I always had a love for the gym but was uncomfortable being in one. Why? I used to wear an unfit size 10! I had a horrible diet while in school. I worked at KFC and the greasy, high in saturated fat food was readily available. I also ate only a couple times a day with lots of junk food in between. I always consumed WAY more calories than I could burn off! Imagine eating TWO large bags of Doritos and some chocolate bars, while watching prime time t.v. in three hours! YUP! That used to be me! My terrible eating habits didn't come from poor examples from family or intentional neglect, for most of my school years I was the target of bullying. I turned to food to comfort myself. The bullying and teasing started from about grade two to grade 10. So I would cope with my feelings by stuffing them with junk. Years later I am a much healthier and of course happier person and the past has been forgiven. Thanks to the support of my parents growing up, coming to the school and making sure it was getting taken under control once I finally felt brave enough to tell them, I can now look back and say this has shaped me to be the person I am. ALWAYS be kinder than necessary to others as you don't know what battle they have fought or are fighting. When I moved out on my own, I started to get interested in eating healthy and exercising. Knowledge was power and I read every fitness magazine and book religiously! I basically stepped into a gym and never looked back! The weight slowly came off, and muscles started to show! I started off doing bikini competitions locally and nationally, but I was often being told by the judges I was too muscular and that I would have to stop putting on muscle. HA! Like that would ever happen! My first try at competing in figure was at the Manitoba Novice, with no trainer and no diet program I decided to enter the figure division. I asked around for advice and tips but that was about it. SOMEHOW I placed 5th! Looking back I obviously should have had a trainer and all, but typical of me to want to learn on my own.....I studied how to pose by buying an old Olympia vid and studied the women doing their quarter turns!! lol I kept training and noticed a FAME event was coming to Winnipeg. I trained hard ( this time with Darren Mehling of FREAK FITNESS) and .....I took home first and a PRO Card for Fitness Model!

I'm addicted to challenging myself and seeing the results.....it's a labor of love and I love the labor!! I love that I can hit the gym and it's my sanctuary away from the rest of the world, no matter what problem I am faced with I can hit the gym and release the stress on the iron!