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This week we are joined by April Conley, IFBB Bikini pro who is a posing coach, a wife and mother of 4. April has been competing for 3 years and earned her IFBB pro card at North Americans in 2022. April experienced the passing of her late husband and turned her pain into a passion for fitness after she realized that she needed a goal and something to look forward to in order to help her through the grieving process. Eventually this passion turned into the pursuit of competing and she earned her IFBB bikini pro card and has been climbing the ranks ever since with her most recent victory- a masters pro win at the Klash Series Southern USA championships in May of this year.
April shares her top tips for juggling family life and bodybuilding and how her passion for the sport has led to helping others as a bikini posing coach! We were so inspired by April’s strength and perseverance and we know that you will love hearing her story of overcoming grief to become an accomplished athlete who truly lives out her passion and purpose in life!
We hope you enjoyed this episode and we would LOVE it if you would rate, subscribe, and leave us reviews on how much this podcast has helped you 💕 We’d love to hear from you about future topics you would like us to discuss so please leave us a comment or reach out to us with your questions and suggestions!
Contact this week’s guest April Conley
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aprilconley_ifbbpro/
About Momshell Method Fitness:
April shares her top tips for juggling family life and bodybuilding and how her passion for the sport has led to helping others as a bikini posing coach! We were so inspired by April’s strength and perseverance and we know that you will love hearing her story of overcoming grief to become an accomplished athlete who truly lives out her passion and purpose in life!
We hope you enjoyed this episode and we would LOVE it if you would rate, subscribe, and leave us reviews on how much this podcast has helped you 💕 We’d love to hear from you about future topics you would like us to discuss so please leave us a comment or reach out to us with your questions and suggestions!
Contact this week’s guest April Conley
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aprilconley_ifbbpro/
About Momshell Method Fitness:
Ready to embark on your fitness journey? We would love to help you reach any fitness goal from losing the baby weight to crushing your competition goals!
Follow this link to schedule a discovery call with one of our team members and learn how Momshell Method Fitness can provide you with the tools you need to be successful with customized nutrition and training plans for busy moms → http://bit.ly/loseweightgetsexy
Contact your hosts:
Mandy Rochon
Facebook: Mandy Rochon
Gillian Hughes, IFBB Bikini Pro
Facebook: Gillian Hughes
Mandy’s Posing Sessions
1:1 In Person (KC Posing Studio) → https://bit.ly/inpersonposingwithmandy
1:1 Virtual Posing → https://bit.ly/virtualposingwithmandy
Posing with Gillian Hughes, IFBB Bikini Pro
1:1 In Person (St Louis Posing Studio) → https://bit.ly/stlposingwithgillianifbbpro
1:1 Virtual Posing → https://bit.ly/virtualposingwithgillianifbbpro
Nuethyx Formulations Supplements →
(Use code “Momshell” to save 10% off your order)
Toxic Angelz Bikinis → https://toxicangelzbikinis.com
(Use code “GILLIAN” or code “MANDY” to save 15% off your order)
MISAJO Sports —> https://shopsiham.com/collections/workout
(Use code “GILLIAN10” to save 10% off your order)
Squeeze Me Skinny Waist Trainers → https://www.squeezmeskinny.com
(Use code “MOMSHELL” to save 10% off your order)
The Shoe Fairy competition heels → https://www.shoefairyofficial.com
(Use code “momshell” to save 15% off your order)
Labwork and Personalized Recommendations: Practitioner Depot: https://bit.ly/practitionerdepotxmomshell (Use code “momshell” to save 5% off your order)
Our Amazon storefront- fitness outfits, more supplements, beauty items and competition needs → https://amzn.to/46GL1nd
Creators and Guests
Host
What is Bikinis After Babies?
Bikinis After Babies is the one and only podcast where real moms talk about their bodybuilding contest experiences. We are sharing the inside scoop, the nitty-gritty, the hardships and the victories as we navigate the rigors of competition prep while juggling family and careers. We’ll be joined by IFBB bikini pros who share their incredible stories of managing many responsibilities as athletes while defying stereotypes as women who compete in bikinis after babies!
Whether you’re a new mom thinking about stepping on stage for the first time, or a mom looking for inspo and insight on how to manage contest prep as a busy mom, this podcast offers helpful tips and inspiring stories for moms with big goals!! Make sure to rate, subscribe, and leave us a review to let us know how much this podcast has helped you 💕
About Momshell Method Fitness:
Ready to embark on your fitness journey? We would love to help you reach any fitness goal from losing the baby weight to crushing your competition goals!
Follow this link to schedule a discovery call with one of our team members and learn how Momshell Method Fitness can provide you with the tools you need to be successful with customized nutrition and training plans for busy moms → http://bit.ly/loseweightgetsexy
Mandys Posing Sessions
1:1 In Person (KC Posing Studio) → https://bit.ly/inpersonposingwithmandy
1:1 Virtual Posing → https://bit.ly/virtualposingwithmandy
Posing with Gillian Hughes, IFBB Bikini Pro
1:1 In Person (St Louis Posing Studio) → https://bit.ly/stlposingwithgillianifbbpro
1:1 Virtual Posing → https://bit.ly/virtualposingwithgillianifbbpro
Contact your hosts:
Mandy Rochon
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mandyrochonfitness/
Facebook: Mandy Rochon
Gillian Hughes, IFBB Bikini Pro
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gillianhughes_momshell/
Facebook: Gillian Hughes
Momshell Method Fitness Supplements → https://www.momshell-method-fitness.myshopify.com
(Use code “BAB” to save 15% off your order)
Toxic Angelz Bikinis → https://toxicangelzbikinis.com
(Use code “GILLIAN” or code “MANDY” to save 15% off your order)
Squeeze Me Skinny Waist Trainers → https://www.squeezmeskinny.com
(Use code “MOMSHELL” to save 10% off your order)
The Shoe Fairy competition heels → https://www.shoefairyofficial.com
(Use code “momshell” to save 15% off your order)
Labwork and Personalized Recommendations: Practitioner Depot: https://bit.ly/practitionerdepotxmomshell (Use code “momshell” to save 5% off your order)
Our Amazon storefront- fitness outfits, more supplements, beauty items and competition needs → https://amzn.to/3zySJ4C
Mandy (00:00)
Hello everyone and welcome to Bikinis After Babies. Thank you so much for joining us today. And as always, I am one of your hosts, Mandy Rashawn, here with your other lovely blonde host, Gillian Hughes.
Gillian (00:13)
Hey everybody, thank you so much for tuning in. I'm so excited about today's episode. If you are tuning in on YouTube, you will see our beautiful guest with us today. And I would like to welcome April Conley, IFBB Bikini Pro. She is a posing coach, a wife, and a mother of four. She has been competing for three years and earned her IFBB Pro card at North Americans in 2022. April developed a passion for fitness and found her way into competing after facing a tragic experience in her life.
that caused her to evaluate her habits and goals. April has been crushing it since she turned pro with numerous Masters Pro wins under her belt and her most recent victory, first place at the Clash Series Southern USA Championships in May. I'm so excited to hear more about her incredible story. Welcome to Bikinis After Babies, April Conley. Hi. Thank you for joining us today.
April Conley (01:04)
Hey, thank you so much for having me.
Mandy (01:04)
Yay, welcome.
Thank you for joining us.
Gillian (01:10)
I'm so excited to chat with you. And we kind of always like to start every episode by learning a little bit about how you got started in your fitness journey.
April Conley (01:20)
well, I really got started when I was a teenager doing, I did cheerleading. I tried basketball. I wasn't really good at that. I just wanted to do something. And so, I didn't start getting into weight lifting until I was in my mid twenties and it, really accelerated later in my late twenties after I had gone through a divorce.
And I just wanted to get strong. I got tired of feeling like I needed to be small. And, you know, we get inundated with you need to be small. You don't need to take up a lot of space. And I had just gotten really frustrated with that. I just wanted to be strong so I felt like I could protect myself, protect my kids. And I started lifting weights and it was history after that.
Gillian (02:15)
So you've got four kiddos actually, and you mentioned in our little chit chat beforehand about diapers for 20 years. So what are the ages of all of your children?
April Conley (02:22)
So my oldest son is 23. I only have one daughter and she is 19. My middle son is 14 and my youngest son is 6.
Gillian (02:38)
That's so much fun though, all the different ages and you get to experience kind of like, you know, some of that school age and the innocence and all of that still, you know, that's always the hardest thing when the kids get older, it's kind of like, you know.
Mandy (02:41)
Yeah.
April Conley (02:50)
I know, no, it's sad when they become teenagers and they already, they know everything and you can't tell them anything.
Mandy (02:51)
Yeah. That's.
Gillian (02:52)
Yeah.
Mandy (03:00)
going through that right now with my 14 year old who will be, and he's a boy, and he'll be 15 in August. And I like, I love it. He goes, you know, if we have those roller coaster moments, but I like, you have a six year old and I'm like, it just like keeps you young at heart. Cause you get like the teenage, they know everything, but then you got the six year old that like, you know, you can cuddle up with. Like I need that.
April Conley (03:06)
Thank you.
yes, he's a snuggler. He is a mama's boy. If I leave the room, I'm like, I had to set him up. Okay, mommy's gonna be upstairs. I'm gonna be talking. So you just stay downstairs. My husband's working from home today, so he's fine downstairs. But I'm like, you've got to stay downstairs and let mommy talk, okay? And he's like, but why?
Gillian (03:46)
Yeah.
Mandy (03:46)
You
April Conley (03:46)
So he'll follow me, like this room that I use upstairs, I'll use for posing clients and I also have my makeup up here and I have like some cardio machine. It's just like a big open space. And if I'm coming up here to do my makeup, he's crawling underneath my chair. Like he is legit under my chair. He's got to be under me all the time. And sometimes it's a little frustrating, but for the most part I'm like, so sweet.
Gillian (04:01)
Yeah.
It's one of those things like as soon as you travel, like I was away at a show last weekend and you know, I can't wait to just have some space. And then I'm in the hotel room by myself. I'm like, where is everybody? Like I was uncomfortable to just be alone and not like have somebody that wanted to tell me a story that I didn't ask to hear or, you know, just somebody needed a sandwich or anything, you know, I was like, this is very strange, you know, when you get used to just doing it for so long.
Mandy (04:25)
Mm -hmm.
April Conley (04:33)
Yeah, you just don't know what to do with yourself. You're like, do I just sit here? What do I do?
Gillian (04:40)
Yeah.
Mandy (04:42)
Yeah.
Gillian (04:42)
Yeah. So wow. So four pregnancies, like pretty spread apart too. So did you have any like issues getting back into shape after you had babies or did your body bounce back pretty quickly?
April Conley (04:56)
when I was younger, it bounced back super quickly. It was probably the, the hardest time I had was with my six year old. Cause I was in my thirties when I had him, early thirties when I had him. So his bouncing back after him was a little more difficult. And a lot of it also had to do with my late husband, who's his father. he is, he was all about going out.
Gillian (05:06)
Yeah.
April Conley (05:22)
eat and drinking and living that kind of lifestyle. And he'd go to the, I went to the gym regularly, but he was not okay with me going to the gym if he wasn't there. And so I would have to like, let's go to the gym, let's go work out. And he liked to work out. He was one of those that the beginning of the week he was good to go. And then after that he was done. He wanted to go out to eat and drink and relax.
Mandy (05:33)
Hmm.
Hmm.
Gillian (05:52)
Yeah. And you had mentioned that competing was something that had sparked your interest, but there wasn't a lot of support there. So what was that like when you first saw a competition and thought it was something that you would like to do?
April Conley (06:06)
So the very first competition I watched, bikini hadn't turned into what it is today. It was still, there wasn't really any muscle. It was just fit girls getting on stage and I wasn't interested in it. And then I saw in 2019, I watched Issa win the Olympia and her frame and her musculature and her poise and her posing. I was like, okay, I wanna do that. I wanna do that.
Mandy (06:25)
Mm.
April Conley (06:35)
So much. And so that was when I really started like researching other competitors and seeing what it was like. I started following all kinds of girls on YouTube and Instagram and trying to see what their experience was like to kind of give myself a heads up on, okay, can I do this? Would this be something I would like diet wise, activity wise? Could I even fit that into my schedule or, you know,
Mandy (07:03)
Mm -hmm.
April Conley (07:04)
mentally take on that load, because it is a huge mental load to take on a prep. And I followed them and approached my late husband with the idea of doing competitions. And he was completely supportive of that until it came to the bikinis. So he was very protective and very, I say protective, he was more possessive. He didn't want any...
Mandy (07:33)
Mm -hmm.
April Conley (07:33)
other people seeing me that unclothed, especially not on stage. So he got very uncomfortable with it. So it was like, it's cool, you can prep and you can do all this stuff. But when it came to actually the point of wanting to get on stage, he's like, you're going to have to get a bikini that completely covers everything. And I'm like, I don't know how big I went up there with a full cut bikini bottom.
Mandy (07:38)
Mm -hmm.
Gillian (07:57)
Yeah. Well, I'm sure you're not the only one. Like I'm sure that there are other women who are maybe in a similar situation, either, you know, in that kind of a relationship where their spouse doesn't want to understand that it's so not seen as something sexual and, and provocative. It's athletic and it's beautiful or even just like cultural. So I think that for some people listening and being able to, you know, see how, how that journey evolved for you.
you know, it's probably encouraging for people to hear because I have heard that I have had people say, my husband's not comfortable or, you know, my members of my church won't understand, you know, and it's, I think bikinis becoming more mainstream that people understand. but you know, I mean, you go to the pool, people are in swimsuits too. Right. So, so yeah. And then, you know, I was going to get into this a little bit later, but we're kind of already on the topic, but talking a little bit about sort of how that relationship evolved into.
Mandy (08:36)
Yeah.
Gillian (08:54)
you know, his eventual passing and what happened there.
April Conley (08:59)
So he...
When we first met and we were first dating, he was the kind of person who was, he was actually prepping to do a bodybuilding show, which he'd never actually accomplished that, because he got too busy, I guess, dating me. I don't think he really had the mental fortitude to be able to put himself all the way through a prep, because how lean you have to get and how much, how draining it is on your energy and being able to think clearly, I don't think he was personally capable of doing that.
Gillian (09:11)
wow.
Mandy (09:21)
Hmm.
April Conley (09:33)
So he was actually in a bodybuilding prep when we first started dating. And then he, so he wouldn't drink. And then it started to turn into, well, I'm not gonna do a bodybuilding show anymore. So we can do pizza and beer on the weekend. So it became pizza and beer on the weekends. And he went through several career changes while we were together. In the last career he was in, either stressed him out a lot to the point where he wanted to drink, or it gave him the financial freedom to
sit around and drink if he wanted to. I'm not exactly sure how that was going on through his head, but it turned into him drinking every night. And so he was, when someone drinks every drinks all the time, they don't realize they're, they're like, I can drink a lot. It doesn't affect me. I'm not drunk. They are. They're just used to how it feels. So when you become desensitized to how that feels, you think you're totally
Gillian (10:27)
Yeah.
Mandy (10:27)
Mm -hmm.
April Conley (10:32)
you know, aware of all of everything you're doing and your reaction time's the same, but it's not, even if you don't feel drunk, you still are drunk. And so he had been drinking all day and he's like, and it was slow sipping on beer at that, for that particular day, he normally would drink liquor at night, but that day he had been sipping on beer all day long. And he was in a great mood and he's like, I'm gonna go to the
Mandy (10:41)
Mm -hmm.
April Conley (11:02)
gas station and I just want to get another six pack of beer. I'm not ready to call it a night yet. And he kissed me, told me he loved me and he left and never came back home.
Mandy (11:15)
wow. I'm so sorry.
Gillian (11:18)
I'm so sorry. That's the worst phone call you can get.
April Conley (11:19)
It was it. I actually didn't get a phone call. We had each other's locations on our phones and he took too long. The gas station was literally two minutes up the road and he had been gone for 20 minutes. So I'm like, well, I mean, even if you stopped to chat with somebody, it wouldn't have taken that long. So I looked at his location and it was a spot he that was not on the path between our.
house in the gas station. So I actually got my neighbor. I didn't have a, he had taken the only car that was available to use because the other one was hooked up to some equipment. So I called my neighbor and I'm like, something's wrong. Will you come take me? I've got to go see, his name was James. I'm going to go see where James is because he's not where he should be. He's not answering his phone. And so we drove up on his accident and that's how I found out.
Gillian (11:49)
Yeah.
Yeah.
Mandy (12:15)
my god.
Gillian (12:17)
It's very tragic to experience. There's no way you can prepare, you know. And you, like you said, you did not really think that he was so inebriated that he shouldn't be driving, you know. So, yeah, that's...
April Conley (12:21)
No.
Right, he was acting completely sober and so it didn't even, and the drive was so close, but that's what they say, you know, if you're gonna get into an accident, it's usually where you're the most familiar and feel the most comfortable. So he had...
Gillian (12:33)
Yeah.
super close to your house. Yeah.
Mandy (12:42)
Mm -hmm. Yeah.
April Conley (12:49)
The vehicle he was driving was loud and a little fast. He was a big car guy. It was loud and it was a little fast. Not super fast, it was a little fast. And so he caught the attention of a sheriff. And I think he got the idea in his head that he's like, if I get pulled over, I will probably get a DUI. So let me see if I can get away. And he just lost control of the car.
Gillian (13:19)
That's so tragic. I'm so sorry.
Mandy (13:20)
That's.
April Conley (13:23)
Well, thank you. Yeah.
Gillian (13:24)
And so when that happened and now you're dealing with a loss that you weren't prepared for, how did you begin to sort of patch things together and move forward with your life?
April Conley (13:38)
I have an amazing family. My support system was, they didn't leave my side. Even though, and at that moment, I just wanted to sit by myself. Like I didn't want to have to put forth any mental energy into talking. I didn't want anyone asking me questions. I didn't know what to do. I just wanted to sit there and cry. It's just started, sorry off topic, it just started storming really bad.
So if I lose connection, I'm sorry. Looking out my window going, that's Hale, okay. But my parents, my kids, my neighbors around there, everyone just kind of surrounded me and made sure I wasn't alone. And...
Gillian (14:07)
no. Okay.
Mandy (14:07)
No. No you're f -
April Conley (14:33)
I was drinking every night at that point so I could go to sleep. Because when you spend so many years sleeping with someone next to you, then you have to lay down in that bed by yourself. It is very, like it's a daunting thought to try and lay down and go to sleep and let your brain relax. So I was, at that point I was drinking every night to get myself to go to sleep so I could just stop thinking. So I would, right.
Mandy (14:52)
Mm -hmm.
So.
April Conley (15:02)
And one day I'm like, I can't keep doing it. I've got kids, I have things, I have to work. I've got people relying on me. I can't just sit here and mull in my grief while the world's still going. Bills are still coming in, kids still have to go to school, I still have to be their mom. And I'm like, I need a goal and I need something to look forward to.
and I need something that I'm gonna be excited for. And that's kind of how I've lived the rest of my life. I always, whatever stage I'm in, I'm going to enjoy it and I'm always gonna give myself something to look forward to in the next stage. So that's when I decided to pick a show.
Gillian (15:50)
I love that.
Well, that's amazing because I think it's extremely rare. I think that people are often just not equipped with the coping skills to get out of a dark place. And really like it's, it is, I guess, more comfortable to just continue to do the same, even though you're hurting yourself, but to be able to pull yourself out. And then not only that, but to have a goal like this and to be so successful at it and, you know, tick off all these.
these shows and now you're working your way towards hopefully the Olympiad, you know, that's really remarkable. I think that is such an incredible story. You deserve, you know, so much, so much praise and credit for your strength. So you're just amazing.
April Conley (16:31)
Well, I just, I have to be honest. I really do think God planted that seed of desire to do a show early on, cause he knew I was going to need it as something to pull me out of where that dark place, like his provision for me in that whole time was unreal. Like that seed was planted for me to compete. I started researching competing after my late husband passed away.
and picked a show and I found a coach and I'm like, I'm gonna do this. And through that, I met my husband and life has just been unreal. Like I feel like I'm living someone else's life. But I'm like, really this is what I get to do. Like I get to stand on stage with, you know, these top girls that I have been watching for, it's just unreal.
Mandy (17:25)
That has to be an incredible feeling though, like watching them for so long and then standing on stage and getting through all that. Like your kids are watching you do that. Your kids are watching you pull yourself out of a dark place, use something that is so healthy and so just goal oriented and focused. Like they get to watch mom do that. They get to see how strong mom is. And it's like when they're older, when your six year old is older and see that you did like, you kept doing that.
Gillian (17:25)
I love that.
Mandy (17:52)
It's just, it's gonna be amazing when they look back on it, when he looks back on it.
April Conley (17:56)
Yeah, when he's old enough to be, my husband and I were just talking about this yesterday. We went for a walk around a lake near our house and we were like, I wonder how he's going to view, you know, fitness and health, given that from the very beginning of his life, basically, that's what he's seen is us lifting weights and us prioritizing eating healthy foods.
And we go out to eat, but we only do it every so often. It's not like a daily or even a weekly thing that we would do. And then watching us do bodybuilding shows, will he be interested in bodybuilding? Like I am very interested to see where his little brain takes him with that.
Mandy (18:43)
Yeah, both our sons, Jillian and my son there. It's Jillian. Your son is way more into it. My son, he's he's not into bodybuilding. He's into weightlifting. He likes he's more club soccer, but the food is so funny. We joke about it all the time because I travel all the time for I expedite shows around here. So I'm always traveling and soccer always traveling. And I always pack my food just as if I was in prep. And I just finished my last show back in June and.
Gillian (18:43)
Sure, yeah.
Mandy (19:09)
We were out of town this weekend and I packed all my food and we were talking about that too. We're like, I wonder when he's like in his twenties and he sees like the discipline to like pack and bring and measure and cook and take all this stuff. I wonder what he's gonna think. Like to them it's normal right now, but when they actually can put together the effort and the discipline and the goal orientation behind it, I'm like, I wonder if he's gonna think I'm crazy or if he's gonna be like, my mom's amazing.
April Conley (19:35)
Hahaha!
Gillian (19:38)
It's all they know, I feel like, you know, if they grow up in it, it's like all they know.
Mandy (19:39)
I know.
April Conley (19:39)
Well, and it's, yeah, it's so funny that they see us doing that. They see us like year round. I mean, I'm the same way. My husband and I, I love my prep food. Like I love it. I will eat it year round and I might switch it up like different seasonings or I might have shrimp instead of chicken. Like, you know, little things like that, but.
Mandy (19:55)
Mm -hmm.
Yeah.
April Conley (20:05)
to the outside world, they're like, so when do you get to eat normal again? I'm like, this is normal eating. Like, no, this is normal. I just get to eat more of this is what I want, more of it.
Gillian (20:09)
This is normal. I know. Yeah, the kids.
Mandy (20:10)
It is. Yeah, I'm.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, I just prepped my food last night and I said that too because my husband took a picture of it and he's like, it's so, it's so like much now. It's like, it's the same. It's just more rice or quinoa. It's just more of something, but same.
Gillian (20:18)
Yeah.
April Conley (20:31)
Yeah, and it tastes good and then my tummy feels good and you don't have to worry about like being bloated or uncomfortable or your body feeling lethargic and you can think clearly. There's just so many things that people don't attribute to what they're eating and I'm like, no, trust me, this is normal eating and it feels good.
Mandy (20:34)
Mm -hmm
Mm -hmm.
Mm -hmm.
Gillian (20:51)
Yeah, 100%. I love that. So tell me a little bit about your first year competing because you kind of came out and had a very successful first season. So you hired a coach and what was that first show experience like?
April Conley (21:08)
So I was just super tickled. Like I'd never seen my body look like that. Like I was like, you couldn't tell me anything. I just thought the world was mine. I'm like, how do I even look like this? How was I even able to do this? Because at that point I was still dealing with grief, which for me it manifested in anger. So I was angry, like angry. I was angry with him. I was angry with the situation. I was angry.
So that also took my appetite a lot. And so I just wasn't interested in eating. So that first prep was probably the easiest prep I'll ever have in my entire life because I wasn't hungry. So I was just tickled to look how I did and get on to, I mean, I was super nervous about posing and not falling and you know, the typical things that you're nervous about and like, you know, hopefully I don't get last. I'm hoping I can get in the top five.
And I told my husband and I were dating at that point and I'm like, I just want top five. If I can just get top five, I'll be super excited. And he was, he's laughing at it. He's like, you have no idea what's getting ready to come. Cause he's from the beginning, he's looked at me as like, no, you don't know your potential. And he's like, I can see it. You're going to win. And I'm like, probably not. This is my first show. I'm probably going to like, if I can get top five, that'll be awesome. So.
Mandy (22:13)
Mm -hmm.
April Conley (22:35)
The first show I did was...
Why can I not remember the name of it off the top of my head? It's because I'm talking to y 'all. If we weren't talking, it would like to slow right out. Yeah, but it was in, no, it was in San Antonio, San Antonio Classic. I have a t -shirt. So the way they ran that show, and because it was 2021 being directly after that fun year.
Gillian (22:45)
Yeah. Was it the Fitcho Nashville Fitcho?
Mandy (22:45)
It just come out, yeah.
Gillian (22:53)
Okay.
April Conley (23:06)
They had separated the men and the women and so the men had gone in the morning and the women were in the evening. So we just did prejudging and finals one right after the other, which I got really spoiled that being my first show and that's how we did it. So we did prejudging and I had entered because I was over 35. I was a true novice, a dead novice. I did open and I did masters 35 plus. I was just.
every time I stepped off stage, they're like, okay, we need you back on stage. Okay, we need you back on stage. And it was like that for prejudging and for finals. But they kept calling my name as the winner. And I'm like, you're kidding me. Because when I'd been sitting backstage waiting for prejudging to start, I said to my husband, I'm like, there are so many amazing women back here. I am probably not gonna place today. Like I was just watching these
Mandy (23:34)
Mm -hmm.
April Conley (24:03)
gorgeous women practice their posing, touch up their makeup, looking at how amazing they looked and poised and graceful and I'm like.
I'm gonna have fun, but I don't think I'm gonna place. And so when they kept calling my name, I'm like, seriously? Are you sure? My number? So it was wild. And then after that show was over, I went down to Sandy, because Sandy judged that show. I went down and talked to her to get her feedback. And she asked me to go compete at Masters USA. And to be honest, my first thought was, I don't wanna keep prepping.
I wouldn't be done probably. But if Sandy tells you to go do a national show, you go do it.
Gillian (24:46)
Hey
Mandy (24:51)
Mm -hmm. Yeah.
Gillian (24:53)
Yeah, and then it was the next year that you turned pro, correct? 22? Yeah. So what were some things that you focused on between your amateur, time as an amateur going into earning your pro card?
April Conley (24:57)
Yes, yes, yes.
Just lifting and eating as much as I could. When I reversed out of my show, I did Masters USAs and after I reversed out of that show, my body was in a really good spot. I wasn't putting on a ton of body fat and I was eating a lot of food. And I wish I could replicate that. I have not gotten that reverse back again. But that first reverse went like peachy.
Mandy (25:33)
hahaha
April Conley (25:37)
And so I was just eating as much as I could. And my coach even gave me two free days where I could just eat what I wanted for two days. And my body was still just like soaking it up. So, and I was lifting as much as I could. My husband, you know, he's a competitive bodybuilder. So we would go to the gym together and working out with him was always, it's an awesome push to work out with someone who is supportive and wants you to get stronger. Cause he was just like, you got one more rep in you.
you can do more weight, like he was super supportive with that. So just, you know, doing the same boring stuff every day and just trying to do more of it.
Gillian (26:14)
Yeah.
Mandy (26:14)
It is really the same boring stuff.
Gillian (26:18)
really is.
April Conley (26:19)
If you're like, I'm that, I love routine. If you change my routine, I'm usually like, a little anxious and a little angry. Like both of them together, my routine gets messed up. Like I love routine. So it's just the lifestyle itself fits my personality really well. I like to be boring and do the same thing every day. And I like eating the same thing every day. And I like going to the same places every day. So it's.
fits really well into my personality. But just focusing on lifting, really focusing on glutes because at my age that's what really needs help. And so lots of glutes, lots of shoulders.
Gillian (27:03)
that was gonna be a question that I had for you as well, because to me, I mean, you are right in the mix with the open pros as well. And so, you know, as we get older, it's not only like what we're told about getting older and then like just the facts, things are a little bit different. But I also think sometimes the mindset too of like, just the acknowledgement of like, I'm not 25 anymore. So like, have any of those things on your journey been like a struggle for you? Like either like, you know, things that you're trying to face that.
you need to grow or just overcome some mindset things just about being, you know, over 35.
April Conley (27:39)
The, I would say the biggest thing that I struggle with as far as where I am in my age is how long do I get to do this for? Like, I don't typically, I'm not gonna, I'm not, I don't feel like I'm at the age where I can take a year off and it makes sense to grow. And I know that would be super beneficial if I could take a full year off to just spend a year to grow, but if I do, I feel like I'm shortening my,
Gillian (27:57)
Yeah.
April Conley (28:07)
my time frame in which I can be competitive. And so that is the biggest mental hurdle is trying to balance for me how much do I compete and how much time do I take off to grow and how do I mitigate that with how long I can actually be competitive. And that's sometimes it hurts my feelings. So I want to keep going.
Gillian (28:27)
Yeah.
I can sympathize with that too, because I've been doing this for so long and I want to do it forever, but I'm like, well, am I going to look like this in six years when I turned 50? That's really scary to even say out loud that I'll be 50 in six years. But like, but I think about it all the time. Like, you know, I've no girls that are just getting started. I'm like, I'd give anything to have like just 10 year go back 10 years, not to be younger, but just to have more time in this because, cause I love it so much. But by the same token, I see
Mandy (28:45)
you
Mm.
Gillian (29:00)
girls that are, you know, in their mid fifties, like still crushing it. They, they don't look at, they feel, they feel amazing. They're super youthful. And so, you know, I think it's, I have to go to that place of like, you can really do this for as long as you want to, you know, just keep yourself healthy. Yeah.
April Conley (29:15)
Yeah, yeah, there's a girl that I compete with that we were just we're just chit chatting and she posts on Instagram every once in a while that her age and she's 55 and every time she posts that she's 55 I'm like no you're not. wait yeah she is.
Mandy (29:18)
Yeah.
Gillian (29:30)
Yeah, I know who you're talking about because I've thought the same thing. Is it Mary Abbado? Is that who you're talking about?
April Conley (29:33)
No, it's, no, and she's the exact same way. I competed with her at Masters Worlds and in person, like we chit -chatted, she looks like she's in her 30s. And I'm like, ma 'am, can I have some of those genetics, please? Like, she's gorgeous. But there's another girl, her name's Cindy, and we competed at two shows together last year, and she's 50, I think she's 55.
Gillian (29:39)
Yeah.
Yeah, she does.
Mandy (29:49)
Hahaha
Gillian (29:56)
Yes. Yeah.
April Conley (30:02)
I'm not gonna call her out that that's exactly what her age is, but I'm pretty sure she said she's 55. And not every time I see, like you're not over 50, like you're my age. What are you saying? So, and you're right. It's like, I can't sit here and worry about, well, what if I don't get to compete when, or what if I'm not competitive when I'm 43? What if my, you know, what is my skin gonna look like? Is my body gonna respond? How are my joints?
Gillian (30:05)
Yeah.
Yeah. Yeah, it is cool.
April Conley (30:31)
going to feel like I can't worry about that. Just enjoy the stage I'm in right now and have things to look forward to in the next stage.
Mandy (30:37)
Mm -hmm.
Gillian (30:37)
Yeah.
Mandy (30:42)
Yeah.
Gillian (30:42)
I think you've got like the most beautiful mindset. So I think that's like really going to carry you through because you know, it is all in your mind and listening to your body is really important too. You had mentioned that you're going to be in prep this year. Do you say for eight months? This is it this year?
Mandy (30:45)
Yeah.
Mm -hmm.
April Conley (30:56)
Yeah, I started prep in January and my last show, as we're planning right now, obviously things like that can change, but my last show as of right now is gonna be the National Fit Show August 17th. So, long prep.
Gillian (31:11)
So what are some tips for staying healthy and keeping a good balance while you're doing a very long prep and you're competing at a very high level too? So what are some strategies that you have to feel your best, as best as you can?
April Conley (31:27)
Well, like you said, listen to your body. Like if you need rest, sit down and rest. Like we all get so, I do this. I'm very guilty of doing this, but I'm like, I wear an Apple watch. So I'm always looking at how many steps did I get enough steps? If I didn't get enough steps, I'm not going to be ready for my show. No, if I need to sit down and rest, go rest. If you need to take a nap, take a nap. If you need more water one day, drink more water one day. Like none of those things are going to set you back.
They're only gonna propel you forward and keep you feeling good. So listening to your body, communicating with your coach with how you're feeling. I have an amazing coach and she always gives me the best advice. Like I'm also going through menopause. So I'm dealing with that kind of fun stuff. Feel sorry for my husband right now. So like there's certain things that I struggle with. Like I don't sleep a whole lot and I don't sleep very well. So like finding different health supplements that kind of
Mandy (32:00)
Mm -hmm.
April Conley (32:25)
encourage falling asleep and relaxing and letting your body and your mind just calm down. And she's helped me a ton with that too. So communicating with your coach. If you've got a good coach, they're going to either have recommendations or find recommendations for you to help you through what you're going through.
Mandy (32:42)
Mm -hmm.
Gillian (32:45)
Yeah, no that's helpful. There's a lot of advice and a lot of great resources out there, but having somebody who can kind of steer you in the right direction, because it can definitely be too much. And being able to talk to you, because there are so many things that women might ignore because they just don't want to open up or they just push through and that can really lead to issues for sure.
Mandy (33:07)
Yeah, I feel like the whole pushing through is a hard, it's a hard thing to balance because I was going to compete the rest of this year and I had to take a step back and listen to my body because I'm injured and I have to remember that I'm injured and I have to remember that it's not a muscle soreness. It's an injury and I have to stop and I have to do it because I can't, it can't be as conditioned to be competitive. So I'm 35. I'm taking a year or two off to do whatever I need to for my spine. But it's whenever I coach other girls, it's like,
April Conley (33:07)
Yeah.
Mandy (33:37)
Tell me how you're feeling. Tell me how you're sleeping. Talk. You know, that way we can figure out like, do you need more rest? Do you need recovery? Don't push through it. Maybe, maybe you need that extra time because if you push through something, you might cause something that is going to set you way further back or hurt you to the point where maybe you can't go on stage and you never want that to happen. You know, definitely listen to your body.
April Conley (34:00)
Yeah, it's like having an injury and you sound very similar to me. Like when I'm, after I had all of my kids, I didn't want to take the time off. I'm like, no, let's go for a walk. I need to, I need to move. I need to work out. I need to do something. Cause I don't like sitting. I don't like feeling like I'm sitting still and not working towards something and being active. So I, yeah. Reminding yourself regularly that it's an injury, not just irritating.
Mandy (34:14)
Mm -hmm.
Mm -hmm.
Yeah, it took a long time. I injured myself back in 2022 and I got it better. I herniated a disc and it was all better. And now just, you know, prep is really hard on our bodies. And I went through prep for all the way September of last year till June of this year. And the conditioning, the training, I also travel everything. I'm like, no, I have to.
I have to put it away for the rest of the year and go back to healing instead of like grinding through it. It's just not, it's not healthy. So.
April Conley (34:53)
Yeah.
A herniated disc is nothing. Lord, that's painful. That is probably one of the more painful injuries you can get.
Mandy (35:11)
I have a heating pad right now on my spine. I have to laugh about it. There's, like you said, it's extremely painful, but there's nothing I can do about it except take care of it. So I have to laugh about it.
April Conley (35:14)
I'm sorry.
Yeah. Now is that where you've got pain? Do you also have pain going down one of your legs from it? Yeah, I'm sorry. Yeah.
Mandy (35:31)
Very badly, yeah. Yeah, all the way down to my toes.
April Conley (35:35)
Yep, I'm sorry, that is frustrating.
Mandy (35:40)
Yeah, it gets better, then it gets worse, though.
But I mean, it's still staying active, but listening. So like I'll still go to the gym. I can't lift legs, but like I do mobility, like this morning I do mobility exercises. I do, you know, different types of things that like stretch out my spine. I'll still like move around the gym, walk. I still, I do more cycling now, just pedal as the cycling. And so I'll do that instead of like really like doing stair mass or anything. It's just substituting. I don't want to, you don't want to lose like the good habits and the routine.
Thank you. I'm very.
I like to be routine. I don't never want to lose that because it can be a slippery slope to fall back into something that's not healthy. And right now I'm very lucky to to love the food I eat. It's not I eat very, very anti inflammatory foods. I rest really well and you don't want to fall back into habits where you know you're eating something that's going to be flaring things up or making things worse or or you put X amount of weight on because you're not going to the gym at all anymore, which is going to cause more pain on your spine that's already
injured. So I kind of went through all this a couple years ago. So now I'm like, okay, I have to like, I have to treat this very seriously.
April Conley (36:54)
Yeah, you're so smart with that being making sure you're staying active because it would be so easy with an injury like that to be like, I can't move, it hurts. Anytime I do really anything, it hurts. Well, it's gonna hurt worse if you don't stay active.
Mandy (37:08)
Yeah, I was like that in 2022 because I was scared. I was so scared. I've never had nerve pain before. And to be, have that pain was so astronomically scary that I stayed in bed for days because I was just like, what do people do with this? So I learned.
April Conley (37:27)
Yeah, yeah, my brother -in -law just had surgery for, he herniated a disc very badly. It was sticking out two inches out of his spine. Like he couldn't even, he couldn't stand up. So he had to have surgery. Yeah, it was so bad. So, and he still, last time my husband saw him, cause he doesn't live locally, but last time my husband saw him, he was still like, he was active, but he still wasn't walking normally. And that had been,
Mandy (37:40)
bulging.
Mm -mm.
April Conley (37:57)
a year and a half later.
Mandy (38:00)
I can't imagine it, like I go for another MRI here in a few weeks, so I'll know like exactly. But yeah, it is what it is.
April Conley (38:12)
in.
Gillian (38:12)
things. always like to ask our guests too because you've got a lot on your plate and we were kind of talking about how you have so many shows packed into a year. So how do you juggle it all as a mom of four and a wife and a posing coach? I know you love routines so there's a lot of habits that our listeners probably want to pick your brain about and learn how to be successful.
April Conley (38:38)
well, I don't think I'm super at it at all. I'm just like, I feel like I'm juggling a lot of times. My husband's amazing. So thinking you can handle everything without, everything without support, you're, you're going to fail. Like we need, we're built to have people around us and, and let the people that care about you know if you need help or something. So asking for help. And that is hard for me. I am the kind of person where I don't.
I feel like I'm burdening people if I ask them to help me with things. So I'm having to teach myself to ask my husband for help, because he wants to help me. As far as juggling all the shows, I just have to start planning way ahead of time. So when it comes time to actually execute what needs to be done for each show, like packing or getting my son to...
Gillian (39:08)
Yeah.
Mandy (39:08)
Mm -hmm.
Mm -hmm.
April Conley (39:34)
My mother usually watches them for me and she lives about four hours away. So I'll chat with her ahead of time and we'll set up a plan as to, you know, how she's going to get him and then how long he's going to be with her. And then getting our travel plans situated and who's going to be like, I have to do all of this way ahead of time. So when I'm actually getting close to the show where, you know, you start getting anxious and stress rises.
Mandy (39:55)
Mm -hmm.
April Conley (40:03)
That's when you forget things, that's when things get left behind, that's when you're gonna make the mistake. So I try and prepare myself so I don't have the opportunity to make that mistake when I'm stressed out.
Gillian (40:15)
smart. That's really good advice because it is hard when you're getting close to the show and then you're low energy and that's kind of when you're like I forgot the most important things so getting a little ahead of the game you know and I think asking for help is huge a lot of us are not good at that you know admitting like I need help I can't do this alone.
Mandy (40:17)
It is.
Mm -hmm.
April Conley (40:35)
I think I said, I mean, when you're a mom, you're like, I just handle everything. That's just what I do. And you see everyone else is being busy doing their own thing. You're like, well, I'll just take care of everything. And we get so used to being in that mindset that we forget that the people that who, even though they're busy, doesn't mean they can't help. Even if it's something small, you take a little thing off of my plate. You take one small thing off of my plate and I feel.
like the world has opened up for me. And I don't know why, it can just be like running to the store to grab something that I forgot, like just something super small. Like, the weight is lifted off my shoulders. Like I'm just so, it just helps so much. Even if it's just like a mental boost, like it helps so much.
Mandy (41:19)
Mm hmm. Yeah. And it's like you said, communicating and like letting them know, like you're not burdening the people that love you. Sometimes they just don't know. Like they just, they don't know that you need something or they don't know that they can help you with that. And like you said, the littlest thing like, Hey, can you just run to the store? Hey, do you mind on the way home grabbing this? Hey, can you like do this? And they're like, and to them, it's not even a big deal. They want to help us. They just don't know. And then when they do, it's like,
I don't have to worry about that or do anything about that. It's just so helpful. So helpful.
April Conley (41:55)
Yeah, like I said, it can just be the smallest thing that is not a big deal. And it isn't a big deal for them, but for me, it seemed like this, especially when you're like super deep in prep, it can seem like an overwhelming mountain to climb and it's just walking to the store. Like, you know, I've got to go to the store, I've got to go, you know, pick up a package. And I'm like, I don't have the energy to do that. You know, my husband's great about like, I'll run go do it. It's not a big deal. And I'm like,
Mandy (41:58)
Thank you.
April Conley (42:22)
I just feel like he had bought me a dozen roses when he does something like that. I'm like, that's awesome, thanks.
Mandy (42:24)
Yeah.
Gillian (42:26)
Yeah. Yeah.
Mandy (42:28)
I have something so funny to match, like to match you with that. So we have several different types of stairs throughout our house. And when I'm deep in prep, my husband, this, my like big cup, he will take and fill it up with tea. It's decaf tea all day. And even if he's downstairs and I'm upstairs, I'll be like, I'm out of tea. And he'll be like, I'm coming. And I'll be like, I don't have to like walk up the stairs or down the stairs.
But yeah, it's the littlest things it means so much like I'll look at him be like you you just saved my life Even though it's it's tea like it's downstairs on the fridge But it means a lot
April Conley (42:58)
You
It does.
It does. Stairs are overwhelming when you have no energy.
Gillian (43:07)
just the little things.
Mandy (43:14)
Yeah, or if you have to go to the bathroom all the time. Like that's why I stay up like up in our room because our room is big and we have like our master bathroom. I'm like, it's just easy, you know, like, cause the bathroom's right there and I can watch TV, read, do whatever, laptop. But like the kitchen's downstairs and I'm like, why? It's so, especially like you said, you're deep in prep and you're like, I don't want to, I just don't. So it's those things. It's just cute, you know, and it's helpful.
Gillian (43:16)
I know.
so far away. It does feel so far away.
April Conley (43:33)
I'm sorry.
Yes, Barry, it is so helpful.
Gillian (43:43)
That's a really good segue. I am always looking for segues in these interviews. As I mentioned, there's no training. I did not go to school for broadcast journalism, so I'm still new at this. My segue is because, I want to talk to you about this specifically because you are a posing coach. And...
Mandy (43:47)
You're good at segways.
April Conley (43:49)
Yeah
Yeah
Gillian (44:01)
What I love talking to posing coaches about posing because it is an art and I feel like there are so many pieces to being good at it and then taking it the next step and teaching.
Mandy (44:14)
you are a posing coach for new competitors. Are you a posing coach for specifically new competitors? Because as an
find it so interesting, like being on stage and I have so many true novice, so it's their first time on stage and seeing like the different posing routines, because some posing routines are like completely different. So can you touch on how it is an art form and how you do, you know, teach new competitors how to pose?
April Conley (44:39)
So when I start with a new competitor posing, the first thing I want to nail with them is making sure that they can hit and understand, like not just execute, but also understand what the front pose is supposed to look like and why it's supposed to look like that and what the back pose is supposed to look like and why. So I want them to feel it in their bodies. And then for me to explain to them what the judges are looking for. And so,
that we are gonna hold our hands here on our thighs and this is why. We're going to be, we're standing up straight in the back pose and not bending forward and this is why. And I spend a lot of time talking to them about, you know, that for bikini it's all about that hourglass shape and every time you move, you're creating a picture. So I was a dancer for a long time. So.
Mandy (45:11)
Mm -hmm.
Mm -hmm
April Conley (45:34)
Every time you move, you're creating a picture for the judges and you always want that picture to resemble an hourglass. That beautiful curve to your shoulders, which is why, you know, bikini stays a little softer. So we do have a beautiful curve, but we're not sharp like the X frame. So we've got the curve to the shoulder down to the small waist and then a beautiful curve to the hip and making sure they understand that it's
Mandy (45:55)
Mm -hmm.
April Conley (46:04)
soft so they're not flexing because we're looking for a curve in an hourglass and that they don't flatten themselves out because a lot of times when you get a new competitor they just don't realize because they've never done it before that certain ways you turn your body are going to hide all your shape and so I love explaining to them showing their shape
Mandy (46:18)
Mm -hmm.
Mm -hmm.
April Conley (46:30)
You know, every personality is different. Some girls are super nervous and they're really stiff and they don't move a whole lot when they're learning how to pose. And then there's other girls who want to do like arms everywhere and all the hair flips. And I'm like, let's add one thing later. That's one thing later. So, you know, but understanding the purpose of the how and the why of the front and the back pose, which is why I like working with newer competitors.
Mandy (46:41)
Yeah.
Mm -hmm
Mm -hmm. Yeah.
Gillian (47:01)
That's awesome. I'm sure it's like a good way to like share your experience and like be involved because not everybody wants to coach, you know, but being able to help with with posing is a game changer for sure.
April Conley (47:13)
I love it so much. I love getting the opportunity to build up other women. So not only having someone else beside their coach telling them, you know, you're doing good, you're doing great. You need to stop worrying about the other competition that's going to be there. Show up for yourself. Like having that other person in their ear to be encouraging to them. And not only that, but able
Mandy (47:22)
Mm -hmm.
April Conley (47:42)
being able to give them confidence in their posing so when they actually are getting on stage, they're not worried about how they look because we've been working together and they know how they look and they know what they're supposed to be doing. So I love it so much.
Gillian (47:58)
So awesome. My posing coach is the same. She's an angel.
Mandy (47:59)
Yeah, I always try to tell new competitors that I meet anytime I'm at a seminar, anywhere I am. Like, at gym, if they're new and if they're just nervous, I'm like, go to a show.
talk to other women, our community is not what mainstream makes it out to be. Like we're so supportive. Like everybody is cheering you on. It's one of the best things to be backstage and be with like all those women that are like, I will help you. Like cheers to the rice cakes. You know, like everybody is just so happy. And it's like, you know, the person next to you might be going on stage and they might beat you, but that's not the mentality. It's we did it. Like.
April Conley (48:30)
I'm kidding.
Mandy (48:39)
We as a collective whole, as women backstage, like are here and did it. Everybody's supporting everybody. And it's just like, I always, I always try to tell like new competitors, I'm like, just go to a local show. Like, you know, go to prejudging, go to finals, see what it's like, get that feeling and like in that environment. And you can see like, it's get those nerves off, you know?
April Conley (48:46)
Yeah.
Yeah, and then you also have an idea of, like you said, it's a, we become like friends with each other and you can see it on stage. Like 90 % of the time when someone wins, the other girls around them, they probably just met backstage and they're hugging each other and like they look like they've been best friends forever. I'm like, I love, that's why, honestly, that's why I keep competing, it's because the community.
Mandy (49:10)
Mm -hmm.
Mm -hmm
Yeah.
April Conley (49:33)
It is amazing.
Mandy (49:36)
Yeah.
Gillian (49:37)
So true. I think we can all say that, you know, especially, you know, those of us who've spent so many years doing it and just even like that's how I met you. Like we connected through social media and I've been able to follow your journey and it's just been awesome today to talk to you and get your story and share that with our listeners. So tell everybody what you're working towards next and what your big eventual goals are for your career.
Mandy (49:40)
Mm -hmm.
April Conley (50:01)
So I have three more shows left on my schedule so far this year. Really my goal for the rest of this year, I would really like to get in the top five in an open show. And next year they are doing, as far as I know, they are still doing the Masters Olympia in 2025. And I would like to apply and I would hopefully
be able to compete in the Masters Olympia. And at this moment, that is my goal.
Gillian (50:38)
I love it. I have no doubt that you'll be up there for sure. Yes, well, thank you so much for joining us today. I loved learning more about you. And so tell everybody where they can find you if they'd like to connect with you or get some posing from you.
Mandy (50:39)
Good call.
April Conley (50:44)
thank you.
I'm on Instagram as April Conley underscore IFBB Pro. I'm also on TikTok is that and then Facebook stress April Conley. spelled like it sounds C O N L E Y.
Mandy (51:08)
Awesome. Well again, thank you so much and everybody listening will have all April's, all her information in the show notes below. So if you want to schedule any posing or follow her journey and watch her qualify for one or both of the Olympias, you know, check her out. Thanks guys. Bye.
Gillian (51:09)
Awesome.