March 15, 2006

#5: First Pro Show

Q: Hello Autumn,

I agree with that guy who said you are the sexiest female bodybuilder out there. I saw you win in Montreal and you were smokin’ hot. I think you’ll be good for the sport of women’s bodybuilding.

I’d like to ask you two things. (No, I’m not going to ask you for a date. I know you’re married.) When do you plan to do your first pro show? And do you plan to change anything about your body/appearance for that show?

...Raymond J.

P.S. Keep writing here as much as possible. I love your column.

A: Hi Raymond,

Thanks very much for writing in. Wow, sexiest female bodybuilder out there – that is so sweet. There are quite a few little hotties out there. I just like getting up onstage and putting on a good show for the fans.

Montreal was awesome, wasn’t it? There were so many stellar athletes on the stage. All that talent under one roof, trying to be the best of the best, is pretty incredible. I look forward to being at the Canadian Championships again this year. The promoter of the event is putting on a "Parade of Champions" for all the IFBB pros in Canada. Now that I am one of those pros, I can be a part of this event. The pros will do a guest posing on stage and then the audience will pick a "People’s Choice" for best pro. It sounds like it is going to be quite the show. We will also have a booth where we can sign autographs and photos. I am very excited to be a part of this; it will be great for the fans, for sure.

Getting ready to do the guest posing at the Canadian Championships puts me right in the middle of my competition season. There are only four competitions this year for the IFBB women bodybuilders: The Arnold Classic in March, the Europa Supershow in August, as well as the Atlantic City Pro and Ms. Olympia in September. I am thinking about doing the Europa on August 25, and then the Atlantic City Pro on September 22, one week after the Canadian Nationals. If I qualify for the Olympia, I would like to do that as well on September 29. They have put the Ms. Olympia back on the main stage with the guys again, and it should make for great entertainment. It is really nice to see the guys and girls together.

So that is my plan for this year. I will also be attending the local BC shows, as my company is doing the video production, and I plan to be at the Ontario Provincial Championships, as I have a Team Autumn athlete competing. It will be a busy year with lots of opportunity to see me in person.

As for what I am going to change about my body/appearance, I would like to bring up my chest a little as well as my legs. I am training and pushing hard at the gym, and I am sure I will put on maybe three to five pounds of muscle more than at my last show. I am really looking forward to bringing the same package as I had at 2005 Canadian Championships, just with a little more size. I won’t have to worry about a weight class this year. Last year, was the first time that I had to watch my weight in order to make it into the Middleweight class. That is tough to do. I was worried that I would be a pound or two over the weight class the day of weigh-ins. Until you get on the scale, you never know.

As for my column, I absolutely love hearing from you, so keep writing in. If I can offer any assistance or advice to help you in your body-sculpting dreams, I am happy to do so. Just "Ask Autumn." Don’t be shy!

...Autumn Raby, IFBB Pro

If you would like to ask Autumn a question, please e-mail: askautumn@seriousaboutmuscle.com.

SeriousAboutMuscle.com contributor Autumn Raby is from British Columbia, Canada, and is the 2005 CBBF Canadian Bodybuilding Championships Women's Middleweight and Overall Champion. Autumn's win at the Canadian Championships earned her an IFBB Pro Card. Autumn plans to make her pro debut in 2006.