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by Leigh Penman
With a contest history beginning way back in 1995 and well over 20 contests under her belt Roxanne Edwards has enjoyed a highly successful career in bodybuilding. However, given her amazing ability to just keep on improving there is no doubt in my mind that for Roxanne the best is yet to come.
I recently had the chance to talk with her while she was preparing for the forthcoming NPC Masters Nationals in July and she revealed to me that, when it comes to the sport of bodybuilding she is something of a rebel who likes to ‘rock the rules’.
But more of that later… let’s start with that time honored opening question….
So Roxanne, what brought you into the sport of bodybuilding?
“What brought me to the sport of bodybuilding was narcissism…I wanted to look good naked (lol!). Seriously though, I didn’t choose bodybuilding, it chose me. I have always been naturally athletic. It seems I came out of the womb with the ability to perform any sport I felt like playing. I have always been physical and slightly to the left of what a little girls behavior should encompass… so what better place for a rebel such as myself to reside than in bodybuilding! The bodybuilding world is populated by people who choose to be different. I’ve always hated the words ‘normal’, ‘average’, ‘mediocre’, ‘regular’ etc. I always felt that those terms and my name should never exist in the same sentence.
“Originally, I just wanted to train so I wouldn’t see my body slowly turning in to that of my mothers. Then, when I got my first ‘cuts’ I got the taste of what it must be like to be ‘superhuman’ and from there I couldn’t be stopped! Bodybuilding chose me because it acknowledges the rebels and rewards those of us who stick with it…”
Your approach to training also reflects the rebel within…
“Yeah, my approach to training in the off season and pre-contest is contrary to what is commonly practiced by those who favor low reps(8-10) during the off-season to gain size, then high reps (15-20) pre-contest. I utilize those rep schemes but in reverse. When I’m ‘carbed-up’ I use the carbs to my benefit. I lift fairly heavy but the reps are usually extra-ordinary and I am also a fan of super sets and giant sets.
“Pre-contest, due to a huge reduction in carbs, the routine remains the same but the reps are 8-10. Ultimately because there are no more 25 rep sets, the weights that once seemed heavy now feel lighter. Doing this I not only retain my strength but actually get stronger. Doing this helps me keep my size because I am not burning off muscle due to high reps and low carbs. My conditioning is already developed because of my high rep off- season and the diet just sharpens the foundation. Also, I am not on the training floor for longer than 45 mins (an hour at most). My talent apparently is to be a rebel in everything!”
Hmm…maybe you ought to pose to Bowie’s ‘Rebel, Rebel’ (lol!). So what about your diet?
What macro-nutrient ratio do you favor?
“I am a huge fan of a higher protein to carbohydrate ratio. While genetically I can probably get away with more carbs in my diet, I consciously choose not to because I am aware of my contempt for all things cardio. I am lazy by nature so I purposely try not to create a situation that will have me doing an inordinate amount of cardio to get ready for a show. Too many carbs in my diet falls into that category. Also, I try to watch what kinds of fats I ingest, again to maximize my fat burning abilities in the off- season. The ratio I favor is 50% protein, 30% carbs and 20% fat.”
I recall you telling me that you rely heavily on ‘outside catering’ for your meals, I would think this would create difficulties when it came to ‘eating clean’….
“It’s true that I am a stranger in my own kitchen…I totally hate cooking! First of all, food is just fuel to me. I am not a big eater. It’s like gas to a car…use as needed. For example, if I know that I will be training legs the next day I will get two cheeseburgers made at a restaurant (not McDonalds). I will eat the first one before 9pm that night and eat the second one around 9am for breakfast. If I am training around 1pm I’ll eat a peanut butter and jelly sandwich at 11.30. If I am training around 4pm I’ll supplement the sandwich with a slice of pizza around 2pm. After I train I’ll eat 2-3 cheese burgers around 5.30 -6pm. At 8pm I’ll grab two chicken quesadillas or two chicken sandwiches from Wendy’s (no fries). One is eaten that night and one for breakfast. I don’t count calories. I just worry about one question, ‘am I hungry, or still hungry?’ and act accordingly.”
So your views and approach when it comes to the ‘recognized’ bodybuilding lifestyle could definitely be labeled ‘non-conformist’….
“Oh yes, I am definitely a non-conformist. I do almost nothing according to the bodybuilding code book. I don’t carry my meals with me, or eat every two hours. I don’t get huge (meaning fat) off-season to obtain more ‘muscle’ and I laugh and joke during my workouts. At the end of the day I believe the ‘lifestyle’ is purely what each individual decides to bring to the table. I’m not handcuffed to the notion of what is a ‘real’ bodybuilder. Fifty million Tupperware and damaged joints aside, am I any less a member of this sport because I choose to make my lifestyle benefit my life and not complicate it? I like to live my life in a way that matches my personality rather than just conform to a label.”
Now that you are in contest-prep mode, what is your diet like?
“It’s similar to the off-season, except calorie consumption and preparation. I pay someone to cook my meals because let’s face facts, unless you want to hear how a woman tried to cook eggs and wound up burning down the house, you do not want me near the kitchen!
“Getting back to the actual diet, the concept remains the same, steak for certain body parts (i.e. legs, back and chest) chicken, turkey, maybe fish for everything else. All my meals are clean and, because of this, I usually drop about 5-7lbs. In terms of macro-nutrients pre-contest, carbs per meal vary depending on how many weeks out I am from competing. I may start with 100grams per meal and adjust this every 2-3 weeks. This means 75g, 50g, 25g, until I get to the last 2-3 weeks and it is down to leafy greens, spinach, collards or asparagus. Protein intake is about 10-12 ounces per meal of whatever the protein source may be, whether its steak, chicken, turkey or fish. My fats come in the form of olive oil, macadamia nuts or coconut oil. I used to supplement my fats with almonds, but I found I have a tendency towards over indulgence. So now I just don’t go near them.”
Switching channels, I just have to ask you how people respond to you ‘out on the street’?
“The response I get on the street can be amusing or utterly abusive depending on my point of view on a given day. Usually the average person, unless they are from the gym community or are supremely secure about themselves, can be very judgmental, abusive and inconsiderate. It’s amusing, mostly because the people who are the most vocal are usually the most out of shape! Bizarrely these people usually start asking me how to get in shape! I mean, didn’t they just spend the last 5-10 minutes bashing me about how I look, or what my sexual identity or preference is…they are insane!”
Finally, I couldn’t let you escape my clutches without telling everyone about your ‘Iris Kyle experience’…
“I have been mistaken for Iris! It happened to me quite a few times when I was in Columbus for the Arnold Amateur. I even had one guy follow me through the expo thinking I was her! At first I couldn’t figure out why he was following me, then a friend of mine told me it was because he thought I was Iris Kyle….as did quite a few others.
“Originally, I assumed it was because we were both black and female…ergo we look alike. However, then it became a question of physique (although she is so much more muscular than I am!) and I suppose there are some similarities. I would have to state that she is the reason I decided to take my place in the sport more seriously. I was given one of her videos and I noticed we had a similar structure – except of course I was a much smaller version of her! Anyway, I looked at the video and saw for the first time a clear image of how I could progress. I’ve been chasing that goal ever since. I guess you could call me a ‘baby Iris Kyle’ (lol!)”
Hmm…not so sure about the ‘baby Kyle’ tag since babies don’t usually exhibit such ‘ripped, shredded and ready to do major damage’ qualities (lol!). However, come July it looks like Roxanne Edwards is set to put herself on the bodybuilding map in a big way…proving my theory that you don’t always have to play by the rules….you just have to play to win!
by Leigh Penman
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