Morgan's body transformation wows the crowd at national comp
GOING to bed dreaming of baked goods is becoming a habit for Morgan Hayward.
Morgan, 22, made the decision to enter the world of competitive bodybuilding two years ago and hasn't looked back.
Under the guidance of long-time partner and novice bodybuilder champion Tyson McCrea, the former Caboolture resident won the state novice figure division at the National Amateur Body Builders Association competition recently.
What is even more impressive is it was Morgan's first attempt at competing.
"It took me two years to put 8kg of muscle on. Last year I wasn't ready to compete," she said.
"My emotions were going crazy backstage before the comp. I wanted to cry, my hands were shaking.
"It was overwhelming, because everyone competing looks amazing and I was so scared."
Hearing her friends cheering for her in the crowd allowed Morgan to relax, strut her stuff and pull out the poses she had learnt through meticulous study of DVDs and copying them in front of a mirror.
An awe-struck Morgan admitted she never expected to come away with a win after her first attempt, but was looking forward to taking it to the next level at the nationals in Adelaide.
"I really hope to do well at a different federation like the Organisation of Competitive Bodybuilders so I can turn pro and start winning money," she said. "It will take a few years, but I won't stop until I get there."
Making a break into bodybuilding had been something Morgan and high school sweetheart Tyson had talked about since they were 15.
While Tyson has been competing successfully for six years, it wasn't until he took Morgan along to watch a competition that she caught the urge to pump iron.
The health supplement representative is the first to admit the journey on to the stage is a hard slog, with training seven days a week and a strict diet for weeks leading up to competition days, but she would not trade her lifestyle for anything.
"I can't drink anything as it kills muscles, so I have had alcohol just twice in the last two years," she said.
"I go to bed dreaming of a muffin, but I feel it is the ultimate test of your fitness and mental stamina because you are deprived of everything you want to indulge in."
A day in the life of a training bodybuilder
- Wake up and do an hour of cardio
- Breakfast is sweet potato and 100g chicken
- Morning tea is 100g chicken or fish with green broccoli or beans and 50g sweet potato
- Lunch is the same without the sweet potato
- Afternoon tea the same with sweet potato
- Train with weights for an hour-and-a-half, followed by 45 minutes to an hour of cardio
- Protein shake snack
- Dinner is 100g of meat with green vegies
