My journey has been a long one. Ever since I was a child I had body image issues and an unhealthy relationship with food. Whether it was under eating, binge eating or wasting away doing hours of cardio, I was never satisfied with the results. After years of struggling and countless fitness failures, I began reading about Body Builders and Figure Competitors. I knew that was the physique I wanted so I stepped off the treadmill and into the weight room. I developed a passion and love for the sport.

My training philosophy is pretty simple...You get what you give! I always exert maximum effort, push and challenge myself to improve each workout. I keep my workouts intense---It’s all about QUALITY over quantity. You don’t have to spend hours in the gym, but make good use of the time you're there.

I keep my diet super clean all year round. Sure, I indulge and treat myself to some goodies on occasion but keeping the diet consistently clean is the key to success. My diet is a balance of lean proteins (ex: egg whites, chicken, tuna) complex carbohydrates (ex: oats, brown rice) and healthy fats (ex: eevo, flax, omegas)....those are my favorite staples. Of course veggies are a must and I make sure to drink plenty of water.

I look up to and I am inspired by every competitor that takes it to another level and steps on stage with pride. The women that made a difference for me are Ava Cowan and Jamie Eason. When I saw these women, it changed my goals...They made me see that a woman can be strong, muscular and beautiful. They each have had their own unique journey to get to where they are which shows that there is no limit to what one can accomplish.

My number one advice to people starting out is to have patience and DO NOT GIVE UP!!! Fitness is a lifelong journey, with so many ups and downs, but the bumps in the road make success that much sweeter. Everyone is different, so what the "experts" say and what works for one wont always work for another...Make your own path. Advice for the ladies---don’t be afraid to EAT UP and LIFT HEAVY :)

Nicole Gray nickels902@aol.com