Esta Pilt: bodybuilding, training and getting in shape
Esta is among Estonia’s veteran bodybuilders and has become Estonian champion and cup winner in women’s bodybuilding, bodyfitness and athletic fitness. In this story, they talk candidly about how they found the gym, why they write their own training and nutrition plans, and what they recommend to beginners.
How Esta Pilt got into bodybuilding
The road to the gym began by chance. In 2001, Esta ended up at the winter camp of the University of Tartu Sports Club and the Estonian Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation in Kääriku. They knew nothing about the sport at the time — in the gym they had only done a few exercises a runner needs, and at home push-ups and ab exercises. It was at the camp that they were advised to take up the sport, but they only actually made it to the gym half a year later.
Esta started gym training in the autumn of 2002. From 2005 to 2009 the iron took a back seat — they trained very lightly in the gym during that time and focused more on running and dance classes. After that, they returned to heavier weights.
Esta Pilt trains by their own rules
Esta has no permanent coach. In their words, the best approach in bodybuilding is to stay on top of everything yourself and find the training and nutrition plan that suits you. Of course, it helps to have advisers, supporters and people who show you exercise technique. In the beginning, they got recommendations from Oleg Andla, later from Indrek Otsus.
Esta doesn’t single out one biggest achievement. The women’s side of the sport has a small base in Estonia, which has helped them collect titles. In their own assessment, the real achievement is that they bother to take competitive sport seriously at all in the veteran category. “I just like those muscles,” they admit.
Contest shape: work, genetics and realism
In their words, being in generally good shape doesn’t take huge effort. Real contest shape — the kind they are happy with themselves and that would bring results — does. The gym is a place for shaping the body, and in many ways you can change your physique there, but genetics plays a large part. For some things, even the hardest graft doesn’t help.
Among women, their benchmarks for ideal shape are bodyfitness competitors who aren’t overly muscular. The same goes for men: not the biggest, but athletes in good shape with a low body fat percentage. You can never be truly satisfied with your own body — the goal is symmetrical development, and there is always something to improve.
Nutrition and supplements
Esta eats 6 times a day. Their appetite is good and they love eating enormously. They take supplements as much as they can afford — with a high training load and workload and little time, they consider them essential for recovery and for replacing meals. Their table is varied, but they believe that our everyday food isn’t nutritionally complete enough to supply all the necessary nutrients.
In their words, they have bad habits like anyone else. The good thing is that they are aware of them and work on them. Impatience and a reluctance to stick to long plans are among them — they approach both training and nutrition creatively. When things get hard, they tend to give up a little. But they can’t bring themselves to give up strong coffee and sweets.
What Esta Pilt recommends to beginners
Their core message to young people is simple. Don’t just drop by the gym to mess around — set goals and train seriously. Don’t give up, even if for a while it seems that reaching a good level is taking too long. Consistency brings results.
If they could go back in time, they would start gym training and competing much, much earlier. Motivation comes from being in good shape, feeling good after a workout and socializing with people from the same sport. And a bonus: when you train hard, you can eat a lot more.
FAQ
When did Esta Pilt start going to the gym?
Their first contact with bodybuilding came in 2001 at a winter camp in Kääriku. Actual gym training began in the autumn of 2002.
Does Esta Pilt train with a coach?
They have no permanent coach — they write their own plans. In the beginning they got advice from Oleg Andla, and in later years from Indrek Otsus.
How many times a day does Esta Pilt eat?
There are 6 meals a day, plus supplements for recovery and meal replacement.
Author:Turg.Fitness.ee
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