BY TRACY VIGGERS
THE JOURNEY , THE TEACHABLE MOMENTS AND THE SUPPORT ALONG THE WAY
BY TRACY VIGGERS
‘ Tracy , come here !”
It was 1985 and I was 13 years old when my brother Rob , 6 years my senior , called me downstairs to our basement where he and his friend were lifting weights with our York Bench Press and Squat set .
“ Here , try this . You can squat it . It ’ s 135lbs ”
So , I did and then proceeded to go back upstairs to play .
From a very , very young age , I was always in awe of those who were fit watching shows like Jack LaLanne , The 20 min workout , Gladiators , Body Shaping and then Pumping Iron and Pumping Iron 2 ; The Women . My idols were Carla Dunlap , Bev Francis , Cory Everson , Lenda Murray and Monica Brant . I ’ ve always loved being strong and I loved muscle but didn ’ t always lift weights .
I was very fortunate to have a big brother ( Rob ) who included me in everything . He loved lifting weights and track and field . While I may have continued participating in activities that involved sports anyway , I do believe it was my brother who installed in me a love for strength , speed , power and explosiveness . We grew up on a farm and were always playing . For my 13th birthday , my brother bought me my first discus , shotput and javelin . He coached me and I practised every single day . Because of him , I was 2 time Provincial Champion , National Junior medalist and 3 time Athlete of the year all throughout high school . He came to every meeting . Once I was on the university track team , my coach suggested I join a gym . So that summer at 19 years of age , I joined my first gym with notes on exercises in my hand that I had taken from MuscleMag magazine . Again , for my birthday my brother bought me my first Weider weight belt which I still use to this day . I made a lot of gains in two months and there began a healthy addiction to working out . That fall , I ended up spending more time working out and less on track and field . I would train at our track centre , often getting a spot with the likes of then track and field superstar , Ben Johnson . I remember the many questions and comments asked of me , “ What are you doing to look like that ?” “ You look great !” I remember my track colleague , Victoria Pratt ( 1st Oxygen Magazine Cover Girl ) asking me questions before she hit it big in the fitness industry . It was at 19 , that I could squat 315lbs , bench 225lbs and Behind the neck barbell shoulder press 135 lbs . At 25 , I won my first bench press contest and competed in my first bodybuilding show , The Ten International . I had a plain black suit and we did our own tanning , hair and makeup . I placed 2nd overall and received 1st for my routine . I loved it ! Track and Field took a backseat for the time being .
I earned my Teaching degree in French and taught for 6 different school boards which had me moving around a bit . I continued to work out but didn ’ t compete . In 2007 , I found myself divorced and moved back home where I began to concentrate on myself again , reading every positive mindset book out there . I believe that was a huge turning point for me . In 2008 , I competed in my first figure competition . I won the tall category and