I started working out as early as high school. In my sophomore year, I wasn't filling out as fast as the other girls so my gym teacher Mr. Janis (Pronounced Yan-ee) Krisburg (i think the last name is speed wrong) felt sorry for me, because I got teased a lot. He was from where Arnold S (no additional spelling needed right?) was from and he talked like him. But since back then, Terminator nor Conan was not out yet, he just sounded weird to us kids.
So as I was moping out the locker room, after gym class, one day, he tapped me on the shoulder and said "I can get you curves" but again, sounding like Arnold. At first I didn't think he was talking to me. Very few people did. But as I walked away he said it again. "I can get you curves". I stopped and looked astonished. "Not the kind you want, but close" he said, always using very few words.
We walked in to the boys weight room and I heard an angelic chorus "hooorrrahhh!" So we started working out during my lunch period, because after school the jocks were in there. I went every day of school, we just worked major muscle groups like check, thighs/glutes, shoulders and back. Nothing hard, just enough to wittle my mid-section to give me the allusion of hips and put a little lump in my straight up and down butt and thighs, and add some definition to my iron board chest.
After two weeks I stopped hearing snickers and sneers when I went by. After 4 weeks, the jocks that passed me in the hall would say hi to me, and use my name! By the 5th week I had come out of my shell to become part of the half time drill team as flag twirler.
Some jealous cheerleaders started spreading nasty rumors about me and Mr. Krisburg so the principal put and end to our practice sessions. But by then the bug had bit. I started buying free weights for home and chose my boyfriends on whether or not they had access to bar-& dumbbells.

I am an empath, so I pick up the vibe of a room and the emotions of those around me. In my line of work, I deal with people who are frustrated and helpless. I am good at my job because I know how they feel. However, at the end of the day, their negative vibe doesn't shower off.

Bodybuilding makes me feel strong. It counters the helplessness in that I lift heavier and do more reps each time so I see myself getting stronger. I've learned to meditate to control how much of a person’s vibe I pick up. And I have a slew of positive family and friends, so things don't get as intense as when I was younger. I had stopped working out. But now that I've restarted, nothing beats the adrenaline shot and blood pump of a good workout.