SC: Thanks for the interview Maria. Can you please give us a description of yourself?

MM: Well, I’m a 40 year old female who had never been an active individual until I picked up a dumbbell and started weight training.  Females of “my generation” usually did cardio/aerobics and not weight training so I was never exposed to weights and “muscle”. 

SC: When did you pick up the first dumbbell? And why?

MM: I picked up my first dumbbell approximately 6 years ago. I needed to do something to lose the extra weight I had been carrying around for years and the cardio (5 days a week 1 hour per day) was just not doing it.

SC: How did you get into Natural Bodybuilding? How long have you been competing?

MM: When one of the female members at the fitness studio I was training at competed, I attended the show and decided at that moment that I could do that; so in 2000, at the age of 35, I competed in my first bodybuilding competition (and placed first in the Novice Division). I then took some time off and competed again in 2005 (at age 40) at the Canadian Classic.

SC: What or who inspired you to compete?

MM: The goal or inspiration for my first competition was to lose the extra weight – however, for my subsequent competitions my personal trainer has been my inspiration. He has guided me into a new way of thinking about training for competitions. He has taught me that you do not need to sacrifice your entire life to compete – you can still be a functioning member of society and prepare for a competition.

SC: Tell us a bit about your very first competition? Why did you enter? What did you learn from it?

MM: My first competition was back in 2000 – I had just turned 35 years old. I needed a goal to help me reach the next level after losing the initial weight. Having a competition to strive for made me commit 100%. The thing I learned most from competing is discipline. You need to be disciplined to compete and I realized that I have a great deal of discipline when I put my mind to it.

SC: Do you prepare for competitions on your own or do you have a coach?

MM: I have a personal trainer Dwight Nelson, from Bodies II Envy Fitness Studio in Woodbridge. He has been my coach and supporter for the last 5 years now.

SC: What is your favourite bodypart to train?

MM: Shoulders – I like to see the definition in my delts when doing cables and push-ups.

SC: What is your training philosophy?

MM: Again through my trainer, Dwight Nelson, I learned that you do not have to sacrifice your entire life to compete – you can still be a functioning member of society and prepare for a competition.  This is not the case with many competitors, who feel they have to sacrifice their relationships with everyone around them in order to train for a competition. (I know all the competitors out there know what I’m talking about); but Dwight taught me that there is another way (and a much better way) of achieving your goals.

SC: What about supplements? What are your favourites?

MM: I take my daily vitamins – Calcium/Magnesium, a Women’s Mega Multi and a Glucosamine/ Chondroitin/MSM combination – and of course my Protein shakes – every day – even on my off days.

SC: Any big shows coming up?  I know you just competed in the Canadian Classic where you won the Open Lightweight and Masters classes. I had to plug it… lol.

MM: At the moment I don’t have any definite plans to do any big shows – other than the Canadian Classic next year. I have been to a few competitions in the past prior to the Canadian Classic and I have to say that I did not enjoy myself as much as I did when I did the Classic – so I have to be there next year – can’t miss it!

SC Any closing words or shoutouts?

MM: As I have indicated, I started weight training at age 34 – pretty late in life.  However, I want to tell everyone out there – especially women, that it’s never too late to get active and start weight training to build muscle (and by the way if women build muscle “no we will not look bulky like Arnold Schwarzenegger). Not only will you feel better but, you will also look great!!

I also want to thank you and everyone associated with the Canadian Classic.  You did a great job – especially for the first time around.  I hope that you will continue to do many more shows in the future and look forward to competing in as many as I possibly can in the future.

SC Thanks for the interview Maria.