The one where I’m so proud of Terri

I love Terri. Who doesn’t love Terri? She’s absolutely crazy. One of the most beautiful crazy people I’ve ever met to be exact. And I’m so proud of her. Terri and I met at the gym. John and I had started personal training sessions many moons ago and my original trainer received a promotion which required a transfer to another gym. So, she passed me off onto a new trainer who just moved to town named Terri.

Skepticism filled me when I heard that Terri keeps her clients in the free weight area more than the fun free-motion machine area. I came to enjoy my workouts in the free-motion area where we played games and tossed balls around and in one way or another distracted me from the fact that a workout was in progress. Then, during one of my last workouts with my original trainer, Terri tagged along to see what I was all about and vice versa. I will never forget that day. John and I were Army-crawling underneath a stretched out rubber band and my body started to fatigue. Terri said “You can quit early if you want. I won’t tell.” That moment and those words solidified in my head that “this girl was going to be way too easy.” Open mouth, insert foot.

Terri wound up beating my butt every single day for 7 months until I stepped onto a stage in Panama City, FL wearing the skimpiest bikini I have ever seen along with 5 inch heels, a fake tan and makeup.  Did I mention I hadn’t been able to shower that morning and I wasn’t allowed to wear deodorant the day before because it would turn my armpits (which had fake tan in them) green?  Did I also mention that during the previous 3 months I ate less than 1500 calories a day due to a diet that included a vomit-inducing amount of Orange Roughy?    I’m sure I left out the part that required me to do TWO 45 minute cardio sessions a day plus 5 lifting sessions a week.  Yes, the girl who “was going to be way too easy” made me her victim.  You see, when you’re crazy enough to make Figure competition a major part of your life, as Terri has, you naturally seek out other “victims” to compete with you.  Who wants to traipse through the depths of hell alone?

Looking back, the decision to prepare for a Figure competition might just have been my first real decision that solidified my need for a new life, AKA Section 2.  Terri showed me a world that I never imagined existed.  Frankly, if you haven’t done it, you have no clue.  My personality did a 180.  Most people can’t believe that I would ever be hateful or spiteful on purpose.  Anyone who knows me knows how my dogs stick to my side, how I love on them all the time, and I how I truly try to be a good person.  My personality changed so much that my dedicated little Mimi dog, who follows me literally everywhere I go, started running away when I walked into a room.  John would only eat when I left the house to train.  I found myself being so incredibly mean, knowing in my head that it was wrong and yet I couldn’t quite stop myself.  I honestly felt what it was like to be someone else.  Anyway, the reason I tell this story is because Terri lives this life every year.  When dieting season comes along she’s right there eating Asparagus, Orange Roughy (I still can’t stand to look at it), plain rice cakes if she’s lucky … well, you get the idea.  She does her cardio, her lifting and still manages to train others.  I don’t know how or why she does it but she does.

Well, this year Terri took flight.  She is kicking butt and taking names.  She’s placed 1st in her last 3 competitions and missed her Pro card TWICE by only 1 point each time.  However, all that is about to change.  This Saturday, August 30, 2008, Terri is going Pro.  I have a feeling and I’m going to send out winning vibes for her all day.  Here’s a picture of her and by the way … again, I’m so proud … she’s wearing MY suit!!!!!

This entry was posted on Thu, Aug 28 2008 at 23:31 and is filed under Vanessa's Ramblings. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site.