This is a delayed post from yesterday.

I cannot remember when we first met. It has been well over a year. We actually knew about each other before we were introduced. You see, we were both involved with the same man. Now, before you leap to any conclusions, it wasn’t what you are thinking. We shared the same trainer at our gym.

My friend Tammy and I followed a similar path…at first that is. We worked hard, ate right, and relied on our bodybuggs to keep track of things while we lost large amounts of weight. For a while, we shared similar dreams. While Tammy identified her dream sooner, we eventually merged paths. Her dream – to compete as a bodybuilder. Mine, to compete in figure class. There are very big differences. Among them , bodybuilders have a lot more muscle and compete barefoot. Muscle development and symmetry are key. For figure, there is a softer (and smaller) muscle development, a lot more sparkle, and 4-5 inch Lucite heels.

If you have followed my blog, you know that life interfered with my dreams. However, Tammy has brought hers to fruition and today is her first competition. The  transformation is, well, amazing. In fact, I did not recognize her when she stepped onto the stage. Between her very effective cutting (a bodybuilding term involving significant change in diet and workouts across several weeks along with water depletion over the last week before the competition), tan, false eyelashes, and tremendous poise, I did not actually figure out it was her until they moved on to the next class of competitor.

(Plan to insert picture of Tammy here – stay tuned)

It is a wonderful experience to watch someone go through such a metamorphosis and I am so glad to be here to witness her success.

People choose all sorts of paths and have many reasons. It is easy to make assumptions. I never realized how grueling bodybuilding competition prep was until I lived it vicariously through Tammy. What you see on stage is the result of impeccable diet, training, discipline, and sacrifice. All are done willingly and toward a purpose. Nonetheless, it is an all-encompassing journey and not one to be taken on half-heartedly.

Will I ever compete, say after my surgery? Probably not. However, I feel lucky to have taken the journey through the eyes and experiences of a good friend. And as I told my boyfriend, I can still buy the Lucite heels.