I’m so excited that this is my first post on FitChik Chronicles! This blog is a few years in the making, since I’ve had a few ups and downs on my fitness journey, but that’s why I’m so excited to get started and share my experiences with you. I think its important to explain how I got here, so I’ll start by defining the most pivotal moment on my fitness journey so far.
The fitness accomplishment that fills me with the most pride is earning professional status as an IFBB figure competitor on 21 May 2011 in Charleston, SC—my new favorite city :) My journey to that point in time began in 1998 when I returned home from graduate school, desperate to begin life as a real adult, and ironically, reclaim the athletic physique from my high school track days. While I was not overweight, I had certainly gained more than the dreaded “freshman 15.” Seven years away from home living the student life had engendered a triage-style approach to my eating habits, which was to eat as quickly and cheaply as possible.
After getting a job as a temp, I used my first meager paycheck to enroll in a kickboxing class. Then, when I got a full-time job, I joined a gym and immediately enrolled in a spin class. I paired that with regular weight training and was in heaven. A year and a half later, my excitement began to wane, but I never stopped going to the gym. I would be diligent for three months, then take a month off, and remained relatively fit, but always thought that I was not reaching my full potential.
Everything changed after I met and married my husband, Peter. Peter and I shared a mutual love of fitness, but he was always more dedicated than I was because of his background as a semi-professional soccer player. Initially, we worked out at separate gyms, but over time, we joined the same gym, and he became my trainer. He actually saw me train one day and told me my routines were not up to par--he's very blunt like that :) Gradually, my physique began to change. I felt and looked stronger. My back and shoulders broadened, and my legs—my favorite body part to train—became shapely and strong.
As my physique developed, a few fellow gym members—one of whom has become a dear friend (Mike Massiah!)—began encouraging me to become a figure competitor. The idea piqued my interest, and for years I admired figure competitors’ physiques. However, I had no idea how to prepare for a competition. Little by little, I met people who guided me. They suggested posing coaches, tailors who could make my suit, and websites where I could buy the right shoes. The most important development of all was that Peter offered to train me! There is nothing more important than having a partner who supports your fitness goals, let alone helps you reach them.
In fall 2008, I competed for the first time in a local show, and I was hooked. I won the overall title in the figure novice category and came fourth in the open figure short category. Since then, Peter has become an NPC judge with a phenomenal eye for everything related to figure competition prep (i.e. training, posing and diet), and I could not prepare for a show without him. Nine shows later, I am an IFBB Pro, as a result of that magical night in Charleston. I also co-own KooYah Fitness, a company that provides personal training and nutritional consulting services, with Peter. I can’t wait to see what else is in store.
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