|
 Full name: Lisa Meloney Faria
Born: May 20, 1975
Birthplace: Toronto, Ontario
Height: 5’ 6”
Weight: 128 pounds
Eye color: dark brown
Occupation: High school Physical Education and English teacher
Siblings: younger brother Michael
Pets: I love dogs but don’t have the time to devote to one (my workplace is too far from home)
Competitive level: SAF Elite/OPA Level 3
Favorite body parts: delts
Favorite “diet” foods: natural peanut butter, protein pancakes, oatmeal, french toast (pretty much anything breakfast-related!)
Favorite “cheat” foods: peants, peanut m&m’s, nachos
Favourite cardio exercise: none! If I had to choose I’d pick the stair-climber.
Favourite weight-training exercises: dips, pull-ups, lateral raises
Favorite movies: Anything witty-funny and light.
Favorite TV shows: Dexter, The Big Bang Theory
Favorite music: I’m not picky, whatever top 40 is on the radio, hip hop, R&B
Hobbies: BAKING! Golfing with the girls, shopping for anything, working out!
I was an average "athletic" kid/teen. I played most varsity sports in high school; I played competitive softball and I "made" the varsity field hockey team at Western (though I didn’t play much). Looking back, I think my athletic abilities were decent but I would’ve been a better player if I’d had more self-confidence.
I started working out when I was eighteen but I rarely did it on a regular basis. Usually it was for spurts of a few months at a time followed by periods of inactivity. I was always about 25% body fat and 133 lbs. Despite completing a Bachelor of Arts in Kinesiology and reading and trying most mainstream (moderate) diets, I knew little about proper nutrition. As a physical and health education teacher, I felt like a fraud for not being in good enough shape and not having the physique I desired.
In January 2008, I set foot at Emerge and my life changed. With a tailored meal plan and regular workouts, I got down to 15% body fat at 122 lbs in three months! I loved it! I found renewed energy and self-confidence that I never had. Because I wanted to continue leaning, I decided to try a figure competition. I won OPA Woodstock level 1, and OPA London level 2 that year.
In 2009, I didn’t meet the OPA standards for level 3; I mistimed my competition diet and prep and finished 9th in a class of 9. Although it was a "shot to the ego," it was a surprisingly good learning experience. I thought it would be hard to continue but I moved on by setting new goals for myself.
On the other hand, SAF in 2009 has been great! I competed in the Figure Model category in London and finished second to Mymuna’s killer abs! After months of training and a revamped competition prep schedule (made up by Paul of Sport Balance & Nutrition), I nervously entered the Elite competition in November. Only this time…I won! With such tough competition I was extremely proud and flattered. Meeting the other competitors (who made me terribly nervous) and sharing the experience with them leading up to and including the competition was a fun, unique, and supportive time.
I now teach three fitness classes at work (school). I am a better teacher for my experiences with food, exercise, and competing. My lifestyle of clean eating and regular exercise is permanent. For now, I plan to continue competing—for the experience and the fun of it. The challenge of goal setting, the motivation of hitting the weights, and the friends along the way are worth the effort.
|
