Post by blondeamazon on Apr 20, 2006 14:47:05 GMT -5
Been lifting most of my adult life- Started in HS when the boys football and basketball coaches had a bet if I could bench over 200 lbs. I was 17 years old. The football coach won! I did 220 TWICE! I was raised in a small coastal town in Oregon and raised and trained Quarter horses which was a lot of HARD work throwing bales of hay and handling the large animals. Made for a strong girl! That plus genetics was a big factor. I am the oldest of 4 kids, and my siblings, (when in shape) are built very much like I am.
Went onto college and off to start adult-hood and got back into lifting in my late 20’s off and on. Became a lifeguard and taught water aerobics and did some personal weight training in the gym. Was not really into the science of the whole thing at the time and I didn’t understand the eating part of it. I moved to Vegas for a year and worked out at 24/hour fitness and met some GREAT pro bodybuilders in town for a competition at the time. They were GREAT! I got many tips and ideas and a new love for the sport.
When I moved back to Oregon I started having back pain and leg pain. After about 5 years of increasing issues (and I put on about 55 lbs) I couldn’t work out, hurt to walk- ect ect. I was diagnosed with degenerative disc disease, hip dysphasia and bursitis in my hips and arthritis in my legs. WHAT A bit*h!! ON September 18, 1999, I went in for reconstructive back surgery. I weighed 245 lbs. They took a chunk of bone out of my hip and fused my 2 lowest vertebrae to my tailbone with 4 big screws. Basically, they cut me in half and then made 6 inches of my lower back solid bone and steel. The doctors informed me I would never run or lift heavy weights again.. YEA We will SEE about that!
I was totally bedridden for 3 months, then slowly I used my knowledge of water aerobics and swimming to put myself on a physical therapy regimen. I used an Aqua Jogger Belt and “ran” in the water for an hour a day for 3 months. I used resistance devices and worked out my upper body and started regaining some strength. Six months after my surgery I hit the weight room with the Body For Life book in my hand and a sh*tload of ambition. I lost 45 lbs in the next 4 months and hovered around 200 lbs. I gained much strength back and was doing efx and power walking on the treadmill for cardio.
On NYE in 2003 I was in Portland Or with my cousin and aunt for the holiday. I had to go buy jeans. I had to buy a size EIGHTEEN!! sh*t! NO WAY—I decided then and there it was time to do something permanent and drastic about my appearance and make it a solid part of my life. I found the book “Picture Perfect Weight loss” by Dr Shaperio where he challenges you to TRY new foods, expand your horizons and begin LOVING food again. It is not the enemy, rather can be a great tool in building a fantastic body.
I started reading everything I could get my hands on about nutrition and bodybuilding and in 8 months lost down to 168 lbs and was in a size 8. THEN I started lifting heavy weights and I started RUNNING! My legs built up and my back and shoulders filled out and I gained back about 20 lbs in solid muscle. I now hover between 185- 195 and am a size 10/12 and my bf is about 16 %. I can run 3-4 miles at a time, I bench over 200, squat over 100, deadlift about 205 and my leg extensions are up to 205. My biceps are 14.25 and I am SOLID!!! PROVED those doctors WRONG! I am now 40 years old and in better shape than I have ever been and moving quickly toward even BETTER!!
I now am in a small coastal town again in Oregon and planning on staying here the next year working almost solely on my workout regimen (there isn’t much else to do here)! Next spring I will move on to another town- not sure where yet but Bend is lookin good!
Went onto college and off to start adult-hood and got back into lifting in my late 20’s off and on. Became a lifeguard and taught water aerobics and did some personal weight training in the gym. Was not really into the science of the whole thing at the time and I didn’t understand the eating part of it. I moved to Vegas for a year and worked out at 24/hour fitness and met some GREAT pro bodybuilders in town for a competition at the time. They were GREAT! I got many tips and ideas and a new love for the sport.
When I moved back to Oregon I started having back pain and leg pain. After about 5 years of increasing issues (and I put on about 55 lbs) I couldn’t work out, hurt to walk- ect ect. I was diagnosed with degenerative disc disease, hip dysphasia and bursitis in my hips and arthritis in my legs. WHAT A bit*h!! ON September 18, 1999, I went in for reconstructive back surgery. I weighed 245 lbs. They took a chunk of bone out of my hip and fused my 2 lowest vertebrae to my tailbone with 4 big screws. Basically, they cut me in half and then made 6 inches of my lower back solid bone and steel. The doctors informed me I would never run or lift heavy weights again.. YEA We will SEE about that!
I was totally bedridden for 3 months, then slowly I used my knowledge of water aerobics and swimming to put myself on a physical therapy regimen. I used an Aqua Jogger Belt and “ran” in the water for an hour a day for 3 months. I used resistance devices and worked out my upper body and started regaining some strength. Six months after my surgery I hit the weight room with the Body For Life book in my hand and a sh*tload of ambition. I lost 45 lbs in the next 4 months and hovered around 200 lbs. I gained much strength back and was doing efx and power walking on the treadmill for cardio.
On NYE in 2003 I was in Portland Or with my cousin and aunt for the holiday. I had to go buy jeans. I had to buy a size EIGHTEEN!! sh*t! NO WAY—I decided then and there it was time to do something permanent and drastic about my appearance and make it a solid part of my life. I found the book “Picture Perfect Weight loss” by Dr Shaperio where he challenges you to TRY new foods, expand your horizons and begin LOVING food again. It is not the enemy, rather can be a great tool in building a fantastic body.
I started reading everything I could get my hands on about nutrition and bodybuilding and in 8 months lost down to 168 lbs and was in a size 8. THEN I started lifting heavy weights and I started RUNNING! My legs built up and my back and shoulders filled out and I gained back about 20 lbs in solid muscle. I now hover between 185- 195 and am a size 10/12 and my bf is about 16 %. I can run 3-4 miles at a time, I bench over 200, squat over 100, deadlift about 205 and my leg extensions are up to 205. My biceps are 14.25 and I am SOLID!!! PROVED those doctors WRONG! I am now 40 years old and in better shape than I have ever been and moving quickly toward even BETTER!!
I now am in a small coastal town again in Oregon and planning on staying here the next year working almost solely on my workout regimen (there isn’t much else to do here)! Next spring I will move on to another town- not sure where yet but Bend is lookin good!
