Let the Blogging Begin!

Doing what I love to do most, at Doug's Gym in Dallas.

Welcome to my first fitness blog. You'll note that I modified "blog" with "first fitness," because I've had several blogs before this one, covering the environment, politics, and even a comedy blog. But it's fitness with which my name is most closely linked, and as I type this I'm finding myself somewhat surprised that I've not had a blog like this until now. Not exactly, anyway...

Back in 2002 I started a website titled "IronAge" which was dedicated to preserving the history of bodybuilding, and specifically an era I dubbed the Iron Age, which spanned the mid-60's through 1991—the year that the great Lee Haney won the last of his eight consecutive Mr. Olympia titles. It was during this time period that (I believed) bodybuilders' physiques reached their apex, in terms of overall appeal. Guys were muscular yet refined, lean but not overly so, and they aspired to achieve heroic proportions—wide shoulders, flaring lats, strong-looking shoulders and arms, a broad chest, sweeping thighs with defined calves and, importantly, a trim waist. Arnold Schwarzenegger is a guy who competed during this era, and as the best of that time (and some would still say all times) he became my de facto hero when I was around 12 or so.

It was at that age that I began lifting weights. Unlike so many kids though, I didn't lift in an attempt to make the team or get the girl or not get sand kicked in my face. I wanted to be Mr. Olympia, and from the age of 13 until today I've trained as if my ultimate goal is to one day be crowned the best bodybuilder on the planet.

At 13, displaying the physique of a 12-year-old.

Now, I have no delusions that I will ever compete in a bodybuilding contest, much less with the top one, but I haven't lost the work ethic I forged so many years ago when my dreams were grander than my sense of reality. And I'm really glad for that, because these days training is one of my great joys in life. I LOVE training, so much so that I've been a bad friend, relative, and boyfriend on occasion all to get my workout on. Maybe it's because it's so ingrained in me by this point, or because it fits my temperament, or because I'm able to clearly connect the act of training with the results. Whatever the reason, working out is my happening, and it freaks me out.

So, be sure to check back here every now and again to read my musings about working out, nutrition, the making of Muscle & Fitness, Muscle & Fitness Hers, and FLEX magazines, and probably more than a few pointless ramblings—the kind tailor-made for a blog.