QUICK FACTS
Maxine Booysen
ONE GLANCE AT FITNESS FANATIC MAXINE BOOYSEN IS ENOUGH TO CONJURE UP IMAGES OF A NEVER-ENDING SUMMER IN A TROPICAL PARADISE. Don’ t judge a book by its cover, though as this Durban-based medical student, who is in her final year, has the brain to back her brawn. No task is too big or too small for this feisty brunette as she juggles a full working day at the hospital with intense training at the gym to stay fit and fabulous. Wouldn’ t you want her to be your doctor?
Maxine Booysen maxbooysen
QUICK FACTS
NICKNAME: Max HEIGHT: 1.60m CONTEST WEIGHT: 48kg OFF-SEASON WEIGHT: 50kg CATEGORY: Beach Bikini BIRTHDATE: 28 October 1993 BIRTHPLACE: Johannesburg LIVES: Durban HAIR COLOUR: Brunette EYE COLOUR: Blue-Green OCCUPATION: Doctor-to-be SPONSORS: Prosupps, Rishape Fitness
When did you start your fitness journey? I decided to join Rishape Fitness in 2016 and immediately fell in love with the lifestyle.
What was the big attraction? I’ ve always been active and liked any type of sport – from hockey to soccer and netball. What I love about the fitness community is the way in which people from all walks of life inspire and motivate each other to become better versions of themselves. It’ s a family like no other! I always try and educate people, especially women who have negative misconceptions about the industry. I tell them that lifting weights won’ t make you manly or bulky.
What type of training do you prefer to do in the gym? I’ m a big believer in training with weights. It is a personal preference I have had positive results with. When I lift I have to really focus on getting through a workout.
Which muscle groups are the hardest to train? Arms and shoulders. It’ s really tough for me to pick up size and strength in my upper body.
What comps have you entered thus far? I placed 1st in the 2017 IFBB KZN Ironman Novice competition in the Beach Bikini division. I had so much fun, though, showing the crowd some love while trying not to trip over my heels on stage!
As a novice, what advice would you give other beginners? Don’ t worry whether you have done enough to prep or not. Stepping on stage takes a lot of courage and that in itself is a huge achievement!
What diet do you follow to stay in such terrific shape? Nutrition is definitely my Achilles’ heel! I have a crazy sweet tooth that cannot be ignored. I eat clean most of the time, but I have to confess that I do succumb to the occasional doughnut.
Come on, be honest, do you cheat a lot? I cheat way more than I should! It should only be once a week, but it’ s probably a lot more. My all-time favourite junk meal is a cheeseburger with chips which I wash down with a chocolate milkshake. Oh, and don’ t forget the doughnuts!
What do you do for cardio? Cardio is not really my thing. I walk on the treadmill on an incline for 20 minutes or I will use the stepper for 15 minutes.
Do you like men with muscles? I think all girls want to feel smaller than their man! Plus, it means I will have a gym buddy.
How would you describe yourself to a stranger? Too many dreams, not enough time.
Tell us something about yourself that you don’ t often share with others? I sometimes come home from work grumpy as hell. I also take late night drives when I’ m on the hunt for ice-cream.
What’ s the most important thing in your life? My health. I have really bad asthma and get recurrent chest infections. So, when I’ m healthy I don’ t take one second for granted. As humans we are blessed with amazing bodies that grind for us day in and day out, and we need to appreciate that more, instead of knocking ourselves with irrelevant details.
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