Andrea Trent
by Gene X Hwang
- June 2003
Women's
bodybuilding has always been a fringe sport, with the aesthetic for most
being too "extreme" and both women and men in the general public
not approving of the look. However, as it is with many sports, there are
those who can change the perception of the sport, and draw in more fans
and bring the sport more mainstream appeal. One such athlete is Andrea
Trent, who's combination of beauty, physique, and personality are an almost
irresistable trifecta.
The
Northern Illinois University student is one of a hopefully growing breed
of female bodybuilders who are striving to push the feminine ideal. With
American attitudes towards health and fitness growing, it is only natural
for the more muscular and toned look to be coming of age, but for Trent,
that's not enough. Like many ahead of her, she also sees the muscular
female form as the new ideal. One look at her, and it's enough to make
a believer out of most anyone.
The
first thing you may notice when you see her are either her piercing blue
eyes or her thickly muscled physique, filled out very nicely with muscular
curves from her legs through her torso, upper body, and of course her
striking arms. In spending a 24-hour period in her presence, her effect
was unmistakable and positive, with many admiring glances, and even several
people who couldn't help but come up and offer their appreciation and
praise.
Of
course it hasn't always been like that. As a child, Trent was very overweightbut
to fight that, she would go work out instead of sulking and doing nothing.
That kind of determination would drive her and still does to this day.
While
visiting, Trent had been training seven days a week for the past six weeks,
and as part of that had even been doing 2.5 hours of cardio a day - not
something for the weak minded. The same determination is also how Andrea
responds when people may disparage or challenge her in public.
"I
work hard for what I have and I have put a lot of time and effort into
it," she says, of her physique. Where a typical woman might
not be questioned at all for baring her midriff, arms, and legs, Trent
does so as well but sometimes gets flack for it. But her response is calm
and straightforward. That's probably due in part from being teased and
learning how to deal with that when she was younger.
Background
Growing
up in Moline, IL, Trent was raised in a typically midwestern fashion and
those traits shine through still. One might think someone as strikingly
beautiful as she is might be a bit bitchy or arrogant, but the truth is
quite the opposite. In the gym, Trent is friendly to whomever may come
up to ask her questions about training, and equally as accomodating to
those who might comment or ask her questions outside of the gym.
Of
course becoming a bodybuilder isn't quite a midwestern ideal.
"I
do it because it's different from what everyone else does," she explains,
"and it's what most people don't have the discipline to do."
True words for sure, and looking at what she has already achieved, it's
no surprise that she has many more goals to attain.
"As
a child, between the ages of eight and 15, I grew up being tormented because
I was an overweight child. All my peers and even family members made fun
of me and always let me know that becasue of my weight I would not be
accepted.
"It
wasn't until eighth grade that I started doing something about my weight
after I couldn't take the ridiculing anymore. I didn't go about in the
healthiest of ways. I would only eat one meal a day and then at night
I would lock myself in the basement for hours and exercise. I would do
anything that I thought felt like working out like jumping jacks, sit-ups,
push-ups, etc. I became very obsessed with food and working out. I lost
quite a bit of weight and then I felt confident enough to get a membership
at the local YMCA. I would spend all day there doing cardio and lifting
weights or at least what I though was lifting weights. I also joined an
A.S.A softball team which started five years of year round softball."
It wasn't
until her freshman year in high school though that Trent really learned
how to lift. That was when she learned about what exercises to do for
which muscle groups.
"I would
get up early in the morning before school and go lift with the football
team. One of the football coaches, Kevin Gorgal, is somewaht responsible
for educating me on lifting weights," she says.
"All
throughout high school I was kind of a loner. When everyone else was out
at house parties, drinking and doing whatever, I was in the gym or rollerblading
along the Mississippi River. I did do my share of partying just not to
the extent that everone else did. All the guys in school were constantly
wanting to arm wrestle me or touch my arms. My nickname throughout High
School was Mandrea....cute huh?! I hated it but it stuck."
"I
always had bigger arms and guys would ask me to arm wrestle, and I'd be
like, 'Are you sure you can take being beaten by a girl?'" she says
with a smile of satisfaction. Her arms now measure 15.5 inches and there
are probably not a lot of guys who could beat her now.
"When
I left for college (Western Illinois Universtiy) and I could no longer
play softball to the extent that I wanted, I knew that I needed to find
something to help occupy my time so that I could keep my weight under
control," she says.
"I
met girl at Western named Susan Grimm. We instantly became friends and
lifting partners and would kick each others ass every day. In the middle
of my freshman year I met Jim Swanson who was a competitive bodybuilder
and we started dating and have been together ever since. He taught me
about the importance of nutrition and furthered my knowledge on correct
lifting techniques. From that point on I just started to grow like a weed.
I went from a solid/fat 138 lbs. to a much more shapley and muscular 165
lbs. in just a year and I also learned what supplements were. I watched
Jim compete several times and always thought that competing was something
I would like to do but I could never get the courage to step on stage
until recently," Trent adds.
"After
several trips to the Arnold classic and seeing some of the most beautiful
people in the world I realized that I wanted to take things in this industry
a bit further - I just didn't know where to start. Now that I have competed
and did pretty well, I can't wait to get on stage and compete again!"
Having placed
second in the Heavyweights at the Illinois Championships earlier in 2003,
Trent is debating whether or not to compete in 2003 or focus on refining
her physique and her weak areas, which she states are her
calves. At 5'6" she weighs in around 168 lbs. in the offseason and
gets on stage at 140-150 lbs.
Bodybuilding
Being
a college student presents it's own suite of challenges, and bodybuilding
too presents yet another, so to be able to be successful at both takes
determination and focus. While many students can't think much beyond their
next exam, Trent has her sights set on short and long term goals.
In
the short term she wants to get more into the competitive scene and get
more into the modeling aspect of things with regards to her bodybuilding
career, while with her personal life, she wants to focus on graduating
from Northern Illinois University with a degree in Nutrition and Dietetics
and eventually become a registered dietician.
For now though,
she's content to live the bodybuilding lifestyle and go to school.
"What
I like most about the bodybuilding lifestyle is that it is different from
the norm. I've never been one to really follow the crowds. It's really
nice to have learned how to manipulate your body through nutrition and
lifting weights. Most people don't have the dedication, discipline, or
will that bodybuilders have.
"What
I like the least is that when you are in class or at work or with friends
who don't understand the lifestyle and don't understand that when its
time to eat...ITS TIME TO EAT!" she declares emphatically. It's surely
a point that anyone else living the lifestyle can attest to.
"Bodybuilding
can also be a very time consuming because you have to prepare most of
if not all of your food and also the countless hours spent at the gym
each week. Lastly, living in the midwest you don't see as many female
bodybuilders as you do on the East and West coast so sometimes I feel
like a circus side show when I am in public and at times I get a lot of
negative feedback from people who can't accept that this is the lifestyle
I have chosen."
That is reflective
of the stature that bodybuilding holds for most of the general public,
and is especially elevated when it comes to female bodybuilders.
"Bodybuilding
as a sport doesn't get the respect that I think it should. You spend just
as much time if not more time perfecting your package just as professional
baseball, basketball, and football players do. There are a lot of misconceptions
about the sport especially with topics like anabolics and drugs."
Unfortunately for most, when they see a bodybuilder they immediately think
steroids. And in a more conservative part of the country, those perceptions
are magnified. Luckily those are just the tough parts of being involved
in a niche sport.
"What
I like most about the sport is that it is not a common sport like basketball,
volleyball, etc. Not everyone has the gentics to be a bodybuilder. It
is a sport where you are constantly learning about the human body and
the developmental potential it has," Trent adds. With her genetics
and dedication though, Trent should be able to stand above the crowd,
and who knows, perhaps she'll be one of the athletes that can gain bodybuilding
more than just cult status. Of course that would be a tall order, and
Trent is smart enough to know that first she has to focus more her own
physique's shortcomings.
Because
of injuries (stress fractures), her legs have been coming along slower,
but her modesty shows when pressed on her weak points.
"I
think everything needs work becasue if I am satisfied with any one part
of my body that gives me an excuse to not train it as hard or just to
be plain lazy."
It may be hard to believe that she can be lazy though after watching her
work in the gym and her concentration during her posing.
"My
favorite body parts to train would be my shoulders and back because I
have always been naturally strong there. I also like to train hamstrings
because I love the soreness afterwards. My least favorite bodyparts to
train are quads because it just takes so much out of you."
"I am
not interested that much in strength because I don't want to risk any
injuries. I have seen too many people injure themselves trying to max
out or try and prove how strong they are. I am more into lifting for shape
and I know that with time the strength will come but it is not someting
that I try and focus on."
The
Future
While Andrea
focuses on building up her physique and finishing up college, she also
has her sights set down the line but within reason and is not putting
undue pressure on herself or trying to live up to unrealistic expectations.
"I definitely
am not going to put any expectations on myself. I just want to take everything
day by day and hope for the best. I will take everything as far as I can
and hopefully make a name for myself," she adds.
In the long
term she will continue to improve her physique and enjoy the process at
the same time. Trent also wants to learn as much as she can about her
body and take everything as far as she can in the industry safely.
As far as
her personal goals, Trent says that she wants to "open my own gym
or series of gyms with Jim and (her friend) Chris. I also want to do nutrition
consulting out of the facility and have a family and a life that does
not have too many restictions and allows me to do the things I enjoy doing."
Well grounded thoughts
from a sensible and devoted bodybuilder. Hopefully things will work out, and
Trent may be the leader in a whole new revolution promoting the bodybuilding
lifestyle and bringing in more young women into the new body ideal.
To contact
Andrea you can email her at: GymGirlDre@yahoo.com
Andrea
Trent's Contest History
2003 Northern Illinois University Greek Physique Women's Heavyweight and
Overall Champion
2003 Illinois State Women's Heavyweight Novice Class and Overall Champion
2003 Illinois State Women's Open Heavyweight - 2nd place
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