Before Start Date:  February 1, '09 Age: 38 Height: 5’3” Weight: 134 lbs size: 8

After Competition Date: July 18, 2009 Age: 38 Height: 5’3” Weight: 107 lbs Size: 0

Why I Got Started:
I have worked out on and off for the last 15 years but at age 38 I had gained some weight & was not able to fit in my clothes. I had ankle surgery and gained even more weight recovering from that. I refused to buy new clothes when I had plenty hanging in my closet. I had also become disgusted with myself & was not happy going out in public with the way I looked. I did not even want to wear my bathing suit & that is really bad living in Florida by the beach. My friends & family will be glad to tell you how I ALWAYS wore shorts over my bathing suit bottom. I would not take them off when I would get in the water because I just was not confident with my thighs and butt.

How I Did It:
Finally I said enough is enough. Several years earlier, in 2007, I saw an add for Jen Hendershott’s Phat camp in Oxygen magazine & decided I was going to go. I looked at the pictures on the internet & it looked like it was a group of girls from various fitness levels. I remember feeling VERY intimidated the day I headed off for my first camp. I was also on the edge of my seat because I could not believe I was going to meet Jen Hendershott after seeing her in magazines for so many years. What an amazing experience it turned out to be. Jen was the girl next door with her down to earth personality, along with her ability to motivate & encourage. I have been going to the camps every year since...it is the best girls weekend!!!! So that Is why I contacted her to enroll in the Get Phat Online program when I needed more to learn a lifestyle modification. This is a program for everyday people that teaches you how to eat correctly without having to “buy” certain foods. The program is customized to your individual needs & has a cardio/weight lifting plan as well. The Get Phat Online program has changed my life!! I worked with Jen’s trainers & they outlined a cardio, weight, & diet program for me. Following several weeks of training on the program, I became amazed at how much better I felt physically & mentally. After finishing my morning cardio, I always feel like I can conquer the world no matter what it throws at me that day. It wasn’t long before my clothes started loosening up & that was the motivation to keep going.

I did the Get Phat Online program for 12 weeks & had such success I decided to try my first Figure competition. This is something I had been dreaming of doing for 15 years but never had the nerve to do it. I also did not really know how to train to compete. Again, that is where Jen Hendershott & her excellent trainers came in. I switched over to Jen’s Phat Girlz program. This is her program for women that are wanting to compete. I followed my trainers instructions COMPLETELY. I did everything they said the next 12 weeks. Yes, it was hard but anything worth having is not going to be easy. If it was...everybody would be doing it. This is also when I learned it was all about how bad do you want it. I went into my first Figure competition hoping to place in the top 50% of the divisions I was competing in, no matter how many girls I was competing against. I felt pretty good going into the show knowing I had given it my best & was in the best shape of my life at age 38 & whatever happened, happened. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that I would win the Masters Figure 35 & older class, Figure Class A, and Figure Overall!!! This just so happened to be Jen’s AWW. At this point the bug of competing had bitten. I decided I wanted to do more so I entered the Florida State show a few weeks later. In 2010, I competed in 5 more shows, all of them National shows, with the exception of returning to do Jen’s AWW again.

I am happy to say that I won the Figure Overall again. My first show in 2011 was Team Universe. I had not competed in 7-8 months and was ready to get my competitive year started. I had no idea that my biggest dream EVER was about to come true. I won the Masters Figure 35+ Class B which put me in to compete for the Masters Figure 35+ Overall. When they announced I won the Overall & also my IFBB PRO card, I cannot tell the emotions I was feeling!!!! It took me several days to realize what had happened!!!! I give all the credit in the world to Jen Hendershott & her top notch trainers for preparing me for every show since Day 1. I would have never accomplished this DREAM without all the knowledge & support Jen has given. Yes, there were MANY times it was tough, physically & mentally. But that’s what Jen & her trainers are there for...to motivate & hold you accountable. Their were times when Jen had to have some tough conversations with me on staying focused on my training...especially the diet.

Future Goals:
I feel like I have just scratched the surface of where I want to go with competing & inspiring others oh a healthy lifestyle. I hope seeing my before & after pics will inspire others to see that... you can do it. I lost about 25 lbs in 5 1/2 months. It is a lifestyle modification & not only will you look better but you are improving the number one thing...YOUR HEALTH!! Once you get to the point that you are depressed about the way you look or your doctor is telling you about your high blood pressure, high cholesterol, & diabetes & what that means for your life expectancy...do something about it. YOU can do it & YOU just have to push throw it & it will become a lifestyle change for you. It is not a diet, it is a lifestyle change & you will get opposition to it but you can stand proud knowing you have exceeded your goals & you are healthier and going to live longer to enjoy those special times with your family. I feel more energetic now than when I was in my 20’s!!!