Over 40 Amateur Of The Week: Ninette Terhart

Hi there! I'm 44-years young soon to be 45 in March 2012, and I had dreamed of being a pro bodybuilder since my early 20s. I'm originally from Canada and I actually started out as an aerobics instructor back in 1985! Wow! Sounds so long ago. I was 17 at the time and thought what a great way to work out and get paid all in one!

I was hired by Gold's in Toronto to be their aerobic coordinator when I was 20 and started getting into lifting then. I knew I was built for this sport and wanted to continue. But at 23 I became all swept up with a musician and the music scene.

After having a Top-5 dance hit, we decided to move from Toronto to L.A. to pursue our music career. After a long hard road of ups and downs and some pretty decent success, the 20-year relationship and music career ended. I moved to the beach and decided to join Gold's and began training hard again!

I had spent the last 10 years of my life as a professional aerialist performing all over the country so I had a lot of flexibility and strength especially in my back and arms, but my legs were just so long and limber I really had to start from scratch there. Also, I was holding most of my fat in my arms. My boyfriend is a bodybuilder as well so he would write out workouts for me so I could really focus on what I needed to do. I was new to all this "eating in order to gain, in order to lift heavy, in order to cut down" stuff!

When I started lifting in Nov. 2010, I was 43 years and weighed 117 pounds. By June of 2011 I was 143 pounds. Bam! I had never weighed that much in my life!

I decided to hire a professional bodybuilding coach, and what better person to have in your corner but Mr. Universe Natural Angelo Baity. He is truly awesome! I worked my butt off not only in the training but with diet as well. I learned so much about how it all works together. The dieting down 8 weeks prior was a real test of will and determination. I competed on September 24, 2011, at the UNBA body building show in Hermosa Beach Calif. I entered in 5 different categories, both in Bodybuilding and Figure.

I thought for my first time out I would hit it hard and I also was really excited about posing. In Figure you really don't get to do the flexing poses. It was an amazing day, I met amazing people ... especially the women ... they were so supportive and sweet! I placed first in the Masters Overall, Novice and the American Figure Classic. Then at the end of the posing routines I was called up on stage and awarded the Best Posing Award! Sweet! What!? I really had the best time ever! After that day my man, my coach, and some friends went out for pizza! Oh Yeah!

Right now I'm in my second bulking phase. My workout plan is much different then when I'm dieting down for a competition. My coach is constantly changing things up week by week in order for me to grow proportionately while I gain weight. I was 121 pounds September 24, 2011, for my last show.

Now, at the beginning of February 2012 I'm 149 pounds. The goal is to stay tight and lift heavier in order for more size and maturity to come in while I gain more weight than my body has ever carried before. I'm definitely stronger than ever and I'm seeing the growth pretty much week by week which is very exciting, however it's a real challenge to eat 3000 calories per day and still try and fit into my skinny jeans, that's for sure!

I'm bulking right now so I will go into detail about this phase since I'm currently gaining.

BAM - 3000 calorie day. I'm finding that with this amount of calories I gain steadily and I can keep a balance of muscle verses fat gain.

Creatine and glutamine.

It's simple ... no money, status, heritage or special pill can get you yokes. Only time can get you to the goals you desire in this sport. No matter who you are or where you come from, it makes no difference. And when you walk into a room or wherever you may be and slip off that sweater or coat and show your yokes ... bam! Everyone knows you're there. Yokes stand alone. You are a warrior!

My biggest inspiration is my man. He really stays on me to eat all my calories when I'm bulking and then he really motivates me to stay on track and eat super clean and lean when I'm dieting down for a show.

There are times especially being a woman where you feel so uncomfortable bulking because your regular clothes don't fit and you'll catch a glimpse of yourself in the mirror at times and feel really heavy. He is always giving me pep talks about being a champion and how visualizing all the time is key in achieving the results I want at the end of the bulking phase. "Gain that weight now so you can lift like a champ baby," he says, "then when you cut down you'll be a beast!" It really truly helps me focus and gets me through those times when I feel stuck.

Honestly I feel I can be a big inspiration to people, especially women. I started my aerial acrobatics career at 35 which most people would think is far too old to be making a living from flying around in the air, but I didn't, it actually didn't even cross my mind at the time, I just followed my heart and made a very successful business out of it. Now at 45, bodybuilding is all I can think about. I can hardly wait to meet with my coach everyday to train and share my training growth with my man and friends. I've never been one to play by the rules so to speak. I just follow my gut and trust that this is where I need to me in my life right now.

I'm in my second bulking stage right now. I'm up to 149 pounds and lifting like a beast 5 days per week with my coach. I will diet down starting at the end of April to 130-135 pounds and compete on July 4 at the Venice beach show. After that, we will have picked a few pro qualifying shows for me to compete at so I can get my pro card. My BIG goal in competing is to place first in Miss Figure Olympia 2014. That's right I said it!

Visualize! Visualize from the heart and feel it, whatever your goal is. The more you can really feel doing of it, you more you will materialize it. And then accomplishing that goal will bring you so much joy.

Larissa Reis is a total beast warrior. Love her. We also watch a lot of Jay Cutler on YouTube. He was a great Mr. Olympia. He held the title with ease and grace. Great look and he too is a monster.

I do a lot of my online shopping on Bodybuilding.com. We are constantly buying supplements, protein powder and bars. The prices are great and the delivery is bang on! I also enjoy reading the blogs of other women and their progress and tips on attaining their goals. It's very inspiring!