I think there is a common misconception that I have always been passionate and dedicated to health and fitness. This is an incorrect assumption.
Like many people, as I grew up, through high school and college, I played athletics (specifically volleyball and gymnastics). However, I was never taught much about nutrition, nor was I introduced to weight lifting or a gym atmosphere. I have always had great genetics, and therefore, after college, I heavily relied on the fact that I came from “skinny” or “good” genes. However, genetics do not always win in the end!
When I entered law school, I ate fast food regularly, drank alcohol frequently and I was a heavy smoker. Additionally, I had never entered a gym in my life. I was severely overweight for my height and age and highly depressed. Additionally, I was uneducated about how to change my lifestyle! It seems simple…but, it isn’t!
After graduating law school, I moved to San Diego. Everyone in San Diego was confident, healthy, fit and outgoing. I was the opposite…self-conscious, depressed, overweight, and quiet! I only came out of my shell when I drank alcohol! This created a vicious cycle…and my depression hit rock bottom.
The first big step I took was to seek help for my depression. Once I did this, part of my therapy was to find a gym and begin a regular exercise routine. I can remember the day I walked into Costco and purchased a two-year membership to 24 Hour Fitness. That same day, I took my membership purchase to my local 24 Hour Fitness in San Diego and enrolled!
Stepping into a gym for the first time was frightening and invigorating at the same time. I had crazy anxiety, because it was unknown…but, at the same time…I was wildly excited to start a new journey! And, I did it entirely alone…which was a HUGE step for me! I literally sat at the membership desk with my heart racing in an unknown world! This was in January 2009!
I did the SMARTEST thing that day that I probably could’ve EVER done! I hired a personal trainer on the spot! I scheduled my initial session with him immediately, so that I would force myself to return to the gym…as I was fairly confident that even then I might never return!
With all that money invested and a trainer to hold me accountable, I began my journey to a better life! I was fortunate to have found one of the most compassionate, kind, knowledgeable and motivating trainers in the WORLD…Helvio! He was Brazalian, and although he listened intently and intuitively to me every step of the way…he PUSHED me and never allowed me to complain or back down!
Over the course of the year that followed, Helvio not only taught me how to fuel my body with the proper foods that it needed to be healthy and sustain exercise, but he showed me the proper foundation for weight loss and building strength…physically and mentally! I grew more confident each day as I discovered more about myself! It was this self-discovery and personal growth that eventually drove me to pursue my own career in personal training. I became an NASM certified trainer in 2010.
Through Helvio, I was introduced to an extraordinary network of friendships, as well as my first experience with bodybuilding competitions. Under the guidance of Helvio, whom I now considered more of a coach and mentor, I competed in my first NPC Bikini Competition in March 2010 at Jon Lindsay’s NPC San Diego Championship.
Although I did not place well in this show, I figured out three things: (1) I had gained an overwhelming amount of confidence through simply “being” in this industry and creating self-growth and change in a healthy and sustainable way (2) I fell in love with being on stage, and I was MEANT to compete, and (3) Bikini was NOT my category. I knew that the next time I stepped on stage, I would enter as a figure competitor! But…I had a LOT of work to do!!!
Two months later…I found out I was PREGNANT! So…I put my dreams of being a competitor on hold…and I couldn’t WAIT to meet my NEW DREAM!! I moved home to Northern California for family support through my pregnancy where I continued to stay fit, lift and eat well through my pregnancy.
My daughter, Ella was born in 2011. After I had my daughter, the challenge wasn’t so much in weight loss, but rather the challenge became in justifying giving up time with my daughter to spend in the gym working and training! My daughter is the center of my world and will always be the most important thing in my life, however I was drawn to get back to my passion in personal training again! I was a single (stay-at-home) mother, and I was being stereotyped as such. I was unhappy in that role…and wanted more! However, it was in that moment that I realized I didn’t need to give up one dream for the other! There are so many working parents out there…why couldn’t I be one too?
When Ella turned two, and started toddler school, I began a path back to working as a personal trainer at my local gym, and my dreams of competing were reborn! Thankfully, I work at a place where they allow me to create my own schedule, so my hours are always based around Ella’s school schedule!
I soon discovered that the time I had to myself either working or training became therapeutic. I have became a better parent to my daughter because of this “me time,”…. more patient, sane and tolerant.
I am going on three years as a person trainer at the same local gym! I love it and truly believe that my calling is to help others change their lives for the better and realize their true inner potential for strength mentally and physically!
In July 2014, after a year or so of dedicated training, my workouts had somewhat plateaued and I was ready to progress to the next level. I was getting the itch to compete again, and I was tossing around the idea of hiring a coach. I decided to take a weekend trip back to San Diego to watch a close friend, Amy, compete in the 2014 San Diego Tournament of Champions in the Figure Division.
Amy has been a very close friend, confidant, and more like a sister of mine since 2010, She competed alongside me in my first bikini show as a figure competitor. By 2014, she had four shows under her belt and this was to be her fifth! I wanted some exposure to this industry as I’d been away for so long, and being at this show as a spectator was just the way to get it! Amy placed 2nd in Figure Class B at this competition.
Amy has always been a HUGE inspiration to me and to watch her compete lit a fire inside me that ignited the passion that I’ve had for this sport!
I returned home motivated and driven as ever! I began researching coaches that I felt would work best with me and I worked harder than EVER at training!
In October 2014, I contacted Wendy Fortino and Matt Allen with Cyberbodyshop! Wendy Fortino is an IFBB Figure Pro and 2x Olympian. Matt Allen has established himself as one of the top known trainers of National level athletes and Olympians.
Between both Wendy and Matt, they have 25 years experience in this industry and various degrees! Additionally, their philosophy is in line with my own. They believe that achieving the desired physique is simply a “by-product” of being healthy from the inside “out.” From the moment we started working together…it just clicked!
Under the guidance of Wendy & Matt, I began on October 30, 2014!
I worked day and night…as hard as I could…for months…literally 5 entire months!
Finally, in late March 2015, my FIRST Figure competition arrived! Spectrum Fitness Productions Governor’s Cup 2015 in Sacramento was my first competition of the year!
I brought home three trophies in this show! 1st Place in Novice Figure A, 2nd Place in Masters 35+ Figure and 3rd Place in Open Figure B.
This was just the beginning of my competition season! I continued to train over the year for the following shows…
In early May 2015, I entered Muscle Sports Productions Contra Costa Championship 2015 in Contra Costa.
I brought home three trophies in this show! 1st Place in Masters 35+ Figure, Overall in Masters 35+ Figure and 3rd Place in Open Figure B.
In late May 2015, I entered Spectrum Fitness Productions NorCal Competition 2015 in Sacramento. I was just three weeks off my last show and decided to do these two competitions essentially back-to-back!
I brought home three trophies in this show! 3rd Place in Novice Figure A, 1st Place in Masters 35+ Figure and 4th Place in Open Figure B.
My last competition of the 2015 season was in late August 2015. I entered TahoeShow in South Lake Tahoe, NV.
I brought home two medals in this show! 3rd Place in Masters 35+ Figure and 4th Place in Open Figure B.
After TahoeShow, I began my off season. With eleven “Top 4” awards in the year, I began to work with my coaches to build on the areas that were my weak points and better my strengths! I finished out the year of 2015 in preparation for my 2016 competition season!
In Jan 2016, I began my 12 week competition prep for Spectrum Fitness Productions Governor’s Cup 2016 in Sacramento.
I entered Governor’s Cup 2016 in late March 2016, and this was my first competition of this season.
I brought home four trophies in this show! 1st Place in Novice Figure A, Overall in Novice Figure, 5th Place in Masters 35+ Figure and 2nd Place in Open Figure B.
Directly coming off of Governor’s Cup, I decided to compete in my first National level show. I am currently in prep to compete at the Pittsburgh Masters Nationals in late July in Pittsburgh, PA. I am roughly 6 weeks out from this show!
So…that in a nutshell is how I discovered this lifestyle and my love for the stage! I choose to compete not for the sparkly suits and makeup (although that is ridiculously FUN)….but, instead to challenge myself! Each competition I choose to enter is a NEW GOAL and a new opportunity for me to better myself! I only want to step on stage if I’m outdoing my last effort! So…lets just SEE what’s in store for the next six weeks!!
Iron Girl Adventures...My Road to Pro! 