Carol Lake never lost her dream of receiving a pro card as a bodybuilder, a transition from amateur ranks to being able to compete for prize money, sponsorships and major titles.
At almost 60 years of age, the pro card dream has come to fruition this year for the Total Wellness Coach owner and Willoughby resident, who is now able to compete professionally.
That is the result of her recently competing in a 50 and older category in this year’s Kentucky Natural Bluegrass Bodybuilding Competition. It was there that Lake won her division and received her pro card.
According to the National Academy of Sports Medicine, those looking to earn a pro card in bodybuilding must compete in amateur federations, advance to national-level events and place at the top of their class or win the overall title.
“I can earn as I’m competing at this point and meet a lot of other like-minded women who want to take control and shine,” Lake said, noting she plans to seek out brand sponsorships to earn money, among the various avenues competitive pro card bodybuilders can take to receive earnings.
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Carol Lake, a Willoughby West End YMCA fitness instructor, recently received her bodybuilding pro card after competing in the Kentucky Natural Bluegrass Bodybuilding Competition this year. (Carol Lake)
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Carol Lake, a Willoughby West End YMCA fitness instructor, recently received her bodybuilding pro card after competing in the Kentucky Natural Bluegrass Bodybuilding Competition this year. (Carol Lake)
In May of 2024, Lake competed at the Kentucky Natural Competition and took third place in the Women’s 40+ category. Lake said she left feeling defeated mentally, physically and emotionally.
“I made a solemn vow I would not compete ever again because I felt like I gave it my all,” said Lake, who still teaches two classes at the West End YMCA in Willoughby. “It was an awakening for me. I thought I did everything correctly, followed the same protocol that I did for my last competition and it humbled me because I didn’t win.”
After Lake turned 57, she traveled to Miami to win a fitness bikini competition in a 50 and over category. At the time, she had decided to compete again as she loved it and was always intrigued by it.
“I continued to work out and I competed that following May in Kentucky,” Lake said, noting that after she took third place, she decided that she was going to focus on herself and going to the YMCA.
“Your body is your temple and you have to take care of it, so I focused on that,” Lake said. “I focused on my diet and my clients over the last couple years. With the encouragement of Tony (Marinozzi, Lake’s agent), having an amazing coach and with tenacity, I went back to Kentucky and faced all my fears, worries, doubts and competed.”
Lake said there is a belief that as someone ages, they’re supposed to have a certain look and image.
“I thought I’m going to defy that,” she said. “Why not? Why do we have to let age define who we are? I thought if I’m going to go down there, I need to be prepared not only physically, but mentally, emotionally and spiritually.”
When Lake called the program manager for the Kentucky Bluegrass Natural Competition, she connected with a coach who was the judge when Lake competed in her very first competition.
“I had no clue,” Lake said. “The first person never called me back. She did and once I got on the phone with her, she’s like, ‘Do you remember me?’ I hired her and she put me on this 2,000-calorie diet with a lot of protein. We would Zoom because she’s down toward Cincinnati. I would scan and send pictures. We would constantly be on the phone and I was practicing all the time besides doing everything else I do.”
As there’s much that goes on when competing, Lake said there were days where she broke down. However, upon arriving at the competition, she found herself having a different experience from the competition two and a half years ago where she felt defeated.
“This time, I went in there with, I’m here to enjoy myself no matter what the outcome is,” Lake said. “I met so many amazing women. We had the best time. The outcome at the end, when I was up on stage, I could have started crying. I reached that goal.”
Lake credits receiving her pro card toward having a great coach. She also advised that the posing is important, as well as the way a competitor walks, talks and their diet.
“It is about how you hold yourself, and there is an art to it,” Lake said. “As soon as you stand up on that stage, you’re being watched. It’s using your muscles and defining them as you’re posing and holding those poses. It can be grueling. You have to have that mindset to do it.”
Competing internationally is Lake’s next goal.
“My better days are ahead of me,” she said. “I might compete in another state just to try it and even here locally. You have to figure out what you love, visualize it and believe it can be obtained. We’re all human. I had to go through this process to get to where I am now. Now, I can sit back and go I did it. If I can do it, so can anybody else. Age is just a number.”
