My Turning Point (Fitness Blog World Post)

Welcome to another Fitness Blog World post. Today all 24 or the FBW writers have been posed this question:

What was your trigger or turning point that made you choose fitness and/or a healthy lifestyle? How did that process get you where you are today? What or who has had the most influence on your fitness life?

I actually remember when it happened, and I blame it all on the Spanish. Or maybe a more accurate description is a hot summer in Barcelona.

My brother lives in Barcelona and has for years, when we visit it tends to be weeks at a time. I remember a hot July strolling around eating, drinking, talking, having a wonderful time.

I noticed how beautiful the Spanish women were. They were not overweight, they seemed to feel good in their skin. They went topless on the beach, young, old, everyone did.

You could always tell the American men, they were the overweight men staring at the topless Spanish women. And the American women? They were the ones with huge breast augmentations and a swim suit top on.

The longer I stayed the more uncomfortable I felt about my body. I wasn't huge, but I could stand to lose some weight, I think I was at about 142 pounds, and that is hefty for a woman of 5'3". I wanted to walk around feeling free, feeling good in my skin. I enjoyed my vacation, but vowed to turn myself around when I got home and I did.

Although I had been going to the gym regularly, I wasn't a fanatic like I am now, it wasn't "part of my life". I started going to the gym every single day religiously and decided to run a marathon, here I am running away. This picture was taken 10 years ago when I was 40.

I injured both my feet so took up weight training and the rest is history. I love to lift, I love to train, I love to see the changes that my body can go through in a very short period of time (both the negative and positive).

I have chronicled my past trainers at length in my blog so I won't do that again here, but each has been instrumental in helping me to get right where I am today. 

I cannot say that there is one person who has given me more than anyone else has, not one who has influenced me more than any other. Just as in life, I have had the opportunity to work with and meet so many interesting people, each has enriched my life. I feel that each came into my life at the right time, I learned and moved on.

I am very hard on myself, I expect a lot, sometimes I don't know where I even get off thinking I can expect so much, but I do and it has proven to work very well for me.  I am not someone who has ever suffered from low self esteem, I was brought up by very loving and caring parents who instilled self worth in me from day one. I was taught that I could do or be whatever I wanted, so there would be no reason for me to feel I had 'limits". When I decide I will do something, I do it and I do it well or keep trying until I cannot possibly go on. I don't feel uncomfortable stating what my goals are and feeling quite sure about them. 


My husband David will tell you he saw a drastic change in my "fitness" goals and habits when my mother died a few years ago. She was a vibrant woman who suffered through four years of chemotherapy, dying at home with her family around her.


That's when I started working with a nutritionist and started to teach myself what I needed to know to be successful, on my own. That's when I started competing in Figure too. 


Here are some interesting pictures of me only three years ago (pink suit) and now (orange top). I have nice flat abs, but not much shape to my arms or shoulders to speak of. Gosh even three years ago I was standing in front of my Sub-Zero!

And my back is wide but no definition at all. The butt sure looked good though!

Funny how we can change so much isn't it? 


David will also tell you that I am running away. I am trying to outrun death. I am afraid of becoming ill and suffering. It may be true, I am not sure. All I know, is I never stop. 

Ever

If you enjoyed this post please visit the Fitness Blog World site to check out what has influenced the other writers. Official post time is 8:00 p.m. EST, so be sure to read in the evening! You can also join our group on Facebook.

Can't Keep me Down

I went to the gym Monday and walked!  I called the doctor on Friday and asked if it would be OK, or I would go nuts. The answer was "as long as you aren't taking pain killers, walk away"

I spent a few days eating and drinking, I am amazed at how my muscles soak up and hold onto the glycogen! I look good, although the belly is a bit soft, something a bikini gal would like I am sure, but me? I like to be be hard, lean and lithe with round full muscle bellies showing.

I told David that I looked bloated and he agreed and he asked if maybe I had internal bleeding (guess I look kinda big huh?) but I assured him I didn't, it must be swelling...

Over the weekend I thought about what friends have told me, and I realize they are all correct. Things happen for a reason, and someone reminded me of running.

So many people have offered encouragement and pushed me to continue, I am amazed at how much faith they have in my abilities.

Before I started weight training, I was a runner. I am a Marathoner. You see, once a marathoner, always a marathoner- did you know they say that? You can never take that accomplishment away from anyone. Running 26.2 miles, without ever stopping is an amazing feat, and I have done it. 4 hours, 1 minute, 7 seconds. My goal was 4 hours and at the age of 40, I think that was pretty darn good.

I stopped running due to injuries, doctors orders. Plus I couldn't walk without pain and that was a bit of a drag. I think I went through a bit of depression and then I started weight training, but it took quite some time before I fell in love with it.

Then the passion never waned. I love what it does to my body, to my mind, to my heart. I love the atmosphere of a gym, almost any gym, the darker and dirtier the better!

So I have many things to explore now, and they are all in the gym, I will be going in everyday as usual.

Competing? I am a competitor! Once a competitor, always a competitor.

The only difference between my current competition, and the NPC competitions that I usually participate in, is this time, I am the only competitor.

This song from Pink called 18 Wheeler is one of my favorites, the video depicts how I feel right now, beat up, angry, relentless and ready to take on anyone who dares get in my way.

You can't keep me down.

Email subscribers will need to navigate directly to the blog to view the video, please do and turn up your speakers, so you can understand exactly what I am feeling.