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Published on Saturday, 22 September 2012 18:25
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Written by Jennifer Lackie
Spotlight On NPC Figure Competitor: Jennifer Lackie
Category you compete in: Figure
Date of birth: 10/5/64
Hometown:Springville, NY
Career: Secretary (School District)
If you could change into a superhero for a day who would you be and why?
Wonder Woman. Now you really know my age. Diana Prince, played by Lynda Carter, was not only beautiful, but wholesome, strong and intelligent and she always caught the bad guy. Every young girl was glued to the TV set when that show aired back in the 70’s. Young girls looked up to Wonder Woman for her superhuman strength, Lasso of truth, ability to communicate with animals, her indestructible bracelets, and of course her “cool” (a 70’s slang word) invisible airplane.
What made you begin dedicating your lifestyle to this sport?
We had several competitive bodybuilders at my gym (both a man and a woman) and I always admired them for their look and how hard they worked out. I really appreciated the way the female bodybuilder looked and I was impressed by the amount of weight she could lift. I never knew women could lift such heavy weight. She put many of the men to shame. She was the one who inspired me to train and condition my body. I worked very hard and I was hooked after my first bodybuilding competition. The sport really keeps me on track and focused on my workouts and dieting. It motivates me to work harder and look even better. It is equally important to stay motivated and focused on something and this sport has been a positive reinforcement in my life. It is also important to set goals and achieve those goals. To me, competing in this sport is like crossing the finish line for a runner.
What approach do you take to dieting...carb
cycle..keto?
Dieting is the most difficult part of this sport and accounts for about 80% of what I do. It has to be regimented. The workouts are easy mentally compared to the diet. It is a mental control game with myself and it means being disciplined and saying “no” to myself and sticking to it. When I am in competitive mode, I eat only very healthy carbs; such as oatmeal, brown rice and sweet potatoes. A couple weeks before a competition, I eat only lean meats such as white fish, chicken and turkey. I always try to drink a lot of water to stay hydrated. All my food is measured out in either cups or ounces. I tell myself close to a competition that I can have a piece of cake or slice of pie after the show. I also buy something inexpensive for myself after the show as a reward. I bought a purse after my last competition. It is important to not just reward yourself with unhealthy food choices. I use to be overweight, having lost over 40 pounds. During that time, when I was sad or had a bad day, I ate unhealthy food to make myself feel better. Too many people do that and use unhealthy food choices as a way of coping.
What do you think is the biggest misconception people have about competing?
I think there are many but what comes to mind for me is:
1. People just don’t realize how much time and energy you have devoted to dieting and working out to look and feel a certain way for those brief 5 to 10 minutes on stage. Bodybuilding takes time and years of dedication. I work out 6 days a week and I have been doing this for about 3 to 4 years now. It has taken me years to transform my body. I also eat about 6 to 7 times a day. It’s not just a sport, it’s a healthy lifestyle.
2. There are a lot of women out there who are afraid to lift weights because they think they are going to look masculine doing so. I think many of them realize after seeing a muscular woman that this is a fallacy and that muscularity is a thing of beauty, whether on a man or on a woman. There can be misconceptions on what is considered feminine and what is not.
What is your most embarrassing childhood memory?
I was about 10 years old and i
n a dance recital doing a tap solo and I forgot part of my routine. I stood there frozen for what seemed to be an eternity knowing that all eyes were on me. My dance teacher, who was behind the stage, broke my trance and whispered to me to continue on. I listened carefully to the song and picked up my routine and finished the dance. I started crying the minute I got off stage and when I got home, I ran and hid in a closet for about a half an hour. I thought I disappointed and embarrassed my parents and family who were there. My parents said I did a wonderful job and that they were proud of me. They said it was O.K. to make a mistake and that I still danced beautifully. Just learn from your mistakes, pick up the pieces, and move forward and be all the better next time.
What is the biggest lesson you have learned about YOURSELF during your contest prep?
During contest prep, I am not a very pleasant person. (Yes, you can call me a “B - - - -“). I am usually an absolute sweetheart. Unfortunately, the extreme strictness of the diet and workouts makes me moody and irritable. I am my own worst critic and I knit pick over everything. During contest prep, if I were married to me, I would have divorced myself at least 20 times already. The lesson I have learned is to be cognizant of that side of me and try to keep it under control. I have also learned how to say “I’m sorry” many times to my loved ones. The stress of trying to be your best weighs on your mind constantly. It doesn’t end until you walk off stage.
Who do you look up and admire and why?
My mother. She battled being overweight almost her entire life; being unsuccessful with every diet out there. She had multiple health issues as a result, from having heart problems (triple bypass surgery), to having diverticulitis (only a third of her colon left), to sugar diabetes, having a blood disorder and arthritis. She finally died when her heart gave out after having an above-the-knee leg amputation as a result of diabetes. All of these issues stemmed from her being overweight her whole life. What she inspired was the battles she fought proven by the surgery scars on her body. I have never
seen someone go through so much physical pain. When I think of my pain, during the time I am lifting or the after pain of working out, I think of my mother. After her death, she inspired me to lose weight and be healthy, which is what she strived to do and it is because of her that I am where I am today. I hope she would be proud of me today if she were still alive.
Competition history:
2011 NPC Mr./Ms. Buffalo
2012 NPC Teen, Collegiate and Masters Nationals
2012 IFBB North American Championships
Next competitions:
NPC Mr./Ms. Buffalo – March 2013
NPC Rochester Bodybuilding Championships – April 2013
2013 NPC Teen, Collegiate and Masters Nationals
2013 IFBB North American Championships
Favorite Motivational Quote:
“It’s not over til the fat lady sings.”
Who would you like to thank?
My Mom
Sandra Lombardo
Timothy Crotty
Spring Creek Athletic Club
