Hello from North Wales

Hi everyone.

Thought I'd better introduce myself as I've started posting already, and entered the strength and power meet, so somebody may be interested in who I am.

I'm a pharmacist and I live near Rhyl in North Wales with my hubbie, John, and two cats. No children... too selfish.... we're too busy enjoying our lives and couldn't cope with the upheaval! We have too many hobbies (hiking, hashing, geocaching... to name a few).

Apart from hiking, I was always a coach potato. I didn't even do sport in school if I could avoid it. At Uni I drank and ate far too much (it was fun though) and ever since I have struggled with my weight.... classic starving and bingeing. :blush:

Five years ago I decided to join a gym.... yet again.... 'more money down the drain' said John. For some reason this time it worked and I became addicted. The weight very slowly came off.... only a pound a month on average but in the end I lost 2 and a half stone. Nowadays I manage to keep my weight relatively stable and, even though I'm not as slim as I'd like to be, with all the training I do I can still enjoy my food and wine.

Gradually I was talked into doing harder classes, such as circuit. Then one day I was the only one who turned up for circuit and I ended up having what was essentially a free personal training session. I loved the battering

so I started having regular PT sessions. That was about 2 years ago. I have always done weights in my PT sessions as I do all the cardio stuff in circuit and other classes. Within 3 months of starting the weights sessions, I looked better and found I'd lost 17 inches from my various body measurements, although I hadn't lost much weight. I was amazed.... and hooked.

I've done a few challenges - road runs, fell races and the Snowdonia 15 peaks challenge - but this year I decided I was fed up of running. I've never really liked it, :unsure:

but when I needed a goal to keep me focussed, a run has always been an easy option. After Christmas last year, I decided I was going to concentrate on seeing how strong I could get and push myself lifting weights, as that's what I enjoy most. Searching for strength standards I came across Gubernatrix's website, and then joined her women's strength training network.

At that's how I ended up here. I asked for suggestions for competitions so that I had a goal to train towards. The strongman event was suggested and really appealed to me. As some of you know, I agonised over whether to enter, but I have, and here I am. Bloody scared and apprehensive :wacko:

but excited. And training hard.

Sorry for the essay. I didn't mean to write so much. But now I have, I might as well post it.

I look forward to meeting some of you on 5th June
Louisa