A Queenstowner says her win at the national bodybuilding champs made her ‘‘massive sacrifice’’ to get there worthwhile.
Juliana Souza this month won the figure novice under-164cm category at the New Zealand IFBB champs in Auckland, after qualifying by winning the South Island regionals three weeks earlier.
The 39-year-old also finished third in the open and 35-plus masters categories in the regionals and second in masters at the nationals.
Souza, who hails from Brazil and has lived in Queenstown for about 18 years, says bodybuilding had always been on her bucket list, but between a full-time job — she manages Blue Peaks Lodge — and parenting two teenagers, she didn’t know she’d have time for all the
prep involved.
Her dad, however, convinced her to enter when visiting her in 2019.
‘‘He said, ‘‘you are one of the strongest persons I know, I know you’ll be able to manage, go for it’.’’
Sadly, he died not much later — as a result, she dedicated this month’s win to him.
Souza originally prepped for last year’s Christchurch comp, but pulled out when it was twice postponed due to Covid restrictions.
She then restarted her build-up in March.
Souza, who’s also a nutrition coach, says only 20% of prep is gym-based, and the rest is diet.
To keep a strict diet — counting calories and macros — she didn’t go out at all, and followed the instructions of her Christchurch-based coach, Steve Orton, to the letter.
‘‘I was working, gym and home, working, gym and home, that was my life.’’
She praises fellow Flex Fitness gym members — ‘‘the whole community there is amazing, I had a lot of messages encouraging me not to give up’’.
By the time of the Christchurch comp her body fat percentage was down to 7% and she weighed just 54kg, having shed 14kg since her prep started — she dropped 4kg in the last week alone.
For her figure category, Souza explains she needed an ‘X’-shaped body — broad shoulders going down to a thin waist.
She says after the nationals a judge said she had the best condition of any competitor.
She was ‘‘over the moon’’ to win — ‘‘it wasn’t expected’’ — and says she’s come out a stronger person.
‘‘I realised anything I can put my mind to, I’m able to do it.
‘‘It’s really challenging, it’s not an easy thing to do, but it’s very rewarding at the end.’’
Souza says she’ll compete again next year, at least, but is aiming to increase her muscle mass.
