Heather Dees California State & Pro Figure Recap
1. You just won the 2010 NPC California State Figure Championships, tell us about that experience:
Heather: The 2010 NPC California State Championships was an amazing show to do! I had a really great time in California meeting the other contestants, judges and promoter. John Lindsay was the the show promoter and just by meeting and talking with him I could really see how passionate he was about the sport and his love for the athletes. The show was big with around 174 athletes not including the Pro Figure division. I love stepping on stage and showing off my hard work, and traveling to different states to do that is always a great experience. The competition was tough and there were a lot of girls with amazing bodies but I am happy to announce that I did Win The Overall!! :)
2. You have Junior Nationals in three weeks. How do you stay focused on maintaining the strict eating and workout plan after a big show like the Cal?
Heather: Staying focused is extremely important when doing a show back to back. It is also very important to give your body a small rest to reset and not plateau. I took a few days off right after the show and now I am back on track and ready to eat my clean meals and do my weight training and cardio. If these were not personal goals it would be a lot harder to stay focused but because I want this for myself it makes dieting and training a lot more motivating.
3. As you prepare for the Junior Nationals, what will be your number one focus to help you win?
Heather: My number one focus in preparing for this show is to stay conditioned. After doing a Figure show there is a fine line to follow to prevent rebounding and water retention. I will continue with my prep to stay conditioned and drink a lot of water now to keep the retention down and to a minimum. The great new is so far I really haven't had a big rebound because of the way I prepared for the Cal. We didn't cut my water or sodium that way I wouldn't hold a lot of it post show and it made it an easier transition into getting ready for the next show.
4. What is your goal for Junior Nationals? How do you feel your chances are in winning your class and obtaining your pro card?
Heather: My goal for Junior Nationals is to get my Pro Card. I feel my chances are great in achieving this goal but I also want to be real and understand that there are a lot of girls with great bodies that show up to National Level shows. I received a lot of great feedback from the judges at the California State Championships so my hopes are high for receiving my Pro Card at Junior Nationals, I will continue to work hard and look my best to prove that I am worthy of one!
5. What tips could you give women who want to start competing in figure competitions?
Heather: One of the biggest tips I could give any woman that wanted to compete in Figure would be to do it for themselves. If they create that goal for themselves when they run into a bump in the road whether it be with dieting/cravings or the toughness cardio cam get, they will be able to push through and stay on track because it is a personal goal! Wanting to step on stage for themselves will make them the happiest and give them a more accomplished filling after the competition. Completing a personal goal will always improve your self esteem and give you gratification at the end of the day! It's always worked for me knowing when I step on stage I will look my best because I put in all the work and have no regrets knowing what I've accomplished!! So decide for yourself if it's what you want and go for it :)
