Most people may get into shape just to look or to feel good, but fitness means more to Lameitra Dupree. For her, it’s a way of life.
Dupree is a Tallahassee native and a Florida A&M University alumna with a passion for fitness, so much that she started and owns a fitness studio in her hometown. However, she did not stop there.
Taking fitness to another level, Dupree competed in her first bikini fitness show last June in Tallahassee. She swept first place in the Supernatural Bodybuilding and Fitness Organization (SNBF) North Florida Body Building Classic Competition categories of Novice Bikini, Open Bikini, and the Pro Card level. SNBF is organized for individuals to focus on healthy lifestyles.
“Fitness is a lifestyle for me,” Dupree explained. “It wasn’t necessarily just training for the competition, but staying in traditional workouts to just my regular routine of training.”
The FAMU alumna said she got started after seeing friends talking about competing on social media.
“I actually found out about the one that I ended up doing, or the competitions in general, through social media. Friends that have done them in the past,” Dupree said. “And then I went to my local gym and saw that they had a flyer or poster of one that was going to be here in Tallahassee. So that gave me the motivation to go ahead and get in shape for it.”
Dupree’s healthy lifestyle is clearly shown in her day to day routine. Her sister Latoya Dupree, who is a co-owner of Cheer Tech Dance and Fitness, mentioned how she has seen fitness become more important to Lameitra as she has gotten older.
“She’s always been athletic since she was 3,” Latoya said. “As she has gotten older she recognizes the importance of health and fitness.”
For most competitors, it takes roughly six months to prepare for competitions. Lameitra, however, trained for just three months before conquering the SNBF North Florida show.
Along with being a co-owner of Cheer Tech Dance and Fitness Studio, Lameitra is a certified trainer and prefers to train herself for these competitions.
“I usually train either at the gym by myself, or I would do it when I do group training with my clients here at the studio,” Lameitra said.
It takes more than just working out to prepare for the competitions. Having a strict, healthy diet is also imperative in her training method. That means eating more than the average person. For Lameitra, it takes six meals a day consisting of fruits and vegetables, healthy snacks, and lots of water.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that 38 percent of black women are considered to be in excellent health. Lameitra said it’s surprising that more black women are becoming more interested in competing in fitness shows.
“The funny part is not even just women, but the African-American race period, men and women participation is becoming bigger,” Lameitra said. “Actually, the way our bodies are made up we are winning more, and the more we become involved we can actually take over.”
Now that Lameitra has experienced a successful fitness show, she plans to compete more to reach her goals.
“My goals are to win my first SNBF Pro Show,” Lameitra said. “I won my first show I ever did and got my pro card, now I want to win my first Pro Show.”
Now in the process of preparing for her first Pro Show, Lameitra is on her way to accomplishing her goals and impacting the health rate of black women in America – because fitness is not just a destination, but a lifestyle.