Quiet perseverance pays off for body builder

By Robin Krafft

For some people, moving to Tillsonburg represents a homecoming after years of living elsewhere. Others discover it is a jewel nestled in a rural setting; a happy medium between country living and urban conveniences. Both reasons apply to Kyle Deschamps and his wife Patricia Moore. A remote farmhouse in northern Ontario felt too isolated, yet Kyle's hometown of Belleville felt too built up and had become quite costly. Patricia, originally from Tillsonburg, liked the idea of being closer to family members and the couple settled here three years ago.

The early days of their relationship included plenty of travel, with Kyle living in Whitby and Patricia in Woodstock. They met online in 2018, but it wasn't exactly love at first sight. They chatted a bit and it seemed to go well, but when they exchanged pictures, she didn't particularly want to pursue the situation. She wasn't looking for a competitive bodybuilder. It was the same year that Kyle won in his weight category as well as the overall Fouad Abiad Championship, qualifying for the nationals. He started out at with a cheap pair of weights in his dad's basement at 13, competing in his first show at the age of 19.

"I didn't know what to expect," Kyle said, "I'm a quiet, introverted person, but once I was on stage, I felt quite comfortable, like I was where I belonged."

Over the next six years, Kyle gained 30 pounds of additional muscle. "I was more driven," he explained, "my stepfather had passed away and I told him that I was going to do it. I dedicated it to him, so I was more emotionally invested.

"The preparation was intense, including 5,000 calories a day during training and a very structured cardio and weight regimen everyday. He was working as a personal trainer at the time, so it was an ideal environment. He was bench pressing 405 pounds, and his best deadlift was 675 lb. It was a time of great gains and high energy. Four to six weeks before a show, however, calories are reduced in order to remove body fat while keeping the muscle. It's a big change, often resulting in a lack of energy and a sense of constant hunger, but it paid off.

Kyle still works out regularly, and in addition to his position at Zehrs, he is still a personal trainer and online health fitness coach. He works with some bodybuilders, but the majority of his clients are seeking support for mitigating or managing chronic or acute health conditions. As a diabetic himself, Kyle has a lot of personal experience as well as expertise to offer.

Healthy food choices and fitness are part of his lifestyle. He explains that "muscle is longevity," and a great way to maintain youthfulness. His favorite place to walk is the Carroll Trail. He has always enjoyed the outdoors and wildlife. Watching snakes slithering through the grass or fish swimming upstream in the spring remind him of his childhood adventures. He loved to catch turtles, frogs and snakes. His mother allowed him to bring them home and keep them in a tank, but after a couple of days they would mysteriously disappear, and she would explain that "they must have escaped!"

Patricia loves animals too. The former PSW works at Pet Valu, which includes kittens and lots of customers with canine companions, but it also means that she and Kyle can spend their lunch breaks together. At home, their motley crew includes a fish, two cats, a toy yorkie weighing in at four pounds, (Eliot) and a German shepherd husky lab pup weighing in at 95 pounds (Angus). Eliot is cozy with the cats, but he knows how to put Angus in his place, with a firm grip on his lip.

Unfortunately, the pandemic spoiled Kyle's opportunity to compete at the national level. His qualification applied for only two years, and by the time competitions were reinstated, his life had changed and his goals had shifted. His perseverance had paid off with Patricia, too. Kyle observed that the right partner is important: "You need someone in your life to soften you up a bit."