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7 Reasons Low Carb Diets are Wrong
The human body is designed to run best on a certain type and balance of fuel. Unfortunately the latest low-carbohydrate fad diets are not fuel that the human body was designed to run on. Low - carbohydrate diets can cause several health...
Can Antioxidants Help You Build Muscles? Free Radicals Destroy Your Muscles
Many people these days take antioxidants to counter the detrimental effect of free radicals. Antioxidants mopped up free radicals and convert them into harmless substances. Free radicals are known to cause body cell decomposition and therefore...
Diet Information:The Atkins Diet
In the ‘80s we had the ‘F-plan’, in the Noughties, we’ve got the Atkins diet. Devotees to the Atkins plan claim to shed their unwanted pounds quickly and easily while still being able to tuck into ‘fry-ups’, while those whose tried it and fallen...
Improve Memory: How Much Can I Improve My Memory
The short answer: Your memory is capable of indefinite improvement. Your 3 pound brain contains 100 billion brain cells that can form gazillions of connections. According to Karen DeBord, Ph.D, "there are enough brain cells to learn just about...
Sign Your Own Permission Slip
You have permission to publish this article in your newsletter or on your website, free of charge, as long as the resource box is included. Please send a courtesy copy of your publication to claudette@metavoice.org. Word Count: 600 words Thanks,...
Weight Loss And Breast Cancer
We hear it all the time…lose weight for your health. Few people however, realize the extent to which a healthy body weight is critical to their physical and mental well-being and ultimately, their life expectancy. Just how does obesity lead to...
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Success Begins Within
Incorporating bodybuilding into my lifestyle has been one of the best decisions I ever made. My early childhood was marred by the trauma of sexual abuse. Although these memories were repressed until just a few years ago, I spent most of my life suffering from all the classical symptoms of abuse: low self-esteem, low self-confidence, phobias, obsessive-compulsive behavior, and depression.
The cycle of abuse continued through my adolescence when, at age 16, I entered into an eight year abusive marriage. I endured daily emotional and verbal abuse, threats, and intimidation. My self-esteem continued to plummet and at age 24, when I finally divorced my husband, I was a physical and emotional wreck. I had never practiced a healthy lifestyle, had no self-respect, and the stress of my lifelong abuse had taken its toll. At 24 years old I weighed 97 pounds, was having daily chest pains, heart palpitations, panic attacks, and insomnia. I also suffered from TMJ Syndrome due to stress. My doctors advised me to begin an exercise program before my condition worsened.
I reluctantly began aerobics and then incorporated a mild strength-training program. I immediately noticed the physical and mental benefits of exercise. At that point in my life, toning and building muscle was not my goal. I needed an outlet for stress and an increased energy level. However, it didn’t take long for me to develop an interest in nutrition, building muscle, and possibly competing. My self-esteem and general outlook on life improved tremendously as I continued my workouts.
In January 1998, at age 34, I took my love of the sport one step further. I hired a professional bodybuilder to train me for the upcoming Belding Natural Classic Bodybuilding show in Belding, Michigan. Due to the abuse I suffered, I have always had a terrible self-image. Even though I never had a weight problem, I have always been very embarrassed of my body. Competing was something I never thought I
could do, because of this hang up.
At a petite 5’ 2”, I am not genetically gifted with good muscular development. However, I trained hard, was very dedicated to my diet, and did exactly what I was told me to do. I felt a lot of anxiety on April 11, 1998 when I stepped on stage in just a posing suit. Most of my competitors had better muscle development and had been training much longer than me. (Normally, that would have sent my confidence right out the window.) However, my routine was graceful and my poses weren’t bad either! The audience was very supportive and my self-confidence soared. I won a medal that day.
In my mind, I accomplished everything I set out to do. I gained valuable experience and many of my fears and hang-ups were conquered. I have never felt such confidence, satisfaction, and pride in myself. I have come a long way over the years and achieved many goals, but that contest changed my life tremendously. It is difficult to put into words, but I have not felt the same since that day.
Over the years my family and friends have noticed the positive change in my health, attitude, and self-confidence. I have taken other steps to improve in those areas and to heal from my past. However, bodybuilding has been the one thing that has made the biggest difference in my life. It has made so much difference that I became a certified personal trainer. Through my new business, Trinity Coaching Services, I now combine fitness training and personal development coaching to help others reap the benefits of a healthy lifestyle. I have continued to compete once or twice a year, simply because it is vital for my self-esteem.
© 2000 By Monique Rider
About the Author
Monique is a life coach, writer, and personal trainer. She is the founder of Trinity Coaching Services, a company that provides life coaching services to clients world wide. Please visit Monique at: http://home.talkcity.com/workoutpl/trinitycoachingservices/
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