Where and when were you born? January 14, 1975 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

What is your profession? I work in the insurance industry and I am a Claims Adjudicator

What kind of activities/sports did you do before you started lifting weights? Gymnastics, Track & field and Horse back riding

How and when did you get involved into lifting weights? Although I never had a weight problem so to speak, I was definitely lacking in the muscle department! In the fall of 1999, I started working out and watching my diet, anticipating a trip to Mexico that I had planned for January of 2000 and my realization I would be spending a lot of time in my bikini! I decided to make an effort to tone things up a bit. I was so happy with the changes that I saw in my body that I became hooked and it was no longer just a “diet”, but a lifestyle change.

Was it a goal for you to compete in figure/fitness competitions right from the beginning or was it something that grew in your mind as time went on and you saw the progress in your body? No, I never had competing in mind when I started weight training. However, a couple years went buy, my body hit a plateau and I needed a new goal. Friends suggested I try competing, it sounded interesting to me and I began to train more seriously in 2002 with a goal of competing as a Fitness competitor in 2003. However, due to a prior knee injury (right knee ACL surgery), I could not do the gymnastics moves and hence a figure star was born!

What was your first competition and how did you place? As there was no pre-qualifications due to figure making it’s debut in Canada in 2003, my first show was the CBBF National Fitness and Figure Championships in May 2003 in my hometown. I competed in the medium height Figure class and to my surprise and delight, won the class! Talk about a confidence booster!

And which contest has been the biggest success for you yet? Definitely I will never forget my first show. However stepping on stage in Spain at the 2003 IFBB Women’s World Amateur Bodybuilding, Fitness and Figure Championships was an amazing feeling. To have the opportunity to compete at a world level show in my first year of competition was a proud moment for me.

Could you please add a history of all contests that you have entered so far?
2003 CBBF National Fitness and Figure Championships – 1st Place, Medium Height Figure
2003 CBBF National World Qualifier – 1st Place, Short Figure & Overall Figure Title
2004 ABBA Northern Bodybuilding & Provincial Fitness Show – 1st Place, Middleweight Bodybuilding
2004 ABBA Provincial Bodybuilding and Figure Competition – 3rd Place, Middleweight Bodybuilding
2004 CBBF National Fitness and Figure Championships – 2nd Place, Medium Height Figure

2005 CBBF National Fitness and Figure Championships, 1st Figure Medium Class

2006 Canadian Fitness and Figure Championships, 1st Figure Medium Class (earned my pro card)

Please describe a typical day in the life of Jill St. Laurent. Wake up, eat, go to work (8:00-4:00), go home, eat, do any running around that needs done, like grocery shopping or tanning then go to the gym and home again to pack my food for the next day and sleep. Somewhere in there, I spend time with my dog and get housework done!

Please tell me something about your daily training routine. I train every day at the same gym, at pretty much the same time and with the same training partner (my husband). We have a rotating schedule and on each given night train one body part, performing 4 pre-selected exercises, 4 sets of each and 8-10 reps in each set.

How often do you train in a week? 6 times per week with weights and 7 days per week for cardio

What are the main differences when you train for a competition and in off-season? When training for competition, I increase my reps from 8 to 10 per set and usually drop my weights somewhat as with the diet, I find I loose strength and tire easier and I don’t want to risk injury. Off-season, I try to get 8 clean reps per set and push heavier weight. In the off-season, I also do a lot less cardio and might only train weights 5 times a week.

Which bodypart is your best in your opinion? My legs. Although I love big shoulders, I know it’s hard for women to put size and shape onto their legs and I think I have achieved this.

What is your favorite exercise in the gym and which one you don’t like so much? I love working shoulders. My favourite exercise is dumbbell press. I am not fond of chest work-outs in general and would pass on any sort of decline press.

Please tell me about what else you are doing when you don’t work out (profession, hobbies, etc.) I enjoy spending time with family and friends and watching movies. As for hobbies, I scrapbook pictures, write and have recently learned how to knit!

What are your future plans? Right now I have my sights set on obtaining my IFBB Pro Card at the CBBF National Fitness and Figure Championships and don’t want to plan much past that!

Please note:

Jill does not do sessions or wrestling of any kind. Please don't ask!!