Brazoswood grad excels in fitness
Date: 27-05-2007
Posted by: Anabolic Info TeamUnited States |
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HOUSTON — Fitness professional Jennifer Becerra is hoping to use her statuesque 5-foot-1, 117 pounds of rippling muscles and determination on the grand stage.
The 1995 Brazoswood graduate is hoping to some day land on top of the International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness world. Becerra currently is training for the Europa Super Show in Arlington, Aug. 10 and 11.
“I’m also preparing for the All-Star Pro Fitness competition held in Arkansas a few weeks after the Europa,” Becerra said. “At each of these contests, the top three winners qualify for the Fitness Olympia. That is the ultimate goal, because it is like the Super Bowl of this sport. My goal is to compete in at least one Fitness Olympia contest.”
The physical therapy technician and personal trainer at Memorial Hermann Hospital began her transformation to the fitness stage after a serious knee injury. By July 2004, Becerra was in her first competition at the National Fitness Championships in Dallas where she placed first in the short class, a distinction that earned her the right to compete in the IFBF.
“You have to really love it,” Becerra said. “It’s a cut-throat sport and I really didn’t know what I was getting myself into when I started.”
Understanding the rigors of her new sport, Becerra grew with constant aches and pains to her body. A fitness enthusiast her entire life, Becerra began as a gymnast at All American Gymnastics in Clute. She ran the 100- and 200-meter dashes at Brazoswood High School, along with sprint relays, high jump, hurdles and also was the captain of the varsity cheerleaders during her senior season.
“I’ve always enjoyed working out, and it was my gymnastics coach, Pat Wilcoxon who inspired me to stay in great shape,” Becerra said. “I became a personal trainer to get me through college, and over the years so many people suggested I compete in fitness competitions with my background experience.”
Before diving into the world of bodybuilding, Becerra used her talents to perform in front of thousands as a Houston Rocket Power dancer from 1999 to 2005.
“I had taken dance in gymnastics and some classes that were offered in high school but never really thought that I would dance professionally,” Becerra said. “I went to the audition, and out of hundreds of girls, was blessed with the opportunity to dance for the NBA. It was the best experience in my life. I traveled through out the U.S. and as far as Asia with the Rockets. I also worked hard each year to get in better shape to wear those uniforms. That I believe is what also led me to competing in fitness.”
And she trains hard for her new venture — twice a week with a trainer, twice a week on her own — she also poses for the swimsuit rounds three times a week. Becerra trains at A-Team Fitness Pro in Stafford with husband and wife team, Charles and Christine Anderson.
Charles, a seven-year national level bodybuilder and owner of A-Team, is responsible for keeping Becerra’s body in tip-top shape. Christine, also a bodybuilding competitor, helps work on her dance routines.
Unfortunately for Becerra, injuries have hampered her progress at times. Besides a couple of torn anterior cruciate ligaments, she also has undergone ankle reconstruction. Of late, Becerra suffered yet another torn ACL but will put off surgery until after her competitions this summer.
“I did not want to waste anytime recovering for a full year, so I did the best thing for me and focused on getting the experience that I needed in the swimsuit rounds,” Becerra said. “At the pro level in fitness, we are judged in both the swimsuit rounds as well as a 90-second fitness routine in which all the girls wear a black unitard as well as a two-minute fitness routine of your own costume, props. I’ve got a lot to prove and am excited about the upcoming season.”
With her lower body injuries, it has been hard for her to work out her legs, so she continues to define her shoulders and upper body size. Becerra continues to define her abdominal, but also works her glutes and hamstrings.
“What I see Jennifer have that most don’t is a drive and determination that I’ve never seen in a man or woman,” Charles Anderson said. “When she went out with an ACL tear last season, she was asking what workouts to do for her upper body while her knee recovered. Because of her injuries Jennifer has shifted to using upper body in a more creative way. Her commitment to staying drug-free is another factor why she will succeed. A lot of people will do anything to win, but that is where she draws the line.”
As the 30-year-old Becerra continues to climb the ranks of the fitness profession she understands how she arrived at this point and where she wants to be at the end of it.
“I’ve always lived for a challenge even as a young child, and that hasn’t changed,” Becerra said. “The commitment to this sport has been with my diet, training and supplementation. I have always been driven and am just thankful for those who helped pave the way for me.”
“My dream is to open a gym that offers various sports activities, weight-lifting, rehabilitation, a Pro shop, a restaurant, study room, daycare. I want it to be a multi-functional gym that cater’s to different age groups from children to adults. I want to provide a facility that will allow individuals to interact more with their family. Many people have difficulties living a healthy life due to a lack of time between work, children, school.”
