I am so blessed to have come from a physically active family. I can thank my mother's influence; She was a Filipino gym kitty and my dad for my athleticism; he was a US Marine and influenced me into running for fun and sports for the competitive spirit! I was active in everything; gymnastics til I was 11, track, archery, tennis, volleyball, softball and finally weightlifting when I started high school. My PE class was mostly guys and a lot football players with the head football coach as the teacher. So I learned all the traditional strength training moves from age 14............. After high school, I joined the US Navy and came out of basic training with a bangin' 6-pack & physique worthy of an NPC Bikini stage spotlight! That's how my fascination for bodybuilding started........... Unfortunately , there was a brief period of time after the military where life was a foggy mess. I abandoned my fit lifestyle to appease the demands of narrow-minded, mediocre, anti-vanity subculture of small town America; those who saw exercise especially weight training) as an activity for the vain & narcissistic or anything attractive as threatening. They disliked any physical exertion and giving up unhealthy food as not-an-option in their culture. In an atmosphere of haters, I caved in and gave up that which I cherished most; my health & happiness. And I eventually payed the price. I lost my 6 pack and traded it in for a doughy 160-lb walking corpse. I fell into cocaine abuse and even attempted suicide 3 times under a medication induced depression. I was on seven (and cocaine) when I hit rock bottom. And then I had my feminine epiphany............. I suffered from migraines, low blood sugar/iron/pressure, sleep disorders, ADD/ADHD and have even had seizures from light alcohol consumption. If I veer from a straight line fit and healthy lifestyle, the symptoms of these conditions get exasperated. Lack of adequate sleep causes migraines. Eating a bad diet sends my entire body into whacky mode. I cannot skip a daily multivitamin. I limit myself to 1-3 drinks once a week. You'd think I was on a lot of medications for all this. At one time I was, and it almost killed me. In 2004, I took my health into my own hands and got off all SEVEN medications I was on. I am now down to 2 that I take as needed. Sometimes, doctors are not your answer; you have to do your own research to fix your health issues.

Who doesn't love to see a sexy, strong, fit body, whether it be in a bikini at the beach, on TV, in magazines or in the mirror. But what's even better are the health benefits that come from an active lifestyle that includes proper nutrition & strength training and the siblinghood between those who practice and/or preach the gospel of good health. Oh did I mention working out builds strong bones & muscles, increases your libido and sense of well being?