How I Got Started With Bodybuilding

I grew up very over weight and always struggled with my image since I was 7 years old. Most of the eating I believe started when my parents divorced when I was 6. I used food to make me feel better. It was in grade 3 when I really started to fill out. I use to have kids draw pictures of me on the sidewalks at school, with arrows to them with my name. I tried to never let it bother me as I would always just try and ignore it, but deep down it did far worse. I have a great sense of humor and always have. I would sometimes make jokes about myself to make it seem as if things didn't bother me. I guess I also used my wittiness as a way of covering up the feeling that I had on the inside.

At school most of my friends were males as they saw me as an athlete and a cool girl to hang out with. Still to this day 75% of my friends are male, as for some reason I can relate to them better. A "tom boy" at heart is how I would describe myself. But I am a true woman in every aspect. I remember being in grade 4 and my Doctor said I was 148 lbs. I was only 9 years old then. I grew up as the fit fat kid though. I was very active, playing all types of sports mainly soccer, which I player for years. I started at the age of 7 and played club and college until I was 24. In Jr. high I lost a bunch of weight but not the healthy way at all, then High School came and so did late night eating, drinking and everything in between. When I finished High School thing got even worse. I stopped playing soccer for a year and let myself go. I was in a bad relationship that did nothing but stress me out and cause me to go back to what made me feel better....food!

It wasn't until my dad decided to get remarried that I would finally have that realizing moment and breaking point. I was to be my step moms maid of honor and my dress that I wore to the wedding was a size 16, which had to be altered further as it wouldn't zip up all the way. Tt was Christmas in 2001, right after the wedding when the pictures came back. I then saw myself on the other side, and was astonished in what I had let myself become. I stepped on the scale for the first time in years, I was almost 200 lbs.

So January 1, 2002, was my turning point. Got a gym membership and started eating healthier, the way you are suppose to do it. I started off slow, 30 minutes of weight and 30 min of cardio 5 times a week. I use to watch others in the gym and mimic their actions while training. After 3 months I had dropped 15 lbs. I started to see life with a whole new perspective and realized that it really wasn't that hard. I developed some self confidence and some self pride, which then gave me the courage to get out of my dead end relationship.

I continued on my path trying to surround myself with old friends that I had shut out of my life because of my old relationship and because I was too ashamed to be seem by them. I was then reintroduced to an old high school friend that became my new training partner. He was a true inspiration and gave me every bit of encouragement to reach my goal. A few months later, that turned into a 6 year relationship. He was my number one supporter and helped me overcome so much of what I was battling for so long. I don't know if he ever really knew how much he had an impact on my life but I thank you Matt.

It was that following year in December 2002, that I had now lost almost 70 lbs and put myself in the best shape of my life. I had reached 132 lbs and wearing a size 2. I hadn't weighed that much since probably grade 3. During that time I had gone to school to further my knowledge of fitness and nutrition and become a certified personal trainer. Becoming a trainer just make sense after I achieved my goal. I knew what it felt like to be on the other side, and I wanted everyone I met that needed that help to feel the same way I did!

I always loved the look of muscle. I think its sexy and truly represent a great deal of what type of person is behind it all. In 2005 I stopped playing soccer and really took my training to a whole new level. I always had people asking me if I competed and of course I would always say no, but always wondered what it would be like. I just never knew how to go about doing it. It was in May of 2006 when I asked a man by the name of Bobby Tang who trained also at my gym, if he would diet me for the next upcoming show. He himself was a competitor and judge, so I trusted him and he took me under his wing!

I trained with Bobby for 3 years, and a great 3 years it was. I dedicated my life to bodybuilding and making the most out of it! I learned so much about the sport and even became certified as a judge in Alberta. In the summer of 2009, I decided that I needed to move on and train with another trainer. It was hard to tell Bobby but he completely understood, as I remember him saying once that he recommended that I train with someone else after a few years, just for something new and to keep growing.

Currently I am training with a true idol in the bodybuilding world and most of all in the Canadian bodybuilding community, Ms. Helen Bouchard. She is an IFBB Pro who has graced the Olympia stage and is a true inspiration to many athletes in Alberta and in Canada alone. I could not have been happier to have her take me on as a client. I'm sure she will do wonders! I am training now for 2 shows this upcoming June in 2010, so stay tuned for my progress and results as you can follow me during my adventure.

Bodybuilding is not just a hobby to me it's my way of life. I am so happy of the difference it has made in my life, not only on a physical level but most of all on a personal and mental level. The dedication and commitment, is something that is can't even explain. When you can train and commit yourself to something for so long, going over, under and around so many loop-holes and obstacles, you learn so much about yourself. The process at times seems agonizing and treacherous but the moment you go step out onto that stage and realize what you have done and become.... there are no words that describe it. You see life differently and things never seem to be out of reach.

I am destined to be an IFBB Pro bodybuilder. I will keep growing physically and mentally in order to achieve my gold and eventually grace the Olympia stage myself! But in the mean time my goal in life is to help others! I truly believe God put me on the this earth to make an impact in the lives of others.