After deciding to compete in a body building competition this year I immersed myself into the sport of body building. I took a special interest in our local athletes and this is where I stumbled upon Katia. My initial reaction was to curse because I could not believe my eyes. I kept asking myself “is this girl really only 17??” I am pretty sure she hears this a lot

Always remember you are never too young or too old for fitness. Katia proves that regardless of age, if you dedicate yourself to something your opportunities are endless. Good luck competing this year Katia!

(Q) Tell us a bit about yourself.

(A) I am currently 17 years old, and I just graduated from high school a semester early. I am prepping for the first show of my season this year, and the journey has been amazing so far. At 15, I began going to the gym regularly, and after someone approached me, suggesting I do a show, I decided to compete in figure. I completely changed my habits and dedicated myself to proper training and nutrition, in order to compete at the 2012 NSABBA provincial championships. At 16, I won the Figure Short division! I have absolutely fallen in love with this sport, and I have big plans for the future. This year, I will be competing at the 2013 NSABBA provincial championships. I am also planning to compete at the 2013 Canadian Nationals. I have a phenomenal team of trainers behind me, Danny and Janelle Garon, and I am confident that I will really make my mark this year! Though I have a long road ahead of me, I can guarantee that no one will out work me. I have an extremely good work ethic, and with the goals that I have set for myself, I am going to have to use every day to my advantage.

(Q) Why is fitness important to you?

(A) Fitness is important to me for a number of reasons. I think it is very important to take care of your body – we are only given one shot, so it’s important to nourish and take care of your physique. Not only does fitness help improve my overall health, it gives me a boost in confidence. Every time I step into the gym, I feel empowered. I don’t think there is any better feeling than killing a workout. I also love the way I feel when I’m in shape; I have more energy, I like the way I look, and I am extremely proud of the body I have worked for. Setting fitness goals has helped me to become more disciplined in all areas of my life, and making progress helps me to feel very accomplished. There are SO many benefits of living a healthy lifestyle.

(Q) What was the hardest part about getting into shape?

(A) The hardest part about getting into shape was initially the diet. I have always loved to train, so spending hours in the gym has never been an issue for me. Food, however, can be tough to get past mentally. Food doesn’t phase me anymore (well, rarely – we’re only human), but when I began my journey, I had a really hard time trying not to cheat. I couldn’t get rid of the mind set that I was being deprived of food, but I have adapted a new way of thinking. Instead of being upset that I can’t have a piece of cake, or a normal dinner like everyone else, I like to think of food as fuel. If I want my body to work efficiently, I need to fuel it with the best food available. I am constantly reminding myself that the satisfaction of food is much shorter lived than the satisfaction of reaching my goals. Once you can overcome the mental hurdles with food, dieting is a piece of cake! LOL. However, I think It is still possible to have delicious meals while dieting or eating clean. I love to get creative with spices and low calorie flavour boosters, such as cinnamon, raw cocoa powder, stevia, garlic, etc.

(Q) What is your favorite type of exercise?

(A) My favourite exercise would probably have to be side lateral raises. I always perform these as my first exercise on shoulder day, and each set is a drop set. I found these have really helped to develop rounded shoulders, and I love the burn I feel while performing the drop set! I get a crazy rush from pushing myself while training – hard work feels great.

(Q) What advice would you give to other women?

(A) There is so much advice I could give other women, but there are a couple of things that really stand out in my mind. First, don’t be afraid to lift heavy and train hard! The myths about getting bulky from weight lifting are false – women do not have enough natural testosterone in their bodies to gain mass like men. If you want “toned” arms, a round bum, or a shapely back, you’re going to have to hit those weights hard. Second, be confident and love your body. The fitness journey is a marathon, not a sprint. There are always improvements to make, but make sure you enjoy the process. It’s important to set goals and strive for your ideal physique, but never forget where you started and how far you’ve come. It takes years to build a well-rounded physique, so be patient with yourself and don’t be afraid to show off all the hard work you’ve done so far.