I grew up in California next to the beach and always used it to my advantage. There was nothing like running and swimming at the beach every day. You can say I have saltwater running through my veins.
I was a cheerleader throughout school and still consider it a sport no matter what anyone says. I worked in a gym after high school (Mid Valley Athletic Club) and loved the classes and the racquetball court. I constantly cycled through various activities like race walking, swimming, hula hoop, and trampoline. They were fun and I enjoyed doing them with my friends.
I made several mistakes with nutrition early in life. I went several hours without eating, drank diet soda, and ate non-fat, processed foods. When I learned about my body type, I started eating clean food and added consistent training to my everyday life. The results happened immediately and I was blown away. My metabolism was back and I was on fire.
I used to be cardio queen. I entered several races and loved the challenge of competing against my best times. I did a half marathon in 2011 and planned on a doing a full marathon in 2012, but my mind changed when I started looking at Oxygen Magazine, Fitness RX, and Bodybuilding.com. I moved to the other side of the gym and began lifting weights. In March 2012, my goals changed from marathons to figure competitions. Turning a running body into a bodybuilding body was an uphill battle that I dove into head first.
I'm on a mission for total health and wellness. Facebook, Oxygen Magazine, Fitness RX, and Bodybuilding.com were great tools for knowledge. They fed my hunger to grow and learn as much as possible. As I started sharing my knowledge, people saw my results and asked for help. That's where my passion for personal training and nutrition started. Now I'm taking online courses to become certified.
I was on the right path, but knew I needed a coach/trainer to get me to the next level. My friends, Toni Amendola McMurtre and Nancy Amendola Martin, competed in Texas. They motivated me to compete helped me find Sara Hurrle's (trainer). I joined Team Inside Out, a group of amazing people that motivated and pushed me daily.
My team and coach inspire me daily through Facebook and text messages. I get lots of requests for help, which inspires me to be a role model. When you find the fountain of youth through nutrition and fitness, you want to share the wealth.
This is my lifestyle. I hope to inspire others and show them it's never too late to live a life based around health and fitness. My first competition was the NPC Colorado "The Rocky" on Nov 17, 2012, where I placed in two categories. It set the stage for 2013. I plan to compete at least three times in 2013. I love the bodybuilding environment. There's someone to help me during every step of my journey.
It's never too late to start your journey. Your purpose is waiting. Never give up on yourself and push harder every day. Willpower, determination, and confidence will get you there. Always listen to your trainer (if you have one) and visualize success. I practice posing every day and envision myself onstage.
Erin Stern, Nicole Wilkins, and Sara Hurrle. These ladies inspire me daily. As for men, I look up to Arnold Schwarzenegger, Steve Cook, and Phil Heath.
Bodybuilding.com is a huge part of my journey. It helps me research supplements and provided Jamie Eason's LiveFit Trainer. I found lots of helpful information from Steve Cook's Big Man On Campus Trainer and Mathew McConaughey's Magic Mike Abs Workout. The friends I made on BodySpace are awesome to interact with. If I have any questions, they have the answer. I love ordering supplements from Bodybuilding.com and refer every person to the site.