Kamloops bodybuilder Gillian Faith McRae is looking forward to an exciting New Year.
While she didn’t place at the B.C. Amateur Bodybuilding Association’s Popeye’s Fall Classic, a figure and bodybuilding competition that took place Nov. 7 in Coquitlam, the mother of three walked away with something more valuable than a trophy.
After sharing her transformation story — she lost 100 pounds and has kept it off for 10 years, all while going through a divorce and struggling with health issues — she’s connected with a number of women with similar struggles.
“As much as they consider me to be their inspiration, they’re my inspiration,” said McRae. “When you have people that believe in you and have people that look up to you … it’s so satisfying to know that what you do matters.”
She’s also been invited to speak at the upcoming She Talks Health and Fitness event in Langley on Feb. 6 and has been nominated to participate at the Miss, Mrs. and Miss Teen B.C. Pageant in July.
“I’m really excited — 2016 is going to be a great year,” said McRae.
Her road to triumph began more than 10 years ago when she was battling obesity and a food addiction.
After having three children, she had 220 pounds on her tiny five-foot-two frame.
With healthy eating and exercise she got down to 120 pounds within three years. Her marriage later fell apart and she struggled with a number of health issues, including depression, adrenal fatigue and fibromyalgia.
She still managed to keep the weight off by running marathons, competing in Strongman competitions — where she’s flipped 500-pound tires — and finally stepping on the bodybuilding stage where she bares stretch marks and excess skin (a side effect from her impressive weight loss), in a bikini.
She refuses to let her loss at the Popeye’s Fall Classic slow her down.
“It was totally a learning experience for me,” she said, adding that she was given the feedback that her muscular build would fare better in the figure category, as opposed to the bikini category in which she competed.
She took the advice and registered for her next show, the Natural Physique and Athletics Association B.C. Classic taking place in Richmond in May. And in August she’ll be competing at the World Beauty Fitness and Fashion Show in Toronto.
“When I have women or people that say, ‘I look to you, you’re so inspiring,’ how can I not keep doing this?” said McRae, adding that her 16 weeks of show prep, which includes a nutrition plan and training sessions at the gym, begins Jan. 9.
Tickets for the Feb. 6 She Talks event start at $21. To register for the event, taking place at Langley’s Coast Hotel and Convention Centre, visit shetalkshealthandfitness.com
Courtesy of: The Province