My story: my first foray into figure at the 2009 Max Muscle Naturals

Flex, July, 2009 by Shannon Kramer

BIRTH DATE April 25, 1982

BIRTHPLACE Plantation, Florida

CURRENT RESIDENCE Van Nuys, California

HEIGHT 5'3 1/2"

WEIGHT 111 pounds (contest); 115-118 pounds (offseason)

CAREER HIGHLIGHT 2009 Max Muscle Naturals, figure class B, 11th

Being in a figure competition was something I'd wanted to do for a long time, but I just didn't act on it. I had been an aerobics instructor at age 19, until an auto accident put me in a wheelchair for six weeks. Once I recuperated, I became a personal trainer, and I loved it. I'd pick up the magazines--I read FLEX from cover to cover every month--and see the pictures of the competitors.

Last November, something just clicked. I said to myself, You want to do this and it's time. You're 26 and there's no reason not to do it. [My husband] Joe said, "Are you sure? It's a big commitment. We've got things going on in our lives." I said, "You know what? It's time to do this." Joe was behind me, and I have to give him 50% of the credit for my accomplishments--he was a great help from the get-go.

FISH, MORE FISH AND PRACTICE

I worked on this for four months straight. Actually, 17 long weeks. During the last week, my diet Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday was eggs in the morning and then fish (tilapia or flounder) and asparagus five times a day. We started adding carbs back in during the last couple of days--a little oatmeal, juice, bananas in the morning, and then more fish with some rice or sweet potatoes.

It's not all diet and training, though--you have to practice posing. I started practicing three months out. I would take a picture and send it to my coach, Michael Elias [husband of IFBB Pro League fitness competitor Kendra Elias], and he'd say, "Nope, that's not it at all." I studied contest photos and noticed girls who had good physiques, but weren't presenting them properly. I kept practicing, because I wanted to do my physique justice. It made all the difference in the world--I got up there and had no self-consciousness and I could enjoy the moment, because I could pop right into my pose.

ALL TOGETHER NOW

Everyone backstage was friendly and looking out for each other. Someone would ask about something, and the other girl would want to know, "Are you in my class?" That would break the ice.

Soon, we were all sitting around, chatting with each other and helping each other out. Everyone was being very sweet. I didn't feel intimidated at all. We all compared stories and what we were going to eat after the show.

MORE MUSCLE

I noticed [IFBB Pro League figure competitor] Gina Aliotti in the audience and saw the development in her arms. Wow! I know I'll need to add more muscle if I do another contest. For Max Muscle, I had to lean down quite a bit. We bumped up my training to three or four hours per day, six days a week during the last six to eight weeks; on cardio days, it was only two and a half hours. When Michael increased the training, I thought, What am I doing? But you find that if you're dedicated, you're capable of accomplishing more than you had ever believed possible.

GREATEST REWARD

It was one of the hardest things I've ever done, but it has also been the most rewarding experience. I didn't really know the meaning of hard work and dedication until this. Now that I know I can do this, I know that I can do anything. It's day in, day out of working toward a goal and pushing past limits that you didn't even know that you could reach. And you think, Oh, my god, I did that! The things you give up and the things you gain--it's just amazing.

Visit Shannon's Web site at newleaffitnessla.com.