Claire Rae has been in the gym since she was a kid tagging along with her dad. She entered her first competition in 2003 as a novice Fitness Competitor with the Manitoba Body Builder’s Association and placed first in her category. She was hooked. Soon after, she became a certified personal trainer, fitness model and a WBFF Pro.
How did you get started with bodybuilding?
I was inspired by Monica Brant and Oxygen Magazine. I fell in love with the gym at an early age and found that my body responded really well to working out. Soon after I looked up a local Bodybuilding federation and signed up, just to give it a shot. Surprisingly I won it and decided it was something worthwhile pursuing, with the hopes in inspiring others.
Where does your motivation come from?
My motivation comes from my fans that I have motivated and it is the kind of activity that gives back in making me feel amazing.
Overcoming 2 of the greatest obstacles you will ever face
My mom was reading an old motivational book last week and she had an “aha” moment. She has often struggled to achieve some of her dreams she said and used to blame it on the fact that she was too busy raising 6 kids. (Yes, I have 5 siblings.) Anyway, in the book, she read that she needed to take on her own self-doubt and her laziness. I thought, ”No way, mom, you are not what I would call a lazy person. After all you have been busy raising 6 kids and you have always been involved in many things, like church events and volunteer work.” But she insisted it was true in retrospect. Her self-doubt had lead her to become complacent about her hopes and dreams which lead to laziness.
After all why bother trying when you doubt you will ever amount to anything special anyway.
She said she decided to dig up her old journals and find her bucket list of things she always wanted to learn, do and accomplish and to revise it a bit. Then, she decided to write out for herself all the reasons why she would love to still attain those goals. She told me she took her self-doubt to God and gave it up to him and wrote out on a card one of her favorite Bible verses: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” and pasted it on her fridge. She told me that just doing that put a spring back in her step and she began exercising again right away and has kept it up so far 5 out of the last 7 days. I can hear the enthusiasm in her voice. Good for her! It just goes to show you that even an old motivational book can become a good mentor now and then.
Never give up on your dreams. They are the driving force in our lives and the incentive we need to keep on going when the going gets tough.
What workout routine has worked best for you?
Lately just a good run everyday has been helping me stay in great shape.
Monday – Abs/Cardio
- Run
- Floor abs
- Crunches
- V snaps
- Plank
Tuesday – Cardio
- Run
Wednesday- Shoulders
- Upright rows – 3 x15 reps
- Lateral raises – 3 x15 reps
- Shoulder press – 3 x15 reps
- Side to sides – 3 x15 reps
Thursday – Cardio
- Run
Friday- Biceps and back
- Hammer curls – 3 x15 reps
- Cable pull downs – 3 x15 reps
- Concentration curls – 3 x15 reps
Saturday – Cardio
- Rest
Sunday – Cardio
- Rest
It may look like I’m missing some muscles but I’m really concentrating on the muscles I need to build right now. I’ve been competing and training for 9 years and have developed different strong points such as my triceps from intense routines, and no longer need to develop these muscles.
I’ll throw a set of cable triceps pushdowns in from time to time, just to maintain.
What is your diet like?
Sample Diet:
- Meal 1: Protein shake
- Meal 2: Chicken salad
- Meal 3: 2 eggs and broccoli
- Meal 4: Steak and yams
- Meal 5: On high activity days I’ll throw another protein shake in.
- Meal 6: Snack on rice cakes and peanut butter. Yum!!
When trying to cut down do you prefer to use HIIT or just normal cardio?
I’m not a huge fan of cardio because I’m not very good at it. But running for me is my best cut down activity. I really see results fast.
What is your supplementation like?
I use the Magnum line, Quattro protein, G, Heat, DNA, and Serum. Yay it rocks my world!!
Favorite Bodybuilders?
Monica Brant of course.
Favorite Quote?
“I just wish people would realize that anything is possible if you try.” Terry Fox
Website: www.clairerae.com
