Body builder Claudia Brietzke is headed to nationals next year after placing second in a recent B.C. competition.
Her second competitive show, the Western Canadian Classic in Kelowna, is sponsored by the B.C. Amateur Body Building Association and is a tested show (no stimulants).
Winning second in the Class E Bikini Division was a pleasant surprise for Brietzke, and qualified her for provincials and the national-level world qualifiers which she'll compete in next year.
She says training for the show is hard, especially because guidelines are very general and nonspecific.
"It's always hit and miss," she said, adding that it felt really good to win second.
"It was shocking in a good way, but I feel like I earned it."
Brietzke has been training for the show since January with a specific meal plan and exercise regime.
Her strength training and cardio workouts are five or six days per week, guided by online fitness coach Caitlyn Bellamy.
She also has a goal-specific meal plan, and both her eating and training changes every few weeks based on her fitness level.
"There's a whole Science to it, it's pretty in depth," she said.
Brietzke started eating healthier January 1, 2013 and began an "Insanity" exercise program a month later.
"Going into it, all I wanted to do was get into good, beach-body shape, and then I thought, 'well, I need something to work towards.'"
That's when she started body building in June 2013, training for her first show, the Sandra Wickham Fall Classic last November.
After placing 13th there, Brietzke says she "got really stubborn."
"I thought, 'Well, I have to redeem myself,' so I trained into this show," she said, adding that she didn't expect to do so well.
"I don't know where I want to take it. I would love to take it to nationals next year."
Brietzke says she likes the mindset and backstage camaraderie at the competitions.
"You get to meet a lot of really cool girls."
"What I like best about it is that everybody is striving to be better then they were last time, verses competing with the girls beside you."
"The reason I keep doing it is because I enjoy doing the prep in the months leading up to it, but also to be a good example."
Starting up personal training in Houston, Brietzke is getting certification though the Canadian Fitness Professionals (CanFitPro) and seeking to be an example.
"I think you need to be a product of the product. Practice what you preach, right?"