Simone Maybin, M.D., looks almost petite in her white coat, but this medical resident at Vanderbilt’s Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation program is actually ripped with muscle.
She sculpted her body through years of exercise, diet and discipline—work that resulted in attaining professional athlete status in 2013 when she became the National Physique Committee Team Universe Figure Overall Champion.
But don’t ask her how much she can bench press. Although she is strong, strength is not the primary focus of her sport, so she doesn’t keep track of her weights.
She started competing as a cadet at the U.S. Air Force Academy, continued to do so while serving in the military and didn’t stop for medical school. Diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis while in the military, she credits her sport for helping keep the disease in remission.
“That’s the most common question I get: how strong are you or how much do you lift,” she said. “The interesting thing about this sport is it transitions you a lot from functional training. What I mean by that is I am not going into the gym hoping to run a certain speed, training to catch or throw a ball or working to jump a certain height. This is an aesthetic competition.”
While the sport of bodybuilding may be best known for its bodybuilding athletes, it also has other divisions, including physique, figure, fitness and bikini. Each division has different grading criteria that encompass not only body shape but also presentation.
The figure division focuses on moderate muscle size with a lean but feminine look. The presentation includes a poised walk onto the stage and four quarter turns to show off each side of the body.
“There is a prototype judges are looking for,” Maybin said. “They are looking for symmetry and proportion, while specifically awarding the ideal ‘hour glass’ or X-frame’ shape. This shape includes wide shoulders, the smallest waist possible and legs with equal size in the front and back.”
She started competing as a cadet at the U.S. Air Force Academy, continued to do so while serving in the military and didn’t stop for medical school. Diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis while in the military, she credits her sport for helping keep the disease in remission.
As a physician who specializes in physical medicine and rehabilitation, she uses her understanding of how the body works to her advantage. Although coaches and athletes have said she is genetically gifted for this sport, it took an incredible amount of work and self-discipline to achieve her goals. It took her nine years to become ranked No. 1 in the nation for her height division and until her 18th show to earn a championship and professional status in the International Federation of Bodybuilding & Fitness (IFBB). She didn’t take shortcuts. She didn’t rely on steroids, clenbuterol, estrogen blockers or any other drugs.
“Could I have gotten there faster? Sure,” she said. “There was something in me. I wanted to be able to say I am just as successful at my sport as athletes that chose to use unapproved substances.”
Having achieved professional status, she now mentors other competitors. She maintains a website, simonemaybin.com, and also promotes living a healthy lifestyle year round through social media.
Although she has yet to take part in a competition this year, Maybin has stayed on her exercise and diet routines. When she thinks about food, it’s not to identify the ingredients in a recipe that give it taste. She calibrates the calories, macronutrients and other elements necessary to fuel her body. She confesses that she will grab a special treat, every now and then, because she has found balance to be the key to a sustainable healthy lifestyle.
“I always stay in shape not only so I feel good but also so it’s easier to get ready for a show or a photo shoot at any time,” she said. “My philosophy is to remain ready. Don’t gain 20 or 30 pounds. Don’t get too de-conditioned. Then when the time is right, I can pick up a competition.”
(Read more, from VUMC Reporter: “First class of PM&R residents set bar high for new program”)
