Dr. Katie Chimes definitely breaks the mold of the typical fitness competitor. Her career as a chiropractor has taken her from the UK to Finland and back again, having competed all over Europe. Her medical expertise allows her to preach the physical and psychological benefits of the sport and how the positives far outweigh the negatives.
Not only does she take the sport very seriously, she is smart, funny, and effusive and has a sense of humor about life as a competitor. She has an opinion on just about everything from the outside perception of the industry to where the sport is headed in the next few years.
Dr. Chimes just competed at the Miami Pro in the St. Albans, England. Her next shows will be in Denmark on May 10 as well as a show in the U.S. I spoke to her some months ago about everything from her start in fitness to her love of the United States.
Q: Tell me about yourself. (Where you are from, what do you do, family, marital status, what you like to do for fun, etc.?)
A: I am British and grew up just outside of London. All of my family, whom I’m very close to; are musicians – I was always the sporty one of the family. I have always been a sports person, competing mainly in athletics and swimming until the age of 19 when I got into weight training more seriously.
I starte
d working in the fitness industry as a personal trainer until I followed in my uncle’s footsteps and became a chiropractor. I am currently working in Finland as a chiropractor; however I intend to move back to the UK within the next few months.
I am an outgoing and very family-oriented person. I love spending time with my family and friends. I love travelling, especially to America. I would love to eventually live in the U.S. and if the right opportunity came along, I would move over there. One other big love of my life (other than family) is food! I also love to travel and I love being around happy, outgoing, like-minded people.
Q: The obvious: how did you get into fitness?
A: Fitness has been a part of my life since a very young age. You could say that I have been training nearly all of my life. I started running at the age of six and swimming at the age of seven. I competed nationally in both sports and then moved onto triathlons. My swimming coach got me into weight training at the age of 13 however by the age of 19 I got into weight training more seriously. I would therefore say that I have been weight training more seriously for 13 years.
Q: How many shows have you done? How do you approach contest prep?
A: I have done four shows within the last year. I also trained to compete in a show over 10 years ago. I had a lot of people back then telling me not to do it as “It’s not feminine for women to have muscle.” Therefore I held myself back from doing any other shows. I have always kept my body in shape as I knew one day I would enter a show again. It was last year that I finally decided that it was important to make myself happy and not hold myself back for others, therefore I entered a show as the desire had been burning inside of me for so long.
I have always generally trained every day. When training for a competition, I generally train twice a day and once a day at weekends. I diet for around 8-10 weeks before a show.
Q: How does being on stage for a contest make you feel?
A: The biggest thing about shows is that I love being around other girls who are passionate about weight training, fitness and bodybuilding in general. I like the excitement of going on stage, but I always get a little nervous that I will forget my routine or the order of my poses. Even though I practice posing a lot, I still get a little wobbly holding on stage and sometimes forget the order of my poses. It’s the one area I have to work more on, but that just comes with experience and practice.
Q: What is your favorite part of being a competitor? Least favorite?
A: My favorite part about being a competitor is firstly seeing the end result of getting my body really lean and seeing how far I can push myself. My other favorite part – as said before – is mixing and socializing with the girls backstage and being around other like-minded people.
My least favorite is the constant hardcore dieting and putting a routine together for shows (I’m not a naturally dancy, creative person). One thing I do find difficult is the first few weeks after the shows. I (and I know many other competitors are the same) like to eat absolutely everything in sight and chocolate and ice cream are my Kryptonite. It is so easy to lose everything you have 
worked so hard for. I have learned that it is so important to have a post-contest plan otherwise you can get into a cycle of yo-yo dieting after and this can get you very down if you go from seeing your body so lean to then losing it within 2-3 weeks.
Q: What is the backstage atmosphere like at a show?
A: Generally, all of the shows have been relaxed and good fun. It depends what show you are at. I am the sort of person who likes to get to know other people, so I will always make conversation with others however some people just prefer to keep to themselves.
I have always enjoyed it backstage and for me it is a key part of the whole experience. With some of the shows that I have done there have been girls I know from other shows, so I have become good friends with a lot of them.
Q: Do you have any funny stories about training or competition?
A: The funniest story was when I was at a show two months ago. I was getting changed behind a screen which separated us (competitors) from the stage and the audience. When I was changing from my sportswear into my bikini, someone leant against the screen and the whole thing came tumbling down. There I was standing completely naked for the whole world to see.
Q: Was there one event or circumstance in your life that changed you as a person?
A: In my early 20’s I came out of a long term relationship and then I went on to do a lot of personal development courses including Anthony Robbins events. This completely changed me as a person. I became “me” again, made some amazing new friends, and I made some life changing decisions. This is one of the main reasons I have an obsession with America as it holds many positive and fond memories for me.
Q: What is your favorite cheat food? What is your favorite supplement?
A: Without a doubt, my favourite food or shall I say foods are chocolate and ice cream. Sugar is soooo bad for you, I know, but other than my family and loved ones, this is my one pure love. Everything in moderation right? My favourite supplement (if I had to pick only one) would be Acetyl L-Carnitine.
Q: How do you approach your physical appearance (cover up, show it off, dress up, dress down)? What do you feel are the advantages and disadvantages of having a physique like yours?
A: To be honest I either dress really casually or I really dress up. I love wearing trainers and it’s very rare to see me without a pair of trainers either on or in my bag.
Q: Do you find havin
g a physique like yours empowering?
A: I would say that I myself become empowered when I see results that I have worked so hard for. I like to (play around, interchange diet and training) change parts of my diet and training and see the results that I get. I just like to do my own thing.
Q: Do you think the industry is sexist?
A: Not from my experience so far. But I do not have that much experience yet.
Q: Do you see yourself as a role model for those living a fit lifestyle?
A: I would like to consider myself as a role model. I get emails from people who tell me that I have inspired them. I have had people contacting me that I haven’t spoken to for years and people I don’t know telling me how I have inspired them on their fitness and weight loss journeys as well inspirational stories of people overcoming illnesses that I have inspired.
It is a good feeling to know that you inspire people just from doing what you love to do. With my profession as a chiropractor, I am in the health care industry. I definitely see myself as a role model for health and wellbeing. It is important for me to encourage people to live a fit and healthy lifestyle.
Q: Who are your role models?
A: Firstly, parents for always being there. My dad for being so driven and passionate in all that he does. I also really admire the physiques of Larissa Reis and Jen Jewell.
Q: Where have your travels for competition brought you? Where is your favorite place to travel?
A: I have at present only competed in the UK.
My favorite place to travel is America – haven’t done any competitions there (yet :-))
Q: How has your lifestyle affected your relationships? That can be with friends, family, significant other, etc.
A: When training for competition your life sort of goes on hold – you have to sacrifice a lot. It’s not so easy to just go out and meet friends for lunch or a drink (some people can, but I find it hard being out all night drinking just water). My parents and loved ones don’t like it. I don’t think they really understand and they don’t like seeing me get so lean when I diet right down. My dad especially does not like it when I get really lean. Some friends don’t understand it and it’s hard when you don’t have a support network.
Q: What do you think is the perception is of women in the fitness industry versus the reality?
A: This is very difficult to answer. I think the original perception of women in this industry is that they were massive, masculine “She Hulks”. However in more recent times with the increased use of social media, people are more aware that there is a vast range of categories involved within the female fitness industry. In my experience, the reality is that I’m seeing women of all different shapes and sizes involving themselves within the fitness scene. Even though women involved in fitness have muscle and definition, women can still maintain their femininity.
Q: Steroids are a hot button topic in the fitness world. I will not ask if yo
u use, but do you feel steroids are widely used by women in the industry? Is it a stigma or a necessity in the industry?
A: I personally have never used steroids and never will. Steroids can be used for all kinds of gains. Some physique girls do use them and if they do it’s their choice. I have nothing against them; I just personally would not use them.
There are so many categories within the fitness industry now that people do not need to use them. I would not like to use them as I would feel like I’m messing around with the natural hormones in my body plus getting big or increasing muscle size is not a goal for me, in fact quite the opposite.
When training for a competition I do a lot of cardio so that I go into more of a catabolic state to decrease the muscle size within my thighs. I personally want to make gains the natural way.
Q: What do you think the future holds for competitions and for you?
A: I think fitness competitions are becoming more popular and with so many different categories more and more girls are entering, especially fitness modeling shows. I want to continue to work on my own gains and be the best I can possibly be.
Everyone is on their own journey in life and I want to continue to work as a chiropractor, but get more involved within the fitness scene and be around other like-minded people. Fitness modeling is something I really want to become involved in and if I can inspire others along the way with my passion and dedication then that can only be a bonus.
Hard work pays off. For more information on me visit my website www.Katiechimes.com or on Twitter @KatieChimes.
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