Real People, Real Results: Nicole Huberty
Nicole initially started getting in shape for a vacation, but her results led her to train even harder and enter competitions!
Vital Stats
Name: Nicole Huberty
Location: West Bend, WI
Age: 26
Height: 5'5.5"
Weight: 120 lbs. on-season, 130 lbs. off-season
Years bodybuilding: 4
The fitness journey begins with one step—off the cardio machines and into the weight room. Once Nicole took that step, it took her life in a new direction. The plan was to get in shape for a vacation, but she ended up becoming a stronger person, mentally and physically. She stopped drinking alcohol and started drinking protein shakes.
Initially, Nicole just wanted to compete in one competition, to add it to her bucket list, but she got hooked and now plans to compete three times this year. She got in the best shape of her life and became a personal trainer.
One step. Two. A million. The future is unwritten.
QHow did your fitness journey begin?
My journey began in the spring of 2010. I was going on a trip to the Bahamas and I wanted to lose a few pounds before I went. I was one of those people who would go to the gym for a month and then stop; I never stuck to it. It seemed like life—someone I was dating, school, work, or going out with friends—always seemed to get in the way of my goals. When I started my journey I just wanted to lose a few pounds. I was doing 20-30 minutes on the elliptical 4-5 days per week. After a week I was already getting bored, but I wanted to get in shape for my trip. There had to be another way other than cardio.
I knew nothing at all about bodybuilding; none of my friends were into fitness or health. In my early 20s I found myself in the party scene, but I was ready for a change. I wanted to learn how to strength train. I was focused. I utilized Bodybuilding.com, Google, and many other resources. I absorbed as much information as I could about strength training. I never found myself getting bored, and the results were proof that this was the way to work out.
It was a domino effect; strength training changed my life. I began eating better and making healthier life choices. I went out less and decided that alcohol no longer piqued my interest; I was more interested in another type of bar.
My self-esteem rose. I felt good about myself—not just physically, but mentally strong, too. A few years prior, I was in a long, overdrawn relationship. It left me feeling empty and with low self-esteem. I feel that strength training helped me refind myself as a person.
"My self-esteem rose. I felt good about myself—not just physically, but mentally strong, too."
This process was not easy. I was critiqued by people. Most people did not understand it, but that didn't bother me. I saw my direction in life changing, and I knew in my heart it was the right direction. I was becoming happy and proud of who I was as a woman.
In June of 2013, I was in the right place at the right time and was introduced to a person who has strongly impacted my life: Sandy Rowe Wiedmeyer, head coach of Team Iron Nation. Sandy helped me get my body and mind ready to compete in a bikini competition. This was something I had dreamed about in the past, but I never thought I would be ready.
Sandy started my prep right away, which, honestly, I was nervous about; I didn't think I was ready. In the past, I had always been a "maybe girl." I would say, "Yeah, sure, maybe," and never follow through. I wanted to be a "yes girl." It was time to showcase my progress. I jumped at the opportunity and started my 13-week prep in July of 2013 for the Badger State.
I put my heart, soul, and sweat into that prep. This was not just three months of hard work; this was years of work. I went through a total life transformation. I was not that sad, empty, insecure girl anymore. I became a new person and now want to show every woman out there that anything is possible if you want it badly enough. Make the right changes in your life and accomplish your goals. When the competition day came, I was ready, and took fifth place. I didn't see myself competing again, though; I just wanted to check it off my bucket list.
After my first competition, my thoughts changed about only competing once. That first competition fueled the fire. I loved every minute of it, from showing off my hard work to meeting girls backstage I now call friends and with whom I share the same passion—some of the nicest, sweetest, and most determined women I have ever met. I still interact with them and look forward to seeing their continued progress. Since Badger State, I have competed in three amateur shows, and even stepped on a national stage last June.
I am now an official coach of Team Iron Nation. During my spring prep, I received my personal training certification from ISSA. I look forward to sharing my knowledge and passion with other people. I coached my sister, Danielle Krukar, through her first two shows; she placed second and fifth. It's important to me that women compete in a healthy and happy way. This was one of the most eye-opening experiences of my life; it should be fun and enjoyable.
My current goal is to build more lean muscle and build on my weaknesses. I train like it's an on-season workout six times per week and hit my macros each day. After the 2015 Arnold, I plan to compete in Junior Nationals and another National show after that.
"During my spring prep, I received my personal training certification from ISSA. I look forward to sharing my knowledge and passion with other people."
What fitness regimen delivered the best results?
Monday: Glutes 
1
Vertical press on Smith machine
1 warm-up set of 16 reps, 3 sets of 8-10 reps
2
Ski squat
3 sets of 3 reps
3
Squat on abductor machine
4 sets of 10-12, 10-12, 8-10, 8-10 reps
4
Smith machine curtsey lunge
4 sets of 10-12, 10-12, 8-10, 8-10 reps per leg
5
Dumbbell sumo squat
4 sets of 12-16 reps
6
Dumbbell Bulgarian split squat
3 sets of 8-10 reps per leg
Tuesday: Shoulders/Abs/Cardio
1
Seated dumbbell shoulder press
4 set of 16, 3, 3, 3 reps
2
Lateral raise with plates
1 set of 12 reps
3
Bent-over front shoulder raise
3 sets of 12 reps
4
Bent-over raise (palms down)
3 sets of 12 reps
5
Side lateral to front raise
1 dropset to failure (burn-out round)
6
Side crunch on hyperextension machine
4 sets of 12 reps per side
7
Weighted crunch on bench
4 sets of 12 reps
8
Weighted incline bench crunch
4 sets of 12 reps
9
Hanging hip raise
4 sets of 12 reps
10
Treadmill HIIT cardio
30 min. Run for 1 min. at 8.0 speed, incline of 1.5; walk for 1 min. at 3.5 speed, incline of 4.0.
Wednesday: Quads
1
Hack squat
5 sets of 16, 12, 8, 16, failure reps
2
Leg press
5 sets of 16, 12, 8, 16, failure reps
3
Squat machine
4 sets of 16, 12, 8, 16 reps; 1 set to failure
4
Seated knee extension
4 sets of 8 reps
5
Supine calf raise
4 sets of 16 reps
Thursday: Biceps/Triceps
Superset
1
Double-arm cable push-down
4 sets of 16, 12, 12, 12 reps
Cable curl
4 sets of 16, 12, 12, 12 reps
Superset
2
Reverse triceps push-down
3 sets of 12 reps
Dumbbell hammer curl
3 sets of 12 reps
Superset
3
Bent-over dumbbell triceps kick-back
3 sets of 12 reps
Seated dumbbell curl to press
3 sets of 12 reps
Superset
4
Seated dumbbell overhead triceps extension
3 sets of 12 reps
Barbell preacher curl
3 sets of 12 reps
Friday: Legs
1
Full barbell squat
4 sets of 6, 6, 12, 12 reps
2
Leg press
4 sets of 6, 6, 12, 12 reps 3
Knee-extension machine
4 sets of 12 reps 4
Lying hamstring curl machine
4 sets of 12 reps
5
Standing calf raise
4 sets of 16 reps 6
Machine seated calf raise
4 sets of 16 reps
7
Stepmill
30 min.
Saturday: Chest/Back/Core
Superset
1
Machine chest press
4 sets of 12-15 reps
Front pull-down machine
4 sets of 12-15 reps
Superset
2
Horizontal incline bench-press machine
4 sets of 12-15 reps
V-bar pull-down
4 sets of 12-15 reps
Superset
3
Decline bench-press machine
4 sets of 12-15 reps
Machine low row
4 sets of 12-15 reps
Superset
4
Assisted dip
4 sets of 12-15 reps, moderate weight
Assisted pull-up
4 sets of 12-15 reps
5
Exercise-ball crunch
2 sets of 15 reps
6
Oblique twist with medicine ball
2 sets of 15 reps per side
7
Oblique crunch on ball with medicine ball
1 set of 15 reps per side
8
Back extension on ball
3 sets of 15 reps
9
Shoulder roll-out on knees with ball
2 sets of 15 reps
Sunday: Rest day
What nutrition plan fueled your body?
Currently—on my off-season—I am experimenting with flexible dieting, which I have found to be very rewarding. About 80-90 percent of what I eat is "clean" and the rest basically just fits into my macros for the day. This is what my current diet looks like off-season; however, it changes daily, since I am a flexible dieter.
Meal 1 
Egg whites 1 cup
Instant oats 40 g
Meal 2
Grilled chicken 3 oz.
Romaine lettuce 45 g
Sweet onion 20 g
Sweet peppers 1.5 oz.
Meal 3
Grilled chicken 3 oz.
Romaine lettuce 45 g
Sweet onion 20 g
Sweet peppers 1.5 oz.
Lawash Low-Carb Wrap 1
Meal 4
Grilled chicken 3 oz.
Romaine lettuce 45 g
Sweet onion 20 g
Blue Diamond lightly salted almonds 1 bag
Meal 5
Grilled chicken 3 oz.
Sweet onion 40 oz.
Sweet peppers 3.5 oz.
Brown Jasmine rice 1/2 cup
Liquid Aminos 1-2 tbsp
Meal 6: Protein pancake
Whey Protein Isolate 1 scoop
Instant oats 60 g
Egg whites 1/2 cup
Rumford low-sodium baking powder 1 tsp
Sour gummy worms 10
What supplements gave you an edge?
Breakfast 
Pride Nutrition Elevate 1
Pride Nutrition C-Gone (only on-season) 1
Pre-workout
Post-Workout
How did your passion for fitness emerge?
What drives me to get better is myself, seeing how far I have come. The most beneficial thing I can do is continue to take progress pictures. I also tell clients to take them; progress pictures are visual proof, so you can see your hard work pay off.
What or who motivates you to live healthy?
I initially motivated myself to live a healthy lifestyle. I didn't realize how many people I would impact with my own journey. Now my friends, family, clients, and Team Iron Nation teammates continue to motivate me.
Where did you go for inspiration?
I find Instagram to be inspiring on days when I don't feel like working out. There are so many beautiful bodies there, so it doesn't take me much time to get off my butt and train hard at the gym.
What are your future fitness plans?
I cannot tell the future; I have no idea where fitness will take me. All I know is that I will continue to do what I love, because it makes me happy. This is going to be a busy year for me. I plan on competing in the Arnold Amateur, Junior Nationals, and at least one other national show soon after!
What is the most important fitness tip?
"It's time to care; it's time to take responsibility; it's time to lead; it's time for a change; it's time to be true to our greatest self; it's time to stop blaming others." — Steve Maraboli
Who is your favorite fitness competitor?
I have two favorite fitness competitors: my coach, Sandy Rowe Wiedmeyer, and my close friend, Andre Adams. Sandy has built Team Iron Nation from the ground up, and she's the right coach for me. She has integrity and believes in getting her clients where they need to be in a healthy and safe way. I am looking forward to when Sandy decides to step on stage next, because she will light up the stage.
Andre is a hard-working athlete. He is dedicated, focused, and humble. After Junior Nationals, I went to his booth and he spoke kind words to me. Andre has big goals and he creates small steps in order to reach his goals. I'm excited for what 2015 brings him and look forward to following his journey.
How did Bodybuilding.com help you reach your goals?
Bodybuilding.com helped me immensely when I began to strength train and knew absolutely nothing. It always features valuable information from real people who have been strength training for years. I used workout routines that helped me isolate each muscle group instead of jumping on every machine and doing every exercise I could.
I found valuable forums on supplements and how to stack certain ones, which supplements are necessary, and which ones just give you a little extra. I read articles on Bodybuilding.com from people who had been doing this for years and this was their passion.
Competition history
- Badger State Fall 2014: 5th place
- Kevin Noble Naturals Grand Prix: Fall 2014 7th place
- Fox Cities Showdown: 3rd Place
- Junior Nationals: 16th place