I'd been dreaming of transforming myself into a body builder ala Tosca Reno for years, without really doing anything significant. Excuses were easy and plentiful: I travel all the time for my work (hard core road warrior), I have to be careful of my old arm and back injuries, blah blah blah. When my doctor gave me the whole "congratulations, you are now pre-diabetic" speech in February of 2016, though, it got my attention. Many family members on my mom"s side of the family have died due to problems with type two diabetes. I didn't want to be one of them. And rather than focusing on losing weight, which I've done without much success for years now, I decided to change my focus: I'd beat diabetes by building muscle and becoming the Sister in Iron I always wanted to become.

Every workout is a reminder that I am strong, and an invitation to become stronger. Every rep is an invitation to discover what I'm capable of. The iron challenges my body and my mind, and acts as my forge for who I want to become. I get to build and refine myself with my weights. Every new glimpse of definition in my arms or calves is awesome, and muscle is beautiful. Plus, in my facilitation world where I tend to be a mediator and united of groups, the gym is my place to be a bad-ass and tear this s&!t UP!