Where and when were you born? Terre Haute Indiana, Dec. 30, 1972

What is your profession? I’m now a detective and I work Mon-Fri days. I’m trying to get an in-home personal training/nutrition business going in my spare time. It’s called HomeFit. My husband David and I are also offering contest prep.

Were you involved in sports or fitness prior to bodybuilding and how did you get started with weight training? I competed in gymnastics, track, and cheerleading. Some basemen cheerleaders got me into lifting weights. I wanted to learn how to squat.

Was it a goal for you to compete in bodybuilding competitions right from the beginning or was it something that grew in your mind as time went on and you saw the progress in your body? It was something that grew. Once I met my ex-husband he really got me turned onto competing. I lost 30lbs for my first show when I was 18.

Can you give me your competition history? I’ll try.
1990 Southern Indiana 2nd middle weight
1991 Ms. Wabash Valley 1st overall
1991 Mid-states U.S.A. 1st middle weight
1991 Teen nationals top five
1992 Ms. Wabash Valley 1st overall
2001 Hoosier muscle classic 1st overall
2002 Ms. Indianapolis 1st overall
2002 Jr. Nationals 7th middle weight

2006 Jr. Nationals 6th heavy weight

Bench press
A.N.P.P.C. Indiana/Illinois meet 1st overall women
A.P.A Tri-state 1st (Illinois)
A.P.A. golds gym classic (ohio) 1st 
2001 World Police and Fire Games 1st new world record
2005 World Police and Fire Games 1st new world record
I’ve done other meets I just can’t remember where or when.
I have a raw press in a meet of 275.5lb.

Which contest has been your biggest success; which has had the most meaning to you? It would have to be Jr. Nationals. It was my first national level meet and I worked harder for that show than any other. I also loved competing in the World Police and Fire games. It was a lot of fun.

Please tell me something about your training routine (ie: how many days per week / training split /cardio, etc.) Right now since I’m pre-contest. I train 4 on 2 off. Just because of my work schedule. I do cardio every morning on my racing bike. It usually looks something like this.
Day 1 Chest
Day 2 Legs
Day 3 shoulders
Day 4 Back/ hams
Off 
Off
Day 1 Arms
Etc.

What is your favorite exercise in the gym and which one you don’t like so much? I love working shoulders (smith machine press) and biceps. I hate doing legs. I have a lot of back problems so squats and deadlifts really hurt.

Which body part is your best in your opinion? I get the most compliments on my arms.

If you don’t mind would you give me some stats (best lifts and some body measurements)?
Dumbbell curls 45’s for sets of 6
Dumbbell press 65’s for sets of 6
Bench: my best is 275.5 in competition. I did 315 with a shirt in the gym.
Lying tricep extensions 110 for sets of 4-6

The only thing I have measured recently were my arms at 16in.

What do you enjoy about training for competition....what do you enjoy about the 'off season'? I love watching my body change during my pre-contest training. Every week it’s fun to see how things evolve. Off season it’s all about power lifting. I love to train heavy and push myself to do max lifts all the time. I love off season training.

Please describe a typical day in the life of Julia Stamper. A typical day right now is morning cardio at 5:30am, work, depending on my husbands schedule I might try and get my workout in on my lunch hour or I will train after work. Since it’s summer I try and take my girls to the pool as much as possible. I’m still teaching Sunday school at my church, volunteering at our Christian youth camp in our area, I work at our Jr. Police Academy’s in the summer also. Somewhere in there I do find time to play more with my girls. I guess there is really no typical day, I just take it as it comes.

Please tell me about what you do when you don’t work out ( hobbies, what do you do to relax?, etc.) I love to read. True crime and true adventure novels. I’m usually doing something with my kids. I also love to shop!

What do you enjoy most about the bodybuilding/fitness lifestyle? I love sharing what I’ve learned with others just starting out. I’m trying to get a wellness program started at my department. I love being able to control my body and make drastic changes.

Tell me something interesting about yourself, something people may be surprised to hear. I’m a huge Denver Bronco fan, I’d love to live high in the mountains, and I love to cook. I’d love to own my own healthy cooking restaurant.

What are your competition goals or personal future goals? To be better each time I compete and to crack the top 5 nationally. I would love to own my own gym some day. Plans for this year are to compete at USA’s and Nationals.

Please note:

Julia does not do sessions or wrestling of any kind. Please don't ask!!