MY STORY
July 11, 2000 I was on an operating table, cut open
head-to-toe, having 7 vertebrae fused together to correct idiopathic scoliosis. July
12, 2003 I was on a stage at a bodybuilding/fitness show competing in my first figure
competition.
Diagnosed with scoliosis at age 12, I endured 2 years of
unsuccessful electro-stimulation treatment on my back muscles. Fortunately, I never
had to wear the bulky Milwaukee brace commonly used to treat scoliosis in teens. I
was under the care of my orthopedic surgeon for 3 years, from the time of diagnosis until
my hips and wrist bones fused- a sign that growth has stopped and the curvature
stabilized. Although the curvature of my spine was quite severe, it stabilized and I
it seemed I had avoided enduring spinal fusion to correct it.
During the next 10 years, I finished high school and
college and began working full-time. I spent the year 1999 in unbearable back pain,
visiting doctors, urgent care, physical therapists, orthopedic surgeons, until finally the
decision was made to have the spinal fusion procedure (regularly performed on severe
scoliosis patients in their early teen years). At age 25, I had seven vertebrae
fused with 2 Harrington rods and a bone graft from my hip. I spent 8 days in a
Children’s hospital.
My recovery was relatively uneventful. There were
no post-surgical complications or infections. Since I was strong and in great
physical condition at the time of surgery, I was able to bounce back rather rapidly.
Just one month later I was back to work. Two months later I was back in the
gym. Six months later I had resumed all of my normal activities- except my 5 mile a
day running habit. At 1 year post-surgery, I finally felt 100%.
See images of
my surgery here...
My Passion for Fitness
My quest (or obsession?) for fitness and optimum body
weight began at age 16. I gained weight during my pre-teen years by eating way too
much candy and junk food. By ninth or tenth grade I became very self-conscious and
finally joined the YMCA. I worked out 5-6 days a week religiously since the day I
joined. I continued my quest during college and I obtained a BS Degree in
Kinesiology and became ACE certified in personal training and just recently attained the
NSCA CSCS distinction.
Natural bodybuilding has long intrigued me. I
subscribed to all the health, fitness and bodybuilding magazines. And when I saw the
Fitness America Pageants on ESPN, I was really interested as it was much more feminine
than the traditional bodybuilding look, but with an added gymnastic component. I
had always had visions of doing a fitness competition, however, gymnastics was, and is,
obviously impossible for me. The new Figure division really caught my attention- the
same feminine muscle, yet WITHOUT a gymnastic routine.
Goals Interrupted
Unfortunately, I had let my weight creep up
again during late 2002. January 1, 2003, I listed my goals and decided the time was
NOW to pursue fitness competition! I needed a motivating goal and the upcoming
March 2003 NPC show was in my sights. I began training and steadily dropped
fat. Until I was blindsided with a traumatic shock- a phone call in the middle of
the night. My dad died suddenly and totally unexpectedly on January 26, 2003 in
Texas, where my retired parents spend winters. I let my goal slide due to several
trips to TX and MN to help my mom settle the affairs.
The last week of April 2003, I returned from my
last trip to MN to assist in family affairs- a short 10 weeks out from the July 12 NPC
show. I weighed more than 140 lbs with slightly higher than 18% body fat.
Ignoring the few trainers who told me I did not have enough time to lean down, I found a
trainer who thought I might be able to do it in time, signed up and got to work
immediately.
During the family trauma, I had managed to keep
my diet clean and was following a cyclical ketogenic diet (high fat, low carbs…
basically the popular Atkins diet with one high carb day). Together my trainer and I
agreed that I would diet and train as if I was doing the July 12 competition and decide
later if I didn’t lean out enough. I could bail out later if I was going to
humiliate myself and opt for a show in the fall.
At 4.5 weeks out, I was at 15% body fat and 135
lbs. Frustrated, impatient and seemingly stalled, I began double and sometimes
triple workouts per day. To add to my stress, I was laid off without notice from my
job of 4 years on July 1, 2003. While losing my job and income was traumatic, the
timing was perfect (trying to remain totally positive here!)- I had 2 weeks to focus
solely on my diet/training and stage preparations. At the same time, my trainer left
town for a week’s vacation in celebration of the Fourth of July. Without his
guidance and reassurance, the head games took over and my eyes played tricks on me.
I nearly withdrew from competition training while he was gone. If the stress level
was not fully maximized, I decided to move July 1st, 2003 to cut down on expenses until
the job situation was figured out.
Perseverance Proves Victorious
I met with my trainer as soon as he returned
from his vacation. Like so many times before, he ignored my ‘freak-out’
and took my body composition. He measured my body fat at a shocking (to me)
10%. By Friday, the day before the competition, I was at 9.4% and 130 lbs- by far
the leanest I had ever been in my life. I far surpassed my ‘realistic’
goal of 12%.
I participated in the competition, but did not
place in the top five. I looked like I belonged on that stage! My overwhelming
fear was looking totally out of place compared to the other lean competitors.
Considering all the obstacles I faced during the past 6 months, I am very happy with my
achievements. I DID IT! What a thrill- especially considering the anniversary
of my spinal fusion surgery!
My intent for the first competition was to
segue back toward my first love- muscles and fitness. I put my passion, experience
and education to work for me and started my own personal training business. I hope
to inspire others, showing that obstacles may delay your achievements, but should never
stop you. In fact, they make the achievement even sweeter! Perseverance and
the right mindset are key factors in success of any kind!
See my 2003
transformation photos...
See my fitness
competition photos...
UPDATE!! June 2004
Well, things continue to go incredibly well for me. I
have a thriving and popular personal training business. However, with regards to my
spine, I have had some pretty severe pain issues so I consulted with a local spine
surgeon. She send me for further testing and CT Scans. At first she thought I
may have a fusion that loosened or did not take (talk about BAD NEWS!!), but it turned out
I had fractured a vertebrae somehow (probably pushing myself too hard in the gym) and it
had begun to heal on its own. I received several Rx for pain meds and a stern
lecture on not training with heavy weights.
For the GOOD NEWS!!! I was featured in
Oxygen Magazine.
Issue #63, in August/September 2004. They included a full spread on my
story. The section is titled "Total Package" and is the front half of the
magazine. I am thrilled to be able to touch more people and be an inspiration to
others facing similar obstacles!
MY MISSION
Originally my website was just for fun and contained my
first competition journal. Now, however, it is my business site for personal training and
fitness coaching.
When I started, while I hoped to inspire others, I also
intended to open a few eyes. I think the fitness industry AND many competitors
themselves have created an illusion- one that is phony, detrimental to the psyche of
women, and frankly sick and wrong.
My desire is to educate and encourage people in fitness,
health, goal achievement and always doing the very best with what you have to work with in
life. Everyone has challenges, health issues, a budget, time restraints, etc. None of
these issues should keep you from achieving anything you desire in life, including a
killer physique and phenomenal health. Let me help you work with what you have to achieve
your goals!!
©2004 KRISTI LARSEN. All
Rights Reserved.
