFF Bikini World Champion are definitely high on my list of achievements! It might sound cliché, but I’m also incredibly grateful for the opportunity to work with so many amazing women from all around the globe on a daily basis. I’m constantly surrounded by ‘highlight moments’ as I get to see my clients thriving, growing and reaching their goals.

MY SECRET TO SUCCESS I always strive to provide as much value to my community as possible. My goal has never been to have the most social media followers, but to provide as much benefit as I possibly can to anyone who chooses to join me on my journey. Success looks different to different people, but, to me, success is knowing that I’m always striving to add positivity to the lives of those around me.

A DAY IN MY LIFE I start my day at 7am with a coffee and I plan the day ahead. I’m a huge believer in to-do lists – I’m forever ticking tasks off my list and adding new tasks to complete. I hit the gym for my workout, have my first meal and then get ready for the office. The majority of my day is spent working with the BBR team, before I head home to spend time with Nele (my mini dachshund!) and have dinner.

MY DEFINITION OF STRONG I believe that, as women, we are capable of achieving so much more than we know. To me, being a strong woman takes on a plethora of meanings, and I love how the definition of this word is transcending beyond its original connotations. Strong is sexy. Strong is confident. However, strong is also having the persistence to try again when you fail.

BODY IMAGE 101 We must first learn that we are so much more than our bodies. Health and fitness runs a lot deeper than our physical appearance, and we have so much more to offer than just the way we look. Striving for self-improvement is healthy, but it shouldn’t come at the expense of our happiness. We can love ourselves at every stage of our journey, while still striving for positive change.

NATURE VS NURTURE I’d say that the biggest contributor to my physique is my lifestyle. I’ve built a relationship with health and fitness that I truly enjoy, so it’s something that I plan on continuing for the rest of my life. My journey isn’t tied to a specific goal – it’s part of my identity. I track my nutrition because I love how it makes me feel and I’m a much happier person when I train regularly. I think this is the key to longterm health and fitness success.

ON SOCIAL MEDIA I’m very grateful to have such a positive and uplifting community. I only deal with negativity on rare occasions and, when I do, it’s quite easy to dismiss. I believe that we attract what we embody in life – I focus on exuding positivity.

NUTRITION PHILOSOPHY I follow a ‘flexible dieting’ approach where I enjoy a balance of foods. I would definitely classify myself as an ‘eater’! I believe that health and fitness should be incorporated into your lifestyle in a way that is enjoyable and sustainable and, for me, that means eating a variety of foods from all of the food groups. I also enjoy intermittent fasting – so I choose to have four big meals per day between 11am and 7pm. I usually consume about 1,900 to 2,000 calories per day.

MY FAV BODY PART TO TRAIN Probably glutes – I love taking myself through challenging lower-body training sessions (check out my quad-focused workout p. 28). My favourite exercise at the moment is banded hip thrusts.

MY GREATEST CHALLENGE I have never been someone to shy away from a challenge; the biggest rewards in my life have come after some of the most challenging periods of time. Running BBR has been really difficult at times – there were some challenges I wasn’t sure I’d survive – but when you truly commit to a goal, quitting isn’t an option.

MENTAL HEALTH STRATEGY I practise gratitude daily and I’m very conscious of my mindset. I’m not perfect, but I make a conscious effort daily to choose positivity and ground myself when I feel negativity enter my mantra. I like to take a break from technology before going to sleep and read instead, which I really enjoy.

ON WHAT’S NEXT My primary goal is to continue to grow in all aspects of life. I’m always striving to be a better coach, partner, sister and leader. I’ve set myself some big goals in 2020, and I’m excited to continue putting in the work to make them a reality.

TRAINING SCHEDULE MONDAY: Lower-body weighted. Glutes and hamstrings focus. TUESDAY: Upper-body weighted. Push or pull workout. WEDNESDAY: Cardio, core strength and stability. THURSDAY: Lower-body weighted. Quads and hamstrings focus. FRIDAY: Upper-body weighted. Push or pull workout. SATURDAY: Lower-body workout. Glutes focus. SUNDAY: Rest and recovery.

MY DAY ON A PLATE MEAL 1: Happy Way protein shake or egg whites, and four slices of multigrain toast with a spread – I’m currently loving Biscoff! MEAL 2: Vetta Protein Pasta and vegetables. MEAL 3: Chobani Fit Protein Yoghurt, frozen berries and pineapple. MEAL 4: Basmati rice, turkey mince and vegetables. S