Liz Jones

Female

38

Woodville, Wisconsin, United States

Executive Director of Domestic Abuse program

Oct, 2004

Favorite body part to train: Probably abs Training philosophy: I try to find balance in life, living a healthy lifestyle without becoming too obsessed with my looks, my weight, etc. and without giving in to disordered eating. I've seen so many people who compete and/or model who forget that this is supposed to be healthy and worry too much about body fat percentage and get so lean. They make themselves sick in order to compete. I need to remember I do this not only so I look good, but so I live a long, healthy life and feel good. I love fitness because it gives me the energy to do well at the other things I have to do in my life. Healthy is beautiful and I love my natural given curves, so I work to find a balance between lean and voluptuous. "I enjoy natural bodybuilding and feel the human body is a work of art." What a Difference a Year Can Make Two thousand and four was a very difficult year for me. I began the year having orthoscopic knee surgery, which took longer to heal from than I expected. After the surgery, due to my inability to go to the gym and not feeling well for quite a while following the procedure, I proceeded to gain almost twenty pounds. I was the heaviest I have ever been (I weighed more than I did when I was nine months pregnant). In April I cut off almost a foot of hair and donated it to Locks of Love, which was not a bad thing, however it was a huge adjustment for me after having long hair for most of my life. In May of 2004, I ended a long time relationship in which I was not happy. Again, not a bad thing, but a major adjustment. Then in June of 2004, the company I had worked at for four years was downsized and I lost my once-secure job. In August, my beloved seven-year-old cat, Mat, suddenly suffered from kidney failure and died. I thought that was more than I could handle. Then the unthinkable happened. On September 5, 2004, I was leaving the gym on my way to meet some of my girlfriends for a night out, since my son Jordan was visiting with his father for the Labor Day weekend. As I left the gym, I received a message on my cell phone. It was Jordan's aunt telling me that my fourteen-year-old son was in a terrible motorcycle accident and was being flown to Gillette Children's Hospital in a coma. Jordan had been riding on the back of his dad's motorcycle, when they slowed down to turn into a driveway to go to a family cookout, they were run over by an SUV. Jordan was dragged 205 feet under the truck before the driver stopped. The vehicle caught on fire, but Jordan was pulled from beneath before the flames reached him. He was in a coma for eleven days and in the rehab department until October 8. I stayed with him twenty-four hours a day while he was at the hospital because he needed me there and I did not want to leave his side. The good news is that he has recovered wonderfully and went back to school October 6, 2004. He is graduating from high school May 2008. During our stay at the hospital, I needed to try to keep myself healthy so I could be there for Jordan. While I was by his side, holding his hand and talking to him while he was in a coma, I needed to keep myself focused on something positive throughout the most difficult time in our lives. There wasn't a gym to use at the hospital, but I modified my exercise program to things I could do while I was there (including using hand weights in the physical therapy room while Jordan was doing his PT, running in the parking ramp, yoga and tai chi) and I had a friend bring me my protein shakes and bars so I had some healthy food with me to avoid eating all of the junk food our well-meaning visitors brought to the hospital. When we were finally able to go home, I was determined to make a greater commitment to health and fitness in my life. Because I have always loved to dance, and wanted to start dancing again, I had planned on competing in a fitness competition once I got in shape. Once I was able, I began to focus on that goal. I spent two and a half months working very hard, keeping focused more and more on my training and nutrition, and learning everything I could about what I needed to accomplish to be successful at a fitness competition. I made great strides that year and became a stronger person both physically and spiritually. I competed in the Gopher State Classic in Plymouth, Minnesota on April 2, 2005 as my first competition of my life. It was not only my first fitness competition; it was Jordan's 15th birthday as well. I dedicated my performance to him, in gratitude for his amazing recovery, and to all the people who got us through the most difficult time in our lives. I could not think of a better reason to celebrate health and fitness! At this time in my life, I need to refocus my goals. I've gone up and down with my fitness (while raising a child, working on a master's degree, working 2 jobs, and occasionally getting into dating relationships- all things that are my hurdles to staying focused on fitness some days) and I need to really commit and focus. I'd really like to meet someone in my life that would encourage me in my goals. In the land of beer, cheese and bratwurst- it's difficult to meet people who are positive influences. I intend to find someone to be with who will enhance my life, have similar values- fitness and health being one of them, and that I can be a great partner to.

It keeps me able to reach all my other goals. I feel good about myself when I am in the best shape I can be in. Being healthy is important to me.

Favorite exercise: YOGA, I also like dancing, pushups, deadlifts I'd really like to have people around me who would be encouraging in my goals. That would help me to stay motivated.

Competition Experience: I competed in the 2005 Gopher State Classic in Plymouth, MN, 1st place tall fitness, 4th place tall figure.