My
name is Cheryl Mitchell. I am a WNSO
(World Natural Sports Organisation) competitor and
took 1st place at MuscleMania
in Figure and 3rd in Open Bodybuilding.
This is my second year competing, and I just switched
into the Figure/ Bodybuilding divisions this year,
as I did Fitness Model last year.
I trained very hard this year and have been on my
competition diet since the end of January.
Photographer:
Bernard Clark
I was at 140 pds off -season, but competed at 123 pds.
I am a full-time grade 8 teacher and hold down a part-time
job as a waitress on weekends.
I am 32 years old. I train with weights 6 days a week
and do cardio 4 days a week. I think time management is
key and sacrifice. There isn't a lot of time to socialize
during competition months.
I spend Sunday afternoons cooking chicken for the week
and putting it in tupperware portions. I also eat tuna
and yams, oatmeal and brown rice.
I eat pretty "clean" all year round, but
I start cutting things out of my diet gradually
as competition draws near. I absolutely love peanut
butter, but it doesn't love my abs, so I start there.
I take out diary fairly early as well. Unlike a
lot of competitiors, I don't cut out carbs. I need
them to keep muscle mass up. I choose low glycemic
carbs and I don't eat them late at night. Two weeks
out I cut out protein powder in order to reduce
my water retention.
I gradually cut water consumption in the final few
days before a show, until the day of the show, where
I try not to drink at all. It's difficult, as I
normally drink 4-6 litres/day.
The day of the show is great because I eat a big
pancake breakfast with real maple syrup and I eat
chocolate covered coffee beans throughout the day.
The sugar helps you appear vascular and it's a nice
treat on show day!
