Interview with Rozanne Morsink

Geschatte leestijd: 4 minuten Two months ago I did a fitness photoshoot with Rozanne Morsink. I asked about her first experiences on the fitness stage and the road there.

Age ain’t nothing but a number of workouts

The most powerful property of fitness and bodybuilding is taking control of your own body. At least, that’s what I think. So many things in life can go differently than you would like. However, when it comes to the appearance of your body, fitness and bodybuilding provide the means to have the last word. That’s what I also like about fitness photography. The fact that my models have achieved the result themselves and hard work is more important than genes or age. The fact that two of my favorite photos of 2017 are of a 47-year-old model is a good example of that.

Rozanne Morsink

It’s actually only been 4 years since I started seriously with fitness. I’ve always been a sporty type. In my younger years, I did swimming and water polo, and in my twenties, this was replaced by athletics. Lots of running. I also did races from 5 km to full marathons. I always did strength training alongside, first for swimming and later for running. After my last marathon, I was a bit done with those long runs, and I also noticed that I didn’t have much left, so skinny. I decided it had to be different and swapped some running sessions for strength training. Along the way, I realized that I had to delve more into my nutrition. I remained very thin. I ate a lot but not the right things. I then sought guidance and everything changed. I finally put on some muscle mass with a diet of 3000 kcal. I still did some running, but no longer than 40 minutes, twice a week.

Never too late for the stage

My intention was to build for a year, but the stage wasn’t on my mind. I thought that’s for younger ladies, I was 43 at the time. The guidance I was with then pushed me to do a small competition to see if I liked it. There were more 40+ women participating, so it was fun to try. I didn’t really have a proper preparation, I believe 3 weeks. In hindsight, it wasn’t my best shape, but it was about gaining experience. I came in 1st place, and I thought I’d do a competition with the IFBB (International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness). I felt I had to work seriously towards this, so I dedicated 12 weeks to eating according to a certain schedule. I didn’t know how my body would react, but the fat flew off, so I had to eat more to not be too lean on stage. Twelve weeks of preparation is really too long for me, but you don’t know that beforehand. I came in 1st place at the Atlascup and then did the Iron Man, Iron Maiden where I came in 2nd place. The time between the competitions was 3 weeks and I just couldn’t keep the muscle on. I didn’t really like how I looked at that competition either, but hey, it’s also a learning process. After that, I decided to build for the Juliette Bergmann Gran Prix the following year. Under good guidance, I trained and ate for a year. I loosened up a bit on the weekends, but from Monday to Friday, I was strict with my diet. Also to get enough calories given my high metabolism.

“Persistence pays off”

I lose weight easier than I build muscle, but I just think: “Persistence pays off”. My last prep wasn’t very hard since I was actually ready after 4/5 weeks. Now I had to try to maintain that shape, which was quite difficult. This sport demands the utmost of yourself at competition level, but I like that. Following a certain diet can be quite difficult, especially in your social life. Just before a competition, I just don’t seek out the socializing anymore. No dinners etc, that’s nice and clear for myself. I think it’s a super fun sport and sometimes I regret not taking it seriously 10 years earlier. For now, I just do it because I enjoy it. My dream is to do a competition in the U.S. once, and then in my own age category. However you look at it, a 47-year-old woman looks different than a 35-year-old woman. It doesn’t stop me from competing in the 35+ class now, but it would be nice to stand next to peers I think. In the U.S. there are several classes and participants in this age group.

Favorite exercises

Shoulders and back I currently train in the gym 5 times a week and do cardio 3 times, including running once and two half-hour sessions of choice on the treadmill or stepper. As an alternative, I do plyo training. This is a different way for me to try cardio, since last year I only did running for cardio.

My biggest motivation

To do a competition again, hopefully in America.

My diet

I’m currently in the building phase again, my weight has to go up a bit. I always eat 6 times a day, even during competition preparation. Actually, I eat the same during competition preparation as now, but I increase my carbohydrates and fats now for more calories. On the weekends, I’m not so strict, I just eat with my family. Or whatever I feel like, so also cake or fries.