Last Visit: Yesterday, 11:12am Last Forum Post: Dec 15, 2009 12:57am Last Photo Upload: Nov 28, 2009 9:47pm Last Profile Update: Yesterday, 10:06am Last Blog Post: Sep 21, 2009 12:59am
*UPDATE*
In May 2008, I drove cross country to Pittsburgh to visit the area one year after my mom passed away. My car was totaled in Ohio. I was able to get out of the car on my own, but, I was sent to the ER as a precaution, and then released with whiplash in neck and back. I rented a car and continued to Pittsburgh, went back to Ohio and flew home. My back and neck were shot and I wasn't able to do anything all summer.
At the end of the summer, I ran a 4 mile race and did pretty good. TWO DAYS LATER, I blew out my knee on a photoshoot at the beach. I was on crutches for a month, and spent two months on the couch with ice.
On November 2, I ran a 5K and was able to finish without pain. I ran another 5K on Thanksgiving day, and yet another on December 13. I have been steady with finishing 5K races, but I need more improvement. I could've done better on my last race, but it was cold, and I wasn't dressed warm enough.
I used to have 15" biceps, and I recently saw some pics of my arms from 2004, and that's got me back in the gym lifting hard to get them back.
***
After my mom passed away in April 2007, I became depressed and withdrawn, ate terribly and remained sedentary. When I tipped the scales at 180 pounds, I decided to do something about it.
***
I was inspired when I saw the builders in the Muscle Magazines back in the 80s and wanted to be like them. I ran 70-80 miles a week in high school and wanted to pack on more weight.
Why I Love It:
Makes you look good, and something to show for it. I also like how the girls seem to look my way when I do hero curls...
How I Stay Motivated:
When I found my old muscle pics from college back in 2003 and 2004, I went back to the gym the next day.
After seeing American Gladiators and re-living my ambition to be a contender on that show, I now train for that level of fitness.
BB Accomplishments:
I will post my race times here:
11/02/2008 5K 30'01"
11/25/2008 5K 27'46"
12/13/2008 5K 28'18"
01/03/2009 5K 29'17"
11/01/2009 5K 28'08"
11/26/2009 5K 26'16"
12/12/2009 5K 27'24"
This shirt was the wrong size, yet I modeled it for the person who gave it to me. I know it's too tights, but this was when I realized that the 20 pounds I gained after my mom's death were really visible! I also couldn't fit into a pair of jeans I wore for the winter.
Not only do I want to look buff, I want to be able to back it up. In other words, I want the function along with the form!
Goal (Long):
I have been going up and down with the fitness. I was a competitive distance runner in high school, who also had a Golds Gym membership. I wanted to be a good runner, but also be strong. I was able to do 20 pullups like nothing. I also ran in college, but quit after a year so I could get a job to afford to stay in college. By the end of college, I realized that my level of fitness would continue to decline if I didn't train, so I joined the campus gym and enjoyed results!
After college, and working 40-50 hours a week, my workouts were scaled back. After a snowboarding injury in 2004, I stopped altogether, but started running again in 2006. My mom was diagnosed with cancer in 2007 and died in 2 months. I was so depressed that I did nothing for 6 months, and after I saw that I gained 15 pounds, I started up again. I lost focus in 2008, but went to many fitness expos. I've now realized that I need to get this all back.
So I want to weigh 175-180, have my 15" biceps, and run consistent 6-minute miles. I want to be able to do a triathlon this year!
How has bodybuilding and fitness helped and/or changed your family life?
I've always wanted to build up and be in shape. My family didn't care either way. I know some families support it, while some abhor it, but my family lets us all do our own thing.
- Updated Oct 13, 2009 11:55am
Are you a parent?
No
- Updated Oct 13, 2009 11:55am
How has bodybuilding and fitness helped you in your career?
My former career as a finance director took my time away from training! As an independent fitness photographer, it's easier to make a schedule.
Description: This was a bicep posing and bouncing video done for a friend. I had 14" biceps in this vid, taken around spring 2005.
Measuring Bicep relaxed and flexed
Played: 58
Description: This vid was taken a day after the previous flexing/bouncing bicep vid. This showed the expansion from 13" relaxed to 14" flexed. Would like to build up to 15" or 16".
Ah, thank you! I've been running around the gym just having the best time lately. I'm looking forward to meeting some new goals in the next couple of months. I think 2010 is going to be wonderful! Happy, happy New Year to you!!!
Thank you so much! I appreciate the pic rating too. That was a very nice thing to wake up to this morning. I've got a BIG smile over here. Hope all is well in your world. Happy training and a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS too!!
Hi Super, sorry for taking almost a month to reply. Training has been going rather well although I'm not too happy about my current gym. How are you doing?
Hey thanks for checking in on me, I appreciate it! It ended up being not as bad as I had thought. I took a week off from all upper body work and a week and a half off of the chest. I did my first chest workout again yesterday and it felt okay, just a little sore. Thankfully my lifts did not go down any. I hope you have been doing well.
Thanks for the compliment! How are you doing? Sorry it took me forever to get back-- I was busy carbo -loading ...lol..& doing extra cardio to compensate. But no more double's now. Eating cleaner again, lifting heavy for upper. Switching to intense, higher reps for lower body. Still 5-6 days/wk. Min.3 days cardio. And you?
Well, I don't know how you workout but it's all about the form!! Weight don't mean nothing if your don't do it right! I curl still curl 25lb dumbells after 5 years of working out and I gained 6" on my arms. It's how you lift it, NOT what you lift. Happy workouts!!!!!
Ooh....pullups, huh? Hard stuff!! You sound pretty determined to getting back to adding weight and doing them again. I believe in you!! =) You'll get there soon enough.
As for the legs...lol... I am worried about building on the legs. Idk...I just don't want my thighs big, muscle or not. Weird, huh? It scares me.
ha! Thanks! There's always something new and exciting to try for.. you get to the top of one mountain and look in the distance and see there's another one to climb!
