Best Body in the World

BY KIMBERLY BAILEY-TUREAUD

In the fiercely competitive world of bodybuilding, Las Vegas resident Iris Kyle stands on the cusp of history

Take one look at her rippling muscles and it is no mystery why Iris Kyle is considered the world’s top female bodybuilder. A native of Michigan, Kyle is an eight time winner of Ms. Olympia, the most prestigious bodybuilding competition on the planet.

If Kyle wins the Ms. Olympia competition in September, the nine consecutive wins would make her the all-time record holder. “I have won Ms. Olympia eight times, and am currently tied with four other people,” said Kyle. “If I win in September, it will be phenomenal. There are only two African-American women — myself and Linda Murray — in this year’s Ms. Olympia competition.”

A resident of Las Vegas for more than one year, Kyle recently shared her thoughts on obtaining and maintaining a healthy body. Anyone considering changes in diet and exercise habits should always first consult his or her doctor.

• The first thing you must do when considering a commitment to changing your internal and external health is to ask yourself: “Do I really want to stay healthy?” Is this something you really want to do, and are you open to change? We can sometimes be so vain with our outside appearance, as it pertains to our hair, nails and makeup. But with our health, we do not intervene or react until it is too late. We might go to the doctor, and they will feed you with medications to control any health conditions you have. You must adapt to some form of exercise and healthy eating habits to maintain good health.
• Diet is first and exercise is second when trying to get healthy. Ninety percent of what you eat will determine your physical appearance and health. But, exercise is also necessary to have a healthy life. I suggest 20 percent of exercise — getting your heart rate up — and 80 percent of healthy eating habits. You can have two cheat days during the week to eat those things (in moderation) you love most.

These are some diet alternatives to consider for a healthier lifestyle:

• Ribs can be consumed in moderation on one of your “cheat eating” days. It is classified as a fatty food and you want to have a smaller percentage of fat (15 percent) in your diet.
• Caramel cake is not a good eating choice. As a substitute, try angel food cake on your “cheat eating” day. You can eat this until you turn blue in the face. With small adjustments, you can still enjoy life.
• Sea salt is great as a substitute for regular table salt. Also, consider Mrs. Dash; it is also a good seasoning alternative and it has no sodium in it.
• I suggest that soda be eliminated from your diet. Soda will put the weight back on you, and it will sit in the midsection of your body. Diet soda is the same. All juices in a bottle, sodas and coffee have no benefit to your body. You are not supposed to feed the body too much caffeine. Drink green tea; it has great antioxidants and will also help whiten your teeth.
• You can get down with grits. Use I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter or Smart Balance as a butter substitute on your grits. Grits are great carbohydrates.
• Eating greens is great, but watch how you season them. High-fiber foods break down proteins and carbs in the body. It also helps with bowel regulation. Other good greens to consider in your diet are broccoli, asparagus and spinach.
• Macaroni-and-cheese can still be enjoyed in moderation on one of your “cheat eating” days.

For additional information, visit www.IrisKyle.com or call 714-326-5133