WOMEN’S PHYSIQUE: LEILIA THOMPSON
Recent Accomplishment: Junior USA Championships Class A and Overall
Age 41
Height 5’2
Weight 126
Residence Durham, North Carolina
Contest History/Highlights 2013: North Carolina State 1st Class A, 2nd Masters; 2012: Mid Atlantic States 1st Class A and Masters Overall; Muscle Heath 1st Class A and Overall, Masters Overall; 2011: Elite Muscle Classic 5th Figure Class A, 2nd Masters Class A; Victory Classic 2nd Figure Class A, 2nd Masters
NATURAL FIT “I started in figure but always wanted to do physique. But when I started competing it was not at the local level yet and I wasn’t muscular enough. I felt that this division was perfect for me because of my body being naturally more muscular and I would not have to fight it – I could use that to work in my favor. I love muscle and love lifting. It is a great outlet for me. They way my body has responsed to it just makes me that much more happy.”
COMPETING WITH THE BEST “The first time I saw a show, I knew I wanted to compete. I met my first coach, J. Jolly at the gym and we set a goal together for a show. I wanted to compete in the NPC because he told me it was the most competitive organization. I wanted to see how I stacked up against the best, so that is how we went.”
GETTING IT DONE “I am a stay-at-home mom of three wonderful kids. They have been to almost every gym childcare in the triangle area! Not having a nine-to-five job was helpful in that my schedule is flexible, however I do put in work. And it is 24 hours a day. It has been a work in progress learning how to juggle everything but that is also part if the fun, figuring out how to make all this work. Once I adopted this as a lifestyle, it became easier to be solution-minded, and that helped me find ways to prep food, get kids here and there and get workouts in. I stopped thinking ‘I can’t’ and started thinking ‘I will’. I realized there are women out there who juggle a lot more then me and so I really have no excuse not to get something done. My whole family is very supportive. They may not understand what I do, but they see my passion for this sport and encourage it.”
MOODY MOTIVATION “What motivates me really depends upon my mood. Sometimes it’s thinking of what is possible. Sometimes haters motivate me. Sometimes it’s that people I respect and admire. I never run out of motivation, I am able to use whatever is going as fuel. Having bad day? Push hard and take it out in training. Having a good day? Bring that into the weight room too.”
