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The sport of bodybuilding can render many different images. Maybe the word conjures up images of Arnold Schwarzenegger in the mid-70s early 80s or maybe the infamous SNL skit featuring Hans and Frans.

For years bodybuilding or weightlifting has been associated with men and women looking like they could pick up a car with one hand and move it. Their bulging muscles and overly tanned skin reflective with oil as they pose showing off every fiber of muscle.

However, for two women in Muncie who are set to compete in bodybuilding competitions this summer, those images are a far cry from how they look.

Caroline Conrad and her niece, Abby Smilely, have been training at Muncie’s Studio 22 for figure body building competition this summer. Conrad ,who has worked out for most of her life because of her job at UPS, turns 65 in September.  And while she has been in pretty good shape her entire life, she said she was inspired to really start training after watching a Ripley’s Believe It or Not episode.

Smilely, who is 34, started training for a different reason.

“My heart has always been in the fitness area,” Smiley said. “And about two years ago, I started reading the fitness magazines, and I thought I have always wanted to do this and I am not getting any younger so I said I am going to do it.”

According to Studio 22 trainer Austin Dossey, who trains both Conrad and Smilely, explained figure competition as a female oriented sport.

“You still want to have a good amount of muscle and be lean but not be shredded to see every muscle fiber,” Dossey said. “You want to have a fine line of leanness but not over the top – kind of a fine line of a good looking girl on the beach with a little bit of muscle.”

Anyone that has seen one of these girls on the beach or even walking in the mall the one of the first assumptions is that they probably work out seven days a week more than two hours a day. And what working woman, with a family has that kind of time to commit to the gym. Not true said Smiley, as she trains only four times a week.

Dossey also reaffirms that working out seven days a week is not the way to a lean body.

 “There is a fine line between not training enough and training too much, and in today’s society where it is all or nothing ,people either work out seven days a week or not at all,” Dossey said. “Over training or training too often will cause delay in progress. If you are just working out and working out, your body will not be able to recover and eventually you will be so broken down and get stressed. In stress the body starts to retain body fat and people will say I work our x amount of days and running 12 miles and not seeing any results and that is because they are not letting themselves recover.”

But it is not just about lifting. There is another component to looking lean and fit. Diet. It is a dreaded word, but one that Smiley says makes a world of difference.

“Diet is so much of it,” Smilely said. “You can work out as much as you want, but if you don’t eat right you know. He educated me on the significance of carbs, because I think a lot of women have carbs and fat phobias, and in such a short time I saw a huge difference.”

But what about the cost of all this. Working out four days week with a trainer, gym membership plus eating healthy is it really worth the cost. And while Dossey claims bodybuilding cost more than any other sport except maybe travel volleyball.

“If you just think on a monthly basis for gym membership and weekly trains, then you have supplements and of course it costs more to eat healthy – it is an investment, and then I think back on how much money you waste on other stuff it really is contributing to your health and how it boost your confidence and it really is worth it.”

Of course there is still that worry that if a woman starts to lift weights, as a woman, then will she just get bulky. Not true.

“I think a lot of woman have the misconception that if you start lifting weights you will become like a huge muscular person,” Smilely said. “But, it is just about education and to see results you have to do both. And, I would say weights are better than cardio because you are building muscle which is improving your metabolism.”

Dossey reiterated the benefits of weightlifting for both men and women.

“It is really good for men and women because it is going to help you build strength and balance,” Smilely said. “ And with women it will increase your bone density. And with lifting it helps increase and strengthen your bones so strong bones, good balance, strong muscles, good health.”

So ladies if you are looking to try a new workout check out the weights.