By: Shara Vigeant
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Before:
165 lbs
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After:
113.5 lbs
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Vital Stats
Name: Shara Vigeant
Email: shara@sharavigeant.com
Personal Website: http://www.sharavigeant.com/
Before:
Weight: 165 lbs
After:
Weight: 113.5 lbs
Why I Got Started
I am originally from Fort Nelson, B.C.; a small town where the only working out I did was "the bending of the elbow". Needless to say, all the partying took its toll on my body. I moved to Alberta in 1997 to attend college and gained the "freshman fifteen". I did, however, join GMCC Sports and Wellness Centre and got a fitness program from a trainer and started training everyday, mostly doing cardio but lifting weights 3-4 days a week.
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Shara In 1999 Before Her Transformation.
I also began kickboxing and Tae Kwon Do 3 days a week. I loved how exercise made me feel, I had so much energy but no matter how much I worked out, my body stayed the same. My problem was my diet. In 1999, I met Erin Winters and Jay Hutton and asked them for help.
How I Did It
Erin and Jay started training me 5 days a week with weights and prepared a diet for me to follow. They taught me about proper weight training, nutrition and so much more. At first I just wanted to lose weight but became especially interested in bodybuilding once I saw Erin compete at my first bodybuilding competition - the 2000 Alberta Bodybuilding Championships. As soon as I saw her on stage I said to myself - I MUST TRY THIS!
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Shara Vigeant.
Images By Aperture F/X.
So from then on Jay and Erin changed my diet and training so that I could add some mass. I ate strict during the week eating tons of chicken, tuna, rice, oatmeal and protein shakes. On the weekend I had a cheat day where I could eat what I wanted (within a reasonable limit).
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I lifted heavy weights in the gym 5-6 days a week with 1 hour of cardio on my cheat day and every other day during the week. We decided that I would aim for competition in the 2001 Muscle Beach. On May 28, 2001 I started dieting and what would become the hardest thing I have ever done.
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Shara Vigeant.
Images By Aperture F/X.
I had fairly low calories throughout the whole 24 weeks because my body was stubborn and just didn't want to let go of the fat. My cheat day was eliminated and everyday I had to do 2 hours of cardio plus weight training. The last 2 months were perhaps the hardest. I had no starch (rice or oatmeal) for 10 weeks and just 800 calories worth of chicken and fibrous veggies (carrots and green beans).
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Shara Vigeant.
Images By Aperture F/X.
Closer to the competition I started posing every night after training, cardio, cooking and homework, trying to perfect my routine and poses. No matter how tired I was I always practiced posing because it is what shows off your hard work and believe me I wanted to show everyone how darn hard I had worked! On the days where I wanted to quit, I would visualize me on stage and how mad I would be at myself if I didn't make it up there because I quit.
Besides, I was way too stubborn to quit - there was no way I would let the mind games win! The whole process was like unwrapping a present and I couldn't wait to see what was underneath. It was so incredible to see my body change in front of my eyes, practically daily. Competition day came on November 10, 2001. My competition weight was 113.5 pounds. I lost 51 pounds in 24 weeks.
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Aug. 13/01 - Sept. 23/01 - Oct. 29/01
24 Weeks
Those 24 weeks were life changing for me. I learned that the whole process is 90% psychological. You literally battle with yourself and your mind. The one thing dieting did for me was help me in school believe it or not. (I am a full time student pursuing a law degree.) Everything was on a strict schedule for me - almost down to the minute! I become very disciplined. Structure, routine and discipline were key.
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Shara Vigeant.
Images from 2001 Muscle Beach Classic.
I became so focused and disciplined and threw myself into my schoolwork. If I wasn't eating, sleeping, training, cooking or doing cardio, I was studying. I quit my job as a Legal Assistant half way through the diet so I could put more focus on school, as good grades are essential for admission into law school.
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During those 6 months people kept asking me what kept me going and why the heck I was doing this to myself. The only answer that came to mind was that I wanted to know if I could do it - if I could set a goal as crazy as being ripped in a bikini on a bodybuilding stage in front of hundreds of strangers! Some people called me nuts but I now know that I can accomplish anything.
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Shara Vigeant.
Images from 2001 Muscle Beach Classic.
I think Arnold Schwarzenegger said it best: "You have to make a decision what you want to be in life. If you want to be something special then you have to sacrifice a lot. I get the most satisfaction out of things not everybody experiences . . ." I think this has a lot to do with being something special and not being one of the masses. This is why I like bodybuilding. Bodybuilding makes me special, individual.
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Shara Vigeant.
Images by David Ford Photography.
The most important thing that I have learned from doing Muscle Beach, as I said before, is that I can achieve anything! All I say is - BRING IT ON. Within those 24 weeks I learned a lot about myself - strengths, weaknesses, capabilities, emotions, what is important and so much more. I also learned a lot about my body. I learned what it likes and dislikes and how to work with my body and not against it. I owe a lot of my learning experience to Jay and Erin who shared their expertise, guided me, counseled me, pushed me and most of all had patience with me!
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The People
They are great people who I not only consider my trainers but my good friends. Most importantly, I owe a great deal to my very supportive parents who backed me up from the day I told them my crazy goal and from day one of the diet. They supported me financially and emotionally through everything and I would not have made it without them. This is also true of my very understanding and supportive friends.
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Shara Vigeant.
Images by David Ford Photography.
Bodybuilding has changed my life, self-esteem and confidence. The competition was a personal thing, just to see if I could do it. My placing at Muscle Beach was not important to me. I just wanted to do the best I could and be the best I could be.
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Shara Vigeant.
Images by David Ford Photography.
In my eyes the fact that I got through the diet and got my butt on stage already made me a winner. Getting 3rd place was icing on the cake! Those 24 weeks were the hardest thing I ever had to do, or will ever do and from that experience I am a happier and healthier person.
I am competing again on June 8, 2002 in Edmonton at the Alberta Bodybuilding Championships. Even if I were to never compete again, I will always live the bodybuilding lifestyle because it helped me win the war against my lifelong battle and I love it!
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Shara Vigeant.
Images from 2002 Alberta Provincials.
"For Every Disciplined Effort There Is A Multiple Reward."
- Unknown
