How I became South Africa Bikini Fitness Champion in 1 year.

MY VERY FIRST BODY BUILDING COMPETITION

WP IFBB :21-23 August 2015.

After dropping 13,3 % Body fat in just 12 weeks and completely transforming my body, my coach advised that I step onto the competitive stage. Initially I thought that was absolutely crazy, as I had not even watched bodybuilding competition before and had NO idea what to expect, but he advised me to go and watch a show with him to decide if it was something I wanted to do. In April 2015, I watched my 1st show, Shameen Classic and I was immediately hooked. I had my sight set on competing in August 2015, in the entry level category of Beach Bikini, under 163cm. I prepped really hard, but had a month break for Ramadaan and then after Ramadaan trained very hard daily, while on a strict meal plan. On the Friday, at

registration, I was told by IFBB officials that I was lean and ripped for Beach Bikini and needed to enter Fitness Bikini. This in itself was already a “WIN” for me, as I had already qualified for a category, above what I had prepped for. I was very happy when I placed 3rd at my very first comp, and it being Provincials!

SPONSORS: 0

FUELED BY : USN

COACH AND PERSONAL TRAINER: Scott Styger

POSING COACH: Caron Atkins

BIKINI BY : Marie Mulder

TAN : GO BROWN SPRAY TAN

Shameen Classic: 30 April 2016

I had several months to prep for Fitness Bikini and therefore I focused on bulking and growing quite a lot. I reached a body fat of 7% and at registration that friday, I was again told by officials that I was too lean, ripped and dry for the category I initially wanted to enter, Fitness Bikini, and had to enter Body Fitness. By this time I had spent money on private posing lessons for Fitness Bikini and had practiced my routine to perfection. The Body Fitness poses were completely different to Fitness Bikini. I entered Body Fitness but was very uneasy about this and spoke to my coach that eve after registration. He advised that I enter both categories, that I should get to the venue very early for late registrations and register for Fitness Bikini as well. When I got to late registrations on Saturday, I was told I could only enter 1 category and having been advised by the officials to do Body Fitness, I decided to stick to that one. I learnt the posing for Body Fitness literally about 1 hour before I had to go on stage. As I was lining up to go on stage and looked at my competitors, there were a few who I was convinced would place better than me, but I was completely speechless when I placed 1st. This earned me an invitation to Compete at the International IFBB Competition, Arnold Classic Africa 2016, which was scheduled to take place on 27-29 May 2016, at Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg.

SPONSORS: Gordon Stevens

FUELED BY: USN

COACH AND PERSONAL TRAINER : Gordon Stevens

POSING COACH: Michelene Adamo

BIKINI: Marie Mulder

TAN : GO Brown Spray Tan (prize for entering an online competition)

WP IFBB 2016:5-7 August 2016

For this competition I only had 4 weeks of prep, after Ramadaan. Ramadaan is a Holy month for Muslims. During this month, muslims fast from sunrise to sunset, without eating or drinking anything during the day, while the sun is out. Having started Ramadaan a week after my Arnold Classic Competition where I competed with a Body fat of 6%, had me entering into the month of fasting with a very high metabolism. During this month I did not train at all, and ate quite a lot at night, plenty carbs and sugary treats. I did this to help raise my body fat quickly to slow down my metabolism, or else I would suffer during the day, as a high metabolism requires nutrition/ fuel regularly, at least every 2 to 3 hours, and failing to do so could result in the body catabolising its own muscle. I was also planning to enter the Fitness Bikini Lineup for WP, and not Body Fitness, so I needed to make sure that this time around I was not too lean or too dry. After Ramadaan I quickly fell back into my hectic training routine and meal plan. Within a week I was diagnosed with gastroenteritis and placed on strict rest, no training, back on carbs, sugar and salt for a week. By this time I started stressing as I now only had 3 weeks in total to prepare for Western Province. I managed to compete with a body fat of 10% and placed 1st for Fitness Bikini Masters and got invited to be part of the Western Province Team to compete at IFBB Nationals in Durban September 2016.

SPONSORS: USN, Fitglam Bikinis

COACH & PERSONAL TRAINER : GORDON STEVENS

FUELED BY: USN

BIKINI : Fitglam Bikinis

TAN : GO Brown Spray Tan

IFBB NATIONALS: 2-4 September 2016

I had 4 weeks of prep for IFBB Nationals, which didn’t allow much for any growth and bulking. All I could do at this stage was to tone and tighten up a bit more and I needed to keep reminding myself to not drop body fat too low and to not be too dry for comp.

On Comp day, I reached a body fat of 9% and was thrilled to place 1st in my lineup, Fitness Bikini Masters. This feeling was one of the best feelings I had ever experienced! It was almost surreal. I had only ever dreamed of placing 1st at SA’s and here it was finally a reality! It took me a few days for this to actually sink in. When it finally hit me, I asked myself , “So, what now?” I had not even thought about what’s next after SA’s. I was completely blown away when I received a phone call from IFBBSA President, Wayne Price, to invite me to represent SA at The IFBB Juniors and Masters World Championships, on 9 to 11 December 2016, in Santo Domingo Dominican Republic. I also received an invitation to compete at Arnold Classic Africa 2017, representing SA.

SPONSORS: USN, Fitglam Bikinis,

FUELED BY : USN

COACH & PERSONAL TRAINER : Gordon Stevens

BIKINI: Fitglam Bikinis

TAN : GO Brown Spray Tan