Melissa Prichard’s sport isn’t one that attracts a lot of women.

But that hasn’t kept her from pursuing her latest pastime — bodybuilding. The Fond du Lac woman took up the strenuous hobby in January and began competing this summer. She won the heavyweight category and was named runner-up overall at the State Fair’s bodybuilding competition in August.

Melissa said the idea came to her when she noticed the muscle she was building from regular workouts.

“I wanted something to focus on,” she said. “I wanted to prove to myself that I could do it.”

It was her health, not gender or stereotypes, that drove her to try it. Melissa said she has had type-1 diabetes since age 16. Over the years, she has managed it with diet, exercise and an insulin pump. Bodybuilding seemed like the perfect way to stay in shape and exercise the competitive spirit.

Melissa noted that she wasn’t a stranger in the world of big muscles. Her husband Perry, a former bodybuilder, used to be a trainer years ago. He willingly offered to help his wife achieve her goal.

Weights

That included exercising together and adopting Melissa’s strict diet. Perry said they both ate balanced, nutritious meals, with Melissa consuming up to seven small ones a day. Breakfast may include egg whites and oatmeal. For lunch, it’s tuna and an apple. Every two weeks, she treated herself to extra lean beef.

Due to the egg white diet, the Prichards went through five dozen eggs a week, she noted.

“The dogs get the yolks,” she added.

Melissa said working together motivated her — and prevented stress-induced fights at the dinner table.

“It’s probably a good thing that he eats the same as me,” said Melissa. “If I had to eat that and he was eating Lucky Charms, there would be some choice words between us.”

Strength training began in January. In the early morning, she left her home near the airport and drove to Snap Fitness on Rolling Meadows Drive, where she lifted weights. At night, she did cardio training, she said. Overall, workouts took about two hours each day.

Throughout the training period, Melissa kept a watchful eye on her blood sugar. She said it never went out of control, though it did sometimes fluctuate for unapparent reasons.

“Everybody with diabetes goes through that,” she said. “If it were easy, we wouldn’t need diabetes educators.”

At her peak fitness level, Melissa could bench press 160 to 165 pounds. She said she lifted 35 to 40 pounds in curls.

Melissa noted that she’s never felt tempted to use steroids or other performance-enhancing drugs. They could have a detrimental effect on her health due to her diabetes, and she also takes pride in the long hours she’s devoted to workouts.

Melissa said that’s why she only participates in contests that test competitors for drugs.

“I won’t touch that stuff with a 10-foot pole,” she said.

“I wouldn’t let her touch them,” added Perry.

Celebration

When Melissa began competing earlier this year, she was hoping to place in the top five. She said she never expected to walk home with a trophy from the State Fair.

During the Fair, she competed in three rounds, two requiring poses set by event organizers. For the third, Melissa did a self-choreographed routine to music by ’80s hair bands.

“It’s amazing how fast 90 seconds goes,” she said. “It felt like two.”

Once the contest ended, she and Perry celebrated with pizza and ice cream, two no-no’s during her training days. Perry explained that bodybuilding causes mental and physical stress, so it’s important to relax occasionally.

Now, two months later, Melissa is back in the gym training for her next competition, the Midwest Natural Bodybuilding and Figure Championships in Madison. The contest, which takes place in two weeks, has kept her on her special diet and exercise regimen. But once that’s over, she can eat caramel apples, candy corn and other fall treats that are currently off limits.

Temptation can be a powerful monster, but Melissa said she has what it takes to beat it. Her husband motivates her, and she feels so healthy she doesn’t want to quit. The emotions that follow are also well worth it.

“I get comments from people all the time: ‘Why would a woman want to do this?’” she said. “It’s the pride that I can do it.”