Everything changed after I had my baby in 1996. I started gaining weight and before I knew it, I weighed close to 140 lbs. This was an excessive amount of weight for a very short person at only 4'11".
In 2003, I decided to change the look of my physique and it all began on January 2nd, 2003 when I took a before photo of the way I looked weighing close to 140 lbs. This all stemmed from seeing a before and after photo of a woman from the Dieppe, NB area named Claire Robichaud. She had successfully lost an extreme amount of weight through a 12 week dieting/training program she had followed through Jean "Ti-Jean" LeBlanc, a former bodybuilder and employee of Corrections Canada. Before I knew it, I was begging Jean to help me reach the same goal. I had never picked up a weight, ran on a treadmill or followed a strict diet in my life. I begun my training at a hardcore, run down gym the offenders used at Dorchester Penitentiary. In less than 12 weeks, I lost over 30 pounds, started to develop muscle and started eating more protein and taking vitamin supplements.
I maintained this lifestyle through hard work, devotion, will-power and determination. I sacrificed a lot of things in my life throughout my dieting and training phase but in the end I achieved the goal I had set out to accomplish. Staying fit and eating healthy is only a small piece of the pie, motivation comes into play and you must never lose focus on the task at hand. My biggest motivator was and still is "my trainer", Jean "Ti-Jean" LeBlanc. Jean is a well-known bodybuilder from Moncton and surrounding area who has trained over 50 athletes, both men and women, over the past 15 years. His devotion to this sport inspires me to train harder.
I started competing in 2004. My first competition was in the Women’s Bodybuilding Lightweight Division where I placed 3rd at the 2004 Atlantic Championships in New Brunswick. My 2nd show was at the 2005 Atlantic Championships where I won 2nd Place in the Short Class Figure Division. Immediately following the Atlantics, I competed at the 2005 New Brunswick Bodybuilding Championships and I placed 1st in the Miss Figure Short Class and Runner-up Overall!
My biggest challenge was only 8 months later when I flew to Edmonton, Alta to compete at my first National Canadian Fitness & Figure Championship in 2006. Indeed, it was an enjoyable and great learning experience and I came home with my head held high and with no regrets.
It was an “eye opener” and I was very surprised to see what the sport of “Figure” has become. I’m not crying sour grapes but it’s sad to see that “Women’s Bodybuilding” has taken over the Sport of Miss Figure. It was evident at this past competition in Edmonton that this sport is losing its audience because spectators are more interested in seeing a lean, toned, semi-muscular physique not the excessive muscularity, square jaws and ripped or shredded physiques we saw on stage at this last competition. There has been some talk about toning it down for next year’s Nationals, which will be held on June 30th, 2007 in Edmonton, Alberta. There is a threat or fear that the sport will eventually die off, like Women’s Bodybuilding has already done. Garry Bartlett, President of the New Brunswick Amateur Bodybuilding Association, has made it quite clear that Women Bodybuilders are not being recognized anymore in their sport and have switched over to competing in the Women’s Miss Figure. Rather than score them down for excessive muscle, Canadian Judges have been awarding these women 1st, 2nd and 3rd placings for their efforts leaving the other figure competitors with a much lower placing with some muscularity, toned physique but more “beach body” type bodies. Mr. Garry Bartlett, President of the NBPFA has implemented a new judging criteria that is being used for the New Brunswick Physique & Figure Association Sanctioned by the IFBB. It is being judged on Overall Muscular Development, Overall Lean Body Fat Composition, Conditioned Symmetry, Poise/Presentation/Style of Walk & Turns, Grooming/Facial Beauty/Overall Appearance and Marketability. I am confident that the CFBB will follow suit in the near future.
I placed 8th in the Short Class and was impressed overall with the conditioning of my physique and I had come through heavier and more muscular at 100 lbs. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough for this competition.
I do plan on competing again next year and I will train extra hard between now and then to put on a little more size but not to the extreme. I will concentrate on putting a cap on my shoulders, build a wider back and learn how to show it on stage, as well, I will concentrate on the glute area and shape all the necessary muscles I need to get closer to the top five placings in my class.
The standings were as follows; Bonnie McKechnie, Short Class Winner, Jill St-Laurent, Medium Class Winner, Serena Cooper, Medium-Tall Class Winner, Jamie Senuk, Tall Class, Overall Champion and Lisa Taylor, Master Figure Champion. There were over 100 competitors at this past National Canadian Championships.
Future Plans? Well my goal of competing is always on my mind. It's an exciting and rewarding hobby and it allows me to travel throughout the country, meet new people and to help inspire other people who are interested in living a more fit lifestyle. In a few years, I will probably need to re-evaluate my life outside of the figure lifestyle and find out what direction I choose to follow; career or otherwise.
For the moment, I will need to focus my energy on something more productive where I can get better results. I need to work on the look of my physique, develop a more muscular, wider back with V taper and continue to develop a cap on my shoulders, tone up the glutes and tighten up more on the dieting aspect. It's time to get in the best shape of my life and put the effort and energy into looking better than my last Nationals. This is where my Coaches come in.
Through hard work, discipline and proper coaching, I will get my physique in the best shape I have been in a long time. I still have much work to do and everything takes time. I will aim on focusing my energies on being happier with my life and focus on creating improvements and strive to excel.
However, when striving to achieve physical excellence we must not forget our family, friends and co-workers. For they are the people who we love and trust the most and lean on for support. We must always stay true to ourselves and remember there is always a lesson to be learned from everything in our life.
My advice to anyone out there who wishes to pursue a figure hobby or lifestyle: “Don’t ever lose sight or give up on what’s important to you”. Set a goal, work hard to achieve it and be successful.
If you are a competitor, I would love to get to know you and learn about your figure experiences. When I look back at a show, what I would really like to reflect on is how much fun it was, how much we learned and how excited we are that we used our efforts in that way. For me, I want to look back and say, "I'm so glad I did this and with no regrets!"
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STATS |
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Height |
4'11" |
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Weight |
110-113 lbs Off Season 99-102 lbs Contest Weight |
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Hair |
Blond |
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Eyes |
Blue/Green |
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Age |
34 |
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Shoe |
6 |
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Location |
Dieppe, NB, Canada |
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CONTEST HISTORY |
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New Brunswick
Physique & Figure
Championships 2007
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FUN FACTS ABOUT HEATHER |
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What motivates you
to compete?
Favourite movies:
Philosophy of Life:
How many times a day
do you eat?
At least 6, usually
7. I like to eat
every 2 1/2 hours.
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FUN FAVORITESS |
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Favourite Body Part:
Chest |
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