"The woman that follows the crowd will usually go no further than the crowd.
The woman who walks alone is likely to find herself in places no one has ever been before."
- Albert Einstein
The woman who walks alone is likely to find herself in places no one has ever been before."
- Albert Einstein
 2009 |  2011 |
2011 Natural Northern USA Drug Tested Bodybuilding and Fitness Competition
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I decided the best 40th-birthday present I could give myself would be a
weight loss overhaul. What began as a simple weight loss goal quickly
morphed into a complete body evolution.
A week after turning 39, I started my diet plans. My starting weight was 200lbs. and my goal was to lose 50 pounds. I had lost weight before so I knew changing the foods I ate and exercising were the two main components. I stopped eating fast foods for lunch/dinner and replaced these meals with a large salad. I stopped snacking on potato chips and my last meal was before 7pm. I had a treadmill at home that I dusted off and started walking on it 15-20 minutes before and after work.
Each week I increased my walking time 5-10 minutes each session until I was walking a total of 2 hours daily. I increased both the incline level and my speed in weekly increments. I measured my effort by how much I sweated -- I didn't allow myself to get comfortable. Once the weather warmed, I moved my after-work sessions outside. To add variety, I walked back-and-forth across the Lorain-Carnegie bridge (between Progressive Field and The West Side Market).
See Weight Loss Strategies for a complete guide in getting fit.
A week after turning 39, I started my diet plans. My starting weight was 200lbs. and my goal was to lose 50 pounds. I had lost weight before so I knew changing the foods I ate and exercising were the two main components. I stopped eating fast foods for lunch/dinner and replaced these meals with a large salad. I stopped snacking on potato chips and my last meal was before 7pm. I had a treadmill at home that I dusted off and started walking on it 15-20 minutes before and after work.
Each week I increased my walking time 5-10 minutes each session until I was walking a total of 2 hours daily. I increased both the incline level and my speed in weekly increments. I measured my effort by how much I sweated -- I didn't allow myself to get comfortable. Once the weather warmed, I moved my after-work sessions outside. To add variety, I walked back-and-forth across the Lorain-Carnegie bridge (between Progressive Field and The West Side Market).
See Weight Loss Strategies for a complete guide in getting fit.
Initial Weight Loss Goal
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Within 7 months I had reached my goal! Yeah! right? Wrong! I had reached my weight goal but I didn't like what my body looked like. What was wrong? I was 150- pounds when I was 30-years old and I liked the thick-chick look. But my body looked pudgy and soft - yuk! After continual whining and complaining, a friend suggested I get a personal trainer. I took the advice as a means to shut me up but wouldn't you know it, the following day while visiting my sister I spotted an advertisement for personal training at a gym 5 minutes from where I worked.
I called and set up an appointment for Monday. During my consultation, the trainer asked what were my fitness goals. Laying on the table was a fitness magazine article showcasing a 39-year old figure competitor. Her muscular, well-defined body spoke to me. "I wanna look like this!" I announced. The trainer looked at the picture and then back at me and said, "Ok. That's what we'll work toward."
I realize now that as I aged, my body composition shifted. The once tight look of a 30-year old was possible because my muscle-to-fat ratio was higher. Muscle weighs more than fat and muscle is smaller - giving me a tighter look. Muscle mass gives the body tone and shape. By losing weight with cardio (walking) only, I had lost fat AND muscle. By replacing my meals with salad, I deprived my body of protein - which muscles need to grow and develop.
See Weight Loss Strategies for a complete guide in getting fit.
I called and set up an appointment for Monday. During my consultation, the trainer asked what were my fitness goals. Laying on the table was a fitness magazine article showcasing a 39-year old figure competitor. Her muscular, well-defined body spoke to me. "I wanna look like this!" I announced. The trainer looked at the picture and then back at me and said, "Ok. That's what we'll work toward."
I realize now that as I aged, my body composition shifted. The once tight look of a 30-year old was possible because my muscle-to-fat ratio was higher. Muscle weighs more than fat and muscle is smaller - giving me a tighter look. Muscle mass gives the body tone and shape. By losing weight with cardio (walking) only, I had lost fat AND muscle. By replacing my meals with salad, I deprived my body of protein - which muscles need to grow and develop.
See Weight Loss Strategies for a complete guide in getting fit.
Never Stop - Never Give Up
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Many goals are potentially thwarted due to obstacles. And my dream of entering a bodybuilding competition was no exception. The company I was employed with was sold and 90% of the workforce was laid-off - including myself. I was determined to continue my personal training. I found a new trainer closer to my home who had a different approach to building muscle mass: Calisthenics. Calisthenic exercises are a form of exercise using only your body weight for resistance.
We did a variety of push-ups, pull-ups, lunges and squats. My body began to lean out - meaning I had very little fat. (I was now wearing a size zero!) Friends and family grew concerned that I was losing too much weight. They understood my goal but not the process. Times when I would get discouraged, my trainer kept me focused by comparing my body to the picture of the figure competitor that had inspired me.
See Weight Loss Strategies for a complete guide in getting fit.
We did a variety of push-ups, pull-ups, lunges and squats. My body began to lean out - meaning I had very little fat. (I was now wearing a size zero!) Friends and family grew concerned that I was losing too much weight. They understood my goal but not the process. Times when I would get discouraged, my trainer kept me focused by comparing my body to the picture of the figure competitor that had inspired me.
See Weight Loss Strategies for a complete guide in getting fit.
A Dream Realized
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Twelve weeks from the competition, I changed my diet. I stopped eating carbohydrates no later than 3 pm. I increased my water intake up to 2 gallons daily. I increased my protein intake and my cheat days were almost non-existent. I did cardio twice a day (morning and evening). All the while, I continued researching the world of bodybuilding and started reaching out to past figure competitors. I ordered my posing suit and shoes. Scheduled make-up, nails, waxing and tanning appointments. I practiced walking and posing daily.
Finally the day of the competition arrived and I would call it organized chaos. There were so many athletes (yes we're considered athletes) men and women competing in: bikini, figure, physique, and three classes of traditional bodybuilding: lightweight, middle and heavy. We were all assigned numbers. I stood in line and let others ahead of me so that I could get my "special" number - 125; which corresponds to my birthday January 25th.
I placed 8th in Figure Masters over 40, (I had hopes of at least 5th place so I could bring home a trophy). My most memorable moment came when I was introduced and it was announced that I had lost over 80 pounds to participate in the competition. My huge smile matched my feeling of accomplishment. In 21 months, I had gone from wearing a size 22 to competing in a bodybuilding figure competition. Another added benefit of competing is meeting like-minded fitness enthusiasts. The woman in the picture above is Margarita Beale - she won 2nd place in the Figure Masters over 40! Her enthusiasm was infectious and we became fast friends.
My bodybuilding adventure is not over. I am even more determined to place in the top five at my next competition.
In the words of C. S. Lewis, “You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.”
See Weight Loss Strategies for a complete guide in getting fit.
Finally the day of the competition arrived and I would call it organized chaos. There were so many athletes (yes we're considered athletes) men and women competing in: bikini, figure, physique, and three classes of traditional bodybuilding: lightweight, middle and heavy. We were all assigned numbers. I stood in line and let others ahead of me so that I could get my "special" number - 125; which corresponds to my birthday January 25th.
I placed 8th in Figure Masters over 40, (I had hopes of at least 5th place so I could bring home a trophy). My most memorable moment came when I was introduced and it was announced that I had lost over 80 pounds to participate in the competition. My huge smile matched my feeling of accomplishment. In 21 months, I had gone from wearing a size 22 to competing in a bodybuilding figure competition. Another added benefit of competing is meeting like-minded fitness enthusiasts. The woman in the picture above is Margarita Beale - she won 2nd place in the Figure Masters over 40! Her enthusiasm was infectious and we became fast friends.
My bodybuilding adventure is not over. I am even more determined to place in the top five at my next competition.
In the words of C. S. Lewis, “You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.”
See Weight Loss Strategies for a complete guide in getting fit.