A proud Sanpedrana, Gabriela Nuñez, took center stage at the Miss Costa Del Caribe fitness competition that took place in Cancun, Mexico over the weekend and garnered her first experience as a fitness competitor/model. She came short of a win, but the experience has been a catalyst for her to continue competing and perfecting her body in the bodybuilding arena.
A rising Belizean fitness athlete, Gabriela competed in her first fitness event in the Bikini Fitness category at the Mr. and Miss Costa del Caribe 2014, Saturday, April 26. She classified for the second round but although she did not come out in first place in her category, Gabriela feels like a winner gaining much needed experience for future competitions.
“It took me five months to look how I do now and I was beyond excited to finally say I’m here and I made it and I did,” commented Gabriela to Ambergris Today. “This is my first time competing and entering the world and lifestyle of bodybuilding.”
Gabriela says she started training along with her coach, Mr. Nestor Manuel Cardona, in November 2013 and since then has dedicated herself to her new lifestyle that involves daily exercise, bodybuilding, nutrition plans and new routines.
“You’re the only person that sets limits, look beyond them. This is what my coach told me when I started training,” commented Gabriela. “I accepted and my preparation began; I gave my all and it has not only changed my body, but my life.”
A graduate of San Pedro High School (2011), Gabriela moved to Merida, Yucatan, Mexico to further her studies in Nutrition at the Universidad Meso Americana San Agustin. She has completed six semesters of the eight needed to receive her degree and will have to render her services of one year in Mexico. After that, Gabriela plans to pursue her Masters Degree in Nutrition, Sports and Training.
Gabriela’s passion for training started in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye at the Train Station Fitness Center and after feeling a bit lost and experiencing some culture shock in Merida, she found that the gym and weight training helped her find new focus.
“I’ve been training for years ever since I joined Train Station, that’s where the magic started,” stated Gabriela. “When I came to study abroad I found it difficult to keep up with this lifestyle; I found it so hard to adapt myself to another country – the food, weather, transport, new school, teachers, friends, ect. My first year living in Merida I stopped training and placed it aside; I felt like a crab in a hole as I didn’t know where to move and how to. But with time I got out of that hole and was ready to make progress. I had to start all over with my training and I felt I was back in place. Training is my life, it makes me complete.”
Gabriela says that she cannot live without training now; it is a part of her lifestyle. She took on the challenge, not to prove anything to anybody, but herself. She goes on to compete this coming Sunday, May 4, 2014, at the “Vigor y Fuerza” competition under the same Bikini Fitness category in Merida, Yucatan.
“I’m truly proud of my progress and the change; it was more of a self winning,” she concluded. “I would like to thank my main sponsors are who are my parents, Gaby’s Construction, Train Station Fitness Center and the S.P. Traffic Department. I could not have done it without them, so I owe them more than a simple thank you.”
For now Gabriela just wants to inspire others and keep improving herself to one day move back home and help others change their lives like she did.
Move cursor to ‘Minute 7’ of the video to see Gabriela Nuñez on stage competing at the Miss Costa del Caribe 2014
