Glastonbury’s Jane Carter made a dream return to competitive bodybuilding after a four-year break as she booked her place at the British Championships later this year.
The 44-year-old former world champion finished second in the over-35s category at the UK Bodybuilding Fitness Federation (UKBFF) Southern Qualifier in Portsmouth last month to secure her place at the national event in October.
She went one better at the National Amateur Bodybuilding Association (NABBA) Western Qualifier in Exeter as she claimed victory at the scene of her competitive debut.
“It was a return to the stage where I first started my bodybuilding career 19 years ago in 1996,” she said.
“I won it and to go back and win again was a dream come true at the age of 44, also after having a family.
“It was a sell-out and was packed, an amazing atmosphere and the judges were very pleased to see me return to the stage as some of them judged me all those years ago when I first started in my 20s.”
Jane is now eligible to compete in the finals of both federations, with the NABBA event taking place first – in Southport on June 6.
She plans to take a brief rest before returning to the dieting and training schedule which will enable her to compete.
“If I do well in the NABBA finals I will then go onto their Universe show, which I have competed in once before in 2005.”
Jane is also a ‘professional natural female physique competitor’, earning her pro card in 2007 and winning the World Championships the same year.
That means she is automatically eligible to compete at Leamington Spa in October and then at the World Championships in New York the following month.
However, this busy schedule will require a harsh regime for Jane, the co-owner of the Tonezone Fitness Centre in Yeovil alongside her husband, who has also won Southern Qualifiers several times.
“This makes competing easier as he is very understanding and does everything to help me at home and running our business, none of it would be possible without him,” she said.
“I always train hard all year round but when it comes to competition time I start a strict diet 12 weeks before the show to strip any excess fat away to show the muscle definition.
“Daily diet consists of porridge and eggs for breakfast, three meals of chicken/fish, brown rice or potatoes and protein shakes.
“Training is six days a week and, towards the last month before the show, twice a day training, cardio early morning and weights in the afternoon.”
Courtesy of: Central Somerset Gazette