A few years ago I was diagnosed with dysthymia and borderline personality disorder. After hitting rock bottom with my depression, and attending group and individual counseling, using meds, and journaling, I decided to throw in some exercise to occupy my time. It was a wonderful release on so many levels! I used to loathe running (I played forward and center for my high school basketball team, but I hated running), but lacing up my Asics and sticking my earbuds in and hitting the road or treadmill was my newfound love. Gradually, I started reading more about fitness and nutrition. I have a background in science, and have always loved human anatomy and physiology. I even taught human a & p labs as a grad teaching assistant in college. The human body is a fierce machine! I started out running, then threw in some P90X. Then life happened and I let it take control and got out of habit. My boyfriend and I moved to Virginia and joined a gym. That was back in October 2011. I found out about Bodybuilding.com then from a personal trainer at the gym. I joined in December, and started going to the gym fairly regularly. Again, I would fail to keep with it and after April I barely went at all. Then I came across an online transformation challenge sponsored by BB.com and Universal Nutrition. I figured, what the heck? It was about what I was looking for, a nice cutting challenge. So, I entered the Hell Raiser Training "Ripped As Hell" Cutting Challenge in August. That was the beginning of a long, glorious addiction! I met many, many amazing friends in my HRT family. Tom "Rage" Fuller was remarkable with his wisdom, coaching, encouragement, and all-around awesomeness. By November, I had lost over 8 inches all over my body and dropped 15+ lbs. I was blown away at what clean eating and a great workout program could do for me. I was now a walking, living, and breathing testimony of what HRT could do. I was announced as the female winner for the contest and that was gasoline to the fire. For me, I'd already won. I was feeling amazing and finally looking amazing, and I didn't even think I looked that bad before! Well, I had plans to continue on to a clean bulk. I was lean, but I wanted to build some muscle. Boss was gonna help me, with check ins every 2 weeks or so, but I fell off the face of the earth when Wes proposed to me. I admit, when I get into something, I truly and whole-heartedly give it every ounce of me, which is good and bad. Because now, my focus was this bloody wedding. I did go to the gym, and I still ate healthy, but everything just got put on the back burner. For me, the fit life is a way of life. My gym time was my escape, and after HRT I was more confident with exercises and equipment that I'd never used before and probably never would have used. So, now, the plan is to get back on track and never look back. If you don't make the time, it won't happen. Now, I'm making the time, and taking it back. Time to hunker down and refocus and balance out my life. Here we go!

I love the way it makes me feel! The release of those natural endorphins, the sweat, the soreness, the little lines in my arms and legs and back and abdomen that weren't there before. I love the transformation. It is my release, my escape, my life. I am truly addicted, and an addiction has never been so phenomenal!