I began working out when I saw how happy working out made my brother, so I started at age 16. I never really knew what I was doing with the workouts and nutrition, so it was quite a mess. I simply divided into upper and lower body until my brother showed me how to isolate muscle groups to become more toned. Even so, I was very uneducated about how important the nutrition aspect was, but I tried to eat healthy. The problem was that I was eating healthy, but I was eating the way my brother ate...I was basically bulking! It took me years to realize why I was getting stronger but my body was not changing and I was not losing weight. Now I know how to control my nutrition, calculate my macros, and lose weight the right way. Needless to say all that "bulking" accounted for a great deal of muscle mass, so I never seem to have a problem in that area! I haven't gotten to where I want to be just yet but I have come so far, I am proud of myself and my body, and I know that one day the fitness world is going to know my name, whether it's on stage or on a magazine :)

It keeps my stress down, it makes me so confident in myself and my body, and it's an escape from the world when I need it. I can't imagine my life without it, it's so important to me. I know that I have everything else around me and more, but fitness completes me, keeps me at peace and balance. It's almost a spiritual thing, and I consider my body and the gym a temple to be respected. Most of all, it teaches me about life; the focus, the discipline, the determination for things you love, and to never give up if you fall off the wagon or get thrown way the hell off. Move on, and come back with a passionate fire because you have something to prove to yourself.