CENTER TWP — Lauren Green tagged along with her boyfriend to the gym.

Before long, the 33-year-old Center Township resident started lifting, competing — and winning.

“I went to the gym quite a bit when we were dating,” said Curtis Green, now her husband. “Lauren started coming with me and got into power-lifting — and she was pretty good at it.”

A power-lifter for eight years, Lauren has set records in the 400-pound deadlift. Only now she's taken her skills to a different level.

Bodybuilding.

The couple attended a bodybuilding competition and “Lauren felt like she could do that,” Green said.

She began competing in the figure division seven years ago, averaging two competitions a year.

“I've always been athletic. I did track and field and volleyball in high school,” said Mrs. Green, who grew up in New York. “I was attracted by the competition in bodybuilding.

“I had been working out anyway and I'm a nutritionist by trade, so it seemed like a natural transition.”

The figure division in bodybuilding is judged by leanness and conditioning. Among the categories judged are shapely muscularity, balance, proportion, symmetry and presentation.

Competitors wear two-piece suits and clear high-heeled shoes.

While Lauren Green enjoyed steady success as an amateur bodybuilder, she didn't figure a pro card was in her future.

It arrived anyway.

She won her pro card at the recent OCB Best of the Burgh competition in Pittsburgh. OCB stands for the Organization of Competition Bodies and encompasses purely natural athletes.

“We emphasize that,” Green's husband said. “Lauren's gotten to this point purely through diet and workouts.

“She's won her class in competitions before. To get your pro card, you have to finish first overall, all divisions.”

Curtis Green competes in bodybuilding as well, “but I'm not as good as her,” he said.

Lauren Green didn't expect to earn a pro card. She helps to train others in terms of fitness and nutrition.

She also trains herself — in the basement of her Center Township home.

“I train five days a week, getting up at 3:30 a.m. every day,” she said. “I work out for a couple of hours very early in the morning.

“I work in Pittsburgh during the day, so it takes me a while to get there. I'm the mother of two, so that takes up time as well. Early morning is my gym time.”

The Greens' children are ages 4 and 1.

As for when she'll first use her pro card, Mrs. Green simply isn't sure.

“I don't know at this point,” she said. “I'm going to take a year off, build up my back a little more, do some fine-tuning. When I feel like I'm ready, we'll check the schedule and see what competitions are nearby and work for us.”

OCB has 15 pro competitions on its schedule this year, beginning May 4 and running through Dec. 14. None are in Pennsylvania, but there are events in Maryland, New York, New Jersey and Washington D.C.

“The fact she's done all of this strictly on her own, working out in the basement, structuring her own diet ... It's pretty amazing,” her husband said.

“I'm competitive with myself when I train,” Mrs. Green said. “As long as I'm improving myself, I'm excited about what the results may be.”