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Leeds musclebound mum to hang up bikini VIDEO
FOR most working mothers, lugging the weekly shopping and a pile of dirty washing is all the weight-training they can face.
But muscle mum Jenny Garside has spent the last eight years juggling family life with pumping iron in the gym in her quest for the perfect body.
Now the Morley fitness star is finally set to hang up her spangly bikini after one last shot at glory this weekend in a showpiece event at Leeds Town Hall.
Speaking ahead of the United Kingdom Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation (UKBFF) competition, Jenny told the YEP: "This will be my last big event and after so much time and dedication, it's going to be hard to leave it behind. But I'm looking forward to just being able to do what I want now too."
CLICK HERE TO SEE A SLIDESHOW OF JENNY GARSIDE.
Jenny, 37, has spent a lifetime involved in the fitness industry and started out on the "competitive figure" circuit eight years ago.
Although the switch involved some major lifestyle changes, Jenny said her first concern was always that her tough seven-hour-a-week gym regime would not get in her way of being a mum to kids Amber, 13, and Eleanor, eight.
She said: "My training has never come in the way of my family – that's very important to me and it's never come between me and my kids. I would always make sure I did my training while they were still in bed or at school."
Years of dedication have certainly paid off for Jenny, who has landed four British titles and one world title.
Jenny currently works as a personal trainer for Equilibrium Health in Leeds and Bodyindesign in Batley.
She says after her final tilt at posing perfection this Sunday, she hopes to pass on her knowledge and experience to other women and help to break down the stigma associated with women's bodybuilding.
She said: "I realise that bodybuilding has a stigma attached to it, and some people see competitors as freaks. I have never taken drugs, my success was down to simply dedication and hard work.
"I also speak out for other female competitors, many which I know personally.
They all work hard and all have families and hold down professional jobs."
She added: "This will be my last year of competing as I feel I really have achieved more than I need to. I just felt I needed one last challenge."
For more information about Jenny, logon to www.jenny-
garsidefitness.co.uk.
* The UKBFF North East event is at Leeds Town Hall on Sunday and will feature men and women from across the country. The winners of each class qualify for the UK Championships in Nottingham three weeks later where the winners get to turn pro and compete for cash in America. Tickets are on sale for 15, half price for under 12s. Call 01423 877032.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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