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June 16, 2005Rupp flexes her competitive muscle againTC woman wins title 24 years after her first crownByRecord-Eagle sports editor  Special to the Record-Eagle Kelly Rupp won a physique contest in Detroit recently, 24 years after winning the Grand Traverse event. "You could do this, hon," he said to wife Kelly. As it turned out, that's all Kelly Rupp needed to hear. "If I have the support," she said, "I'm jumping on it." Rupp trained "brutally" for three and a half months, then won her division in the Detroit event last month. The title came 24 years after she won the Ms. Grand Traverse championship. "The excitement's still the same," the 44-year-old mother of five said. "I love that thrill. I love the challenge. "Obviously, it was more challenging this time because I have more on the plate. Before, I was single, had no children. Now I have a lot of children, two with special needs, and a lot going on." Rupp, then Kelly Shink, captured her Grand Traverse title in 1981, a year after her sister Shelly won it. She got out of it soon after when steroids became an issue. "I was against steroids," she said. "At that time, there were not that many natural bodybuilding contests so I opted to do something else." Rupp remained active, turning to other sports for enjoyment and exercise. "Staying healthy and fit is a lifestyle for me," she said. It was that lifestyle - eating properly, getting adequate sleep, exercising and surrounding herself with positive people - that allowed Rupp to make a successful transition back into bodybuilding. "Typically, it takes five months to brutally train for a contest," she said. "And that's if you're in great shape. I was in great shape. That's why I thought I could do it in three and half months." Rupp, a licensed Realtor and hairdresser, worked out three hours a day in her home gym when most of her children were in school. She worked on her routines at night after her children had gone to bed. Dieting, a key component in a bodybuilder's program, was not that big of an issue. "Figuring out the bodybuilding diet is a real science in itself and it can be difficult for most people," Rupp said. "But my diet is almost the same all year round. I don't eat junk. I'm a good balanced eater. It (diet) wasn't a shock to my system." By the time the competition came around, Rupp was "defined" and "ready to shine." She was judged on her symmetry and muscularity. - as well as her mandatory poses and choreographed routine. "The training, the preparation, the competition, the commitment ... that's what it's all about for me," she said. "I was completely ready." Rupp's victory qualified her for the World Tour Championships in Toronto. But she elected to bypass that event and instead will focus on figure and fitness competitions down the road. Rupp said she hopes her accomplishments will send a message to others. "No matter how old you are, you need to keep in mind that you're important, that you count," she said. "Taking care of yourself should be a No. 1 priority in your life ... and it begins with healthy choices." It's also important for women who juggle family and work, Rupp said, to surround themselves with a support group. To that end, Rupp's aspiration is to become a life coach "for people who want to get fit and healthy." Rupp envisions a fitness club for women in their 40s that would delve into health, social, spiritual issues. "There are women out there who once they get married and have children, feel like they stop counting, that they don't matter," she said. "I would like them to look into the mirror and tell themselves, 'You know what? I count, I matter.' It doesn't mean dropping your family commitments. It just means taking time for yourself." In the meantime, Rupp has a crystal trophy as a reminder of the hard work and sacrifices she made. "It was a good experience," she said. "I reached my goals. "And you know what? I'd do it again - and I plan on it."
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