Part 12 - 2011 Ottawa Championships, Finals

Donna & Marlene attempting
to do the typical figure pose

After the prejudging, we drop in on Melanie to have her put my hair back in place after a hectic day, then go home to try to relax for a couple of hours. Friends who weren't there during the day were calling to find out what happened. I'm not one to update my status line on Facebook at every opportunity, nor am I glued to my mobile.

I tell everyone asking that I have no idea what will happen in the evening. It depends on what the judges are looking for on this given day. I do know, however, that the direction of the sport seems to be leaning towards the shapely, healthy and fit look rather than the muscular, striated physique of a bodybuilder or the softer appearance of the bikini models.

Ellie Weber is the returning Ottawa Grandmaster Figure Champion. Her long, lean figure turned the judges' heads the previous year, so it's a question of what they want this time around. Elizabeth Lindsay has a great backside and superb posture. Sally Chamberland has thick slabs of muscle more representative of a bodybuilder, though you cannot deny that she possesses excellent balance and shape. She's the one I'm most worried about. As for myself, well I have a little of everything with nothing outstanding. I more or less fit the criteria but am teeny tiny. It's a difficult task for the judges to separate us.

Elizabeth Lindsay, Sue Champagne, Ellie Weber, Sally Chamberland

In the Figure Short Open class, the only other competitor, Amanda von Loenen, has a good shape and carries herself well. It's just a question of whether the judges are looking for a more rounded physique or will they go for definition.

We arrive back at the venue, De La Salle Auditorium, for the evening finals. My friends are there to cheer me on. I'm feeling quite comfortable backstage and tell Ed to go take his seat with his buddy, Reg, and not to worry about me. The judging is over and I've made some new friends backstage. It's going to be a more relaxed evening than it was during the day. The finals is the more exciting segment to attend as the winners are revealed. It's a full house tonight.

1st Sue Champagne,
2nd Amanda von Loenen

When the Figure Short Open division is ready to go on, I stand at side stage and await my video introduction. As it ends with "I'm 53 and I feel great" there's a boom from the audience. I come out 'feeling great'. The support from the audience gives me an unbelievable charge. My poses are graceful and confident. I join Amanda on the stage to await the results. In 2nd place, Amanda von Loenen. And the winner of the Figure Short Open division, Sue Champagne. After so many years away for competition and following a very rough figure debut in Hamilton, I DID IT...one more to go!

The Grandmaster competitors are pacing the backstage area. We're anxiously sizing each other up. It could go any way. It's in the hands of the judges. Because of my background, I'm certain to be the most harshly judged

We're on-stage now, the lights are on us, our images are projected on the big screen. The head judge takes us through our compulsory poses one more time to show the audience what they'd been dealing with earlier in the day. When we turn to show our backs, I can see us on the screen. Scary stuff! We're asked to step to the rear of the stage. The head judge hands the results to the MC for the evening, Angie Poirier of Magic 100.  She looks down at the sheet and begins announcing the results.

3rd Ellie Weber, 1st Sue Champagne,
2nd Sally Chamberland

"In 4th place, Elizabeth Lindsay. In 3rd place, Ellie Weber". My mind goes blank, I can hardly hear the announcements. All I know is that two of the competitors are standing at front stage and I'm left standing with Sally. "In 2nd place, Sally Chamberland". I couldn't quite make out what Angie said, but I watch as Sally steps forward. It hits me that I'm standing alone at the rear of the stage, but it's still not absorbing. "The winner of the Grandmaster Over 45 division, Sue Champagne". I stand frozen for a moment and suddenly it sinks in. My mouth opens in astonishment. I'd convinces myself before going on-stage that they would go for Sally's thicker muscles. I'd already decided that if the judges sent the sport in that direction, I'd quit for the same reason I quit in 1985.

I step forward and accept my award at centre stage. I'm absolutely beaming! I had visualized it and it came true. The crowd is loud and the cameras are flashing. I steal a peek at the judges' table and I detect expressions of satisfaction...they're in agreement with the choice. The individual judges don't know the results any sooner than the competitors do and are not permitted to discuss their scores until after the finals. Only the head judge and statistician are privy to the tabulations. Had I succeeded in giving them what they were looking for at the regional level? I don't know for sure but it feels great to win nonetheless.

We exit the stage and John Raposo is there to congratulate me. He's been supportive all day and we stand discussing what I should do next, forgetting that I need to be preparing for the Overall competition. At the end of the evening, the winners of each division are gathered on-stage to determine the Overall winner. I'd missed the call-out. I step to the side of the stage, pull the curtain back, peer out at the head judge and catch his attention. I have a what-happened-did-you-forget-me look on my face. He stops the show and takes the microphone. "Ladies and gentlemen, we're going to start the comparisons over as we do not have the Short winner with us." I take my place in the line-up and we're put through our compulsory poses together. All the while I'm realizing that I haven't a chance to win this one. Doesn't matter though, I still wanted to be included. I earned my place on that stage like everyone else.

Category winners competing for the overall title.

The 2011 Overall Ottawa Figure Champion, Sara Fennell. A well deserved win for Sara who had also won the Figure Medium Open division.

At the end of the evening, Ed rounded up as many of my friends as he could and brought them backstage to see me. When I saw them all standing there waiting for me, I burst into tears. I'm crying now as I write this, still feeling the joy. There to greet me were Ed and his buddy Reg, Mylene and her husband Ron, Donna, Sheilagh, Annie, Val and Marlene. My longtime friend, Ladonna, and her daughter Talia had already left. Also there to greet me was the previous year's Figure Short champion, Stephanie Meunier, who I'd competed with at the Ontario Naturals. I felt like a superstar posing for pictures with my two trophies!

From left to right:  Mylene Arsenault, Reg Van Leyen, Ed Binggeli, Val Nose, Sue Champagne,
Donna Dames, Annie Gregoire, Marlene Nose, Sheilagh McDermott

And that concludes the 2011 Ottawa Championships. The event featured 105 entries in bodybuilding, fitness, figure and bikini.

While others went to nearby bars and restaurants to celebrate, all I wanted to do was go home to shower and chill out with Ed. We ordered in club sandwiches and fries, cracked open a couple of beers and toasted to a fabulous day.

With a double win under my belt, I now qualify for the 2012 Ontario Championships in both divisions. I have a lot of work to do in order to stand out at the provincial level..........

Part 11 - 2011 Ottawa Championships, Prejudging

It's the night before the Ottawas and I'm feeling confident. What's the worst that can happen? I could make a fool of myself. There's much worse things that could happen in life. This event will be more enjoyable because it's at home and my friends will be there to support me, win or lose.

As we arrive at the official hotel where the registration will be taking place, I'm bouncing off the walls with excitement. I frantically look for the room where I'm to meet Nina Luchka and Avril Mamo for my spray tan. The organizers don't know where they're set up. Huh, how could they not know? The front desk points me in their direction. With the first layer done, it's off to the registration. The head judge gives me the thumbs up on my new posing suit, measures me to determine my height division and cards me to ensure I qualify for grandmasters. I'm entered into Figure Short Open and Figure Grandmasters Over 45. We purchase a coach pass for Ed and order photos from the official photographer, Liana Louzon.

Taking a seat at the front of the room to wait for the competitor briefing, I introduce myself to the person sitting beside me, Sara Fennell. Though everyone looks nervous, it's a friendly atmosphere. After the briefing, the competitors are asked to report to another room to prerecord a short introduction for the following evening. What a great idea. Instead of having the MC introduce us, a large screen will be illuminated at the back of the stage and we'll introduce ourselves. Cool!

"Hi, my name is Sue Champagne. I'm excited and nervous to be here today. It's been 26 years since I've been on this stage as a competitor. I went from bodybuilding to ballroom dancing and now I'm back for figure. I'm 53 years old and I feel great!"  The videographer turned to the others and said "That's the way it's done folks. Now can everyone else please try to put that kind of enthusiasm into their introduction".

Okay, all the official stuff is out of the way, let's go get a cheat meal. Can't recall what I had, but am pretty sure it was chicken wings or pizza, perhaps both. I definitely had an alcoholic beverage, maybe two.

The next morning, with just two hours of sleep in me, we're up at 5 am. Ed takes me back to the official hotel for my second spray tan. While that's being done, he decides to go home to get a camera and promises to be back on time to take me to my next appointment. He's not back on time, isn't answering his cell phone and my house keys are in his truck. I go into panic mode. As I walk to the corner to hail a cab, he finally arrives and gets me to my 8 am hair appointment on time. All the way there, I'm tearing strips off him. Why didn't you call me to tell me you'd be late? Why didn't you answer your phone knowing that I'm a pack of nerves? Crap, if I wasn't so damned crazy about you, I'd, I'd, I'd, well I don't know what I would do!

My hair is done by Melanie at Salon Lafayette, then we dash across the street to Pharmaplus to meet with a Lise Watier rep for my make-up. My nails had been done earlier in the week and were holding up well. Back home, my bags are already packed and we're off to the venue.

The figure ladies are on last, so it's going to be a long day. Ed is backstage with me all day taking care of my every need. Nina and Avril are there doing tan touch-ups. Barb Lomer is controlling things backstage, keeping the competitors updated on the progress of the event. I have energy snacks and water with me. I also have a pair of 10 lb dumbbells which everyone around me appreciates as well.

Figure Short Open is a small class, just me and Amanda van Loenen. Amanda has everything to be proud about, having lost 50 lbs to be in this event. We're on and off the stage quickly, then it's time to wait for my next performance. My hope is that the next time I compete in Figure Short, there will be a bigger line-up.

Figure Grandmasters is finally called. This is going to be fun! These ladies came in shape, with experience behind them. We're all hard as nails. There's a lot of muscle on the stage, one of the strongest categories in the competition even though there are only four of us. We walk out together and take our positions. First round of compulsory poses are done, then the head judge reverses our order and has us repeat the process, then he switches us around and asks up to do it again and again. The judges have their hands full and want to see us from every angle and compare us against each other. This is what it's all about, this is what I came for...competition! The adrenalin is flowing, I'm smiling from ear to ear, I'm feeling confident and, most importantly, my friends are making plenty of noise.

As I exit the stage, I'm greeted by Dawn Beech and Isabel Staudinger, friends from my bodybuilding days. They've come to support me. It was so fantastic to see them again. Thank you Dawn and Izzy!

With the prejudging concluded, it was time to go home and relax a little before the evening finals. Relax?? You have got to be kidding me..........

Part 10 - Repairing the Damage

I went away from the Ontario Naturals armed with valuable experience and advice. I made every mistake imaginable at my first competition and I had just six weeks to transform myself for the next one. At times I feel discouraged and other times supercharged. Remember, the Ottawa Championships is where it all began 30 years earlier and I wanted to make this one count. This was going to be MY moment.

The most urgent item on the agenda was to get fitted for a new posing suit. I'd heard good things about Joan MacDonald of Daydreams Fitness Wear who makes outfits for men and women all over the world. She just happens to live in Ottawa and is able to squeeze me into her schedule. Ed happily offers to sponsor it again. I'm not the artistic type but both Ed and Joan are, so I leave it in their good hands to decide on the colour and design. What they came up with was black velour with red and white beading. Hmmm, Senator's hockey colours, sounds good to me.

While the suit is being make, I'm training like I've never trained before, hitting the gym 5-6 days a week, walking 5 km a day and, of course, ballroom dancing most nights. All the while, I'm visualizing myself standing on stage...in the centre! I can hear the audience, I can feel the heat of the stage lights, I can see the judges gazing up at me with a look of satisfaction. My job is done, I've given them what they're looking for! A little positive thinking can take you a long way.

With my entry application submitted, I access information on the official tanning professionals for the event and contact them to book a spray tan. Appointments were then made with local salons for hair, nails and make-up. It's so nice that the competition is in Ottawa, makes life much easier. What else do I need to doll myself up? Ah yes, jewellery! I drag Ed out shopping with me and we find the perfect shimmery bracelet to go with my posing suit.

Now that the cosmetic fix-ups are all in place, the next item on the agenda is my presentation. There are several important aspects to consider here...walking, posing, transitions and smiling. The winner has to command the stage.

Ed and Sue

I schedule a session with my then dance instructor, Matthew Salama, who rises to the challenge of incorporating flair into my presentation. Together we work on my stride, posture and arm movements in my walk and turns. During my daily jaunts, I find myself walking on the curbs in order to practice the model walk, placing one foot directly in front of the other. Meanwhile, I'm also practicing smiling. Now there's a picture. Me walking down the street, teetering on the curb, arms swaying, chin up, with a big grin on my face!

What else, what else? It's very important to get the compulsory poses down pat. For assistance with this, I call upon Mylene Arsenault, a friend from the gym with experience competing in Quebec. She's happy to oblige and comes to my place to supervise me going through the paces. It's best to practice posing without a mirror. After all, you won't have one on stage. The mirror will be replaced by hundreds of sets of critical eyes. Yikes!

My homework is now complete. 2011 Ottawa Figure Championships, here I come..........

Part 9 - It's absolutely good for you!

My figure debut had me reflecting on what motivated me to compete. I'm very goal oriented and having a target is helpful to continue improving. Initially, my goal was to lose weight without looking frail and it escalated from there.

Following my bodybuilding days, I stopped going to the gym for years, favouring other recreational activities. I returned to prove physiotherapists wrong. I had dislocated an elbow and the doctors told me I'd never have complete mobility of my arm again. With the use of resistance training, I provided my own therapy by patiently bending and stretching my arm while holding a dumbbell. The result, my arm is perfectly normal now. It was a long and worthwhile process indeed.

For a while, the gym took a back seat to dancing. I once again returned to weight training and healthy eating with a new set of goals...to fight the effects of menopause, defy aging and prevent cancer. Family history puts me at risk of ovarian cancer and staying lean allows me to be more in touch with my body. I'll be able to feel something developing sooner than if I were carrying extra weight. Besides that, the experts say that fat in the midsection stimulates cancer cells.

I believe that everyone should do at least a little bit of weight or resistance training. It strengthens the bones, improves your metabolism and makes you look and feel good. How can anyone not want those things? Taking it to the competitive level is not for everyone, but including it in your lifestyles has a long list of benefits that can't be denied.

Not only does weight training strengthen the muscles, it strengthens the bones as well. As we age, we're constantly being told to increase our calcium intake to prevent osteoporosis. In osteoporosis, the bones become brittle and weak and have a greater risk of fracture. This can greatly affect our mobility and lifestyle. Taking extra calcium is not enough. Weight training aids in the retention of calcium in your bones and keeps the bones strong. The weight bearing action causes the muscles and tendons to pull on the bones, which in turn stimulates the cells to produce more bone. The load on the bones can be created by your own body weight, as in running or dancing, or with external weights like in a weight training program. Osteoporosis affects both men and women. Postmenopausal women are particularly prone as they lack estrogen.

Muscles protect the joints like a shock absorber. Prior to returning to the gym, I had arthritis in my elbows, hands and knees. It wasn't yet in it's advanced stages, but I was determined to stop it in its tracks before it got any worse. It hurts to train with arthritis at first, but as the muscles develop the pain slowly decreases. My arthritic pain is completely gone now, and I plan on keeping it that way by continuing my training into my old age. That retirement residence better have a fitness centre!

Some are concerned that weight training can actually promote joint pain and cause injury, however, that would be due to improper technique and/or training too heavy. If you've never worked out with weights before, it's recommended that you seek the advice of a personal trainer to get started. Take baby steps at the beginning and don't forget to stretch before and after your workouts.

So how does weight training increase your metabolism? It does that in three ways:

1. The body burns more calories while exercising than it does while sitting, so any kind of activity is better than being inactive.
2. Exercises that challenge the muscles requires the body to continue working post-exercise in order to repair the muscle tissue.
3. The body expends more energy maintaining lean muscle mass than fat.

I could go on and on about the benefits of weight training...and perhaps I will later. We haven't discussed how it helps depression, obesity, diabetes and heart disease. The medical world is even claiming that exercise aids in keeping Alzheimer's at bay by increasing blood flow to the brain. For now, at least we've covered of few important benefits.

In general, the message is that it's good to get fit and stay fit. And that doesn't just mean exercising, it also means eating properly, sleeping regularly and improving flexibility. Keep your mind fit as well. I exercise my mind by reading and playing word games. Writing this blog is definitely challenging my brain cells!

Next on the agenda, fixing some mistakes..........

Part 8 - Results of the 2011 Ontario Naturals

The results for figure short are in. Just before re-entering the stage, Pam whispers in my ear "you've got this." It made me feel good, however, I knew it could go any way. None of us were in top form for this event. Pam and Steph were carrying a little extra weight, while I needed more mass to improve my shape.

In 3rd place, Sue Champagne. In 2nd place, Stephanie Meunier. The winner of the figure short class, Pamela Gorrie. I'm disappointed but not devastated. Being last is quite humbling and serves as a good kick in the butt. I congratulate Pam backstage but couldn't find Steph. Initially, I thought she left because she was upset with the results, but I find out later that she went to eat pizza.

Sue & Lynda

Stephanie, Pamela, Sue

It's an opinionated sport and we don't always agree with the results. As well, the judges can at times choose poorly just as a referee can make a bad call. We have to roll with the punches. Steph believes it was fixed since Pam had said she entered as a favour to Jim Morris, the promoter. I've been in this game long enough to know that the promoter has no involvement with the judging. Ron Hache, the head judge, is a professional judge with the IFBB and has nothing to gain from allowing a provincial event to be fixed. Similar to other sports, the promoters and judges know many of the competitors and must put any personal feelings aside when they're performing their duties. Demonstrating favouritism can cause them to lose their card.

Here's how it works. A typical judging panel consists of seven judges, a head judge and a statistician. Upon seeing the competitors compared in their compulsory poses, each judge rank them in the order they feel the outcome should be (i.e., 1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc). The head judge collects the score sheets and reviews them to ensure there are no glaring discrepancies. The statistician throws out the highest and lowest score for each competitor to eliminate possible inconsistencies, then adds up the remaining five scores from which the placings are determined.

At the end of the evening, I asked to see the score sheet and stored it in my photographic memory. This is what it looked like for the figure short class

Pamela Gorrie             1   1   1   1   2   3   3       (8)
Stephanie Meunier      1   1   2   2   2   3   3      (10)
Sue Champagne         1   2   2   2   3   3   3      (12)

Moving on now, the results of the figure grandmasters are in. This one was no surprise. Lynda Jager was the clear winner and successfully defended her title. Congratulations Lynda! We posed together for the cameras and vowed to meet again. A good, clean, fair competition. Sharing the stage with Lynda was the best part of the weekend.

Sue and Sheilagh

Sue and Elke

Let's pack 'er up and be on our way then. We stayed another night in Hamilton then headed off to Kitchener to spend a day with Ray, Elke and the family. On the way home, we dropped in on Sheilagh McDermott and Anne Gregoire to share the weekend's experiences with them. Sheilagh and Annie are friends from the dancing world and were key to helping me get ready for the competition. They supported my efforts and pushed me to work on my stage presentation.

So I went away from the weekend with tips from Ray and advice from the judges. I beat nobody, but I'm proud of my accomplishments nonetheless. In a nutshell, the advice I received was to replace my bikini top with one that better complements my physique, do something with my hair, get a better tan and command the stage with more confidence. What I did not hear was that I should go back to the gym and rebuild my body, though I know there are definite improvements necessary there as well.

Six weeks until the 2011 Ottawa Championships, the event I'd been targeting all along..........

Part 7 - Seriously, can anything else go wrong?

It's September 24, 2011 and we're in Hamilton for my figure debut at the Ontario Natural Championships. I'd been preparing for over a year. I'm a bundle of nerves and a day full of disasters and pleasantries is about to begin.

As I slip into my posing suit, I feel the bra riding up on me. The straps won't stay in place. Ed quickly gets to work with a needle and thread and secures them in place. Now we're running late so I have no time left to do anything with my hair. Note to self, always leave extra time for unexpected delays.

We fly out of the hotel, Ed gets behind the wheel of my PT Cruiser while I punch the venue into the GPS. I have an early make-up appointment with Cherry Dolls who will be backstage for the ladies. I can't be late, it's been prepaid. Juanita, the GPS, is not doing her job with directions. I'd been to Mohawk College years ago and I know we're nowhere near it. I'm dehydrated and hungry. I get into a fight with Juanita, punches are thrown, screams are heard...dammit, she's winning! Ed can't believe what he's witnessing...Sue losing her cool. I simply won't accept that perhaps I'd input the wrong address.

My figure debut at the Ontario Naturals

Somehow we arrive at the venue and I realize that I'd left my competitor pin at the hotel. Fortunately, the ushers will let me in because I look and smell like a competitor. (No, I don't stink, the tanning product has an odor.) The competitor pin is also needed when on-stage. It has a large number on it for the judges to identify us. Of all people to show up without their pin, it can't be me. I'd spent too many years reminding others to always keep it with them. Ed is on it, he drops me off at the door and heads back to the hotel to look for it.

The girls doing my make-up sit me down and calm my nerves. The make-up is heavy, my eyes disappear, I look like a 'doll'. Now we know where they got their name! I should have booked a hair appointment instead. All the ladies have beautiful hair...except me. Mine is just hanging in it's natural state. Let's look at the bright side, perhaps I'll get points for being a grandmaster with black hair down to my waist...not likely.

I look around at all the anxious competitors backstage, noticing that their tans are sooo dark. I look pale beside them...ugh! How did they get so dark? Times have sure changed. In my bodybuilding days, we just slapped a coat on before walking on-stage. Now it's a science. I find out that most of them got a spray tan from a professional the night before at the hotel. How come I didn't know about that? Geez!

Elke and Ray greet me at the Ontario Naturals

Strolling out into the lobby, I'm delighted to be greeted by some good friends who made it out to see me. Ray Williams and Elke Hensel-Williams live in Kitchener and have arrived with the kids. We've been close since we met in Montreal when Ray won the 1993 Canadian Bodybuilding Championships. Their support is important to me and seeing them is the first good thing that has happened on this day of chaos.

The pre-judging segment of the event gets underway. Ed meets me at the stage door, gives me a big hug and wishes me luck. I say a quick goodbye then turn away not wanting him to see the tears in my eyes. Why am I crying? Is it happiness, is it nerves, is it fear? I go backstage and get ready for my division. It's normal to pump up a little before going on so that your muscles are full. To my astonishment, the promoter has left minimal weights for us and what is there is being used. I reach into my bag and pull out a pair of 5 lb dumbbells which I'd brought for such an emergency. But it's not enough, so I find myself doing pushups against the wall instead.

I know just two person in the competition. Stephanie Meunier won the overall at the 2010 Ottawa Championships and won her division at the 2011 Ottawa Classic. She was my inspiration leading up to this day, and now I'm competing with her in the short class. It's a friendly competition and Steph is as friendly as they come. The other competitor I recognize is Melanie Gardner who won the overall at the 2011 Ottawa Classic. She exudes amazing confidence on-stage which I hope some day to replicate.

Figure Short (Steph, Pamela, Sue)

The backstage hand calls us out "Figure Short up next." Three ladies file out onto the stage in front of the judges. I'm so nervous, I can barely crack a smile. We go through our compulsory poses together and file off the stage. The pre-judging is only about judging, it's the time for the judges to assess us in advance of the evening finals. There's no Master of Ceremonies (MC), no announcements, no sparkle, no show. It's all about judging.

Figure Grandmasters (over 45)
Sue and Lynda

After the figure short class, I wait backstage for my next division. About an hour later, Lynda and I walk out together for figure grandmasters...two 53 year olds strutting our stuff. We file off again and that concludes the pre-judging for me. We have a few hours to kill before returning for the finals. Ed and I are joined by Lynda and her husband for dinner, then we return to the hotel to prepare for the evening.

Oh no, not another wardrobe malfunction! Ed had sewn the straps so tight on me that one of them detaches from the suit. Out came the needle and thread again...it's an easy fix. Back to the venue we go. This time, Juanita and I steer clear of each other. Ed has taken complete control of the GPS.

The evening finals! The glitter, the glory, the awards, the applaud. It's all so exciting. The audience has taken their seats, the judges are in place, the MC takes his position at the podium. "Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the 2011 Ontario Natural Championships. Tonight we'll be treated to some of the best drug free athletes in the province. They'll be competing in bodybuilding, fitness, figure and bikini."

Each competitor is announced individually and walk gracefully down a set of stairs (in heels) to make their entrance at center stage. Along the way, we're to stop and present ourselves with three poses of our choice. My nerves get the better of me and I stumble into what was supposed to be my signature pose. I can't quite get myself composed. Oh well, the judging is done and I know very few people in the audience. 

The head judge stands up and hands the results to the MC. My heart stops beating for an instant..........

Part 6 - Ready or not, here we go!

The Ontario Naturals is fast approaching and things do seem to be coming together. I'm in better shape than I've been in decades. My progress has surprised me more than anyone. I'm training with heart, never missing a workout. I feel strong, I feel young. My diet is in check, metabolism over the top. I'm actually having to up my calories to avoid losing too much weight.

A few friends are starting to voice concern about my weight loss. What they don't understand is how essential it is to be lean for the competition. I enjoy being lean, it feels great after years of being a little too chunky for my comfort. I have slabs of muscle on my physique, yet they won't cut me any slack. Two weeks before the competition, someone strikes a nerve. "You look unwell." This coming from someone who, in my opinion, is underweight. WTF!! It sends me over the edge. I turn to pizza and beer to console myself. Afterwards, rather than chancing another episode, rather than trying to explain myself, I go into hiding. Ah, memories of the old days. No wonder I stopped defending my sport. It's way too much work.

Getting my signature poses together.

Not everyone is reacting the same way, others are offering tremendous support. One day, while chatting with a group of lovely Asian friends (Nadine, Nhan, Nimmie, Patchara), they comment on how tiny I'd gotten, but not in a negative way. They themselves are petite and always have been. We exchange statistics on how much we weigh and how tall we are. We all have small bone structures. I ask them their opinion on why some people are not accepting of my size. We summarize that it's just because they aren't accustomed to seeing me this way. I need to endure it and get through the adjustment period. They need to adjust, not me.

I will no doubt be one of the oldest competitors in the event...and the lightest. I'm not worried. If the judges are doing their job, the best physique will come out on top. It's not about height or bone structure. It's about shape, muscle tone, poise and presentation. It's not about who does the heaviest bench press or who lost the most weight. It's all about who looks the best on the day of the competition against the others standing on the same stage. At show time, the judges don't concern themselves with who worked the hardest or who has the winningest coach. They only care about the physiques standing in front of them. My job is to focus on how to give them what they're looking for.
 
It's the day prior to my figure debut. The car is loaded, my tan has been applied, my bikini is packed, my shoes are packed. It's going to be an exciting weekend. What a strange feeling it was to arrive at the registration that evening. Friends I haven't seen in years, who remember me more as a promoter than an athlete, are asking what brings me to the event. "I'm competing". "WHAT? Are you serious?" The head judge announces me at the competitor briefing because I'd not been seen on the other side of the table for such a long time. I received a warm welcome. Realizing that this was my first figure competition, some of the more seasoned competitors introduced themselves to me and offered their assistance. I was in good hands!

Practicing in the hotel room
prior to the competition.

It's a small competition in terms of number of entries. The President of the OPA warns me that I may be the only entrant in the grandmaster division (over 45). He's telling me this because he knows that I came for the excitement of being on-stage with a line-up. I'm there to compete, not to stand on the stage alone. My heart sinks. Dammit! He advises me to enter the short class as well (up to 5'2") with the younger gals. I'm not pre-qualified but an exception is made because there are only two other competitors in that division so we'd all place in the top 3 regardless of the outcome. I'm thrilled and can't wipe the grin off my face for the rest of the evening.

As we're leaving the registration room, a tall, beautiful woman approaches me. "Hi, I'm Lynda Jager, I'll be in the grandmaster division with you".  OMG! Lynda Jager, the queen of figure grandmasters, is back to defend her title. With three provincial wins behind her, she's the one to beat. Win or lose, if there's anyone in Ontario who I would benefit from competing with, it's her. She's warm and friendly. This weekend just keeps getting better.

Back in the hotel room, Ed applies one last coat of Pro Tan on me, I paint my nails, eat my final pre-contest meal. I also had to practice my posing as I'd been practicing the wrong poses all along. Looking at pics on-line wasn't my best idea. Each federation has a different way of doing things. Plus, I needed to decide on three signature poses for my introduction on-stage.


Being unprepared with my posing would be only my first mistake..........

Part 5 - The Outfit and Coming Out

Clarins Tanning Gel, Dream Tan, Pro Tan, Bikini Bite

It's essential to have a dark tan under the stage lights. The deeper the tan, the better the shadows on the muscle definition. Back in the 80s, we used Quick Tan which produced a very orange look. In my final year of competition, I switched to Clarins Tanning Milk. I wonder if they still make it? A visit to the Clarins counter saw me walking away with a fresh tube of tanning gel. After testing it on my mid-section for a few days, I realize that it's not sufficient for today's competition. What the heck is everyone using? Google research points me toward Pro Tan as a base and Dream Tan prior to going on-stage. A few clicks on my laptop and an order is placed with a company called Gorilla. My order arrives a few days later, along with a container of Bikini Bite, a gluey substance used to avoid wardrobe malfunctions. Things are starting to fall into place...so I thought!

Next I contact Sheilagh McDermott, a seamstress friend from the dance studio, and convince her to make my posing suit. It will be a first for her. There's someone else in town who specializes in posing suits, but I'm too stubborn to use her services due of my determination to remain a dark horse. We're excited about the project and have fun choosing the colour, material and design. Ed is just as excited about my adventure as I am and insists on sponsoring my outfit. These suits are pricy in comparison to an off-the-rack bikini. Thank you Ed!

My first competition outfit

It's June 25th and a group of us from Arthur Murray's Dance Studio gather for a fabulous evening at Obsession Lounge on St. Laurent Blvd in Ottawa. After dinner, I announce that I'm going next door to poke around the Adult Fun Superstore (AFS) and would anyone like to join me. Six ladies abandon their dates and stroll into AFS, some buy playful gadgets, others come out empty handed. I'm drawn into a far corner of the store by a display of shoes no-one would ever imagine to be my style. They have sex written all over them. I ask the sales clerk to find me a size 5 with a 3-inch heel. They're perfect, I'll take them! The others are likely wondering why I would go to a sex shop to buy shoes. Donna Dames knows me too well and pulls me aside to ask what's up. I tell her in confidence that I'm planning to compete in figure, fully expecting her to gasp...she doesn't. She instead smiles back at me with delight and expresses full support.

Okay so maybe it's not such a bad idea to reveal myself after all. I'd been secretive about my plans to compete believing that my friends would think me strange and narcissistic. Who did I think I was strutting in front of an audience in a bikini at my age? I was accustomed to hiding. Back in my bodybuilding days, I spent way too much time and effort defending the sport's poor reputation. The general public did not want to see a woman with muscles. They still don't, but at least now most can appreciate an athletic female form. And what if I made a fool of myself, how could I live it down? I'd been trying to convince myself that I should be proud regardless of the outcome...that's not good enough for me.

Article in local newspaper in 1985

Two more months pass and I finally decide that it's time to expose myself. Only close friends knew of my past. I rarely talked about my bodybuilding days for fear of a negative reaction. Some say that I should have been proud of my accomplishments, but I never really felt that way. There I was with a long list of credentials....a successful athlete trained by some of the best, a top promoter with at least 40 events under her belt, past Vice-President of the OPA, national judge with the CBBF...and I swept it all under a carpet for years. At times I would include the work experience in my resume then omit it.

Finally, in August 2011, after more than a year of preparation, I make an announcement on Facebook. It was a terrifying moment when I pressed the post button on my status line. I held my breath expecting a backlash. I've found that when it comes to Facebook, people generally don't say anything if they don't like something, but they love pushing that like button. It's comparable to coming out of the hairdresser with a new look and no-one says anything...you know for sure that it's a bad hairdo.

The likes and positive comments came pouring it. Whew...what a relief! Now I can proceed with more confidence. Now I can stop explaining to people why I'm on such a health kick. Now perhaps people will stop giving me such a hard time about my weight loss...NOT.

Ten weeks to go for the Ontario Natural Championships..........

Part 4 - A Schedule is Set

Welcoming the audience to one of many
events Larry and I ran together.

My ultimate goal was to compete in the Ottawa Championships on November 5, 2011. It's the event where it all began in 1981. Wouldn't it be sweet to be back on that stage 30 years later? And even sweeter to win it!  I don't pretend to be an expert before I even begin. Just because I was successful in bodybuilding doesn't mean I'll ace figure. A warm-up is definitely in order. I bring the calendar of events up on my Mac and review my options, targeting events offering the grandmaster division. The only on the Ontario Physique Association (OPA) schedule in my time frame is the Ontario Natural Championships which is slated for September 24 in Hamilton. Would be nice, though I'd need to qualify and I don't have time to get ready for anything earlier.

But wait a minute! My investigation uncovers a glitch. Even if I wanted to qualify for the Ontario Naturals as a grandmaster, there are no qualifying events offering the division. I contact the President of the OPA, Ron Hache, who informs me that because it's a new division I don't have to qualify. Wow, that's fantastic...I'm in!

I apply for my OPA membership card and register for the event on-line. This is fast becoming reality!

The OPA is the organization I'm loyal to. My relationship with them is not something I'd want to jeopardize by competing with any other group. Besides that, it's the link to the International Federation of Bodybuilders (IFBB), the most powerful organization in the sport,with 173 countries affiliated. The IFBB was co-founded by Ben Weider who headed it for decades. His brother, Joe Weider, is best known as "The Master Blaster, Trainer of Champions" (including Arnold Schwarzenegger) and creator of the Olympia contests. Joe is also the publisher of Muscle & Fitness, Flex, Men's Fitness and Shape Magazine. To let you know to what degree I wasn't following news on the industry for years, I just now learned that Ben passed away in 2008...R.I.P. Ben :(

In the mid 80s with Larry Champagne (left)
and Winston Roberts (center)

Reflecting on my experiences with the IFBB brings to mind a story. In 1983, I bought tickets to a pro show being held at the St. Denis Theater in Montreal. The promoter of the event was my dear friend, Winston Roberts. These were not inexpensive tickets and I was early purchasing them. I arrived at the event to find that the seats were tucked away behind a pillar. What? How can a top priced seat be in such a terrible location? I had to move to an unoccupied cheap seat to see the event. Upon telling Winston of my unfortunate dilemma, he assured me that he would make it up to me somehow. The following year, he announced that he would be bringing the 1984 Ms. Olympia to Montreal. I contacted him and requested front of the line to buy tickets when they went on sale. No problem. I bought tickets for Larry and I in advance and they soon arrived in my hands. As we took our seat in the second row right behind the judges, we realized that we were sitting smack dab in between the mighty Ben and Joe Weider, with the beautiful Betty Weider seated beside Joe. As Winston took his position at the podium to welcome the audience to this spectacular event, he looked down at us with a grin of satisfaction on his face. I nodded back and blew him a kiss.

If you have intentions to compete, it's important to understand the tier system so you don't get caught preparing for an event without being qualified. The OPA has two streams of competition...the open stream and the natural stream. There are two provincial events, the Ontario Championships and the Ontario Natural Championships. There are also two local events in my area, the Ottawa Championships and the Ottawa Classic. Each has the same tier system but it is not permitted to carry a qualification from one stream over to the other. For example, the winner of the Ottawa Classic does not qualify for the Ontario Championships, rather they qualify for the Ontario Natural Championships. It's confusing, I know. It's helpful to see a visual, so I've provided diagrams which I hope will shed some light on it.

Now that a date has been determined, it's time to put my plan into action. It's mid-June 2011, so I have three months to prepare. My weight is 110 and people are noticing the changes in my physique. At this point, the only people who know I'm preparing for a competition are Ed and a few friends within the OPA.

I'm accustomed to eating strange food, my cardio workouts have been bumped up and my metabolic rate has increased. My biggest diet tip to someone wanting to increase their metabolism is to eat often (have food prepared and ready to grab). I eat about every 3 hours, including a snack before bedtime. No I do not wake myself up to eat, but if I happen to wake up during the night I might take a gulp from my protein shaker. The experts advise against eating in the evenings. If I were to listen to that and make dinner my last meal at say 6 pm, go to bed at 11 pm, then get up at 7 am, I've gone 13 hours without the nutrients necessary to repair my muscle tissue. So if the experts also recommend eating 4-5 small meals rather than 1-3 big meals, how can they turn around and suggest not eating for 13 hours. Think about that. Oh there's absolutely no question that our bodies burn fewer calories when we're inactive or sleeping but the body does continue functioning. For sure you don't want to eat anything heavy in the evening. Have something nutritious and easy to digest....yogourt, cottage cheese, banana. I nibble on air-popped corn seasoned with vinegar and cayenne pepper when I feel the urge to be a couch potato. Depending on my mood, I may use curry or basil. The vinegar kinda makes the popcorn soggy, but then so does butter. Also, though not scientifically proven, vinegar helps speed the metabolism, as does hot sauce. And drink cold water as it takes energy for your system to bring the temperature down.

Next on the agenda is to shop for the required shoes and sparkly jewellery, decide whether to order tanning product or get a spray tan, and make arrangements for my hair and make-up..........

Part 3 - I'm a Maniac

I'm alone on my journey, with the exception of Ed for support. I have no trainer and am not consulting with diet gurus. I've been on this road before so why not give myself credit. How much could possibly have changed in the years that have passed? Sure there's more advanced equipment out there, but I'm a firm believer that the basics still conquer.

Posing with Garrett Walsh who was about 11 at the time.
We were invited to do a couples demonstration together in 1982.

Upon making my decision to compete, I suddenly become a maniac. My weight workouts get more intense, my walks get longer and faster, I show up at the dance studio more often. I'm working out six days a week, hitting each muscle group twice a week (that will change later). I walk to the gym, run on the treadmill, climb stairs, challenge my strength in the gym, put more energy in my dancing. I'm researching techniques, adjusting my diet, reviewing contest results, googling the champions, examining the judging criteria, trying to sleep more (easier said than done)...and shopping for new clothes for my new physique.

The pioneers of women's bodybuilding in the early 80s.
I'm second from the right wearing pink.

I'm living and breathing fitness!

It's important to get lean for figure competition in order to display muscle tone. Figure competitors, however, do not have to get massive or striated. Organizations around the world are hoping to eliminate female bodybuilding and replace it with physique and figure (physique is another new category being added this year which is between bodybuilding and figure). The only way they can accomplish this is by downscoring competitors with too much muscle. So we need to achieve muscle tone while maintaining femininity.

Due to my age and sex, there are obstacles in front of me. As you no doubt know, females carry far less testosterone than males, and a post-menopausal woman has even less. Testosterone is an anabolic steroid found naturally in our bodies and is key to muscle development. Unfortunately, desperate athletes feel the need to cheat by supplementing themselves with a synthetic version of it which is why steroid use is banned in most sports. My health is way too important to sacrifice. Plus, I'm doing this for me first, the trophy second. I'm simply going to have to work that much harder. I'll never achieve what I did half a lifetime ago, but I'm going to be the best that I can be!

Diet is just as important as the training. It seems that low carb dieting is the in thing these days. In 1983, I followed the Atkins diet for six months prior to the Ontario Championships. To put it mildly, I was scrawny. My hard earned muscle deteriorated and when I reintroduced carbs to my diet, I gained the weight back quickly and mass amounts of cellulite appeared on my thighs and butt. It depressed me enough that I considered quitting competition and taking up darts. I avoid debates with low carb advocates because I'm no doctor or dietitian. I'm merely speaking from my own experiences. Low carb diets are good for quick weight loss and could possibly have health benefits for those who make it a lifestyle, but athletes need to fuel their bodies and carbs are good fuel. I don't overload on them as I'm not a marathon runner. I just don't believe in reducing carb consumption to the point of ketosis.

Being compared with Laura Creavelle who went on to become one of the
top pros in the world.  I'm on the far right and she's to my left.

Not all carbs are alike. The first thing to eliminate in any good diet, not only for weight loss but for health reasons as well, is all the white stuff and sugars. Gone are the processed breads, pastas, white rice, potatoes and desserts. It goes without saying that junk food also has to go. I get my carbs mainly from fruits and whole grains. Fats should not be cut out completely but definitely get rid of the deep fried food. I use a little oil for cooking, eat some but not all of my egg yolks and have red meat about once a week. Protein is important for muscle repair. My protein consumption is high compared to the recommended daily allowance.

The sum of it is high protein, moderate carbs and low fat in the diet. This I would do year round, then reduce the portions when it's time to lose weight. Hydration is also crucial. Make sure to drink plenty of water, the amount depends on your size and activity...I normally consume 3-4 liters per day. Calorie consumption is specific to each individual depending on their size and metabolism.

Before deciding when to compete, I needed to develop a plan. Starting weight was 125 in the summer of 2010, it was 120 in November 2010 when I went to see the first show and got inspired, it was 112 in April 2011 when I went to the second show and made my decision. I mentioned earlier that my weight was dropping 1.3 lbs per month. At this rate, to get myself down to 105 it would appear that I need about five months to prepare. However, my metabolism has changed as a result of my exercise and diet regime so the weight will come off faster, and I need time to improve my shape, build more muscle and tighten the skin.

September 2011 would be a good time for this dark horse to emerge..........

Part 2 - A Decision is Made

I reported for duty on November 6, 2010 at the Ottawa Championships. It felt strange...but not foreign. I had declined a position on the judging panel because I wanted to absorb the new women's figure and bikini divisions which had been added during my absence. As a national level judge with the Canadian Bodybuilding Federation (CBBF), adapting to the changes would have been simple but I still felt a little nervous. My duties today were to assist the head judge and statistician.

The scent of oil products permeated the area and brought back memories. The competitors sported deep tans, their clothing hung off them, cheeks sunken, most seemed a little lost. For many, it was their first experience. Their senses were alert as they awaiting their turn for registration. it was immediately apparent that men's bodybuilding was still alive, though I noticed the absence of female bodybuilders. What I wasn't expecting was how beautiful the figure and bikini women looked. The main difference between figure and bikini is that the figure ladies display more muscle tone while the bikini ladies are sexier. As the figure women where called onto the stage, I watched in awe. This is what woman's bodybuilding was supposed to be. This is what it looked like when it all began. This was no freak show. When the older figure gals came out (they have over 35 and over 45 classes), all I could think was “I could so do this”.

Winning the 1982 Ottawa Bodybuilding Championships

Was I too old to compete? Could my joints handle the training? Can I lose the weight? All very good questions and the answer to each was “there's only one way to find out.” I'd just gotten through menopause, weighed my all-time heaviest after two years of eating burritos in Mexico, hadn't trained in years, battled arthritis and the aging process was not being kind to my skin. This would not be an easy task.

Off to the gym I went. The first item on the agenda was to get my weight down to feel better. I'd already starting working on that a few months earlier and what a frustrating time I was having. Measuring just over 5 feet with a tiny bone structure, my weight of 125 was heavy for me. It may not sound like much to you, but I it did to me and it's all about how we feel in our own body. I wanted to trim off about 20% of that weight. I caught myself in time before the scale climbed any higher. The problem many people have is that they realize they're gaining weight but procrastinate to do something about it. The weight slowly creeps up and before you know it you need a new wardrobe.

Losing weight should be done slowly if you plan to keep it off.  Your lifestyle has to change. Too many of us go on fad diets, lose the weight, return to old eating habits and put it right back on. The extra pounds didn't appear overnight and we shouldn't expect it to disappear any faster that the time it took to appear.

I started with baby steps. Every little bit of activity and everything I put in my mouth was going to count. I stopped using the dishwasher, parked further away from my destination, seasoned my popcorn with spices instead of butter, diluted my salad dressing with vinegar, drank water instead of pop. I  joined a gym and started working out with light weights. My strength had diminished and my joints were stiff. The first time I did free-weight squats, I could barely do it with just the bar (almost embarrassing for someone who used to be a champion bodybuilder). Eventually I was walking faster and longer and I could manage heavier weights in the gym.

Now that I'd seen the competition and it's inspired me to possibly compete in figure myself, I needed to bump up my program a notch. When I attended the show, my weight was sitting at 120. I still had a long way to go if I wanted to get it down to 105 which is what I estimated to be my ideal contest weight.

I did most of my training in the afternoons since I wasn't working at the time. I know what you're thinking. "Oh yeah well she had the time, I've got kids and a job". Well let me just say that if you really want to do something, you'll find the time. Go to the gym during your lunch break, take the kids to the park, go for a walk with the stroller...get a dog! In the evenings, I'd often go back to the gym to do some treadmill work. Better to watch 'Dancing with the Stars' there than from my couch.

Winning the 1985 Ontario Bodybuilding Championships

Ten months into my regime (five months since attending the Ottawa Championships), I'd lost 13 lbs, just 1.3 lbs per month. It was slow but sure. My body was getting toned and my muscles were taking shape. Since I'd been an athlete in my younger years, my body had muscle memory so I was developing faster than the average person. If you're just starting out for the first time, please have patience. Developing muscle tone takes time but it will happen. It's particularly difficult if you're a post-menopausal woman due to the hormonal changes. Have patience, keep going!

At this point, I'm still trying to visualize getting into good enough shape to deserve strutting on stage wearing next to nothing. One thing I did not want to do is make a fool of myself. If I didn't end up competing, at least I whipped myself into reasonable shape and I felt good.

3rd Place, 1985 Canadian Championships

It's Spring of 2011 and I nominate myself for a place on the judging panel for the upcoming Ottawa Classic. I'm accepted and report for duty again on April 30, 2011. It's an exciting day for me because I'm sitting with my piers from the old days, it's like I never left. The figure ladies once again took my breath away. After the evening finals, a bunch of us went for dinner downtown. I looked over at Ed who had no idea what had been on my mind and I say “I'm going to compete.” He couldn't have been more thrilled. Ed loved the fact that I was going to take on such a feat at over 50.

It was now time to bump it up another notch. After 26 years away from the stage, it was also time to decide when and where my comeback was going to happen..........