I enjoyed gymnastics and played baseball with my brother and friends who always told me how skinny I was growing up. As I got older, I saw fitness magazines with women who were healthy with defined physiques. They appealed to me because I could see myself as these women.
Building muscle and exercising became part of my life when I joined a gym in my 20s. I played it safe starting out and stayed on the treadmill and circuit training area. The gym was divided into two sections, the side I was on and the side with free weights and workout machines that pushed it to the next level. I observed that the gym members on my side of the gym looked average, but the members on the other side of the gym had muscles and the body I wanted.
When I ventured to the other side of the gym, it was another world. The body I desired was on that side. I started using machines without knowledge, but the gym members were helpful and provided advice to answer my questions about machines and how to build the body I wanted with weights.
I learned how to track my workouts, diet, supplements, and how to use the machines for maximum results. From that point, I was hooked on bodybuilding. When I had my son, it became difficult to go to the gym, but I didn't use that as an excuse; I started working out at home. Within the last three years, I started completing my Ph.D. in public health and continued working out at home so I had no excuses. However, I recently joined a gym again.
As a busy mom, working out can take a back seat and even fail to make the to-do list. Instead of working out for an hour straight, which initially didn't fit my lifestyle, I learned to divide the time into two 30-minute workouts (morning and evening). This was effective and helped me stay on the road to better health so I could create the body I desire.
I have more energy now than I did in my 20s. I feel better about myself inside and out and I'm proud of the hard work I put in. I love challenging myself to set new personal bests and enjoy trying new exercises that I find on sites like Bodybuilding.com. By keeping my routine fresh, I don't burn out and the excitement stays strong. At this point, I will never quit going to the gym. It's an integral part of my daily routine and I'm a better person for it.
My daughter and son are my motivating force. They see me working out and join me. This allows us to bond and stay fit. My daughter's encouraging words of love always help when she says, "You can be 50 (I'm not 50) and fly."
My reason for studying public health, which isn't related to my MBA or BSBA, is to improve the health of children. My son was sick for five years when he couldn't thrive after an inability to acquire proper nutritional intake and sustain a healthy weight. During my studies, statistical evidence shows that certain populations are more prevalent with greater health risks due to lifestyle and SES (socioeconomics).
When I'm in the grocery store and someone says I'm small or fit, it allows me to speak to them about health and nutrition. When I made the commitment to bring my body to another level physically, I stuck with it. This gave me confidence to submit my photo and information for this article.
My future bodybuilding plans are to continue in fitness, but to expand and enter a bikini contest. I want encourage other women my age to do anything they set their mind to. Accomplish and focus on being your best self. Don't allow age to determine your success.
My best fitness tip is portion control. My epiphany was to reduce my portions and it truly made a difference in my fitness goal. Incorporate weight training into your fitness routine. This allowed me to shed weight quickly and build muscle.
I watched an online video of Ava Cowan and she spoke about changing her life by managing what she ate and seeking additional education. Basically she took control of her fitness destiny. I was inspired about how she worked out without a sponsor. It was her dedication and work ethic that drove her to become the fitness pro she is today. After watching her video, I started to seek more information on working out and balancing my diet so I could accomplish my fitness goals.
Bodybuilding.com is the first online bodybuilding site/community I joined. I like the site because fellow community members provide honest feedback on my current appearance, which I find encouraging. The site provides essential information to track your current body stats and offers free, quality information to help you reach and maintain your fitness goal. I find the site great for overall health. It's a one-stop-shop for everything fitness and health related.