Fitter than ever, Laurie Dickson is returning to the scene of a past triumph on Sept. 18.

She’ll be at the World Bodybuilding & Fitness Federation (WBFF) world championships in Southern Ontario, an event whose over-35 fitness model title she claimed in 2008.

This time, she’s in even better shape, thanks in part to her new training partner (and boyfriend) Colin Hampton.

“He pushes me when I need that extra push, and I’ve never had that before,” said Dickson, who, as a personal trainer, is used to doling out the encouragement. “It’s a real nice treat. He’s been very encouraging for me.”

Dickson said the arrangement has allowed her to lift heavier than ever before. Weighing 115 pounds herself, she’s leg-pressing more than three times her own body weight when she cranks out six reps at 410 pounds.

“My strength has gone up, so to know that someone is there to (spot you) if you need them to, that’s one of the better parts,” she said. “And to eat the same and prepare, it’s nice to have that partner.”

Prior to adding a workout partner, Dickson had the focus to power through those moments when motivation flagged. Still, she said now there’s an added incentive.

“You know you’re going to meet them at the gym. I work out extremely intensely, and he’s exactly the same.”

Dickson said she’s leaner and tighter than before, which could well be necessary given she’s expecting stiffer competition in Mississauga.

“(WBFF president and CEO) Paul Dillett has really marketed his federation extremely well. It’s actually the biggest fitness competition on earth,” said Dickson, who will be one of upwards of 400 elite competitors.

“The show is bigger than before, by far, which is really cool because I really love the competition aspect of it. I love standing on stage with top-notch physiques.”

She’ll be competing in the open figure category, as well as the masters fitness model division.

Her trip is being sponsored by Pro-Fitness Gym, Pharmasave, Bio-X Nutrition, and the Vanity Room Hair Salon.

As always, these are busy times for Dickson, who recently launched a fitnesswear endeavour: F.I.T. Designs by Laurie Dickson.

She wore one of her creations at a recent Inside Fitness cover shoot in Toronto; the magazine’s photo director and publisher approached her about providing items for other models to wear.

“It’s a little bit like Vogue magazine asking a new clothing designer ‘Can we premiere your outfit?’ It’s pretty big,” she said.

Dickson designs the clothes, and local seamstress Nancy Wocknitz puts them together.

Meant for men and women, the pieces are custom-tailored.

She said getting well-fitting clothes can be a struggle for athletes. In men, for example, sleeves of conventional T-shirts are often too tight to accommodate their biceps, while the waist is too billowy.

“Regular shirts just don’t fit, and it’s a common complaint with athletes,” she said. “(My designs) have a little bit of an edge to them. They’re a little more retro, a lot more fun and a lot more stylish.”

Another thing on Dickson’s plate (other than lots of chicken, boiled egg whites and yams, of course) is her Aspire2BFit personal training service. She tailors diets and workout programs, and has clients who drive in from Calgary and all over the Kootenays.

She is also a spokesmodel for NuvoCare Health Sciences, a Toronto-based firm.

On top of that she writes for World Physique Magazine, and a regular Fit for Life column in the Townsman. Inside Fitness Magazine has also tapped her to be on their panel of fitness experts.

Despite a hectic schedule, she also wants to do more motivational speaking, something she’s done at local schools.

“There are some days that... I’m all at once on my Blackberry with a client, listening to my kids read books from school, and preparing their lunches and mine. It’s pretty busy. Then I still have to go on the computer and do all my other work,” she said.

“I’ve been asked many times how I do it. I can’t tell you: I just do it. It’s such a huge passion for me.”