As someone who was always on call, and whose schedule was always unpredictable , having a normal routine was something that sounded great, but seemed near impossible. Regular hours and time off for myself was not a reality. But I have always understood the value of “me time”, and the importance of staying active and healthy.
So over the years I’ve been committed to finding time in my schedule to be in the gym. I tried my best to stay on top of my health, and I’ve tried different options and opportunities to be fit, with the schedule I had to work with. I spent time as a yogi, gave taekwondo my all, went vegan for a minute, and gave a bunch of other methods a try.
Everything I tried worked well, But I always got to a point of plateau, and it was never truly where I wanted to be. I always wanted more. I started to tell people that. I would tell trainers, other gym members and friends. I wanted to find another way, and my friend Burnett invited me to a few fitness competitions with him.
That’s when I truly discovered the competitive side of fitness. That’s when I really had a chance to think about it, and about all the science and knowledge that went into these athletes pushing themselves past every plateau they came to. And I was hooked. I was so impressed with the dedication and effort that went into building those bodies. But more so I was blown away by the science and mental strength of these competitors. I wanted to do it, but knew I didn’t have the knowledge, or time to research how to. It wasn’t about competing with other people, but competing with myself to keep pushing to the next level.
I was so excited when Burnett offered to take me on as a client. He had the temperament and knew how to push me to do things exactly as needed. Between my desire to do it right, and his understanding of the mechanics, I was confident I would pass any plateaus that I had stopped at before.
I was 130lbs and 24% body fat when Burnett and I got started. Within three months of changing my food and exercise habits, I had lost 14lbs and 12% body fat.
And even better, I was seeing the real results I had been looking for. I was gaining muscle and strength I didn’t think was possible. And the scary thought of sticking to a meal plan had not only been a time saver but also an energy generator.
Everything was working. The science was working. With Burnett’s help and knowledge, it was all working for me. I was looking good, and feeling great. I was doing everything Burnett had planned, and got down to 8% fat without losing anymore weight. I was gaining more muscle and lifting heavier weights each day. I soon began to feel ready to start training to compete, and with Burnett by my side, started learning posing and getting ready to hit the big stage.
I was 30 years old, and in the best shape of my life. Better shape than I ever thought was possible. This was the plan that changed everything. It changed my life and my relationship with food and exercising . It made me realize how strong I am, and how capable I am at owning my body and outcomes in the gym. You can truly do anything you put your mind to.