Hometown: SIDNEY, MT
Height: 5'6 1/2"
Contest Weight: USUALLY AROUND 147 Lbs.
Off Season Weight: 165-170 Lbs.
Measurements
Biceps
OFF SEASON BI: 16" PRECONTEST BI: 14.5"
Calves
OFF SEASON CALVES: 16" PRECONTEST CALVES: 15.5"
Quads
OFF SEASON QUADS: 24" PRECONEST QUADS: 23"

Amanda's Interview

Q: Alright Amanda, how about we start at the beginning. How old were you when you got into working out and what made you get started?
A: I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN INTO WORKING OUT BECAUSE I HAVE ALWAYS PLAYED SPORTS, SINCE I WAS ABOUT 5 YEARS OLD. BUT I STARTED REALLY FOCUSING JUST ON THE WEIGHTS WHEN I WAS 18 YEARS OLD. I JUST WANTED TO SHAPE UP MY PHYSIQUE MORE, AND IT GREW INTO AN OBSESSION FAST.
Q: What was it that got you addicted to the gym?
A: THE RESULTS I STARTED SEEING IS WHAT GOT ME ADDICTED TO THE WEIGHTS!
Q: Anyone who knows you knows you got your start in the Fitness ranks. Why did you make the transformation to the world of Bodybuilding?
A: I STARTED IN FIGURE BECAUSE I GOT TALKED INTO IT, AND I REALLY WASNT SURE I WANTED TO BE A BODYBUILDER. BUT WHEN I DID TWO SHOWS IN FIGURE AND BOTH TIMES WAS TOLD I WAS TOO BIG, TOO LEAN, ETC, I JUST THOUGHT, WHY NOT JUST TRY BODYBUILDING AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS? IT CANT HURT! I TRANSITIONED, AND FELL IN LOVE WITH IT, I LOVE TO LIFT HEAVY, AND TRAINING FOR A FIGURE SHOW PREVENTED ME FROM DOING SO BECAUSE I DO TEND TO PUT MUSCLE ON PRETTY EASILY. BODYBUILDING JUST FIT MY PHYSIQUE BETTER!
Q: Once you stepped into the world of Bodybuilding how did you fair in your first couple of shows?
A: MY FIRST COUPLE OF SHOWS WERE GREAT, I HAVE ACTUALLY ONLY DONE 3 BB SHOWS. THE VERY FIRST ONE, I TIED DEAD EVEN PER THE SCORE CARDS WITH A VETERAN OF BB...SHE HAD AN AWESOME PHYSIQUE AND ABOUT 24 YRS OF MUSCLE MATURITY ON ME, NOT EXAGGERATING...SO TO TIE FOR 1ST PLACE WITH SOMEONE OF HER CALIBUR, I WAS PRETTY HAPPY! I DID END UP WITH 2ND PLACE BY ONE POINT, FINAL HEAD JUDGE CALL. MY 2ND SHOW, I WON THE HEAVY WEIGHT CLASS AT THE EXCALIBUR IN CULVER CITY. I JUST DID MY FIRST NATIONAL LEVEL SHOW, THE USA'S IN VEGAS THIS PAST JULY, IT WAS HORRIBLE FOR ME, I WAS SICK WITH THE FLU FOR A COUPLE DAYS BEFORE AND DAY OF THE SHOW, SO I REALLY STRUGGLED, CAME IN SUPER FLAT, I COULDNT KEEP ANYTHING DOWN SO CARBING UP WAS REALLY HARD FOR ME...BUT IT WAS A LEARNING EXPERIENCE, AND I HOPE TO COME BACK NEXT YEAR AT MY BEST YET, NOT SURE WHAT SHOW YET THOUGH...
Q: What do you feel is your best body part?
A: I HAVE BEEN TOLD TIME AND TIME AGAIN, MY SHOULDERS...I THINK I AGREE WITH THAT.
Q: What kind of workout routine do you have?
A: I DO ONE BODY PART PER DAY, AND I ALSO SPLIT UP MY LEGS, HAMS/GLUTES ONE DAY OF THE WEEK, QUADS ANOTHER DAY.
Q: Anyone who has seen you can obviously see how trim you are heading into a event. What kind of diet do you put yourself on to get that trim?
A: I HAVE SOME HELP WITH MY DIET, BUT IT IS USUALLY LOWER CARB, HIGH PROTEIN, LOTS OF GREEN VEGGIES, CHICKEN, STEAK, AND FISH.
Q: What does Amanda like to do in her spare time?
A: I LOVE TO DO HOME INTERIOR DECORATING AND I LOVE TO BAKE!
Q: We understand that you are recently married. How much of a influence has your husband been on your career?
A: I WAS ACTUALLY PREPARING FOR MY VERY FIRST FIGURE SHOW WHEN I MET MY HUSBAND, HE IS SO SUPPORTIVE, AND IS MY BIGGEST FAN. WE TRAIN TOGETHER EVERYDAY, AND HE ALWAYS ENCOURAGES ME ON DAYS WHEN I NEED IT MOST. HE IS VERY POSITIVE ABOUT IT, AND JUST HAS AN ENERGY FOR LIFE THAT I LOVE! WHEN I DONT FEEL LIKE TRAINING, HE CAN ALWAYS MAKE ME FEEL LIKE GETTING THERE! HE IS MY PARTNER IN AND OUT OF THE GYM!
Q: I also understand like me you are a dog person. Tell us about your "babies"?
A: I LOVE DOGS, YOU HAVE NO IDEA, I'M CRAZY ABOUT THEM!! RIGHT NOW, I HAVE TWO BOXERS, OSCAR WHO IS 5YRS OLD, HE IS MY ANGEL, AND DEMPSEY WHO WILL BE 2 YRS OLD IN NOV...HE IS MY MONSTER! HE HAS OFFICIALLY HIT THE TERRIBLE TWO'S! I LOVE THEM BOTH SO MUCH, THEY ALWAYS MAKE ME LAUGH, AND THEY ARE THERE FOR ME WHEN I CRY TOO! THEY ARE A HUGE PART OF MY WORLD.
Q: Now on a more serious note. We all know how performance enhancing drugs have floated around in Bodybuilding since the early to late 1960's. What is your take on drugs in the sport?
A: WOW, I DONT THINK I HAVE BEEN ASKED THAT BEFORE IN AN INTERVIEW! WELL, I BELIEVE THAT IT IS YOUR CHOICE, AND NOT A NECESSARY THING FOR BB...BUT AS FOR WOMEN, WOMEN NEED TO BE VERY CAREFUL WITH ANY KIND OF SUPPLEMENT THEY PUT IN THEIR BODIES. EVEN THE ONES YOU BUY AT YOUR GENERAL NUTRITION STORE WILL SAY RIGHT ON THE BOTTLE, NOT MEANT FOR WOMEN. SO AS A FEMALE BB, YOU HAVE TO MAKE YOURSELF VERY AWARE OF WHAT YOU PUTTING IN YOUR BODY, AND BE VERY SMART ABOUT ALL OF IT.
Q: In my opinion you have everything it takes to be the next "Cory Everson". But what I think everyone wants to know is what do you think the future holds for Amanda Folstad-Ptak?
A: I WISH I KNEW THE ANSWER TO THAT ONE...I WOULD LOVE TO GO PRO SOMEDAY. I WANT TO CONTINUE TO COMPETE FOR MYSELF FOR AS LONG AS I CAN...JUST BECAUSE I ENJOY IT SO MUCH. BUT THERE ARE THOSE SHOWS THAT KNOCK YOU DOWN SO FAR MENTALLY, THAT IT CAN BE HARD TO BOUNCE BACK AT TIMES...YOU HAVE TO BE VERY STRONG MENTALLY TO DO THIS. THE FUTURE FOR ME....NO RESTRICTIONS. I WILL GO AS FAR AS I WANT TO :) ... WHEN I WANT SOMETHING BAD ENOUGH, IT HAPPENS.
Q: Now before we get to the final question thank you Amanda for your time and for being so accommodating during this entire process in making you the Fall 2009 Muscle Goddess. In fact you will end up being the Muscle Goddess of the year 2009 being we just opened and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for making our first campaign such a huge hit. Now my final question is a real simple one. Let's say I went to Las Vegas and they had odds on who would appear in the Ms. Olympia in the next couple of years or so and I saw the name Amanda Folstad on the betting line. Would you urge me to place a big bet on that one?
A: HONESTLY?? I WOULD HAVE TO SAY NO, I AM A VERY HUMBLE AND MODEST PERSON...I AM TOLD A LOT THAT I DONT GIVE MYSELF ENOUGH CREDIT...I WISH I COULD SAY YES AND MEAN IT, BUT IM ALSO VERY HONEST...MAYBE NOT IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS, BUT GIVE ME A FEW MORE, AND I MAY DEFINITELY CHANGE MY ANSWER TO YES :)