My exciting bodybuilding journey began when I hit rock bottom.  The years 1996 - 2000 put me through an emergency appendectomy, immediately followed by two consecutive childbirths, and I lost my mother to cancer.  Physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually beaten...I felt like crawling into a cave and never seeing the light of day again.  However, thanks to the power of inspirational television, the TSN coverage of the Fitness Canada Pageant ignited a passion I'd never felt before.  Thanks to the incredible performances displayed by these powerful fitness women, I decided to move my butt off of the couch and onto the stationary bike...and stop feeling sorry for myself!!!  Due to financial circumstances, I have never owned a gym membership or hired a personal trainer.  I set up a tiny home gym consisting of sale items purchased at my local Walmart, or used equipment from people who lost their motivation.  I researched various bodybuilding websites, magazines, and books to gather the information I needed to make my transformation.  I still don't know if I am doing things correctly, but being my own guinea pig has helped me learn so much about myself.  In 2003, after attending a fitness expo, I decided I wanted to compete.  Lacking any gymnastics background, I dismissed the idea of pursuing fitness and chose bodybuilding.  This is still an amusing decision to me because I remember, as a teenager,  being disgusted with any woman sporting muscular development.  In 2004, I entered my first competition, the Musclemania Canada National Championships.  To my absolute amazement, I won 1st place in women's novice and 5th place in masters.  Naturally, I was hooked on competing from that point onwards.  My most recent accomplishment, and 6th competition, will be my most memorable.  I became the 2006 Musclemania Canada National Women's Champion!  Considering the limited resources I have to work with, I have to be proud of that.  Many people ask me why I put myself through such a rigorous training / nutritional program when there isn't any financial compensation from competing.  I explain to them that I never started this journey in expectation of financial gains; I had to do something to save myself from personal deterioration...and bodybuilding builds much more than the body.  I will continue to promote a healthy lifestyle and bodybuilding in hopes of inspiring more women to get off their couches.

Other interests that I enjoy are fishing ( I catch, clean, cook, and eat my own fish ), camping, drawing, and roller skating ( yes, I even did a bodybuilding routine on skates! ).  I am always planning my next competition and hope one day to become a personal trainer.  In the meantime, I work at my local gas station where I have the opportunity to talk to hundreds of people every week about bodybuilding, nutrition, and competing.  The thing that seems to astound people most about me is how I manage to avoid eating all of the chips, chocolate, candy and ice cream that surround me at work!  It's called "will power," people!!! 

Pump up some courage!
Esther Marson

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