The past couple of years have been transformative for Salmon Arm’s Marika Mint.
Being sidelined on the soccer pitch and inexplicable dreams of competing on stage saw the spouse and mother of two turn to the gym, where her passion for fitness would evolve into a year of successful competition as a bodybuilder.
In May 2023, Mint’s dreams became reality when she competed in her first World Natural Bodybuilding Federation (WNBF) event in Vancouver, winning third place in the Masters 40-Plus Bikini category. This taste of success, along with support from her family and coach Lylas Leona of Lady Sculpt, led her to a June 3 WNBF event in Kelowna where she earned her pro card with a first-place win in Masters Bikini, second place in Open Bikini, third in Masters Figure and fourth in Open Figure.
“That was the best show!” said Mint, who did one more competition, a pro amateur international show, before deciding it was time to take a bit of a rest. “I’m so glad I went, it was such a good experience with them.”
Currently, Mint’s eyes are on a different prize. She’s competing to be the next Ms. Health and Fitness with a grand prize that includes a cover of HERS magazine and $20,000.
“The prize money was pretty intriguing to me because it’s very expensive to compete and there’s not a lot of prize money,” said Mint. “So it would be such a helpful use to my family, help my husband out and be a great gift for us. To accomplish that would mean so much to me.”
Mint has been sharing posts on social media, asking for support in the vote-driven competition that currently has her as in first place in her fundraising group. While it’s free to vote one time daily at mshealthandfit.com, additional votes can be purchased with funds going towards The Andrew McDonough B+ Foundation, which provides financial assistance to families, funds childhood cancer research and brings awareness to the fight against childhood cancer. Voting opened on May 6 and Mint explained there are several more rounds ahead before a winner is announced next month.
“I know I’m in first place now but it’s a long road to go…,” said Mint, grateful to everyone who has, and continues to support this leg of her fitness journey.
Prior to hitting the gym, Mint met her fitness needs on the soccer pitch, at least until she was red carded by her doctor for back pain.
“I developed an extreme lower back pain and my doctor suggested an MRI was the next step, so he was pretty much telling me no more contact sports,” said Mint. “This was absolutely devastating for me because that was what I did, that was my happy place … it was fun but I had to stop doing that and I felt, what am I going to do next?”
Mint would find her answer at Anytime Fitness.
“I went there and lost 20 lbs in the first couple months, and I just made a commitment to myself to do better…,” said Mint. “That’s when I discovered weightlifting and how fun it is. I got into hiring a trainer there, Michelle Brink, and she helped me the first couple of months correcting my form and getting me on a program, using my time wisely.”
Training with Brink, Mint said she was able to resolve her back problems by strengthening her core.
“She’s the best trainer in Salmon Arm,” said Mint. “So I have a rock solid stomach and my back pain disappeared… I have really severe degenerated discs and I feel great. It’s unbelievable what fitness can do for you.”
Eventually Mint reached a point where she decided to compete. To help her get her there, she turned to Leona.
“I knew I needed to find somebody who is a nutritionist who knows everything about competing because I knew I would hurt myself if I went in blind and went down to that level of low body fat… so I hired Lylas Leona,” said Mint. “She helped me through the whole year, coaching me, teaching me everything. I was In the best shape of my life last year. It was amazing.”
Though ready physically for her first WNBF competition, Mint found realizing the dream of being on stage initially nerve-wracking.
“The first time you go out you are shaking like a rattle,” said Mint. “My legs were shaking, my body was shaking. The one thing that pulled me back was hearing my husband. ‘Go mamma!’ you’d hear my kids, and it calmed my shakes and it was fine after that. Hearing their voices was so nice. But it’s very nerve-wracking the first time.”
Mint is now working towards international competition in 2025. She said her only competitor right now is herself.
“I know I can bring a better everything and it’s really about me versus me,” said Mint. “It’s not about anybody else on stage. It’s how can I make my body more presentable for the next show and not the same package I brought before.”
Mint said she’s been training for the last four months and will have to decide whether to compete in figure or bikini.
“For women over 40 it takes years to develop muscle,” said Mint, noting it can be very difficult to put on a lot of muscle when you get older, especially if you’re a woman.
“So I really have to stick to my diet, eat immaculately, high protein, super healthy foods all day long, no cheats… Food is easy for me… that’s one thing where people struggle and I really enjoy eating healthy and I know what to do. It makes it a lot easier.”
To support Marika Mint in the Ms. Health & Fitness contest, visit mshealthandfit.com/2024/marika-mint.
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