I've been working out since college- I tore my meniscus and partially tore my ACL my senior year of high school. After my first surgery freshman year of college in 2000, I was told to lift weights to strengthen the muscles surrounding my meniscus/ACL to help support the ligaments. I loved what I learned in the gym from my trainer about lifting and nutrition so much that I ended up studying Health Sciences as my major with a minor in nutrition! Unfortunately, I re-tore my meniscus and fully tore the ACL me senior year and in the fall of 2004 had reconstructive surgery on the ACL.
I was a little down with how long my rehabilitation took the second time around, so I set a goal for myself to compete in my first half marathon just over a year after the surgery in the winter of 2006. I'd only run one 5k prior to it so I was nervous... but I did it! Three half marathons later, I took it up a notch and did my first sprint duathlon and- taking a huge leap- did my first half-ironman in 2007. I ended up doing one more the following year in the summer of 2008...bucket list, check!
Throughout all my training, though, the one thing I loved the most was lifting weights. It wasn't until I moved with my husband (who's a military officer) to Germany that I attended my first bodybuilding and figure competition in August 2010. How inspiring! The women looked gorgeous with such well developed musculature...I wanted to do that, too! So I trained for my first natural figure competition in May 2011. It wasn't sanctioned so it was a small competition, but I learned sooo much through the process! I worked on putting more mass on- a big struggle for me- and competed in my first sanctioned natural figure competition that coming August. By focusing on putting mass on I didn't have as much time to lean out as I'd have liked, but again I felt like I learned so much.
That was three years ago...since then I started graduate school again and had a beautiful baby boy. I'm almost done losing my baby weight (I admit it's taken longer than I thought) and would love to add muscle that I lost (and more!). My goal is to be a fit mom and good role model for my son!
I like cardio and I love yoga, but my true love is weight lifting. I have a way to go to get where I want to be, but I'm loving the journey! I love being a mom, but as other parents can probably relate to, I need some time each day to do something for myself. Even if it's just 15-20 minutes some days with a home workout, I feel so much better after I do it. Workout time now=me time. :)