Nunavut bodybuilder winning medals and hoping to lift Inuit in the process

Diane Marin has always been determined. 

From a young age, the Inuk competed in sports in high school and university before finding bodybuilding in her late twenties. 

"I've always had such a passion for health and fitness, especially weightlifting," Marin said. 

Marin, 31, was raised in Rankin Inlet and Yellowknife before moving to Alberta for school. She has a bachelor's degree in kinesiology and now is studying massage therapy.

She said she found bodybuilding a couple of years ago "and fell in love with it."

Preparing for a bodybuilding competition takes anywhere from 16 to 20 weeks, Marin said. That means weighing and measuring all of her food, making sure she's doing a certain amount of cardio everyday, along with specific workouts. 

It also means no cheat meals — Marin says she went 16 weeks without one during this last competition. 

"It's almost like a job," she said. 

She competed in Red Deer, Alta. at the end of May, coming in third in the bikini category of the competition. 

"I really tested myself and improved a lot," she said.

Even in her off season the rest of the year, Marin doesn't slow down. She's still training and eating well before she throws herself into another multi-month preparation phase. 

"I love it. It takes a lot of discipline and determination," she said. "I love challenging myself, I love pushing myself."

"I find it very satisfying when I'm capable of hitting every check mark in a book of what I need to do every day, day after day for 16 weeks." 

Marin's mom and her best friend also flew in to watch her compete. Both sat in the front row.