By Isla Glen

A Stirling fitness instructor has won fourth and fifth place in her first bodybuilding competitions after months of hard work.

Natalia Wiktorowicz achieved fourth place in the Physical Culture Association’s (PCA) First Timers Competition and qualified for the finals. The Stirling University graduate also won fifth place in the World Natural Bodybuilding Federation’s (WNBF) The Supernaturals contest.

The 21-year-old began preparing on April 14 and tracked her progress through her Instagram page @nat_wiktorowicz. The preparation involved slowing down calorie intake, as well as increasing steps, cardio and her training plan. Wiktorowicz is a natural bodybuilder so does not take any performance-enhancing drugs.

She said: “I’m extremely proud of the placings I managed to place, with it being my first competitive season.

“I now have an understanding of what it’s like to prep and there’s been a lot of unknown territories for me during that experience because obviously you’re depleted from a lot of food, you have to follow specific diets, specific training programmes and still live your day-to-day life.

“I can’t say it’s been an easy journey but it’s something I’ve actually fell in love with because it made me realise how much I’m actually capable of.

“There’s nothing that beats the feeling of being on stage and knowing you’ve done what you could and now you just get to show your hard work on stage, be on the stage with competitors who have been through their own journeys and have been through the same processes as you.

“And now it’s up to the judges on what decisions they want to make and what they’re looking for on the day.”

Wiktorowicz had to stick to a strict diet which had calculated carbohydrates, proteins, fats and calories.

“I had to measure my salt levels, water intake and fibre intake so it’s a very complicated process. A lot of thinking goes into it. But again, it’s a discipline. It’s not for everyone, that’s for sure.

“Some people would argue that it’s not healthy but it’s obviously the way you approach it and the way your mindset is.

“And you know, your reasoning as well. You need to do it for the right reasons to be able to commit because, as I said, it’s not for everyone.

“Not everyone is able to stick to those goals because it’s not easy. Sometimes you have to choose going for a walk to get your steps in over going to sleep earlier, or you can’t necessarily go on a night out because you can’t drink alcohol. I’ve not drank alcohol since I started prep.

“Or you can’t go out for dinner, you can’t eat out. You need to make sure everything is counted. All your calories are counted.

“You know, it does affect your social life and can make you feel isolated at times so it’s very important to have the right support system around you

“It’s a strange feeling now I’m a week post-show. I still don’t think the feeling of competing has sank in yet. I am extremely proud because it made me realise how much I’m capable of.

“It made me realise if I set myself a goal, I know I can achieve this and I’m strong enough to get where I want to be. It made me fall in love with bodybuilding and I will definitely be doing this again.”

Wiktorowicz completed her level three Personal Training course in her final year of university and started working as a fitness instructor in January 2022.

Completing her Personal Training course sparked a passion for fitness and Wiktorowicz began a HNC in Applied Biological Sciences at Forth Valley College as a stepping stone to do a dietetics course.

She also launched her own online coaching business to help people gain a better understanding of fitness and to help them feel more comfortable in their bodies.

Wiktorowicz said: “I began my fitness journey at age 16, but it started off by wanting to lose weight and progressively developed into unhealthy habits, binging and over-exercising, which is when I realised it’s an eating disorder that I’m struggling with.

“I went to a dietician to reach out for help hence why dietetics is something I’d like to pursue in the future.

“Lockdown helped me massively to gain a different perspective on what fitness and health means to me and I realised that moving your body is not just about burning calories, but how it makes you feel and it’s something that should be part of your life, not the other way around”

In November 2021, Wiktorowicz reached out to an online coach to further her fitness journey, keep her accountable and set goals.

“I’ve admired bodybuilders for a long time, but I never thought it was something I’d be capable of doing myself due to self-doubt.

“But once I made that decision, I knew I wasn’t doing it for any other reason than showing myself how strong-minded I can be and to learn how I’m going to deal with such an experience.

“Also, if I wanted to be an online coach myself – which I currently am – I needed to walk the walk to talk the talk.”

Wiktorowicz plans to compete again next year and has planned her off-season with her coach.