Never too late to start something new
Article by: A/SLt 24498 Noelani Shore
It may have started because of a dare, but Chief Petty Officer First Class Elizabeth Lindsay, RMC’s CWO, has found a new passion in participating in Figure Competitions.
On November 5, CPO1 Lindsay’s hard work and dedication over the past six months paid off, and she placed in both categories she competed in during her first Ontario Physique Association’s competition.
“My goals for this first competition were to show my friend who dared me that I’d do it, to gain experience, and to see if I would enjoy it enough to continue. I did much better than that; I actually placed in both my categories,” CPO1 Lindsay explained. “I competed in the Figure Medium, and the Grandmasters categories. The Grandmasters is for ages 45+, and in the Figure Medium, I competed against 23 year olds.”
Bodybuilding, as an exercise, is in a class of its own, just as running is in a class of its own; however, CPO1 Lindsay wants to emphasize that no matter what you’re training for, it takes dedication, time, and commitment to succeed.
One of the biggest benefits of training for a figure competition is overall health. CPO1 Lindsay has osteoarthritis, so weight training is beneficial because it helps build strength.
For anyone interested in pursuing this type of training, or any other intense exercises, CPO1 Lindsay recommends looking into a coach or trainer.
“Having a coach is the way to go when you reach a certain level because it’s a good way to prevent injuries. I have a coach that helped me with the nutrition side especially. Bodybuilding competitions are very scientific; timing is important when you need everything to pop when it’s supposed to pop,” she said.
The training and nutrition regime CPO1 Lindsay undertook was strict, but she was determined to make it all worthwhile.
“I trained every morning at 0530 in the gym, and my training sessions were 45-60 minutes long. My coach changed my workout program every three to four weeks, and he also changed my diet every three to four weeks. For the first two months, we worked on corrections. At first, I was quite round-shouldered from working at a computer all the time, so he had to teach me how to correct that. After the first two months, the training got a little more exciting because my coach started to challenge me, and I also started challenging myself. For example, when I started with squats, I was lifting 80 pounds, but the week before the competition, I was squatting 135 pounds,” CPO1 Lindsay said.
The bottom line is, if you have a dream or something that interests you, “if you’re dedication and you train, you can do it. You’re never too old to start. At this competition, there was a gentleman who was 75 years old, and he participated in his first competition in the Men’s Division. That just proves you’re only old if you want to be,” she said.
CPO1 Lindsay is a role model for the young lady officer cadets at the College; “if they see an old girl like me out there, they’ll know that if I can accomplish my goals, then so can they.”
CPO1 Lindsay plans on beginning a new training regime to prepare for her second competition in the spring.