麻豆社区

In just her first year of competitive bodybuilding, Whitehorse's Nicki Dery is starting to turn heads across the nation.

Dery began weight training consistently in 2007 but didn't have a purpose beyond general health and well-being.

Eventually, she reached a point where she felt like she wasn't moving forward with her training any longer.

"I was working out but I didn't have an end goal and felt like I was hitting a plateau. I wasn't going anywhere and getting bored with the training,鈥� she told the Star.

"People around me had been pushing me, saying "you need to compete, you have the body for it,鈥� and I had strangers randomly asking me "do you compete?鈥� and "are you a bodybuilder?鈥�

With those questions sticking in her mind, Dery returned home to Kelowna this past Christmas where she "ate her face off鈥� knowing when she got back to town she was going to take her training to the next level.

Upon her return to Whitehorse, Dery entered what she refers to as "beast mode.鈥�

Twice a day, she's in the gym for weight sessions and in the week leading up to a competition, she holds two cardio sessions and one weight training session a day.

"My friends at the gym know beast mode,鈥� she said, noting the difficulties people face when trying to corner her while she's training.

"I go there to train hard and I don't have a lot of time to spare so when I go to the gym I'm getting it done. People love to chit chat and I feel bad sometimes because earphones are in and I'm just going.鈥�

In addition to her training schedule, Dery also works two jobs: she's an Air North check-in agent and security at the Erik Nielsen Whitehorse International Airport.

"Between those two jobs and training twice a day I'm a very busy girl,鈥� she said.

"But everyone at work has been so supportive, especially in terms of taking time off to go away. They are very understanding and I have people stepping in to take my shifts.鈥�

Dery said she initially received some concern from her friends and co-wokers when she began training at full-speed.

"They saw how tired and haggard I was looking,鈥� she said, laughing.

Those concerns have now been eased by the incredible progress Dery has made in a short period of time.

Dery has also received support from Al Shaw, an Edmonton-based personal trainer and the owner of Perfect Bodies Consulting.

"He's been amazing,鈥� she said.

"He specialized a meal plan specific to me, which in my case is leaning out but still maintaining muscle mass and he helped me get the competition preparation sorted out.鈥�

On May 19, Dery started off her career with one of the largest competitions in Western Canada, the Western Canadian Bodybuilding and Fitness show in Kelowna.

Gracing the stage for the first time, Dery finished third overall.

"I came back with a trophy and I couldn't believe it,鈥� she said.

"From then on it turned into this massive ripple effect.鈥�

By placing in the top-three, Dery punched her ticket for the B.C. provincial championships in New Westminster at the end of June.

In that competition, Dery was rightfully nervous as she competed against the top athletes from around the province.

"The caliber was much higher and I was thinking 鈥榦h my goodness,'鈥� she said.

"Everyone was just so solid and massive and in phenomenal shape. They were humbling just to stand next to and be on stage with. They were beautiful athletes. I couldn't believe it.鈥�

This time, Dery came fifth overall, solidifying her place as one of the top female bodybuilders in Western Canada and qualifying her for the Nationals which will be held Aug. 11 in New Westminster.

"It's an opportunity of a lifetime,鈥� she said.

"It's telling me potentially this is something I really want to follow and see how far it will take me. I'd love to take this to the next level, become a personal trainer and train others on how to prep for competition. It's an industry that is just exploding right now.鈥�

Dery said that none of it would be possible if it weren't for the support she has received from the local community.

She trains at Better Bodies on Industrial Rd., who provide her with a membership in addition to Shay Per Esthetics, Element Esethetics and Alternative Edge Hair Studio who donated their time and support for Dery's competition prep work.

Her next goal is to secure a supplement sponsor and she currently spends upwards of $300 a month on vitamins and minerals.

"It's not a cheap hobby and any help would be amazing,鈥� she said.

"I've been so lucky and I'm so grateful for everyone that has helped me out. It means so much.鈥�

Now that she'll be competing on the national stage, Dery is hopeful additional sponsors will step forward.

Until the completion in early August Dery will be on a cycle of work, training and sleep but she's thankful to have the experience and advice of Shaw on her side.

When she first began training, Dery followed a meal plan that had been designed for someone else. An experience she described as "hellish.鈥�

"I was crashing every day. I wasn't taking in enough calories or protein. I had a lot more muscle than the other girl; it just wasn't right for me at all.鈥�

Dery said bringing Shaw was "the best decision I鈥榲e ever made.鈥�

"All of the sudden I went from 1,400 calories a day to 1,900 and I was allowed peanut butter,鈥� she said, laughing.

"I was hesitant at first because I was trying to lean out and this diet had more calories but he said I just needed to trust him so I did and within two weeks I could see a difference.

"In the last week (before competition) it's all or nothing. I go back down to 1,400 calories a day and I'm working out twice as much so you lean out like crazy.鈥�

Dery said the mental endurance it takes to stick with training program outweighs the physical challenges.

"I could lift weights all day. I love being in the gym, that's the easy part, the hard part is being dedicated and focused and following that meal plan,鈥� she said.

"I love food, I love to eat, I love chocolate, and if you're deprived of that it's really difficult. You could be fine one day but if you go binge you derail a month of training. To stay focused and sit around people who are eating what you want to be eating is hard.鈥�

To stay on top of things, Dery spends one day a week cooking and preparing all of her meals and sorting everything into separate Tupper ware containers.

Even with the constant training, strict diet and a complete lack of free time, Dery said she's thrilled to be where she is.

"I'm just so happy to be competing and to be able to go to these competitions,鈥� she said.

"I'm excited see what's next and where this path leads.鈥�