It was after my 41st birthday, I woke up realizing that I had virtually no confidence in myself, I felt just as I looked; Miserable. I was taking medication for Hypoglycemia (a medical condition diagnosed before Diabetes), and I didn’t feel as a woman should; beautiful inside and out. It was from that moment on that I made the personal decision to make a change not only for myself, but for my kids, my husband, and my future.

I wanted to instill the type of motivation into my kids, that I gained over the past seven months, and make sure my kids knew that “you can do anything you set your mind too.” I finally told my husband that I wanted a personal trainer. So, for about two months we would watch the personal trainers at LVAC on the floor with clients hoping to find the right one. Being from Hawai’i, my husband and I both go off of “gut-feelings” or vibes people put out.

After a long two months of searching we both realized that we kept coming back to Claudia. For one, she had the body I always imagined myself to have, and for two, her personality and energy gave me a sense of comfort, yet motivation. So, Claudia and I started talking and I had mentioned that it was always an unrealistic dream of mine to compete in a Figure Competition. My father had won the Mr. Hawai’i Body Building Competition, so it was always a dream that I thought I would never be able to accomplish. Claudia assured me, and gave me the confidence to realize that this dream was not unrealistic and is very much so accomplishable.

That’s when Claudia introduced me to the 12-week program her and Angela were doing, that prepared women to compete in Figure competitions. Being overweight, I knew that I would not be ready in time for the November show; however, I trained as though I would. I started to prepare myself both mentally, and emotionally, as I tried my best to get where I needed to be physically. It has been a very long, hard, exhausting, yet exciting, fulfilling, and amazing past 7 months. Now, minus 90 pounds later, I am no longer taking medication for Hypoglycemia, and I feel healthier than ever. I’ve started to feel beautiful inside and out, and more like a woman should. Instead of gaining weight, I’ve gained a sense of self-confidence that was lost 5 years ago.

Walking on stage on March 27th 2010 was the most amazing experience of my life! To be standing there 90lbs lighter the day I turned 42 years old was incredible. Walking out on stage the very first time having my husband and daughter as well as other family members in the audience and of course the large group of amazing women that trained along side of us screaming our names and yes, even screaming “happy birthday” was so surreal and made this life changing event that much more meaningful. No matter how freaked out we got back stage, Claudia was there not only to compete but to hold our hands and reassure us that we could do this! Claudia is an amazing trainer, coach, and even more so an amazing friend who has literally been there every step of the way!Now that my first competition is over, I am ready to do it again and again and again. I have a new lease on life, I am 100% healthier and I even have a new career goal, I am studying for my very own Personal Training Certificate. Thank you Claudia and Angela for being “my guide” throughout this amazing journey, I am blessed to call you friends!