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Bonanza Photo - Emma Garrard Incline resident Jan Howell does lat pulldowns with cables Wednesday at Incline Athletic Club. Howell will be competing in a National Physique Committee Figure Competition in Hayward, Calif.
Incline Middle School seventh grade teacher Jan Howell has been competitively swimming her whole life, but three months ago she decided to test the waters of a new sport. Swimming, what used to be what she calls "her life" is now just a cardiovascular workout compared to her new, rigorous routine.
Howell has been training for a figure contest, a competition where athletes are judged not by their time but by their physique.
"It was something different and interesting for me to do," she said. "And I love weight lifting."
After 12 weeks of training, Howell competes this weekend in the National Physique Committee Women's Figure Competition in Hayward, Calif. Figure contests differ from traditional body building contests because contestants are not judged on their muscle size.
Howell was inspired by her cousin, Liz Howell, who competed in a figure contest two years ago.
Howell has been training for a figure contest, a competition where athletes are judged not by their time but by their physique.
"It was something different and interesting for me to do," she said. "And I love weight lifting."
After 12 weeks of training, Howell competes this weekend in the National Physique Committee Women's Figure Competition in Hayward, Calif. Figure contests differ from traditional body building contests because contestants are not judged on their muscle size.
Howell was inspired by her cousin, Liz Howell, who competed in a figure contest two years ago.
"I thought with her passion for athletics, this would be a very different challenge for her," Liz Howell said.
Thirty years of swimming should help Howell because judges look for a "V" shaped back which is prominent in swimmers, Howell said. She also has confidence from her success as a swimmer.
"She is not up there to be a Hawaiian Tropic girl," Liz Howell said.
However, she does not have the experience in gyms other contestants have, she said.
"She came from a background that wasn't consistently in the gym," Liz Howell said. "This is her experiment to test the water."
Thirty years of swimming should help Howell because judges look for a "V" shaped back which is prominent in swimmers, Howell said. She also has confidence from her success as a swimmer.
"She is not up there to be a Hawaiian Tropic girl," Liz Howell said.
However, she does not have the experience in gyms other contestants have, she said.
"She came from a background that wasn't consistently in the gym," Liz Howell said. "This is her experiment to test the water."
Howell will still be wearing a swimsuit, but it will be one that will never touch the water. The suit she will compete in is a custom-made, shiny, blue bikini covered in rhinestones. She will also don four-inch heels. Her body will be painted with self-tanner and she will wear heavy make-up on her face. When Howell struts her stuff on stage, she will cover her body in Pam cooking spray to look sleek, and she will put Vaseline on her teeth to keep her smiling.
"Shoes and makeup are not me," Howell said. "I have never had people looking at every inch of my body."
Instead of working out everyday in the pool, Howell goes to the weight room with personal trainer Paul Heffern and is busy doing lateral pull-downs, chest presses and abdominal work-outs.
Her diet and training plan is based on the same plan Liz Howell used for her competition. As a result of Howell's strict diet and training, she has lost 22 pounds.
She still swims a few days a week for cardio but finds it hard because of the weight she has lost.
"Shoes and makeup are not me," Howell said. "I have never had people looking at every inch of my body."
Instead of working out everyday in the pool, Howell goes to the weight room with personal trainer Paul Heffern and is busy doing lateral pull-downs, chest presses and abdominal work-outs.
Her diet and training plan is based on the same plan Liz Howell used for her competition. As a result of Howell's strict diet and training, she has lost 22 pounds.
She still swims a few days a week for cardio but finds it hard because of the weight she has lost.
"I am not swimming well because I sink," Howell said. "But I am running great - I can run up Diamond Peak."
Howell's no sugar, low-carb, low-fat diet meant she could no longer eat some of her favorite treats, like chocolate and Oreo cookies.
Stacked on her classroom desk are cookies and chocolate her students brought her before they knew about the competition. When they discovered her plans, they brought more treats, and one student tracks an "Oreo countdown" everyday on the white board.
When Howell returns to class from the Bay Area Monday, she will celebrate with her students who have helped her prepare for the contest.
"I am on stage everyday teaching," Howell said.
Howell's no sugar, low-carb, low-fat diet meant she could no longer eat some of her favorite treats, like chocolate and Oreo cookies.
Stacked on her classroom desk are cookies and chocolate her students brought her before they knew about the competition. When they discovered her plans, they brought more treats, and one student tracks an "Oreo countdown" everyday on the white board.
When Howell returns to class from the Bay Area Monday, she will celebrate with her students who have helped her prepare for the contest.
"I am on stage everyday teaching," Howell said.
