Crunching numbers and pressing weights

Photo

Neighbors | Submitted.A 2005 version of professional body builder Jennifer Morakis. This was the beginning of her current body building excursion.

Photo

Neighbors | Submitted.Jennifer Morakis at the World Natural Bodybuilding Federation Championship on Nov. 14. She poses in a front view displaying her muscle tone and overall physique.

Photo

Neighbors | Submitted.Jennifer Morakis parades down the stage in 5 inch heels in Nov. 14. She is competing in the World Natural Bodybuilding Federation Championship in N.Y.

Photo

Neighbors | Submitted.Professional bodybuilder Jennifer Morakis shows off her upper body strength. She placed in fifth place at the World Natural Bodybuilding Federation Championship on Nov. 14.

By SHAIYLA HAKEEM

shakeem@vindy.com

Boardman graduate Jennifer Morakis is a Huntington bank employee by day and a bodybuilder by night.

As a 1996 BHS grad, Morakis didn’t have childhood dreams of bodybuilding. She was active in school sports, but buffing up wasn’t one of her top priorities.

After taking a physical fitness for life class in college, she decided to live a healthier lifestyle.

“I fell in love with lifting,” Morakis said, “I don’t do it to get little, but to gain muscle and be healthy,”

Morakis competed in the World Natural Bodybuilding Federation championship in New York on Nov. 14. She ranked fifth out of 20 other competitors from various countries. She has competed in eight amateur competitions within the last two years, but since she turned professional in March, this was her first pro competition.

The WNBF is a drug-free federation that requires participants to complete a polygraph test and a drug-screen prior to each competition.

“That’s why I picked WNBF. It focuses on all natural and healthy bodybuilding,” Morakis said.

The WNBF competition was divided into classes by height including short, medium and tall. Morakis fell in the medium category which is called the “X-factor.”

“Muscle-wise, your upper body is built, but you have a thin waist, like an X,” Morakis explained.

During the competition, Morakis was judged on figure stances, stage presence, muscle shape and tone as well as overall beauty. While walking across stage and posing, Morakis had to smile, flex and strut in 5-inch stiletto heels. This can be a challenging task to complete while flexing your entire body.

“They want you to flex your legs and arms while you’re up there and breathe with a smile on your face,” Morakis said, “You have to just get up there and be confident.”

For Morakis, her ultimate goal is to place first at a WNBF championship. She says that she plans to participate in a bodybuilding competition May. So for now, all focus is on her diet.

Morakis eats, on average, six meals a day that consist of small and nutritious portions. Her workouts include cardiovascular activities six days a week and weight training four to five days a week. Morakis enjoys physical activities and is constantly challenging herself.

“It’s fun. I like to test myself to see how far I can go,” she said.

Morakis is a certified personal trainer and is pursuing a nutrition certification. She wants eventually devote all of her time to training for competitions and helping others live a healthier lifestyle.

She wants to be an inspiration to other women who dream of body building or just living a healthy life.

“I want to be that girl that’s up there that everybody looks at says, ‘I want to be her,’ ” she said.

Morakis has been married for three years to Christopher Morakis, also a personal trainer, who supports and motivates her to achieve her goals. She says that having a good support system is essential for someone who wants to weight train and become a professional bodybuilder.

“If anyone is interested in doing any of these things, they really need support,” Morakis said. “I think that my husband is the greatest. He supports me and I feel that we are on the same page with helping as many people as we can.”