Go Figure!

Thirty-two year-old Shara Martin walks into her local Whole Foods Market to buy some groceries before heading back to the gym. To her left she hears a mother quieting her young son as she shoots a menacing look in Martin’s direction. “That’s just gross,” said the woman, “only men should look like that, honey.” Martin recalls countless encounters like this on her battle with people that don’t understand her sport on a daily basis. It is so hard for people to understand why somebody would practically starve themselves, and put their bodies through as much as they do for something so ‘insignificant’. Comments like the one in the supermarket are certainly not uncommon for women like Martin, but it is not enough to deter them from pressing on in their sport.

What is it?
For as many women are turning to this sport each year, why don’t more people know about it? Why does everyone assume people like Shara Martin are all female bodybuilders? “It is easy for people to look at me and see the muscle and look at my lifestyle and judge me,” said Martin, “Instead of going to the movies or a friend’s party, I go to the gym or catch up on sleep.” When people don’t know enough about something, they are quick to label it as what is familiar. Shara Martin has lost countless friends because they didn’t know how to deal with her lifestyle.

Jeff Taylor, NPC Chairman of Colorado, has dedicated the last ten years of his life to promoting Colorado Fitness, Figure and Bodybuilding shows, and advocating this way of life. “What is so unhealthy about only fueling your body with the purest of sources, and strengthening your heart, and every muscle, every bone?” said Jeff, “There is this taboo against women with muscle, they get a bad name because of some of the more recognized female bodybuilders.” Taylor is one of the more recognized names in the industry since Colorado has done well to put themselves on the nationally ranked map. The growing fitness industry is absolutely booming, and has become an extremely lucrative business. Each year, national shows grow by 25 percent than the previous year. The sport of Figure began with three height divisions and an average of 30 women per class. We now see six height classes with an average of 50-100 women per class. “This sport will never stop evolving, and the numbers are slowly becoming overwhelming. Fitness and Figure are here to stay; people will begin to see this as a trend. It is everywhere.”

So what is the difference between Bodybuilding and Figure? Most people probably could not tell you, since most of the time it is all thrown into the category of bodybuilding. The sport that Shara Martin and thousands of other women have dedicated their lives to is entirely unique. The IFBB or the International Federation of Bodybuilders was started by brothers Joe and Ben Weider in 1946. The first Mr. Olympia was held in 1965, and at the time, Women’s Bodybuilding did not yet have a name for itself. It wasn’t until 1980 that the first Ms. Olympia was held, and Women’s Bodybuilding really took off from there. Finally in 1995 a new division called Fitness was created, then eventually Figure in 2003. The sport is really still in its infancy, but the number of women competing in this sport has skyrocketed since its introduction.

           

Fitness is different from Women’s bodybuilding in the sense that it does not require as much muscle mass. The competition is not based on who has the most ‘size’ or ‘mass’, it is more based on muscle tone,  presentation, body symmetry, and the 90 second strength routine. The routine music and theme is chosen by the competitor. There are several required strength moves, and skills, but beyond that it is up to the competitor to come up with a fresh idea, and unique strength moves. Fitness not only requires perfect body conditioning, but also the perfect routine.

           

Figure on the other hand is Fitness without the 90 second routine. It is a subset of bodybuilding, but again, it does not require the same caliber of muscle in fact it is frowned upon to be too ‘bulky’. At this division, the sport becomes more difficult to judge, and what some would call ‘subjective’. When the average national show includes six different height classes, and over 50 women per class, how can you narrow it down in the short amount of stage time these women have without it becoming subjective to what each judge likes? National shows continue to grow each year. Just four years ago there were only three height classes, but the classes were becoming too big and they had to create more. Martin has chosen to compete in Figure. At 5’2, she falls in the Class B category.

"The Addiction"
“I guess you could call it an addiction. Once my body started changing I just wanted more and more,” said Martin. Shara Martin of Denver, CO, began weight training at the age of 22. She had played volleyball throughout high school and college, and needed something to keep her occupied. In the first year of training Martin had put on nine pounds of muscle. During one of her daily workouts she was approached by a trainer. “He told me all about the sport of Figure/ Fitness, and told me I would be perfect for it,” said Martin, “at first I thought he was crazy, but it sparked the interest of the competitive volleyball player in me.”

The petite, blond Martin slowly sips her nonfat skinny vanilla latte as if it is the last latte left on earth. For her, coffee is a treat. Martin is four weeks out from her upcoming Figure competition, which means that this is only trip one of three to the gym on this particular Monday. If she misses her alarm and does not get to the gym by 4:45 she misses her morning cardio, and will pay the price later. “You have to think you are going to win. Losing is not really an option in this sport, you won’t make it through one day if you think you are going to lose,” said Shara.

 Six Glad Tupperware containers fill her oversized red gym bag/cooler; these are her meals for the day. Shara Martin lifts her giant gallon sized jug of water to her mouth and takes a swig before placing her iPod in her ears. The game has begun.

           

To most, Martin appears to me isolated, a lone wolf of sorts. Martin explained that not many people understand the sport. “People assume I am a crazy bodybuilder on steroids. That is always the assumption.” Standing at just 5’2, Martin weighs around 125 in the off season, and 117 during her competitive season. Martin eats six small protein-packed meals per day, and leaves a trail of Tupperware, Splenda packets, water bottles, and gum wrappers everywhere she goes. “The gum is for the hunger, it gives you something to occupy your mind,” said Martin.

           

On an average day Martin starts her day at 4 a.m., and gathers her meals, client information, and a change of clothes. Martin quit her job as a Teacher to become a personal trainer. Martin explained, “I found that all I wanted to do was be in the gym and that the only way this lifestyle would work was if I made it into part of my everyday life.” It appears that this is a common theme in the world of Bodybuilding, Fitness and Figure.

After a 45 minute round of high intensity cardio, Martin takes a quick shower and is able to finish her first meal before her first client arrives at 6:30 a.m. Martin trains clients back to back until around 1:00 p.m., where she gets a two hour break to eat, weight train, and catch up on other various projects. Around 6:30 p.m., Martin leaves the gym and heads home. After dinner and family time, she finishes her last round of cardio- usually a 50 minute run. Around 11:00 p.m., Martin is finally able to hit the sack. “Yeah, it’s really hard, but everybody has their battles. If I am going to choose to do this, I can’t complain about what needs to get done. Everybody has their challenges and somebody is always working harder than you are,” said Martin.

Shara Martin is currently competing at the national level. Like all competitors she started local and placed top three at a nationally qualifying show here in Denver to advance to the national level. There are typically around 6-10 national shows per year where a competitor can earn their ‘pro card’ and advance to a professional status if they place top two. At this time you compete only against other pros and you can earn money if you win a pro show.

           

“Believe it or not I have never done steroids in my life. This muscle comes from years of not eating Thanksgiving dinners, and spending hours at the gym, sometimes until I can no longer walk,” said Martin. Shara Martin is just one of thousands of women that lead this kind of lifestyle. To many, it is frowned upon. People think the sport is unhealthy not only for your body, but for your emotional well-being. How can you not take it personal when you trained twice as hard as the woman that beat you? The truth is we are all obsessed with perfection. Looking good is just not good enough anymore.”

A loud crash penetrates the silent gym as two 40 lb. dumbbells hit the rubber mat. Shara Martin pants heavily as she slowly unwraps her wrist bands and looks at the lean, sweaty figure in the mirror. Though her stomach has already savagely digested the protein shake she devoured pre workout, her hair is a sweaty mess, her blue eyes are blinking wildly to remain open, Martin pays no attention. She will be back tomorrow, and the next day. Perfection is her moving target, pulling her to the finish line. A dirty look here and there is just another bug on the windshield of her moving car.