Blessence magazine speaks to personal trainer and club promoter, Sky Young, about her fitness success and running the popular women's club night, Oysters UK. 

'The gym is my life and my body is my temple.

If you don't look after your body it cannot look after you.

Everyone needs their health so stay healthy'

  Sky: Ms Dominica Republic competition

Please explain your statement to us?
You can only get out of your body what you put in. I love the competition look and it can take around four months to get to competition standard and this includes dieting and training. I watch what I eat and drink and maintain discipline.
It’s not easy, I love my food.
As soon as someone says  you can’t have something, you want it.
The day after the competition, what you see in the mirror is the best your body is going to look. It's a buzz and  of course, when you're on that stage posing!

What type of competitions do you enter?
Body building. I came second in Ms Dominica Republic, 2007.

What happens when you are not training?
I still try and look after my body and am very conscience of what I eat. I do like my red wine but I also sacrifice some foods or just reduce my portions. Being a bodybuilder your diet is rather large, sometimes eating several times during the day.

Tell us about your day job?
I have two jobs; Leisure Centre Manager and Events Coordinator. My duties range from the daily routine of organising staff (and their duties) to organising various functions and events.

How could our readers maintain a healthy fitness regime?
Each individual is different, it depends on how much weight you want to lose or if you just want to tone up. Generally, to lose weight, the first thing not to do is starve yourself. This slows down your metabolism. You need to eat little and often to speed things up. Eat six to eight times a day.
Continue to eat what you like but be conscious of the amount. Eat slowly, putting the fork down after each mouthful and chew slowly (20 seconds for each mouthful).
Leave the car, start walking. Join a gym or look for a sporting activity you could do with friends and/or family. This way, when you don’t go you will not just be letting yourself down, but someone else as well.

Do we need to 'sacrifice' our food?
Generally, everyone knows what is classed as good and bad food; So don’t snack on biscuits or crisps or fatty food but more importantly, as mentioned, do not go without meals.

What's the best food to eat?
To lose weight, try and eat your main meal at lunch time and not in the evening. Try and stay away from foods like rice, pasta and potatoes after 3pm. After this time our bodies become less active (depending on your job). You can still have chicken or meats with salad, rather than rice.

Any gym tips?
January is the best time to join a gym - for good deals. Take out annual membership. Agree a day and a time and stick to it!

Is it important to go every day?
Going to the gym every day is not bad but some people have never been to the gym or have not visited for sometime, so they need to agree times that suit.
Take it easy; 30 to 45 minutes maximum for each session or you will never go back!
If you are not a runner then walk fast using the treadmill. Press the buttons to change the pace up and down hill. This makes your heart beat faster, which is what you want to help reduce weight.

What equipment should be used?
I would advise not to pick up any weights, even light ones, for the first few weeks. Do Cardio, for example, sit on a bike or walk fast or jog on a treadmill.
Warm up for at least five minutes and stretch at the end of your session. This will reduce the amount of pain you may receive after a session.

How soon will the results be seen?
Within the first month or so but you should not weigh yourself. Muscle is heavier than fat - people forget this when  they start working out in the gym. At times you will notice that you have put on weight and this may cause de-motivation.
I always tell my clients that the best thing to do is to measure the parts of their body where they want to lose weight, using a tape measure. You should notice a difference (weight loss) through the clothes you wear.

So following a fitness regime is a good New Year's resolution?
Yes, definitely but it is equally as good at any time of the year.

Referring to Oysters UK logo: 'The pearl inside my oyster symbolises that amongst us women there are some that are very special and priceless’

You also promote Oysters club night?

Yes, while in the Dominican Republic I decided to run my own wine bar for women. Unfortunately I came across a lot of homophobic attitudes.

On my return my friend and I decided to set up Oysters UK.

The night thas been running for seven months - every third Saturday, at the Oak Bar in north London.

Playing old skool classics, R&B, soul and reggae.

www.oystersuk.com