University Daily Kansan / Thursday, November 20, 1986
Strengthening, body building dominate power lifter's life
By PAM MILLER
Sports writer
Most people will agree that someone who lives on baked potatoes and distilled water for six days is either crazy or extremely dedicated to her sport.
Debbi Shauers, Great Bend junior, lived on that diet to prepare for the Miss Central States Body Building Competition she won Oct. 25. She may be dedicated or crazy or both, but whatever the explanation, she is becoming a formidable competitor in the body-building field.
Shauers heard about the competition only six days in advance, she said, so she went on the diet to lose water weight quickly.
Debbi Shauers, Great Bend junior, works out at Junkyard's Jym and Nautilus, 535 Gateway Drive. Shauers was ranked ninth in the $154.2\mathrm{lb}$ weight class last year by the American Drug-Free Power Lifting Association. She also placed first in Miss Central States Body Building Competition on Oct. 25.
The drastic measures paid off; Shauers took first place, beating last year's winner.
They don't realize it dominates my life. I'm so addicted that if I don't lift for three days, my whole body starts to ache.'
- Debbi Shauers
Great Bend junior
Mindie Denton, Tulsa senior, a friend of Shauers', accompanied her to the competition at Lansing State Penitentiary.
"As far as who looked better, there wasn't any competition," Denton said. "They just didn't compare. She walked out, and (the judges) knew she had won."
Shaura said the judges evaluated each contestant's muscularity, symmetry and vein definition.
"Symmetry is really important because they're looking for all of the muscles to be equally developed," she said.
Shauers' love of weightlifting goes back two years to her days as a KU crew team member. She began lifting weights to improve her rowing skills, but she eventually quit rowing to concentrate on power lifting and body building
Shauers began competing in power lifting meets because she wanted stronger competition.
"I couldn't find any girls to compete with in the gym," she said.
Shauers began her power-lifting competition in October 1985 at the Midwest Open in Wichita. She came in second overall in the women's division. Shauers was ranked ninth in the 1541-1b class by the American Drug-Free Power Lifting Association.
This year, she said, she expects to be ranked sixth or higher
For the first meet, Shauers said, "I just showed up. I didn't know what I was doing. Mindie went with me and laughed."
At the meet, Shauers met nationally ranked power litter Jim Ayers, who then began coaching her. She attended two power-lifting meets while he was helping her develop her technique.
In February, however, the competition stopped while Shauers recovered from foot surgery. Shauers had to quit lifting while she was in a cast.
"I hated it because people talk about how if you quit lifting you'll turn to flab," she said. "I was real paranoid about that. I went on a diet and lost 20 pounds. I would try to lift, hopping around on my cast, but I finally said, 'Forget it, I need a break.'
"I was in a cast for seven weeks. My legs were really weak. It took me from last July until now to build back up."
Shauers competed in the Kansas State Power Lifting Meet in Washburn on Nov. 1 and placed second in the women's division and third in the men's, or open, division.
Shauers said she was embarrassed about beating the
men at the competition because she thought some of them took it personally.
Although Shauers has competed in more power-lifting meets than body-building meets, she prefers body building.
Body building always has been in the back of her mind.
Shauers said, even while she was power lifting.
However, Shauers said, "I like the workouts for body building. In body building, you work out every muscle. In power, you only work out the major groups.
"Power lifting is an excellent way to train for body building because you can develop the bulk.
"I'm getting stronger, so I can do both well," she said. "But I'm going to have to nick one."
Shauers flipped through an issue of Muscular Development magazine. "I want to look leaner, get a lean definition. I can do that with body building."
Her reeimen for body building includes working out six
One routine works the legs and shoulders, another works the back and biceps and the third works the chest and triceps.
days a week. She has three routines that she works on for an hour and a half each, twice a week.
Sandy Eisenbart, Goodland senior and an employee at Junkyair's Jym, 535 Gateway Drive, said Shauers would be a competitive threat to her at this spring's Lawrence body-building contest. Eisenbart has placed 12th in the USA body-building competition, the largest amateur competition in the country.
Eisenbart and Shauers will compete in the U.S. competition next year.
Shauers said she and Eisenbart tried to keep up with each other on their weight routines.
Shauers' dedication rules her life.
Shauers said that she tried to match Eisenbart's lean size and that Eisenbart tried to match Shauer's strength.
"They don't realize it dominates my life." Shauers said, "I'm so addicted that if I don't lift for three days, my whole body starts to ache.
"She's one of the few women who comes in on a regular basis and works very hard."
"She's always been very intense, very dedicated." Eisenbart said. "She pushes herself and she's very sports on."
Besides working out six days a week, Shauers takes 13 hours of classes and works at the Jaybowl and at New York Elementary School. The time she has left over is minimal.
Shauers said that she was happy with things that way, though, because she was getting where she wanted to go.
Shauners hopes someday to work for a large gym, such as Gold's Gym or World's Gym, or for a firm such as Nike. For that reason, she said, it is important to win titles and get recognition now.
"They just can't quite comprehend it," she said. "Dad asked Mom not to show anybody my body-building pictures. But they know it makes me happy. They're supportive of anything I've worked so hard at."
Shauers' mother, Margaret, said that she planned to come to Lawrence in March to see her daughter compete in the Lawrence body-building contest.
"Personally, I don't like body builders' stomach muscles, but I thought her back muscles and leg muscles looked great." Margaret Shauers said.
She said that even though the rest of the family didn't have much to do with athletics, her daughter's determination was a family trait.
"In our family, whatever it is that we want, we go after it," Margaret Shauers said. "This is her way and I think it's great."
TUX'S TUXEDOS TO OWN
15 W. 9th $39 set
STADIUM BARBER SHOP
1033 Mass. Downtown
ALL HAIRCUTS $6
Quality Haircuts at
Reasonable Prices
No app. necessary. Closed on Mona
Delivers
5-10 Nightly
$5.00 minimum
Worth 50¢ off
THE HOLY STEEL
--as we think of the hungry and plan for the next diet.
112 sportswear Team Uniforms Party Favors
Party Favors
101 Riverfront Road-Suite A (913)749-2404
Paradise Cafe
728 Mass.
842-5199
For the perfect compliment to your desire
Headmasters.
You'll Love Our Kids!
102 Viewing Lots
911-436-7788
HOW THANKFUL
So we overeat
The President proclaims Thanksgiving Day for Americans to pause and give thanks for many blessings and gifts.
And we spend 3 hours watching football but find one hour too much for worship. (Read Deuteronomy 8:1-10; Psalm 107; Luke 17:11-19)
Lutheran Campus Ministry
1204 Oread 843-4948
Sunday Worship: 10:30 a.m.
Maidenform Chantilly strapless for your holiday parties.
UNDERCOVER
21 w 9th
THRIFTY THURSDAY
SAVE BIG BUCKS! SAVE $6.75 OFF RETAIL From Your Friends at Pyramid Pizza
Thrifty Thursday Special
Two Toppings plus
16" Large Pizza with
Four Cans of Coke only $7.95 — tax
(of course)
14th and Ohio 842-3232
GRADUATE STUDENTS WHY VOTE? Because...
Student Senate funding is essential to the Graduate Student Travel Fund.
Graduate Organizations receive senate funds.
We all use senate funded services.
It's our responsibility as members of the university community.
Besides, your mother would want you to!
VOTE!
STUDENT SENATE ELECTIONS NOV.19th and 20th DO IT NOW!
Funded by Student Senate Services.