Newark woman's transformation to elite bodybuilder
A woman who transformed her physique after previously admitting she had no interest in exercise or healthy eating will compete at a national bodybuilding competition.
A diet including junk food, bread, pasta, sugar and ice cream – and an intense dislike of sport – meant that Jelena Filipova was, in her words, “really unfit”.
The 28-year-old said she would always find an excuse not to take part in sporting activities in school, and remained unhealthy in her adult life.
However, after a family member encouraged her to try the gym four years ago, the Newark resident became more interested in fitness.
She then met Mr Paul Farquharson, a Newark-based physiotherapist who prepared Danny Willett for the latter’s success at golf’s Masters tournament, last year.
Jelena was interested in bodybuilding competitions, and began working with Paul to develop plans. She also now works with Shrewsbury-based nutritionist, Richard Foster.
She has made remarkable progress since entering her first competition in 2015, and will compete at the UKUP British Championships, in Hayes, West London, on October 29.
Her ultimate goal is to compete in events across the world, most notably in the United States.
She said: “I never thought I would like the gym but you never know until you try it – and I really liked it.
“I started to do loads of research on diet and cut out everything, including sugars and carbohydrates.
“I met Paul at the gym and he asked who trained me – no one was training me at the time – and was I interested in competing in bodybuilding?
“I started to focus on that, especially as I am quite competitive, and my first competition was in Leicester, in 2015. I placed fourth out of nine and wanted to keep on competing.”
Jelena, who is originally from Latvia and moved to Newark from Ireland more than five years ago, now rises at 4am to complete a cardio work-out before working in Nottingham as a personal trainer, ahead of a weight session in the evening. She trains six times a week, without fail.
She also prepares healthy meals and eats a strict diet with the support of her partner, Darius, and 10-year-old son David.
Jelena had shown an interest in bodybuilding prior to embarking on a full career, and said she was instantly attracted after seeing photographs of competitors.
“It’s just the look,” she said. “It’s when these ladies have so much muscle, but they can still look feminine.
“I always wanted to look like that.
“When I competed for the first time in 2015 I wasn’t confident in myself and I didn’t know what to expect.
“But I can remember stepping out onto stage and there was no panic, I was so calm.
“It was just an experiment for me so I wasn’t worried about where I placed but I did well. I went to Leeds a few weeks later and placed second, and I’ve continued from there.”
Although fitness is critical to Jelena’s chances of success, she said food was the most important part of her tightly-regulated competition regime.
Prior to a competition she will engage in a 20-week special diet plan, including chicken fillets, white fish, lean beef, tuna, egg whites and green vegetables.
'My body has to be finely tuned'
She said: “I weight out the ingredients for every single meal. The diet changes every two to three weeks within the 20-week cycle, as there will be adjustments for protein, carbohydrates and fat.
“My body has to be finely tuned. If a competition is delayed even for a few hours then my body will not be ready for it. Bodies can change in a few hours, so every hour counts. It’s little things like water, salt intake and carbohydrate intake.
“There are some mornings where I look like I’ve never trained before.
“I prepare meals for the week on Sundays and Darius and David both help. My family have always supported me.
“David attends boxing training with (former European champion) Esham Pickering anyway, and he’s eating healthily. It comes naturally for him.”
Jelena added that while trainers and nutritionists can help, she is ultimately responsible for her success.
“People blame trainers but it all depends on you,” she said.
“It has to be a passion. There are many times when I don’t want to do cardio, or go for a run, but I still manage to do it.
“It’s the same with the food. I hated broccoli – now, I eat it every day. Whatever I need to eat to get competition-ready, I’ll eat.
“I love competing, and I also feel good physically and mentally.”
