A passion for fitness
Published:Monday | December 19, 2011 | 12:00 AM
Nashauna Drummond, Lifestyle Coordinator
Passionique Wheller is what you could call a professional competitor. She began competing in beauty pageants when she was 18 and began taking home titles such as Miss Ocho Rios and Miss Amnesia International. However, in 2004, she ventured into fitness competitions.
From the beginning, she was creating more than ripples, having won best figure and placed second from 2004 to 2008. She took two years off and came back in July of this year, winning the junior championship in Miss Jamaica Figure. She also won sectional prizes for best presentation, best legs and most conditioned. Last month, she swept the competition, winning all the sectional prizes in Miss Jamaica Body Fitness competition.
Wheller was attracted to fitness competitions because they help her stay in shape. As she told Flair, "it helps to keep me in excellent shape. I love the idea of staying healthy." And there is no doubt that she loves what she is doing.
Unlike bodybuilding, she explains that fitness figure competitions are a lighter version. She notes that for what she does, you have to eat to maintain a lean look as the judges are looking for beauty of the face, great skin tone and feminine muscle tone, coupled with the way the contestants walk and present themselves.
Intense training
Though her training can sometimes get intense, she pushes through, driven to be the absolute best at what she does. "Many times throughout a very hard workout, I keep reminding myself that 'I can do it! I am a winner', and that I am strong at this point of my life. I am completely motivated to be a constant winner." She admitted to Flair that because of her fast metabolic rate, it is easy for her to lose weight and stay in shape. "To be honest, I love food - sometimes bad food like fried fish, ice cream, cake, chocolate, not to mention raisin bread.
Even if the healthier options are readily at her disposal, "I allow my taste buds to control me," she concedes. "However, whenever I have a competition, I become extremely disciplined. I try my very best to stay in shape. I avoid all the temptations and eat foods high in protein, low in carbohydrate, a lot of vegetables and water." While training for competitions, she walks five miles every morning before heading to the gym for cardio and weight training. "My mentor, Judy Allen (multiple body-building champion), always reminds me to consume the right foods and stick to my diet if I want to succeed."
Wheller is at the gym twice each morning from 5:30 to 8:30, and then again at nights from eight to 10. Her personal trainer, Shavon Kerr of Fit Farm, keeps her on a rigid weight-training routine.
While her diet is a strict ratio of carbohydrates, protein, vegetables, egg whites and all the essentials, she takes it all in stride, noting, "Once you choose a diet and training routine that works, your body will change into that of a lean fitness-model physique."
While her ultimate dream is to become a lawyer, Wheller is currently studying media communications art at International University of the Caribbean, and has also acted in the local drama Blackburns of Royal Palm Estate.
But until then, she is enjoying all the experiences competitive fitness affords her. "These competitions open doors for me, I have gained so much experience and a lot of exposure, and I am very happy for the opportunity to represent my beautiful country Jamaica at the Central America Championship (CAC) in Puerto Rico September 2012."