This blog is being used to track my progress as I train for my first Strongwoman competition. I plan on entering weekly updates, and include pictures and videos. I want to inspire other women or men who have had issues with their weight, self-esteem or depression. I hope that my story and my activities can help to inspire you. To begin, I want to tell you a little it about me and the journey of my transformation. I am in no way near my goal, but I am stronger every day, and know I will one day get there!

My name is Amy. I'm a 43 year old mother of two teenage daughters. I have had an issue with weight since 1992. Growing up, I was chubby and "solid". Taunted by my siblings and neighborhood kids, I grew up with negative self-esteem. Looking back over pictures of me as a child, teenager and young adult, I don’t understand why I felt the way I did about myself. I was pretty average in size. But the constant teasing as a child really hurt me. And stayed with me for a life time.

Over the years, I tried so many "diets', but always gained my weight back. I would feel good about myself for a few weeks or a month or so, but then the scale just kept on going up My clothes closet housed closes from size 8P to 22W. The constant yo-yo was so difficult to live with. In fact, every time I gained my weight back after a diet I got bigger ! It was so frustrating.

In the summer of 2007, I was in a size 20W. I had constant issues with my back. There would be weeks that I was in constant pain. I was taking anti-inflamatory, muscle relaxers, pain killers, anti depressants and anti anxiety meds - all at the same time. I would go to work, come home and go straight to my bed. I would not even make dinner half of the time for the kids. Near the peak of my depression, I stopped going to the kid's sporting and school events. That was rock bottom for me. I was always an involved parent...an executive member of he Home and School Association, CCD teacher, volunteer at my church...had the kids involved in every sport and activity under the sun. All of this went into a downward spiral - until one night I fell down the stairs and broke 7 ribs in 15 places, punctured my lung, dislocated my shoulder and banged up my head. My husband thought I was dead. After spending 5 days in the hospital, and six weeks out of work, I grew in size to a 22W.

The straw that broke the camel's back was when I dressed up as Glenda the Good Witch for my nieces birthday. My rotund body could not fit into the already enormous costume. The seamstress had to tear out the seams, and add panels into the gown. The most humiliating part was standing for what felt like hours in an open dressing room in my undergarments while this process was under way. I died inside that day. Once the pictures from the party were developed, I died a little bit more. That was the day that changed my life forever. I have attached that photo for you to see where I was.

January 2, 2008 was the turning point for me. With the help of a very good friend who is my trainer ( he also used to work for me), he slowly got me in shape. It was not easy. The first day in the gym was awful. Not only was I surrounded by physically fit people, they were all under the age of 22 - since the gym was at the college where I used to work. We started with walking on the treadmill, and doing simple sit-ups ad lifting light weights. He put me on a 5 day split routine, where he and I worked together 2-3 days a week, and I worked on my own 2-3 days a week.. There were many weeks when I went to the gym 7 days a week. Every day was like reaching a goal for me. Just going to the gym was a success. I cried when I couldn’t endure the pain or stress anymore, and my trainer encouraged me every step of the way. By April of 2008, I had lost 20 pounds and was down from a 22W to an 18W.

At one year into my metamorphosis I have lost 35 pounds and have dropped 5 dress sizes, currently sporting a 14P. Currently, I can leg press 500 pounds, dead lift 165 pounds, and bench press 135 pounds. I need to increase my numbers across the board in order to be ready for the competition. Feeling very proud of myself for my efforts, and hearing the constant praises from my coworkers, family and friends, I continued on my quest for health and fitness. I joined an online strength and fitness forum called teambix.com. Here I learned about nutrition and additional fitness routines from all of the other members on the discussion board. It is the best support system in the world for me.

By November 2008 I was down 35 pounds and into a size 14P. I am addicted to this new life style, and have decided to train for my first Strong Woman Competition, which will take place in April 2009. This competition is a North American Strongman sanctioned event, and is being sponsored by Teambix. It will be held in Bethlehem, PA on April 4th. I want to use this blog site to track my weekly progress. Please feel free to post comments and questions on this site.

Thank you for joining me in my journey!