Body Beautiful

BRISBANE: In a former life, buff Brisbane body builder Vicky Thomas was unfit, out of shape and struggling for motivation.

While the 37-year-old wasn’t fat, she wasn’t a lean, mean muscle machine either.

But in a decade of dedication, Ms Thomas hoisted herself to the top of the Australian body building arena and then moved on to conquer the world in New York.

Ms Thomas was last month crowned Ms Fitbody at the International Natural BodyBuilding Federation (INBF) titles in America, a totally drug-free competition.

“It was a great thrill to win,” Ms Thomas said.

“It made all the commitment worthwhile and now I want to win more international titles next year.”

The heady heights of world acclaim are a long way from the day Ms Thomas took the first step toward changing her body image and turned her life around with a gym membership 10 years ago.

“I started going to my local gym to lose weight and tone up. I decided to try my first figure contest less than six months ago and in that short amount of time I have won two Australian titles and a world title,” she said.

“It’s a lot easier to lose fat than people think.

“There’s no trick to it it’s just consistency.

“There has to be a deficit in the amount of calories you put into your body and the amount you burn off through exercise.”

The next goal on Ms Thomas’ agenda is the World Championships in 2009 but to achieve her ambition she needs some financial support.

“I aim to compete at the World Championships again in 2009 and am eagerly seeking sponsors to help further my competition career.”

Aurora Resident Wins 1st Place In Bodybuilding

Stephanie Spencer, 26, was the overall Women's Figure winner of the 2008 NPC Cyto Charge Rocky Mountian Bodybuilding, Fitness and Figure Competition "The Rocky", put on by The Rocky Mountain National Physique Committee competition on Nov. 15, 2008 at East High School in Denver .

NPC is the largest and most prestigious amateur body building, fitness and figure organization in the USA . It also is the only avenue to the IFBB (International Federation of Bodybuilding) - the ultimate in professional bodybuilding, fitness and figure competitions. Colorado is the home to 10 IFBB pros!

Spencer was among 41competitors from six area states to present her amazing physique with specific poses and great stage presents in the 1 piece and the 2 piece suite rounds.

Spencer prepared for the meet with two first place wins earlier this year. She won first place in her height class in the figure competition at the Axis Labs Northern Colorado Bodybuilding, Fitness Show at the Boulder Theatre in April 5. She also won first place in the overall inMarch at the Mountain States Peak Performance Competition at Grandview High School in Aurora.

She has been working out for about two years at Ambrust Pro Gym, Arvada, and the Colorado Athletic Club, downtown Denver.

A new civil engineer, Spencer is a 2008 honors graduate of the University of Colorado-Denver. At graduation, Spencer won top student awards from both the Colorado Engineering Council and the American Society of Civil Engineers. She is employed as a Stuctural Engineer TITLE at MWH Global company name, Denver.

Wish Stephanie well at the NCP in Las Vegas next June!

Cheering for her at her competitions are her parents, her mother and stepfather Cathy and Joe Kandalec of Denver and her boyfriend Scott Reed.