Sheryl Fink, Biologist and Body Builder
Sheryl Fink regularly takes centre stage to protect wildlife and promote awareness about their senseless persecution.
Now the Guelph biologist is front and centre on a different stage – strutting around in a very sparkly bikini! Fink is the picture of brains, beauty and brawn – she has turned to the science of building a better body and competes in physique competitions.
By day, Fink, 42, works as director of Canadian Wildlife Campaigns for the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW); off hours she is in the gym training for figure competitions with the Ontario Physique Association (OPA). yes, we’re talking the truly buffed bod.
While most of us are content to keep middle age spread at bay, Fink has taken shape shifting to a whole new level. She loves the psychological and physiological challenge of creating and refining a new and improved physique. “I love training because I know that if I put in the work consistently I will see results.”
Her mental discipline and ability to focus have improved dramatically as well, she adds.
Getting fit and building a better body is achievable at any age, agree experts, and there are endless ways to fitness. Fink works to rock the stage in a bikini, while others work on race times to rock climbing to losing a few pounds.
There’s no one way to be fit, says celebrity trainer Harley Pasternak. “You don’t need to be an Olympic athlete or in perfect condition – just walk more each day, and add in some weights. It’s very easy to sculpt,” says the author of 5 Pounds: The Breakthrough 5-Day Plan to Jump-Start Rapid Weight Loss (and Never Gain It Back!)
For Pasternak, of Harleypasternak.com, fitness is all about “confidence, happiness, health and posture.” For Fink, “it’s about having a strong and healthy body, mind, and spirit.”
And, obviously, it’s a winning formula. She recently competed against women half her age and placed first in the Figure Medium category at the GNC Barrie Natural Classic Championships on July 25. Last summer was Fink’s first competition and she took second place in both the Figure Medium and Figure Masters (35 ) Medium at the Fusion Bodybuilding Mo-Muscle Classic Championships in Guelph.
Read the full post in Toronto Sun
