Prep. Ready. Sparkle!

Tara Robertson, MBA
Aug 16, 2016
2 min read

I have always been an avid lover of fitness. But as I get seasoned with age, I know I have to work harder to get the same results. It has always been a dream of mine to compete in a fitness contest but didn’t quite understand the process. While working at Food Lion, I learned I had a co-worker who loved to compete on stage – the kind of stage built for muscles. And as I watched him transform, I said, “I can do this.” With his encouragement, Benny provided get great tips to get me started. I looked for a trainer that had proven abilities to help me reach my fitness goals. I saw this lady at my gym whose physique was at the level I wanted, so I approached her. Come to find out, she is an IFBB Pro and trainer – the highest accolade in the fitness field. During our first session, Linda told me I’d have to lose about 30 pounds, and this is not for the light-hearted! I took a big gulp and committed to a 20-week transformation with her. We would meet every week. Some weeks I saw big gains (which included weight loss) – other weeks, not so much. This process was harder than I thought. I mean, let’s face it I love food. And not just ANY food, but the good stuff I had been eating all of my life. Linda said, if I wanted to see the results I desired, I had to prep my meals ahead of time, decline a lot of after hour activities with friends and commit to drinking a gallon of water a day. About 12-weeks into the process, my co-workers began to see my hard work paying off. I joined a gym near my job and started working out twice a day. As I got closer to my competition date, I worked out three times a week. Working out and meal prep was my life. It’s competition day. I didn’t recognize myself. Mentally, I was done with bland chicken, fish, and asparagus. I weighed in 25 pounds lighter and about 12-percent body fat. Linda and Benny were there all along the way. Benny trained for the same show and encouraged me every day. Linda gave me cost-saving tips and even loaned me some of her “lucky charms.” And everything paid off. Regardless of what the judges said, I was a winner. I did something most people talk about. And yes… I won! I plan to sparkle the “stage” again in 2017. Look out!