Lithuanian fitness champion: a good athlete needs willpower and discipline

Alina Pelepko, a 37-year-old fitness athlete from the Klaipėda region, is an example that it is never too late to reap laurels in sports. The winner of the 2nd place in the “Miss bikini” category of the international tournament “Gintarinis prizas” and the absolute champion of the Lithuanian national championship, fitness athlete Alina says that she found herself in sports, so training twice a day is not difficult. We met in the champion’s forge of success – the gym of the fitness studio in Gargždaii – to talk about the sports path and achievements.

The work you put in is important
– How did you start your sports career?
– I have been doing sports for many years, I did individual sports for 3 years in Klaipėda, later I gave birth to my second child, a year ago I started attending a fitness studio in Gargždai with Aleksas Stankai. I gained 40 kg during pregnancy, but within a year I managed to achieve excellent results. In the spring, I participated in the competition for the first time, I wanted to see and understand if I liked it. And now I went to the second competition with a purpose, not just to look around. I plan to prepare more seriously in the spring and have an even higher win.
I don’t take any unnatural supplements like muscle building. I have to work more, growth is slower, but children need a healthy mother. I compete to show how hard I’ve worked all year.
– What fascinated you about fitness?
– Beauty and body presentation are emphasized in fitness and bodybuilding. In addition, you need to prepare psychologically, because it is not so easy to stand on stage in front of an audience, a dozen judges. There are girls who have excellent data, but are afraid to take the first step and show themselves. It takes a lot of determination and will to have. If I set a goal, I aim for it – that’s my way, that’s my character. I am demanding of myself and my wishes, I can take a critical look at what is good and what is bad.
– How much time should be devoted to sports?
– I do sports twice a day, except Sundays. According to the coach, it’s like brushing your teeth in the morning – it becomes part of the routine. It is not difficult, everything can be coordinated. I have two children, I take one to kindergarten in the morning, the other to school, then I go to exercise. Training takes place in two hours, if you exercise honestly. It is also very important to listen to the coach and do what he wrote in the program. The goal must be set and achievable, so discipline is very important.

No need to exalt the food
– Sport is also a psychological activity. Were there any difficulties when you wanted to give it all up?
– No, but there were maybe three times when I didn’t want to do sports for life reasons. But I think: I like it, so how can I not go? The coach saw my stubbornness, firm manner, unbreakable will. I liked the gym in Gargždai, everyone is friendly here. When you go to a big gym, no one knows your name, but here everyone takes care of each other, we share exercise equipment, you feel at home.
– How have you changed over the years?
– In terms of appearance, I did not observe changes constantly, because constant weighing can drive you crazy, nothing will change in one day. The body can change in 3 months, but you need to exercise and take care of your diet. There wasn’t a big psychological change, maybe only more difficult moments, because my husband is a sailor, so if the child gets sick, I’m alone, the constant running around, the excitement is exhausting. But when you really want it in your heart, everything happens because you like it.
– What qualities do you need to be a successful athlete?
– Discipline and willpower. And not to deify food. I myself have graduated as a pastry chef, but I do not praise food. You have to like sports, it has to be fun – my heart sings when I play sports.

Expensive sport
– How does the preparation for the competition look like?
– You always prepare for competitions. However, a stricter diet must be followed for two weeks before the competition, and the last week is the strictest, very narrow food ration. Fluids must come out. On the day of the competition, we eat, but we cannot drink a lot of liquids. Non-competition nutrition should also not be released. Delicious food can be made from healthy natural fruits, vegetables, and carbohydrates. The coach helps a lot: he creates a program, recommends, advises. Also, I still need to learn how to pose, it hurts my muscles a lot. The pose master Marina Legenzova helps me a lot.
– How much does it cost to prepare for the competition?
– For me, the preparation costs 1,500 euros, this amount includes a bikini suit, shoes, make-up, jewelry, beauty treatments. It’s an expensive sport. Bikinis can cost from 250 to 700 euros, it depends on how much you want to invest. Most often, girls order according to individual measurements, but others buy tailor-made, only then you need to make adjustments at the tailors.
– You won the 2nd place in the international tournament “Amber Prize”, and you became the absolute champion in the Lithuanian national championship. Did you expect such high results?
– Not really. But that recognition from other people who don’t know about you is an achievement. Many judges evaluate, in this competition there are as many as 12 of them. The competition was extremely difficult, you had to stand for almost 2 hours posing while evaluating, because all the participants appear at the same time. Then the battle is already between the body and the mind. My make-up had already run off. However, after the competition, the tension of fatigue was replaced by very good emotions.

Gabriele ČIUNKAITĖ