Maurene Skura is not your typical college binge drinker.
"I drink three gallons of water a day," she said after she finished a set of back exercises at the Irving Gym weight room Friday morning.
The five-foot-three inch, 128-pound bodybuilder does not normally consume such massive amounts of water. But she is one of eight women competing for Ms. Ball State Wednesday. To prepare, she said, she must increase her water intake a week before the event to purify her body and maintain hydration.
As Skura approached the weight rack for another set at 95 pounds, she explained the importance of the bent-over-row exercise.
"This is what really makes your lats (side muscles) flair out. It gives you that v-shape that judges like."
With a slight grimace, Skura mechanically and repeatedly pulled a bar upward from her bent knees to her chest.
With her back to the rest of the weight room, Skura conveys her love for dietetics via a maroon t-shirt adorned with a large white cross. The shirt reads, "Ball State University Nutrition Rescue Unit: Established 1940."
Skura said Friday's workout consisted of lighter weights to give her muscles a rest before the event.
Aside from working out and drinking water regularly, Skura also eats six meals a day. The senior dietetics and nutrition major said she calculates every calorie and gram that enters her mouth starting 14 weeks before competition.
"You can train as hard as you want in the gym," Skura said. "But it's what you eat that shows on the stage."
Skura must schedule her cooking, eating and training time around a hectic daily schedule. With seven classes, she must start her day early.
Skura is up at 6:30 a.m. Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday for a cardiovascular workout. She then hits the weight room at 10 a.m. for an hour long weight-training session.
When she's not training or studying, Skura said she enjoys spending time at the grocery store.
"The grocery store is my favorite place to go because I love looking at all the food, even if I can't eat it," she said.
During her 14-week training period, Skura gives up all alcohol and fatty foods in favor of supplement shakes and meals high in carbohydrates and proteins.
Skura became involved in bodybuilding after dating a bodybuilder and enrolling as a dietetics major.
"I started noticing different changes in my body and I liked it," she said. "I was more toned in all the areas where girls want to be toned, like your butt and legs. My clothes fit nicer. So I decided to workout more."
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
