Sep 2019 - Jhb East

How did your fitness
journey unfold?
I was always relatively body conscious
and even suffered from anorexia
for a period of time. So, after
I decided to change careers from
modelling and dancing, bodybuilding
was a natural progression.
When did you join Virgin Active
as a fitness trainer?
In 2009 after doing many personal
training and fitness courses
as well as delving deeply into
sports nutrition.
What was the most difficult challenge
to get your body into tiptop
condition for the IBFF World
Championships?
The long periods of strict dieting,
as I compete from March
right through until the end
of November.
How do you stay focused?
One has to have a passion for this
sport, otherwise it would be
really tough.
What is the key to your success?
Dedication, dedication, dedication.
At what age would you like to
stop competing?
Never! I want to live my passion
until I die!
How long before a competition do
you need to go on a diet?
At least 12 to 16 weeks.
What are you allowed to eat?
Skinless fish, chicken and broccoli,
broccoli and then more broccoli.
Basmati rice is a treat on the odd occasion,
and loads of water.
What is your favourite dish to
indulge in after a competition?
Peanut butter sandwich with coffee
… it sounds simple but bread is a
huge no-no, so it’s a bite of heaven.
What do you do to relax if you are
not in the gym?
Spending quality time with my circle
of close friends, enjoying a glass of
wine. And visiting my boyfriend, Roberto
Frassica, in Italy during off times
is extremely relaxing and important
to me.
What are your guilty pleasures?
Chocolate, for sure, and condensedmilk
coffee.
What are the values you live by?
Honesty, hard work and not being
afraid to follow my dreams.
52
champ
at
The woman voted as having the best body in the world
World
for her age group lives in Boksburg and is already
working on her next challenge. We talk to Penny
Wilbers, from Sunward Park, who was crowned world
champion after winning in the over-50 category at the
IBFF World Championships in Italy recently.
o be crowned as the best in the world is a dream come
true. “I’m excited, I’m thrilled and I’m proud of myself
for my achievement, especially at my age. The fact that I
could represent South Africa on the world stage was an
honour and a privilege – a highlight in my life,” she says with a
huge smile.
Her next goal is to reach pro status next year in order to keep on
representing South Africa in competitions overseas. She will be
flying to Europe in October to take part in the WBFF World
Championships in Slovenia on the 14th.
Penny is a fitness model who has been chasing this dream since the age of
40. She achieved second and third places in Miss Universe Miss Fitness and
Miss Europe Miss Fitness competitions in age groups over-35 and over-40.
She has been a resident of Boksburg for the past 40 years.
She is divorced and has two sons, Dean, 35, and Wesley, 30. She recently
became the proud granny of a four-month-old baby girl, Duranté. “She is
my little princess,” says the proud granny.
Penny realised in Grade 10 that she likes to challenge herself and her body
to see how hard she can push it. She became a professional dancer and
model and danced for the SABC for a number of years.
Years ago she also owned a modelling school, Cosmic Modelling, in
Parkrand, Boksburg.
16 Get It Joburg East September 2019
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