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-2023 Yorton %ud83e%udd47-2023 Mrs. America %ud83e%udd47-2023 WNBF Women%u2019s Bodybuilding How did you get started in your fitness journey?Growing up, I was always considered a %u201ctomboy%u201d and began playing basketball from a very young age. The summer before my senior year of high school, I injured myself and spent the summer in physical therapy to regain strength. This injury set me on a different path away from basketball and into weight training. My dad had competed in powerlifting when he was younger, and he got me started in lifting. We trained together during those first few years, teaching me the ropes, the importance of compound movements, and the mindset of always striving to progress. Over the years, I became more and more obsessed with the gym and lifting, eventually transitioning to training on my own. My workouts shifted to a high-volume bodybuilding approach while still being rooted in the principles my dad taught me when we first began nearly a decade ago.What are your favorite types of workouts?I don%u2019t have a single favorite type, but most of my workouts are very high volume. I do lots of sets, lots of reps, and include various exercises and variations.Do you follow a specific diet or nutrition plan?Yes, I coach myself and, after years of tracking, have gotten better at knowing what works and what doesn%u2019t. My plan isn%u2019t overly strict; it%u2019s not the same meals every day consisting of just five or six foods. I like variety and primarily focus on overall calories and protein first. Depending on whether I%u2019m preparing for a competition or how far out I am from a show, I adjust how much I eat. Within my calorie %u201crequirements,%u201d I include as many whole foods as possible%u2014lean animal protein, nut butters, fruits, and certain vegetables. I%u2019m fairly strict about what I eat and what I avoid. While I do consume some packaged foods, I look for products without added sugars or oils. My nutrition plan, like my training, is based on a few core principles, and I build my diet around them.MOST MAGAZINE - ISSUE 51 63