SUGARRAE'S DORM ROOM

Hey, from Texas! I wanted to introduce myself and begin building what I know will be some massive muscle relationships. My name is Rae Jackson and I am completely new to the bodybuilding and fitness industry. I have a story that may be similar to some and I'm gonna share it with you......

Last year I decided to get myself hot 'n heavy in the gym. I had been going through a rough divorce. Something in me drove me straight to the gym. I had asked around to find where I could go to get the best training so I could get in figure/fitness competition shape. All I knew was that I wanted to physically look good. I set a goal to enter a contest and win (things really are bigger in Texas, including our heads sometimes.) And I was clueless to what exactly that meant being that I had not worked out since before I had my first child in 1998. But everyone told me to find Southlake Fitness Center and start training there. So I did.

I started training at the beginning of July 2006. I trained for a month before I suggested to my trainer that I might have reached a plateau (like I really knew what I was talking about), that I was bored, and that I was not seeing any changes. The scales showed no changes from my 140 lbs at 5'4", nor were there any changes in the way my size 6 clothes fit my body. My trainer laughed at me like I was wacko and confirmed that I did need to make changes, but it wasn't in my training. "You're 10 minutes late everyday or just don't show up at all, you eat like crap, and you hang out with people that bring you down! You definately need to make changes. And girl, you may have a cute face but you got a big ol' booty!" So to show me, he changed my training from 6 to 9 o'clock with some of his "other moms". Cool, now I get to sleep in a little longer, and I get training partners. Who's showing who were my thoughts. And seriously, I am cute (cause remember, my head tends to be a little big. It runs deep in my Texas roots.)

So I showed up at 9 on a Monday morning. I walked into the gym like I owned it. After all, I had been training for a month now. I looked good and I knew it. I was ready for the heat. But my trainer did not describe my new training partners to me. They were moms alright. But they looked like fitness models (epitomy of hot moms) and after a few weeks of them kicking my booty, I knew I needed to make some changes. I was able to complete my workouts. But by no stretch of the imagination was I able to keep up. And my training partners had to pay the consequences along with me. They were hating. And wouldn't you know, my smarty pants trainer had matched me with people who were awesome influences for me to be around. So in my mind I did not want to let them down. I didn't want to let him down either because he had so much faith in me. And I wouldn't let them down so I had to step up.

Drive, drive, drive, girl!! I can remember him saying. Or suck it up. I had completely cleaned my closet of bad influences, didn't miss a training session, cleaned up my diet, and did weight training 3 days a week and cardio 5. And before you knew it I had gotten to 124 lbs and size 0-2 of nice lean muscle. My nice, new, pretty clothes fit so well. And I could really say I looked good. I had developed awesome relationships with my training partners. Beyond that, I had somehow avoided a place of serious depression that many divorces send you to (even when you have a Texas-size head). I had energy to spend quality time with my kids without worrying about how I was going to make it as a single mom of three and not live in the fairy tale world I was used to. Wow, I could not believe the changes. And I could not believe I actually had it in me to accomplish such a thing. So you have to know by now, it was becoming a passion.

Outside of the gym, love was in the air. I was dating my trainer and very much in love. Living this new lifestyle was awesome for me. I was healthy, realistic, constantly setting physical and mental goals and had someone to encourage me in them. He also taught me how to contribute equally to the same with him. And how to protect in my bubble the people I love and the what I work hard for. So while I was going through the physical workouts and making changes, my mental muscle was getting equal amounts of exercise for my emotional/spritual growth. And I was so passionate about my honey!

So here's the end of this chapter.... My trainer/boyfriend passed away April 1 of this year. What an amazing influence in my ENTIRE freaking life. I will always protect in my bubble his memory and what I learned from him to work hard for (my health, my sanity, my kids, my loved ones). I have no desire to be away from the gym. I also realize I still have to balance my life even when the heat is on. For instance, as a single mom I have to convince my kids to sleep the last few hours of their lala land in the gym nursery so that we can accomplish work, school, football, gymnastics, etc. They are troopers and somehow we manage. But if we don't make it, we make it up.

The fire is still in me to compete. Although I have not competed yet in a contest, I am looking forward to my first contest this year or early next year. My head is still big so I'm putting off a contest until I feel like I am ready to win, cause that's they way I play.

My point....we go through fires in life. It is not fun to be in the heat, but if we drive, drive, drive, we can drive through it. And in the end, remember how hot it was and remember that you got through it. And remember it served its purpose in your life. And we manage. And sometimes it takes a fire within us to get to where we're going.

Until next time..... :) RAE