I am always asked how I got started in BodyBuilding, what motivated me to become interested and more often, how strict was my diet.

This is a photo from my very first BodyBuilding Competition. I took First place in my class and was also the Overall Champion. Let me tell you, this was the fourth most incredible moment in my life. (My daughters have the top three ranking!)

In the fall of 1997 I started training with a personal trainer (Ken)basically to improve my form and learn proper technique with weight lifting. After about a month of working with him and changing my eating habits, other people starting noticing significant changes and asked if I was training for a contest. Not knowing exactly what they meant, I asked my trainer "what is the contest" everyone keeps asking me about. After he explained what it entailed I was intrigued. I wasn't afraid of the work involved, I just wasn't sure parading on a stage in a tiny bikini flexing and posing was something that I wanted to do. After some additional consideration I decided that I was going to do it.

I had been training for about 2 months when I decided the day before Thanksgiving that I was going to enter the bodybuilding competition that was coming up in February 1998.  I was going to be 30 that April and I thought this would be my next accomplishment. So began an even stricter eating regime, a grueling workout schedule (on top of teaching group fitness classes at the gym, taking additional classes at the gym taking care of a family and a business) I gave it my all. The Holiday's were somewhat difficult having to watch what I ate at the Holiday parties (several of which I hosted), but I had a schedule, I had a goal and I was determined to meet it.

I started taking photos each month to watch my progress, it really was amazing seeing the results. I kept a journal of everything I ate, drank and did during the day (3 years worth, which I still have). The next hurdle was choosing music and putting together a routine. I decided on the song by Eric Clapton "You Can Leave Your Hat On".  I had a fabulous and very patient choreographer (Christine) who put together an sexy, feminine & dazzling routine for me to perform. On top of everything else I was doing, I then had to add tanning, and working on my routine and learning the poses for the contest with was drawing closer.

The support and kindness I received from everyone who helped and cheered me on those last few weeks was awesome. The day of the contest I was so nervous, but I was ready and prepared. That day was a whirlwind of emotions. My family and friends and many members from the gym that I trained at turned out to be in the audience cherring me on and hollaring my name! I went out there and gave it my all. At the end the event we went back out on stage before they announced the winners. I remember two women already congratulating me and telling me that I had won. I was honestly clueless. I was the only competitor on that stage from a different gym. All the other women (and I believe the men) trained at The Rock Gym. When I walked out on that stage and they announced my name as the first place winner I can't tell you how amazed and surprised I was. Then, I had to go back out on stage and compete against the other two women in the other divisions. All I heard while I was out there were the screams and cheers from the audience all yelling my name. I went out there and boy I made sure that I was front and center, the judges weren't going to overlook me. I had come this far, I was going all the way! My heart was pounding so fast when they handed me my award words can't even express what I felt. I was just so happy to have so many of my family and friends around me to share that moment with.

The next day, I watched the video (well, actually I think for the next month I watched it over and over again) and the minute the music started to play people from back stage were coming around watching my performance. There are so many people to thank for their time and effort they put forth helping me get their (Ken, Christine, Tony, Jim, my family & friends).  My husband at the time was so excited while he was filming my performance that he couldn't even keep the video camera still. It was shaking all over the place and all you could here on the audio was him and everyone in the crowd shouting my name. Thank goodness for the professional video I was able to purchase.

Afterwards, a few of us went out to dinner to this fabulous restaurant, The Redwood Lodge in Flint and I had a great dinner! Mash potatoes & a steak. It was delicious! My youngest daughter was so proud of me, when I went to pick her up from nursery school the teacher told me that she shared my proud moment with her class and told them (as she lifted a school desk) "my mommy is this strong!" Her teacher said she wouldn't stop talking about.

During the time of the training, I ate 6-7 small meals a day, trained twice a day, rode the bike 3 times a day, (every six hours) in addition to other workouts and practicing my routine over and over; forward, backwards, in the dark, to music, not to music; I had to be prepared!

Chicken, Fish and Egg Whites made up the majority of my meals, along with plenty of fresh vegetables & salads. When I first had to make modifications to my eating habits, I wasn't sure that I would be satisfied. You'll be amazed to find out how satisfied you are when you control your portion sizes and eat every 3 hours. It takes a little getting used to at first, but after a few weeks it is like second nature. Preparation is key! I always made sure that I had plenty of meals prepared ahead of time and kept a cooler of food with me at all times. This way, I knew I would never miss a meal and I could stay on track.

Diet, cardio and weights are a necesssry combination to meet your goals. I wouldn't have made the progress I did had I neglected any one of them.

Today, I still eat as regularly, but I am not as strict as I was back when I was training. I never got bored with what I ate either. It's amazing all the different varities of foods you come to enjoy. After eliminating pop and sugar from my diet; these items aren't even appealing to me anymore. The smell of butter at the movie theatre is enough to make me sick.  Eating out at restaurants wasn't that bad, I was just very specific with what I ordered and how I asked for it to be prepared. You get used to eating your foods not smothered in cream sauces or butters and you even get to enjoy their flavors more.

Marissa A. Jarret
marissa@marissajarrett.com