Julie Soar Resides: Massachusetts Age: 40 Height: 5’7  Weight: 145 Off Season In Season: 130 pounds Favorite Bodypart: Abs/Back Years Training: Three How I got started? Prior to having children, I always exercised and stayed in pretty good shape. So after childbearing and a few years of being overweight, I decided to get back into the gym. I started working out with a friend who loved to lift and had a great physique. I lifted, did the ½ hour to hour of cardio 5 days a week. I liked what I was seeing but needed to set some goals for myself. The gym I joined was having a “12 week challenge”. I entered this challenge at 162.6 lbs & 29.2% body fat. I lost 13.8 lbs and almost 6% body fat. To continue to motivate myself, I entered Bill Phillips Body for Life Challenge and lost another 9.4 lbs and 4.7% body fat. I maintained this body fat percentage for about 2 years with just slight fluctuations. At this time, I wanted to challenge myself further. My workout partner encouraged me to enter a local bodybuilding competition. I thought she was crazy! I started dieting down and see where it would get me. One Saturday afternoon a few weeks later, I headed to Providence RI and sat in the audience and watched my first bodybuilding competition. Within nine weeks of my decision, I stepped on stage for my first bb competition weighing in at 128 lbs and 10% bf. That was in July of 2003. I took home and 2nd and 3rd place trophies at the ANBC Beach Cities Classic in Hermosa Beach, California. I entered two more shows in October, 2004. The USBF Northeast Natural and the NGA Granite State Open. This time, between the two shows, I took home two 2nd place trophies, one first place trophy and a Best Poser trophy. The very best memory of these shows is seeing and hearing my two sons, now 13 and 9 in the first row, cheering on their mom!          What kind of nutritional plan do you stick to? My nutrition is pretty basic. I eat mostly whole foods; only supplementing with meal replacement or protein shakes when whole foods are not convenient or accessible. I eat small meals 5-6 times per day. Lean protein is a must; fish, egg whites, chicken breast and periodically lean red meat. I stick to whole grains such as oats, brown rice or Ezekiel bread. Fresh vegetables, and salads and low glycemic fruits are staples in my diet as well. Any vitally important, ¾ - 1 gallon of water per day.  My Training Regime  Currently, I lift 4 days per week. Some weeks are heavy weight/low rep weeks and some weeks are high volume. I try to use varying tempos (slow negatives, explosive lifts etc.) A typical week looks like this: Monday: Legs and abs, Tuesday: Chest and back, Wednesday: Off, Thursday: Legs and shoulders Why I Love the Sport of Natural Bodybuilding: I love bodybuilding because I strive to challenge myself continually. I enjoy the sport and have made a lot of great friends through the sport as well. When I am on stage in competition I have only one competitor; myself. Trophies are great but each time I get on stage I attempt to be better than the previous competition.  Maintaining a lean muscular physique has benefits other than just looking your best. I have a lot of cardiovascular disease and high cholesterol in my family. I want to lead a long healthy life. I feel as though I am healthier today than I have ever been in my life. I maintain low cholesterol, a healthy blood pressure, high metabolism, lots of energy, and low stress levels. Aside from the challenge and health benefits of bodybuilding, I like knowing that I look my best. It’s nice to look good, fit comfortably in my clothes and have a firm, strong body. I also enjoy being a confident, independent individual. Bodybuilding has helped me to develop that as well.  What I Hope to Achieve: I hope to inspire, encourage and help other women that have an interest in the sport or want to lead healthy lifestyles. I am a certified personal trainer. With my career and bodybuilding experience, I plan on helping anyone that wants to make the investment to live a healthy lifestyle. You can attain what you desire. I’d have to say that’s my motto. Whether it’s on the stage, in your profession, or in your personal life, if you truly want something, you can work hard enough and achieve your goal.  Julie