Two years after my third child, my husband asked me, "Am I ever going to get those jeans back?" I looked down. "Oh, yeah, these are yours." I read Body for Life, wrote my goals and reasons for training, and started lifting on January 1st, 2003 at 4:45 in the morning. With three little ones, I knew it was the only uninterrupted time in my day, so I made the committment. When my husband saw me striving every morning for the first week with 5 lb. weights, he silently encouraged me with a dumbell set that he found in the classified ads (remember those?). It has been a wonderful, empowering journey that has consistenly enriched my health and my life. My relationships with my God, my husband, my children and my friends have all been blessed by my increased strength.

My spirit requires that I train. Training is my expression of honor for the second gift I was ever given - my body. I show my gratitude for this gift by taking care of it. I seek knowledge about what it needs and provide that. Our machine needs good fuel and hard work -like all machines do. I like to look good and I need to feel good. Fitness fits who I am: Christian, wife, mother, teacher.