Brenda Smith
by Gene X Hwang
July
2004 - At the 2004 Jr Nationals, Brenda
Smith made her impression on everyone for a variety of reasons. First
and foremost was her incredible physique including the best calves of
the entire competition, and then there was the fact that she missed finals
because she had to be rushed to the hospital and given three IVs of fluid.
The brave Smith even tried to get back on stage for finals but couldn't
quite make it. Considering all she had just been through, it was an appropriate
example of her determination, but for anyone that knows Smith, they wouldn't
have been surprised.
Brenda Smith
started lifting weights for gymnastics and then got into powerlifting
from that.
"I lifted
from age 16 until I was 21 (when I was pregnant with Ash) as a 114 pounder
and still hold the college bench record. At that time women's bodybuilding
was just getting some coverage. I was drawn more to the body types of
Laura Combes, Kay Baxter, and Bev Francis," she explains.
Looking at
Smith now, you see a thickly muscled woman with lots of dense, mature
muscle and it's because of that early start that she had.
"I competed
in my first bodybuilding show when Ash was a couple months old, and dropped
from 105 to 88 lbs. for the show," she says with a laugh.
" I
have been in about 30 shows at the amateur level, but took off about 12
years during that time from active bodybuilding competition to box and
continue to do some powerlifting."
Yep, you
heard right, Smith is also a competitive boxer and has a 2-1 record against
men whom she fights only (no women). She also does some kickboxing as
well!
"I like
to fight on the inside because I'm strong and have a right cross that
will knock a head off. I have kickboxed and done bare fist fighting and
have thrown down in public on more then one occassion," she says
smiling mischeviously, "I have stopped that in the past several years
though!"
Back
to bodybuilding, Smith competed in the Southern Classic in 1992 and took
2nd as a lightweight, coming in at 112 lbs. down from from 120.
"Then
my next show was again the Southern Classic in 2003. I took the lightweight
class and the overall. I weighed 117.5 for that show and was up to 136
before. I did the Louisiana state show a couple times and placed 2nd and
3rd and this made my decision to try to step up. I was told of all things
I was getting too hard!!! Funny huh?"
Although
we didn't see how Smith looked, we're pretty certain she was dialed in
and extremely tight based on what she brought to Chicago for Junior Nationals.
"For
that show I trained with pro bodybuilder Skye Ryland who has been such
a tremendous help and inspiration - she rocks to say the least. My offseason
weight is about 152 lbs. and I'm 5 feet tall. I have plans for the future
to go on up to the light heavy class," she said.
"I think
for the Juniors I shouldn't have cut my water as soon and definitely should
have listened to what had worked in the past. I usually eat a lot of junk,
and steer clear of clean food for carb up. This time I took others advice
for the show and carbed up clean and on rice and potatoes. My potassium
shot through the roof, and or course there you have it - NVD- not good
for competition.
"I stay
below 12% all year and try to maintain about 10% bodyfat. I like to compete
between 6-7% and do hydrostatic weights at intervals to keep me there
for the show.
At my age in bodybuilding, I have plans to enjoy the shows, do whatever
for photos and things, and make it as fun as I can. I don't ever think
really in terms of it as a career," she says.
"It
makes me laugh to think people really want to look at me - you gotta laugh
at your self in life. My profession is an RN and I have been working as
a forensic nurse examiner for the past eight doing CSI stuff like rape
examinations, death investigation etc. I put myself through nursing school
by being a private fitness trainer and of all things a firefighter. So,
no wilting southern magnolia here," she says with a big smile that
compliments her huge blue eyes so well.
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