After years of professional bodybuilding back in the 80's, (yes, that's me in that photo; don't even ask about the haircut, I'll explain later)} I was totally consumed in the bodybuilding lifestyle. Training was six days a week, 2-4 hours a day. I was invested, nothing got in the way of training. But let me back-track a bit and tell you how this all came about.

Growing up a complete tomboy, playing stickball, softball, handball, and anything else the boys were doing on the block, it was no surprise that when I was introduced to bodybuilding at the age of 19, I just thought it would be another cool thing to do, pumping iron in a dirty gym...wow.

I was the first girl in Steve Michaleks gym in 1979. Not a popular thing for girls back then, at least not in that area of New York. Steve was Mr. America in 1973, so of course it was called Mr. America's. Taking me under me under his wing, I learned everything there was to know back then about good form and what "intensity" really meant. Training was 6 days a week. Period. When training for a show, it was 60-80 sets per body part, breaking pain barriers and training double sessions. It was not unusual to come in for 2-3 hours in the morning and 2-3 hours at night. Nine months later, I won Miss Long Island and then went pro and entered the first Miss Olympia in 1980 down in Philadelphia. I certainly learned a lot about the dedication to training, the sacrifice it took to compete, unhealthy dieting, (hence, the haircut, I was out of my mind) breaking pain barriers and pure commitment to the sport of competitive bodybuilding. Nothing came between me and training 6 days a week, nothing...ever.

After about 4 years of this lifestyle, only 23 years old, I was completely burned out. I actually hated it. Dieting down for competitive level shows was certainly not healthy and did cause a few eating problems.  I had to push through some sugar addictions, the starving and then eating everything in sight syndrome, and figure out a way to live somewhat normally, eat healthier and stay physically fit. However, it did instill a workout ethic that remains with me today.

In the late 80's and 90's, I would do tapes at home, classes at gyms, play tennis, ski, run sprints, but did NOT want to go back into any weight room. The thought of that old style training was a complete turn-off.

Let's fast forward to the new century.  In my mid 30s, I married and had a baby. As I got into my 40's, my body started to change in all kinds of ways, physically, hormonally; my body composition was just different. I was strong, and looked pretty fit, but certain body parts started to develop aches and pains, a sag here, a droop there. Then...low back pain hit. MRIs showed disc bulging, herniations and mild stenosis.  I actually cried and thought this was the end; I'm going to have to walk like an old lady, for the rest of my life!

What I thought was the end of my fitness career, was actually just the beginning.  Jumping up and down in classes for long periods of time, and doing certain repetitive movement patterns had become painful and were not part of my program anymore. So what did I do?  I got back in the weight room and starting lifting. It was just instinct that brought me back in there. I didn't want to jump, run or jolt my body, but strengthening it, seemed to make sense. My personal training certification came about six months later. I knew I had figured something out. Can I tell you it was the best healing program of my life.  Now I didn't just do some junkie workouts from magazines; after all, I'm a trainer.  I've spent hundreds of hours reading, studying, watching videos and DVDs and attending conferences to learn everything I can about functional training, along with knee, shoulder and back problems, posture, nutrition, you name it.

I've been very lucky early in my career to have met and mentored with some of the fitness industries greatest, most professional, well read and sought after strength and conditioning coaches, such as Mike Boyle, Eric Cressey and Zach Even-Esh. I've also visited many physical therapists, chiropractors, had soft tissue massage and even tried acupuncture to help heal or just to learn about my body as well as how to help others.

These days, I pride myself in helping others move better in their daily lives, through many techniques and training methods that I use to "get the kinks out," and build strength and endurance. Building muscle and getting strong, at any age, is what it's all about. Nothing will do what strength training will do for you. Nothing... Your looks, your strength and overall health will greatly improve. When you learn to weight train properly, range of motion gets better, joints get stronger and pains go away. My arthritic clients say their flare-ups are rare if they have any at all.  Having lean muscle is the key to a faster metabolism (more calories burned), better body composition (less fat) and better bone density (strong bones).

I am a fan of using your own bodyweight and free weights, with a few tools in between, rarely machines. Why? Using machines keeps you sitting, and we all do too much sitting. Add in the fact that you also shut down muscles that could be working at the same time to support your body.

So if you want to feel good and look better, pick up some weights and get on a program! I'm here to help you.