Sean Glanville
Special to the Tribune
Big Lake’s Candice Woods has become a rising star on the British Columbia Amateur Bodybuilding Association (BCABA) scene. Woods entered her first fitness modelling show, the Western Canadian Championship in Kelowna on the May long weekend, and placed sixth out of 24 competitors.
“It was my very first competition and I had no idea what to expect — I was happy with my results and placing sixth and being part of first call-out,” Woods said.
The call-out process involves all 24 girls standing on stage together and the first call-out group of six are called out by their number to step forward and pose, followed by the second call-out group and so on.
Woods, 27, had just over three weeks to train for the competition when usually athletes give themselves 10-12 weeks. Woods felt the dieting was the hardest part in preparing for the event and not the working out.
“Being my first competition I didn’t want to cheat on my diet at all so that was a huge sacrifice. I really surprised myself because I usually don’t have the greatest of will power,” laughed Woods, who trained for the competition while balancing 10 hour work days in northern Alberta.
“After a long day at work the last thing you want to do is workout — it was tough but I was able to do it,” Woods said.
Her diet involves eating six to seven small meals throughout the day to keep her metabolism high. It consists of eating plenty of protein and selective carbohydrates.
“With the fitness modelling we eat a ton of protein — I have about five chicken breasts a day and then protein shakes. Then with certain meals we get to choose between a fibrous carb and a complex carb,” explained Woods.
Woods was part of the last graduating class from Anne Stevenson in 2002 and has spent the past decade living in Vancouver. During the past few years Woods has worked as an administrative manager for the oil and gas industry in Fort MacMurray, Alta., which has her fly in and out on a weekly basis.
Woods and fiancee Juan, who she calls her biggest supporter, are in the process of moving from Vancouver to Cold Lake, Alta. or possibly Saskatoon, Sask. Woods is not at all concerned that the change in climate and having to scout out new trainers and gyms will affect her.
“I’ve already gone on line and looked at all the gyms in Cold Lake and Saskatoon and I’m focused enough now that it won’t affect me,” Woods said.
Woods plans to take her personal training certificate courses online in the near future with hopes of one day pursuing it as a career.
“I’ve learned a lot about fitness through my years of training and hopefully I can get certified and start training people,” Woods said.
Her brother Adam works at the military base in Cold Lake and she hopes to use him as a project and whip his butt into shape.
“I’m gonna start with Adam because he really needs to get in shape,” Woods joked.
The next competition for Wood’s is the BCABA’s Sandra Wickham Fall Classic taking place in New Westminster on Nov. 9. Wood’s goal is to place in the top five, which would qualify her for the 2014 Provincial Championships next June.
“My goal is to get in the top five and qualify for provincials — my last competition I was so close in sixth place but I think I can make top five as I will a lot more time than three weeks to get ready for it,” Woods said.