Initially my gym training (May, 2002) was to improve my sprint cycling performance (I hold numerous National Track and Road Cycling Titles, and was an international New Zealand Track and Road Cycling Representative). When I left school, moved, and entered the real world, despite taking time out from competition, I never stopped training or going to the gym. The gym that I used was full of New Zealand's top NZFBB bodybuilders. I had the sudden impulse 12 weeks out from the regional NZFBB competition (August, 2004) to enter the figure class for fun and the experience, because it was something totally different to any sport I had ever done (cycling was never 'fun'; when you get to the elite level in any sport [I think that] fun stops entering the equation). The guys were great, helping me out with training and diet. For the first time in my life I saw my body do things that I never thought possible (cyclists' resistance training is performance orientated, not for aesthetics). Seeing those changes was more rewarding than all my national and international cycling merits. Plus, I grew up as a tomboy, and the closer I got to the competition, the more I started to actually feel and WANT to embrace my femininity! I didn't have any expectations; I just wanted to see what I could do with the time that I had. I placed 3rd, but didn't compete at the NZFBB Nationals despite qualifying (As with cycling, I enjoyed the training more...) That competition (November, 2004) was supposed to be a 'first and last' event. But, since retiring from cycling (December, 2007), because of who I am and what my life has been like since I was 14 years old, and because I HAVE to be doing SOMETHING, I started focusing on gaining muscle mass. After traveling to the United States (late 2009), I competed once again just for the experience (October, 2010)...Regardless of whether or not I compete again, I train not really FOR anything in particular, but because I HAVE to in order to be FUNCTIONAL and essentially ALIVE, although my focus is more on health and fitness than anything now, with some re performance and athleticism re fighting...

I am an adrenaline junkie with an exercise addiction! I love pushing my body to its limits, to see how far it will go, always walking that very fine line between extreme and progress...Not just that, but I NEED to train for my body to physiologically function normally...