Sheila Burgess
hardgirl@hotmail.com
www.SheilaBurgess.com
Birthday: November 28th
Hometown: Vancouver, BC but planning a move to Michigan
Height: 5'6''
Weight: 170 lbs offeason, 150 contest
Measurements: (all done cold)
Biceps: 16"
Forearms: 12.5"
Chest: 46"
Quads: 25.5"
Calves: 17"
Waist: 30"
BenchPress: 325lb max barbell
Flies: 30lb DB x 12reps
Curls: Dumbbells 20's
Curls: 100lb BB x 14reps
Tricep Pushdowns: 120lb cable x 12reps
Dbell Rows: 65lb DB x 10reps
Seated Row: 150lb cable x 10reps
Lat Pulldowns: 160lb cable x 10reps
Squats: 500lb Max BB squat
Deadlift: 275lb BB x 10reps
Squats: Dumbbells 45's
School Background: "I went to highschool in Victoria, BC, Canada, and attended Langara College, University of BC, and Simon Fraser University...all in Vancouver. I have a BSc in Kinesiology (the study of the anatomy, physiology, and mechanics of body movement, especially in humans). I was preparing to attend medical school, but just couldn't face seven more years of school. I am currently preparing to return to school, having decided to get my paramedic certification."
Hobbies/Interests: "Designing clothing, sewing, I'm a notorious bookworm, and I LOVE cooking! Otherwise, bodybuilding has taken up much of the spare time I have. I do ski when I get the chance, and also muck about with a tennis racket on occassion."
Favorite Movies: "I am a movie FANATIC!! I don't really have one favorite movie, but do love ANY Clint Eastwood movie, old MGM musicals, action flicks, and good comedies."
Favorite Music: "I always train with very loud Trance or Techno music, but seldom listen to it outside the gym, while at home, depending on my mood and what I'm doing, I listen to old rock and roll, blues, jazz, classical, light country, and bluegrass. I am a diehard fan of the Barenaked Ladies!!"
Favorite TV Shows: "I love any medical show, particularly real life or documentary shows. I watch a lot of news type programs, CNN, and biographies. My favorite channels are TLC, CNN, Discovery, Tech TV, and E!. I am a diehard fan of NYPD Blue, Law and Order, CSI, ER, any Star Trek program, Andromeda, and my all time favorite, Six Feet Under."
On her strength as a girl growing up: "Though I wasn't fully aware of it, yes I was very strong. My younger brother was and still is, quite small. Unfortunately he also had a big mouth, and seemed to LOVE getting into trouble with other boys in his class.
"I spent many years extracating him from school yard fights, and in the process, developed a reputation for being very tough...for a girl! :-) I was always very athletic, so rarely had any problems convincing his opponents to back off."
Athletic background: "I was a long distance runner and aerobics intructor for fifteen years. I played field hockey, ice hockey, soccer, vollyball, and softball in school. I ran cross country, and long distance until high school, when I switched to sprints, and hurdles. I was also a ballet dancer for 12 years, and a highland Scottish dancer (competitive) for 15 years. I went back to long distance running, after school, and regularly ran 10km a day, for five days a week, over a ten year period of time. I started wrestling four years ago, though I've have only limited training. Fortunately, strength and speed have always come fairly easy to me."
How she started lifting weights: "I have weight trained, on and off, since 1983, but only got serious about it in 1991. I had been a serious long distance runner for many years, and was also teaching quite a few aerobics classes. Finally my knees just decided enough was enough! My doctor told me one of the two, had to go! I decided to just teach aerobics, but needed something else to throw my leftover energy into. As I was teaching in a gym, and was around all those weights,I decided to give weight training a try. I loved the feeling, it made my knees stronger, and I seemed to put on muscle quite easily. I discovered that I LOVED how I looked with the added size, and never looked back!"
On the impact bodybuilding has had on her life: "I think it has had a positive impact. Though it has consumed much of my adult life, and the dedication has made some demands on my social life, I feel I have benifited, physically, mentally, and emotionally, from it. The dedication it takes to be a competitive athlete, strengthens so much more that the physical self. It takes resolve and determination to take on a sport that takes so long to get really good at. It has taught me to be very patient, and very focused. I am able to translate these qualities to my personal life as well."
On what motivates her: "I don't really have just one inspiration. I guess the whole feeling of being strong and muscular is an inspiration in itself. I can't imagine NOT weight training! Some of the women who have provided me with motivation, have been Cory Everson, Lenda Murry, Betty Pariso, with my all time favorite being Denise Rutkowski."
On her strongest/weakest muscle groups: "I like to think my strongest asset, is my symetry, but I've been told many times, that my legs are pretty outstanding. The hardest muscle group for me to improve, has been my back. Not so much the shape, thickness, or definition, but the width."
On people's reactions to her lifting weights: "I've always gotten very positive responses from men, and women for that matter. I haven't found too many men, who are intimidated, at least amongst those that take the time to talk to me. I guess at first glance, I could be somewhat intimidating to some men, but I think those that are have fragile egos and a low opinion of themselves. I do find, that when I am in the gym training, lots of guys will not lift close to me. On the other hand, I do get a good deal of respect from them, and often find myself giving workout advice, and such. It's nice to see that men have evolved enough, to respect my experience and knowlege."
On her future goals in athletics and weight lifting: "I have been trying very hard, for the past six years to win my pro card in bodybuilding. I will probably try one more time in late 2003, at the Canadian Bodybuilding Championships. I am also thinking about taking up Ju-Jitsu. I have been doing semi-competitive wrestling sessions, for the past four years, and although I have now retired from that, I would love to learn some proper technique. Who knows; I might even consider competing at that if I enjoy it. I will always remain a bodybuilder, even if I don't compete anymore. I just love to lift weights, and love being big and strong!"
On doing her part to win the battle of the sexes: "I have been doing wrestling sessions for the past four years, and have had very little problem handling the men that have wrestled me.
"I have also outlifted many guys in the gym; some are impressed, and some scurry away, with their tails between their legs. LOL My future husband, trains regularly with me, and though he is 5'11", and 200lbs, I am stronger than him. I doesn't bother him in the least; in fact, he LOVES it! Men who are secure with themselves, are seldom put off by my strength or muscularity, and in fact, are usually quite impressed and fascinated.
"About six months ago, a young male bodybuilder that trains at my gym, asked if I would like to train legs with him. I could tell by the grin on his face, and the sparkle in his eye, he thought he was going to teach this old broad a lesson about strength. He promised he would adjust the weights for me. HA, that was his first big mistake! I said sure, that it would be nice to have a training partner as long as we did MY quad workout. He laughed, and agreed; second big mistake!!
"We started out with squats. I warmed up with the 45lb bar. I could see that he was tickled pink, figuring I couldn't handle much more weight. hehehe After his warm up set, I added more weight, to bring it up to 185lbs. He smiled confindently. I proceeded to do 15 very pretty squats, and racked the weight. I looked over at him, and his confident smile had turned into a puzzled frown. He stepped up, and just before he started asked me how many reps it was. I told him 15 STRICT reps. He paused again, and then shared that he hadn't been doing squats for some time now (excuses, excuses!). I asked him if he wanted to quit, and he quickly said no...hehehe. He shouldered the bar, and began his set. At 12 reps, I could see he was struggling, breathing heavy, and pausing before each rep. I tried my best not to giggle, as I knew what was coming! He finished his set with a VERY sloppy last two reps, and immediatly sat down, trying desperately to catch his breath.
"I removed the two 25lb plates, and replaced them with 45's, making the bar 225lbs. I looked over at him, and he asked me if I was sure. I thought about it for a minute, and said, "You're right" and proceeded to add 50 more pounds. He looked at me in disbelief, hung his head, and slowly shook it back and forth. I shouldered the bar, and did 10 very nice reps, and re-racked the weight. I looked over at him, nodding to the bar, and he slowly veerrrryyy slowly, got up and approached the bar. Sheepisly, he removed the extra 50lbs. He struggled through his 10 reps, with 225lbs, and seemed quite happy when he was through. We each did two more sets, with 225lbs, him with 8 and 7 reps, while I kept it at 10 reps.
"On to the next exercise!! Over to the hack squat machine, I walked (he sort of wobbled). I told him we were going to do a superset of hack squats and incline leg press. He told me he had never done a superset for quads before, and I said there was always a first time!! I'll make a long, painful story short, and just say that he did NOT enjoy himself! After the superset, he thanked me for letting him train with me. I told him we weren't finished yet, and had two more exercises to do. He replied "You may not be finished, but I am!!" I laughed and told him he did a great job. He shook his head again and said, "you cleaned my clock! No wonder you have legs like that!!" I continued on with my workout, after he hobbled out of the gym.
"Three days later, I once again ran into him in the gym. He limped over to me to tell me that his legs had never been that sore before. Apparently, it was the first day he had been able to come back to the gym, since our workout. He told me every muscle from his chest down was so sore, he couldn't move for two days after. LOL!! He paused for a second and said "I will NEVER underestimate a woman's strength and determination again!!" In reply, all I did was smile. Whenever I see him in the gym now, I always offer to train with him. Funny thing.....he always declines my offer! Wonder why????"
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