Champ sports a firm commitment to fitness
Date: 31-08-2011
Posted by: Anabolic Info TeamUnited States |
|
Jeannie Upchurch is a firm believer that healthy eating and weight training are the basic ingredients to her success in competition and life.
It also doesn't hurt that the Hunter's Green resident possesses the body of a 25-year-old at age 55.
"I want to stay in show shape for the rest of my life," said Upchurch, the reigning 2011 Masters National Figure Championship winner in the 55 and older category. "I want to (be prepared to) walk on stage in a bikini at any time."
Upchurch walked away with the national title at the Masters National Bodybuilding Championships in Pittsburgh in July.
Figure is a relatively new competition at bodybuilding shows that allow women to be judged based on physical fitness and muscle tone. The sport promotes femininity and women with well-defined shapes and curves.
Upchurch sports a petite, chiseled body carved in 2 1/2 years through hard work in the gym and eating a lot of fruits, vegetables, lean meat and other food packed with protein.
At 108 pounds, Upchurch is in the best shape of her life, she said.
"I feel stronger than I have felt in my entire life," she said. Age "it's just a number."
Upchurch refused to use her age as an excuse not to compete, said the divorced mother of two.
Upchurch's daughter, Kerensa, 21, is studying accounting at the University of South Florida and her son, J.C., 17, is a senior at Freedom High.
Since celebrating her 50th birthday, Upchurch transformed a dancer's body honed as a student at the Boston Conservatory of Music and a young performer at Walt Disney World 25 years ago into winning form.
She has competed in figure contests at numerous bodybuilding shows in the past two years, culminating with wins at the 2010 Florida state championships and this year's masters national championships.
Competing in the 50 and older category at the state championships in Orlando last year, Upchurch won the overall masters figure title, besting winners of the 30 and older and 40 and older categories.
Upchurch learned about figure competition from another competitor who noticed her body development.
"I didn't know figure (competition) existed," Upchurch said. "When I started working out, my muscles started growing. It's not big muscles; it's muscle but on a feminine scale."
Upchurch stresses her commitment to healthy eating and weight training to sculpt her body.
"Diet is huge," she said. "That is why most people can't do it. Most people like to eat. We can eat, but not stuff most people like. It's not pizza and cookies."
Upchurch plans to continue training and working part time as a personal trainer, but her competition days are over, she said.
"When I won the national show, there is nowhere else for me to go," Upchurch said. "Unfortunately in my age category you don't get a pro card."
But Upchurch, a senior program analyst at Fiserv Lending Solutions in Lake Mary who works at home, is hoping to help pave a different path for future masters figure contest champions. She wants women to have equal footing with men, who are allowed to earn pro cards at 55 or older in bodybuilding.
"We are in the process of lobbying" for change, Upchurch said. "It does seem unfair. If I got a pro card, I could compete professionally."
But for now Upchurch plans to help friends such as Kimberly Segalla get in shape. After one month of gym time with Upchurch, Segalla has lost 13 pounds.
"She helps me become mindful about my diet," said Segalla, 52. "She has taught me about muscle mass and how weight training helps your body become a fat-burning machine."
Segalla, who lives in Hunter's Green, described Upchurch as having "an extremely generous heart," and "she gives back to the sport by helping people."
Upchurch gains inspiration from friends and competitors, who are encouraging her to stay involved in the figure contest industry.
"I'm always going to stay involved, but yes, I will miss it," Upchurch said.
She has plans to volunteer behind the stage at an upcoming local contest and do so in tip-top shape.
"108 (pounds) is the perfect weight for me," Upchurch said. "I try to stay at competitive weight all year long. I think it comes from being a dancer. Slender is good."
