The beginning, 2001

This is me after the birth of my daughter in June of 2000, I weighed in at 286lbs and I still weighed that in January of 2001. Keep in mind that I started in fitness when I was 14 years old and I continued to workout, even through my pregnancy. Nutrition is the key to success. It took me seeing a picture of myself and being tired of being sick to decide to make a lifestyle change. I was falling apart and knew I had to make a change if I was going to be around for my daughter in good health. My emotional well-being was very much in trouble as well. I was also tired of being looked at, in what I felt, was disgust.

One year later...January 2002

Even though I was working a very high stressed, demanding and long work hour job, I was able to drop a 100lbs, weighing in at 185lbs, and I was finally out of maternity clothes. I did this with telling myself I can do this, I have to do this, for myself and for my daughter. I did not want her ashamed or embarressed of me. We are both worth the hard work that it took to get here. After dropping a 100lbs I decided to do a figure show to show off my success. I got my posing suit 6 weeks prior to show time. I wanted to just cry when I saw I had a lot more work to do. I, once again, told myself I can do it, so I moved forward with a positive and determined attitude.

Show time...March 2002

6 weeks later after a lot of hard work and dedication, I was able to get in my posing suit a lot better and I was ready for show time. I dropped another 30lbs, weighing in at 150lbs. I made no excuses and I found solutions to everything that tried to get in my way. I will say this, I will never drop 30lbs in six weeks again. I got so sick and now understood why they do not recommend dropping more that 2lbs a week. After recovering from the show and sickness I decided I wanted more, so I pushed forward again with a very positive attitude and could see what I wanted. I had learned a lot and wanted to learn more about cardio, strength training and nutrition.

Off Season...2002 - 2004

I decided to take it easy with my nutrition but kept up with my strength training. My weight went back up to 185lbs. I was setting new goals for myself as I continued to educate myself on nutrition. As you can see I put on some body fat and I was starting to put on a lot of muscle, I know you can't see the muscle, but trust me it is there. After being encouraged by so many people to do a bodybuilding shows, I decided to enter bodybuilding this time instead of figure. Once again, I had to buckle down on my nutrition program and bump up my strength training program.

Show time, 2007, and me now ...

As you can see, I was able to dial in on my diet, this time a much healthier way. I weighed in at 175lbs and did 3 shows during 2007. I placed 2nd, 3rd and 4th in women's heavy weight open. I also qualified for national level at my 3rd show. I have to admit, my lifestyle change was the hardest thing I had ever done, but it was so worth it. I set and met personal goals and my total health turned around.