I was "normal" weight through high school (105-110lbs & 5’-1"), but never developed an interest in sports or fitness (not even PE) due to being legally blind. The last time I participated in PE was in 4th grade when I got hit with a softball I never saw coming. Unfortunately, the schools I attended were never able to suggest alternative forms of PE for someone with limited vision, so that I could still be active and develop a desire to be fit.

By the age of 31 (1995), after many years of choosing the wrong foods combined with inactivity, I reached a weight of about 185lbs at 5'1"1. For many years, I believed that exercise and diets did not work. I had heard all the negative statistics: that the majority of people who try to lose weight end up gaining it all back, often plus additional pounds. So, I felt it was better not to try to diet and possibly end up even heavier. At that time, I believed all the people that looked good had always looked that way.

At the end of 1995, my aunt who is my age, wanted to join the gym and wanted me to join with her. I decided to give it a try. I started to clean up my diet eliminating fast food and sodas with sugar. I started reading fitness and bodybuilding magazines to learn how to lift.

Picturing how I would eventually look was impossible, and setting a final goal weight just seemed too far off into the future, so instead I set small, reachable goals towards success. My goal was always just to get one clothing size smaller. My clothes were the tool I used to know if the weight was coming off. I didn't own a scale during my weight loss.

I lost some weight through 1996. It was slow, but I was making progress and keeping off what I had lost. For a time in 1997- 1998, I was unable to go to the gym but maintained my loss. In March of 1999, I decided that since my schedule made it difficult to go to the gym, I decided to buy home gym equipment. I would get up at 4:30am every morning before work to get my workout in. I also made another major change in my diet. After reading Body For Life, I began eating 6 small meals and following the nutrition guidelines laid out in the book. I also began using supplements such as protein powder, creatine, meal replacement shakes.

The weight continued to come off, and in 2001, I had gotten down to 120 lbs. Many people began asking me if I competed in fitness or bodybuilding, so I decided to give it try. Imagine going from hiding from the camera at family gatherings to getting up on stage in a bikini! In March 2002, I competed in my first bodybuilding contest at age 38 and placed 2nd place in novice light weight and 3rd in masters. I have continued competing ever since, and in June 2009 I placed 1st in middleweight and won the Overall in Women's Bodybuilding at the NPC Jr Nationals. In Novemeber 2009 I competed at Nationals and placed 4th in middleweight.

It was a very long road of twists and turns. There were times the weight loss slowed and I wondered if that was it; would I lose anymore? Despite those doubts, I keep training and continued to follow my nutrition program. Just when I needed it most, a co-worker or someone at the gym would comment that I looked like I had lost more weight, and that was all I needed to keep pushing forward. During my weight loss, I had no idea I would ever get to a point where I would feel comfortable with my body. Certainly, no where in my wildest dreams, did I think I would be a national level competitive bodybuilder.