Some things People May Be Surprised to Know About Me:

· I was a strict vegan for over 10 years. For a couple of months before my 1st competition in 2001 I started to eat egg whites & whey.  After that competition I ate whole eggs and some dairy.  From the end of 2001 to 2003 I added in seafood.  Then came poultry.  In preparation for the 2007 Nationals I started to eat red meat for the first time in over 22 years!

· I am a Quaker, born & raised.  My roots go back to before the time of William Penn.  In a nutshell, this means I am a pacifist (do not condone violence of any kind), believe there is goodness in every individual and do not believe in trying to impress through material possessions.

 

How I Got Started in Bodybuilding:

I was not athletic in the least as I grew up.  I have exercise-induced asthma so I was not good at any sports in school.  I was always picked for D-squad and running would leave me light-headed, nauseous, and wheezing & coughing.  I just thought sports were not for me so I was more into eating junk food & hanging out with my friends. 

The odd thing is that from the time I can remember I always wanted to be a muscular female.  I had no outside influence of any kind.  I had never seen female bodybuilding.  I didn’t read any of the muscle magazines or even comic books, whose heroines are often muscular women.  Somehow I just had an innate desire to build muscle.  When I finally did discover the world of bodybuilding I was instantly intrigued!  I was raised to be a strong independent female so maybe this desire was just a re-interpretation of that.  Afterall, a female bodybuilder is the outward image of a strong & independent female.

By junior year in high school I was able to opt out of sports in school in favor of going to a small neighborhood gym where I had my first opportunity to do weight training.  I found there was something of an athletic nature that I could participate in and enjoy!   For too long I was told by trainers and others not to even attempt bodybuilding as that wasn’t a feminine pursuit.  Building muscle was not for girls!  Finally I found someone who encouraged me and could train me for competition.  From day one I loved the tough workouts! Even the strict dieting came naturally to me.

I didn’t train for or enter my 1st competition until I was 35 years old!  It took a while to find the time required to dedicate to the gym and to be able to afford everything associated with competition (gym & trainer fees, posing suits, supplements, …).  As I continued to build mass on my frame I just kept thinking that the image in the mirror was more closely reflecting who I always felt I was on the inside. 

Bodybuilding is a lifestyle not just a sport.  It requires full dedication and strict discipline.  It overwhelms just about everything else in your life as workouts, meals & rest all need to be precisely timed and included in every day throughout the year.  I love the workouts.  I love seeing my physique change & progress with time.  I love watching the detailed daily changes in the body as competition approaches.  I love challenging myself to always be better the next time out.  I love learning more & more about the human body and what it is capable of through practical application.  I love realizing that my physique is a  constant work in progress.  My passion is bodybuilding and without that true passion I can’t imagine competing in this sport!

 

What I Would Like to Accomplish in Bodybuilding:

I would like to become a pro and then at least qualify to stand on the Olympia stage just once.  I would be satisfied with placing at the bottom if I could just get the honor of sharing that stage with some of the best females this sport has produced!

I would like to represent this sport as a female who is strong, independent, intelligent, accomplished, feminine & sexy without having to present myself as a sex object.