Michelle Dropped The Ice Cream Habit And Built A Fit Body!

Vital Stats

Name: Michelle Gauthier

Email: babygirl_2_23@hotmail.com

Bodyspace: luluGirl

Why I Got Started

As a child in school I was overweight. I hated going to school; the kids were mean to me, picking on me and bullying me because of my size. In grade 7 I decided to take matter into my own hands. As a kid, I had no idea what I was doing so I began to eat very little. My plan worked in my head.

I began to lose weight, but I became obsessed with barely eating because I was now skinny and the kids were no longer picking on me. For the first time in my life I fit in, and people liked me. At that point I was close to being anorexic. I hit high school, the gang split up, and I had a new lease on life. I could be whoever I wanted. This was my chance to become someone.

I got into sports playing hockey for the high school team and doing competitive trampoline. I stayed thin. Then I hit grade 10 and I gained weight again. At this point the scale climbed to about 150 pounds, and I'm only 5-foot-3. But again within about 3 months I was able to drop down to 130 again and I stayed there for about 4 years.

Finally after that it climbed very high, the heaviest I had ever been. At that point I never knew how much I was up to but I knew it was at least 165 pounds. I was leading an unhealthy lifestyle. Not liking the person I saw in the mirror, I was unmotivated. All I wanted to do is watch TV and eat junk. I was a closet ice cream eater.

It was easy for me to polish off a large container of ice cream in a day or two. The reason I began training was to feel better inside and out. The better you feel physically, the better you feel mentally when making yourself a better person and thus you're happier in general.

How I Did It

I decided to make a change and get myself a membership at the local gym in town. I began training slowly, lifting light weight. I already had a general knowledge of weight training so I began to use what I had, bought some books and learned from them. I gave myself a goal that every two weeks to a month I would try to increase the weight to build muscle. I also began to research on how to eat cleaner.

Once I began this, the weight started shedding off and people started to notice and that made me so motivated. As I began to see the results and my body changing the more I became motivated to train harder and now making training a part of my daily routine and passion for it.

I recently bought a few sessions with a trainer because I wanted to compete and thought I might need a few changes to my routine to bring the best package to the stage that I could provide!

It was a worthwhile expense as I perfected my form on a few things.

Supplements

Diet

I try to have at least 2 liters of water a day if not more.

Training

I try to do at least one session of cardio on the days that I train or at least 30 minutes on the bike or on the stair mill. I try to keep reps between 10-12 but if I increase the weight I drop the reps.

I like supersets, I try to use them for quads and hamstrings or biceps and triceps.

Suggestions for Others

My suggestion is to never give up. Everything in moderation. Don't cut out the things you love. What worked for me was to make a cookie or chocolate bar last the entire day. There are no magic diets or pills.

It's about being healthy and making healthy a lifestyle. Results don't happen overnight, but if you are patient, work hard and give your all you will get there. I am proof!

Competition History:
2011 OPA Natural, Ottawa, ON, April 30th: 3rd Bikini, 3rd Figure
2011 Mississauga OPA Luchka O'Brien, Missasauga, ON, May 21st: 1st Bikini Short, 3rd Figure
2011 Universe Weekend - Fitness Universe Pageant, Miami, FL, June 17-18: 27th Bikini, 10th Figure