Bodybuilders bulking up naturally

OREM — Not many things can inspire a grown man or woman to drink gallons of distilled water, sip honey out of a bottle or eat more than 35 boiled chickens in a week — but the right kind of a bodybuilding competition can.

Some 49 physically fit competitors endured such diets to prepare for the Natural Utah Cup, an event sponsored by the National Physique Committee held Saturday at Utah Valley State College.

The semiannual competition is called a "natural" cup for a reason. Contestants must compete naturally — free from steroids or other enhancement drugs and be tested to ensure their eligibility. Though other bodybuilding events also administer drug tests, they do it randomly. Every participant in the natural cup is tested.

Natural cup entrants find themselves eating a lot of eggs and meat and staying away from drugs if they want to compete.

And, competition is just what they're there for.

Many of the amateur bodybuilders are motivated by the thrill of the stage, the few minutes they have to show their stuff and the chance to win the grand prize — their very own photo on Utah National Physique Committee advertising posters.

"I just love working out," said 35-year-old Tricia Temple, a registered nurse from Salt Lake City. "Anything to do with exercise, I just love."

Temple has competed for eight years in various competitions, participating in the health and fitness category. At 5-foot 1-inch, she does one-arm push-ups, splits, leg straddles and high kicks to show off her skills for the judges. While her muscular physique may intimidate potential daters, she said she enjoys the thrill of hard work paying off.

"It's a good feeling to have a good time and feel like you've accomplished something when you're done (competing)," Temple said. "But being strong allows you to do so many things every day. If your body's strong, you're less likely to have an injury."

Areas of the competition include a figure category in which judges evaluate only the participant's physique, similar to a swimsuit competition; a physical fitness category in which strength is evaluated; and a bodybuilding category in which judges examine the symmetry and physique of the participant.

"Look at (the body) as a sculpture," said Biff Boswell, Utah National Physique Committee chairman. "You want to look at every detail. If you get on the stage, the judges are going to look at everything."

For some bodybuilders, competing is just a part of the counterculture. For them, the familial feeling that comes along with the magazines, books, movies and T-shirts that surround the lifestyle is a motivation. Some say working out every day with the same people creates a bond that helps them to progress.

"You can't make these kinds of changes unless you've made some changes from within," said Dana Stubbs, a 47-year old middleweight contestant. "Taking care of yourself, body, soul and mind, only brings more peace into your life. That kind of change that comes from the inside to the outside is unexplainable."

---

E-mail: achoate@desnews.com