LETTER TO
OUR ATHLETES
When you think you are alone and that the struggle to achieve
your goal is solitary, remember that no person is an island. We
fundamentally believe that the most powerful teaching tool or
helpful roadmap to progress is to review history… history of
where we have come from, our evolvement, and knowledge
that there is a future. The path from history to goal achievement
is the journey, and the most powerful lessons are taught along
that path.
As editor-in-chief of NPAA magazine I am always inspired by the
transformation stories that are shared with us each season and
the tales of perseverance from our heart award nominees. When
athletes share the stories of their journey to the stage, it makes
our sport more than a demonstration of physiques. It gives our
sport a heart, a pulse, and a brain. This “personification” of
real people keeps our federation grounded and I believe helps
competitors realize that they are more than just the sum of their
parts, they are more than a body on stage. It truly helps athletes
realize that the person standing next to them is “a real person”,
who may have overcome adversity just to compete.
Our magazine would not be complete without sharing some of
the transformation and heart award stories that have inspired,
and touched the lives of our NPAA community.
We were privileged to present the 2013
Heart award to Lisa Kloberdanz.
Lisa exemplified perseverance. Lisa
owns an accounting practice, is a
single mother who survived cancer,
suffered a mini stroke and was faced
with the sudden loss of a parent. She
battled all of these life challenges
and entered into a depression. As a
mother she realized she needed to
gain weight and improve her health
for her 3 young children. Hiring a
coach and training for a competition
helped Lisa improve her health and heal her depression. Lisa
wanted to share her story to help others because most people
get into fitness to lose weight and
her struggle was to gain weight and
become healthy. “I hope my story
will make an impact on a woman
who needs to gain healthy weight…a
woman who can’t relate to weight loss
because she feels lost without weight”
Our 2014 transformation award winner
in BC Carlo Fortin lost an inspirational
100 lbs. After deciding to purchase a
property, and needing to qualify for
insurance, Carlo stepped on his first
scale and weighed 300 lbs. He was scared and realized that he
“must lose the weight”. With the combination of the “must lose
weight” for the insurance and a fun, loving, bet with his father,
Carlo lost 100lbs in less than one year! Carlo now inspires his
friends and family and volunteers as a coach to help others lose
weight. His brother who nominated Carlo said : “I have seen a
huge transformation in my brother, not only physically, but also
his work ethic and goal setting. Training for a competition along
with the weight loss transformation has given Carlo the drive to
succeed in what ever he does”.
Our 2014 transformation award winner in
Calgary named Carly Lashta battled with
an addiction to Crystal Meth, and used
competition training to turn her life around.
At the competition Carly celebrated losing
over 90 pounds, and sobriety for 1 year. She
had battled addiction for over three years
and almost lost her life to drug abuse. Carly’s
path away from addiction and commitment
to her health and training helped her to
become a girl who could finally look in the
mirror everyday and feel joy, happiness and
appreciation for her life. “Fitness has saved
my life and although I have a long way to
go, I have come much further then I ever
imagined.”
Our 2014 Heart award presentation at the
Canadian Championships was a full circle
moment. Michelle Salt, Para-Olympian,
NPAA athlete, and our inaugural Heart
Award winner presented the trophy to
Deanne Long. Deanne lost over 120 lbs
prior to walking the competition stage.
At about 20 weeks before Deanne
would walk the NPAA stage she was
diagnosed with cancer. Battling with
the heart-wrenching diagnosis Deanne
underwent surgery but never gave up
on her dream to compete and improve
her health. Deanne stuck to a very clean and concise meal
plan during her recovery from surgery and continually checked
in with the doctor to find out when she could get back in the
gym. Deanne’s coaches credit her successful recovery to her
mindset and determination. Deanne a mother of two, a wife and
friend, worked full time, juggled soccer games, extra curricular
activities for her children, frequent doctor visits A 9