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Yep, livin' the dream, that's what I'm doing. My name is Bren and I'm finally living my dream after so many years of sitting on the sidelines, watching life go by. My blog is about my journey into competitive bodybuilding...from fatness to fitness and everything in between. I'm preparing to compete this next year and I'll be sharing with you my thoughts, feelings, goals, successes and things that didn't work well for me. My perspective will be that of someone who has been involved with bodybuilding for many years, by attending shows, helping competitors get ready backstage, taking pictures and cheering friends on when they are on stage... to me actually "going for it" and competing myself.
When people talk about living the dream it usually means they have it good, life is easy. Not in my case. When I say I'm "livin' the dream", I mean that I really am finally living the life that I've dreamed about for so long. I have wanted to be a bodybuilder for over 10 years now. Why haven't I pursued my goals? Hmmm...good question. I guess I just wasn't ready. Maybe I felt it required too much time, or would be too hard. I think I chose to do nothing because I was afraid I would fail. I've come to realize that by not even trying, I already failed.
I'll tell you a bit about me so you have a picture of me in your mind. I'm 46 years old (ugh...it hurts to admit that!). I have 2 wonderful grown boys in college (WSU and UW), and have been a dental hygienist for almost 7 years (there won't be any flossing lectures, don't worry!). 12 years ago I took a women's weightlifting course at college. The course was taught by a professor named Janet Guenther. Those of you in the bodybuilding world may know her...she's the 59 year old, gorgeous lady that competes, doing her routines to country music, wearing her signature red cowboy boots. She's also Dave Patterson's "other half" in mixed pairs. If you've been to any of the local shows you know who I'm talking about. So, I have struggled with my weight off and on throughout my adult life, and I thought a weighlifting course would help me gain the knowledge I needed to get fit. What I found out is that to get fit, you actually have to WORK at it! Ha! Imagine that. So I had the head knowledge, but didn't apply it. I always said "I want to be a competitive bodybuilder", and my goal was to compete before I turned 45 years old. My 45th birthday came and went, but I never put forth the effort required to change.
Fast forward 12 years, and I'm backstage at the Ironman, helping get Dave and Janet get ready for their mixed pairs routine. It suddenly hit me like a ton of bricks...(or dumbells)! I realized that I want to live this lifestyle that they, and so many others, are living. I want to be a bodybuilder! What happened to my goals? Why did I not "go for them"? The following week I asked Dave Patterson if he would work with me to get me ready, and the rest is history.
So...how did I get here on Brad and Elaine's website? Well, Elaine asked if I'd be interested in blogging my journey. What an honor! I'm so thankful that Brad and Elaine are allowing me this opportunity. It'll allow me to stay focused on my goals and hopefully offer some insight as to what all a competitor goes through physically and mentally while preparing for a show.
I started to lose weight this summer by eating better and exercising. Last year at this time I weighed 50 pounds more than I do today. I feel more fit than I have in a very long time. However, to get a body that I can stand on stage in an itty-bitty suit, in front of hundreds of people, flexing my muscles...well, let's just say I have my work cut out for me! It will happen. I'm working out with my coach and friend, Dave Patterson, of Personal Training Systems, on a weekly basis. All I can say is... it's hard! He's showing me the intensity one has to have while working out. Sometimes I think I can actually see my muscles growing after our workouts! It's the hardest thing physically I've ever done, but way worth it! No one said this journey would be easy, but I have a great support of family and friends that will walk beside me through it all. I hope that you'll join me on my journey as well.
Think on it....
"You don't wait for muscles to grow, you make them grow!" (Dave Patterson)
Bren
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