| Heather Lee |
| location: |
| when did you start weight training: |
| biggest inspirations: |
| federations: |
| Central New Jersey |
| I started training in 1996, the year I graduated high school. I started competing in bodybuilding in 2001, and competing in powerlifting in 2003. |
| Seeing the intensity put forth at Naz by the whole crew! I am so glad to be a part of that! They welcomed us with open arms and have been awesome! My fiancee Mark has always been a great motivator, my biggest spporter in everything I do, and a great inspiration to me. |
| IPA |
| sum it all up: |
| I was never very athletic. I was always very clumsy. When I started lifting, I excelled in the gym. One thing I could control was by body. I started training when I was 16 or 17, at the provocation of my fiancee now...and really started taking it seriously when I was 18. I got my trainer certification and started learning about nutrition and supplementation. I was making gains in leaps and bounds, until I was hit with a horrible year in 1999. First, I was diagnosed with a heart disease called Wolff Parkinsons White Syndrome. I was faced with the option of being medicated for the rest of my life or undergoing surgery, a 7 hour catheterization. I chose the surgery. I quickly recovered from than and only 6 months later, in June of 1999, I was rushed to the emergency room with horrible stomach pains. To make a long story short, I had a polyp in my intestine, which cut off the flow of blood and oxygen, and gangriunated my intestine. The polyp and part of my intestine were removed, and again, I recovered from surgery and started regaining the weight I lost while in the hospital. Just as my life and training were returning to normal, in October of 1999, my mom, only 39, died in a car accident. We were so close, she was like my best friend...and that was the hardest blow for me that year; and the hardest blow in my life to date. I did my first bodybuilding show in 2001, the NPC NJ States, and won the overall. I qualified for national level shows, and did the Junior USA's in 2002, also winning the overall. I placed second at my last show, the 2003 USA's. Shortly after that, I became interested in powerlifting. I spoke to Mike Miller in October 2003, and did my first meet in November 2003, the NazBar Halloween Bench Dead Bash. I competed raw, and won the 165 Pro Class with a 185 bench. I've started training up at Naz recently, and have never been so inspired to train in my life! It has reinvigorated me! I hit a PR there my first workout with a denim shirt, getting 250 on the bench. Deb and Mike are awesome people! I have never met people so willing to extend their hand to strangers. I am hoping to hit a 1000 lb total by this time next year. I love powerlifting and love the attitude everyone has. It is so different from bodybuilding, where there is animosity and everyone hates everyone else. You guys are all great! I will be doing my first full meet in May and I can't wait! |
| weight class: |
| bodybuilding - middleweight powerlifting - 165 |
| best competition lifts: |
| 535 squat - 265 bench - 400 deadlift - 1200 total |
