Question of the month

Flex, July, 2009 by Vicki Baker

"HOW DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE 'MEANT' TO DO IN LIFE?"

Jen Hendershott

2005 AND 2008 FITNESS OLYMPIA WINNER

"Honestly, I think you just know. I spent five years getting my college degree to be a kindergarden teacher and once I started teaching, I realized that I had made the wrong decision. I loved the kids, but the day-to-day, nine-to-five job was not for me. I felt trapped and unfulfilled. So I took a leap of faith and started Phat Camp, which allowed me to teach what I love--fitness. It allowed me to travel the world and meet new people, which I also love to do.

"I am living the dream and I know this is what I am meant to do. When you love what you do and it doesn't feel like a job, then you know it's your passion. I go to 20 camps a year; not once has it felt like i am going to work. I get excited and pumped to share my love for helping others achieve their dreams. I live by the YOLO motto: 'you only live once, ' so don't spend your life doing what you don't love to do. Live the dream. Your will look back some day and say,' My life was great!"

Flex Lewis

2008 EUROPA SUPER SHOW LIGHTWEIGHT WINNER

"Fate is the word many of my family members use to describe my career in bodybuilding. As a young child, and even with no outside influences, I wanted muscles. At six, I picked up the nickname Flex. Then, at 12, I found myself inspired by a book about Tom Platz to become a bodybuilder.

"I entered my first show at 19 and won; at that point, I felt I'd found my sport. Since then, I've devoted my life to being the best bodybuilder I can be; now, at 24 years old, I'm considered one of the best 202-and-under pros in the world! My motto: 'Believe to achieve.'"

Melvin Anthony Jr.

2008 ATLANTIC CITY PRO WINNER

"As a kid, I always gravitated toward I muscles--from characters in comic books to karate movies (Bruce Lee, etc.) to guys shown in Ironman and FLEX mags. I always wanted to be big. I stayed in front of the mirror flexing. I trained for the first time with weights at 13 1/2 and I loved the 'growing pains.'

"If all a kid thinks about is training and growing, then that's what he's meant to do. He may try other sports and activities, but at the end of the day, he's still pumping iron. Like Yoda would say, 'Bodybuilder he is.'"

By VICKI BAKER Managing Editor