I Am Julie Lockhart - I Am Women's Physique! A Tranformation Story
I am a 35 year old woman and mother of 3. I was always an active participant on school sports teams; everything from the track team, rugby, volleyball, baseball, badminton and the cheerleading squad.
I have also always loved to dance, as it evokes and reveals my inner bliss. Music as well as weight training is the life force that empowers and rejuvenates my mind body and soul.
Becoming a mom was in one word - amazing. To have the gift of life in me and feel and watch it grow was the ultimate experience. However, with that ultimate experience I had to learn to accept my body was changing. I was fortunate, my pregnancy was awesome, as well as labor and delivery. This was the same throughout my second and third pregnancies.
What I wasn't anticipating was finding out I had an underlying health condition.
During my 2nd pregnancy, I found out that I had an under active thyroid condition that was triggered during this time. Throughout my 2nd and 3rd pregnancies, I couldn't keep weight on. My thyroid was over-active and totally out of whack. I only gained 10 pounds for both, unlike my first pregnancy, gaining 22lbs.
My thyroid remained a problem after I gave birth to my 2nd daughter. It slowed almost to a halt and became under active, so my family doctor put on medication to help stabilize and regulate my thyroid. 12 years later, I am still taking my medication every night before bed.
In saying all that, this is why I got into going to the gym and really focusing on my body. There are a few reasons besides my health and having a condition where I could easily put weight on. It was a picture that I seen of myself!
I thought I was looking at someone else and it was the picture that triggered it all. I started my transformation and viewing my body as my temple from that moment on.
I started going to the local YMCA joining in on classes and programs they offered, and at this same point I changed my eating habits. I began with a moderate program going to the gym 4 sometimes 5 days a week. I started with the high energy step classes and kick boxing, moving up to a Rock Bottom class and 20-20-20 class. This is where I got introduced to free weights and I got hooked.
I loved seeing the changes my body was making, and it became almost like my addiction. I wanted and craved more change. I wanted to see my muscles work together and see the definition in my muscle groups.
After a few years of training, I decided to challenge myself again 
and step on stage. I got myself trainers, which helped me with diet and guided me through workout programs. I proudly stepped on stage competing in my first show - the London & Western Ontario NYTRO Fitness Classic Championships - November 2008 *Level One – 3rd Figure.
At that time, I was told straight from the judges that I should try bodybuilding. I hold a lot of muscle. Too much they told me to continue competing in Figure. I would have to get bigger for bodybuilding or lose the muscle I worked so hard to get. Lose muscle? Not even an option in my mind.
I chose to maintain what I had, because I did not want to go down the path of a bodybuilder. I liked the sparkles and glitter of the suits, being able to have hair, make-up, jewelry and heels on. To me, that was the physique that I strived for. I am a women, that holds more muscle and have the ability to train and diet down and not lose my sexy curves - total bonus for me.
As I am sure you can imagine how absolutely excited I was, when Women's Physique was introduced. Ecstatic, is more like the word I would describe myself as. I feel like this is a category that was designed especially for me.
January 7th, 2012 I officially started contest prep. Under the guidance of my new trainers Craig and Julie Bonnett of Contestprep.com and with the full support of my soul mate and partner Chris Bélanger. We set goals of competing in the first 2 shows of the OPA (Ontario Physique Association) season. The OPA is sanctioned under the CBBF, which is then sanctioned under the IFBB.
I stepped on stage April 14th, 2012 at the GNC Stratford Championships and took 1st place. This placing qualified me to compete in the 2012 OPA Ontario Provincial Championships, June 2nd, 2012.
I felt that I wanted the extra stage time and more opportunity to showcase my physique. I was terribly sick with a chest infection and a horrible head cold, but I stuck to my original goal and still competed for my 2nd show, even though I didn't need too. On May 19th, 2012 at the GNC O'Brien/Luchka Mississauga Classic, I had placed 2nd. I was very proud of myself for staying true to my goals, despite being sick and retaining water like a blow fish.
Just before stepping on stage at the National Qualifiers, I received a sponsorship from FUSION BODYBUILDING. This was awesome and totally unexpected. I was truly honored and humbled to have this opportunity and represent Women's Physique with a rock solid supplement company behind me.
On June 2nd, 2012 at the OPA Ontario Provincial Championships at the GNC Toronto Pro SuperShow; I stepped on stage for my 3rd show of the season. I in finished in 3rd place, and this was sending me to the Nationals.
I am 3 weeks away (July 28th, 2012) from stepping on stage for my 4th show in my debut year. On August 18th, 2012 I will be amongst several Women's Physique competitors in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. I am so proud to be there representing Ontario but more so representing Women as a whole.
I am proud of everything I have achieved and worked for. I have curves, sex appeal, positive stage presentation, lots of muscle and I can dance.
I am the total package. I continue to learn something new every day and 
I enjoy inspiring others to be their best! I am so very proud to represent women who aspire to be strong, powerful and sexy. I am Julie Lockhart - I am Women's Physique!
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