What was your epiphany?

M

Maximus

Cathlete
I was thinking about this last night when I saw someone discussing it on one of those stupid entertainment shows--the movie Terminator 2. I remember seeing Linda Hamilton in the beginning doing all those pushups & dips & thinking, "now THAT'S what I want to look like." That was right around 1990/1991, I'd been working out for a year or two but hadn't really been taking it seriously, but seeing LH looking that buff totally inspired me. I started training with a college football player & was addicted from there on out.

Just wondering if anyone else had a similar experience?
 
For me, it was Demi Moore in G.I. Jane. She totally kicked some @$$. I wanted to be her when she was doing one handed push up. I really wanted to be her when she beat up her master chief with her hands tied behind her back. She had such mental grit. To be up there with the boys and not expect anything less than to be treated like them, and then to keep up with them! That was it for me. Demi rocks.

Missy
 
Hi there.

I have been a lurker for awhile here and just started posting recently. I have to say that Terminator 2 also lit a firecracker under my butt to do pull ups! I have always been in shape and have been lifting/running/biking/aerobicing for quite a few years. I could do about 4 pull-ups when I saw Terminator 2 with Linda belting out a bunch of them in the movie. Now I do 3 sets of 20 three times a week. It is my best exercise thanks to her! Isn't it amazing how watching 30 seconds of a movie can affect us like that?!?!?
 
Mine was after I had Sophie. I had always kind of worked out on and off, but never anything major. I weighed 154 when I got pregnant and I gained 58 lbs. When I was 9 months pregnant I weighed 208 lbs. After I had Sophie, I went down to 135. No tone or anything. Then I went back to work when she was a year old and gained 10 lbs. That was it. I started working out (Tae Bo, mostly) and lo and behold, there were abs and a tricep. That got me hooked. I started running and then I discovered Cathe. I never want to go back to the old me.
 
I was in my college biology class and we were all getting ready to leave. A woman at the lab table next to me raised her arms to put her coat on, which made her shirt lift up a little and exposed her abs. She was ripped! That moment is like a snapshot in my memory -- from the early 90's.

Up to that point I'd always been thin/lean and thought that was great. But at that moment I realized I wanted to be strong, too.

I did college later than most (into my 30's -- working full time, etc.). And I had my "epiphany" right before I started having my kids, so I didn't start weight training until after they were born.

Now -- I just can't imagine not weight training, and I'm starting to get the strength I want (just starting, mind you).

Thanks for a great post, LauraMax! It serves to revisit how we all started and how we all looked for, and found, the best there is -- Cathe. :)

Marla
 
I've recently realized that I never do anything moderate, I'm always at extremes! So my inspiration was seeing Bev Francis in the "Pumping Iron -- the Women" movie. Cheezy movie -- but when she shows her legs after she's been cutting some fat ... I said "WOW...I want legs like that!" Well, I'll have to settle for a smaller version.

The Linda Hamilton thing was pretty awesome too. I remember people saying "she's too muscle-y", and all the while I'm thinking "what?! she looks fantastic!" Just goes to show you how things change over time (seems that women with muscles are becoming more acceptable AND even desireable).

How ya feeling today LauraMax?

Shonie
 
I am feeling so much better--I actually took yesterday off, slept in, then spent a solid 2 hours in the gym. And then a solid two hours napping on the couch LOL. Also finally finished all my laundry--can you believe the stuff I hung to dry Monday night was still wet as of Wednesday? Humidity at its very worst!

Anyway, feeling totally re-energized, thanks for asking! :) And totally ready for the beach! ;-)
 
For me I've had several. The first one was the dark haired women in Kathy Smith's ultimate Abs & thighs, she looked awesome, and I just had two major neck surgeries, and was told I either could stay at the hospital for another 6 months, and do physical therapy, or go home with my family but I'd be completely on my own, as I lived in the middle no where, and my town didn't have a physical therapist. I choose my family, and got old Physcal therapy books from the used book store. And read them to see how to go about getting myself back to walking when I seen Kathy's new workout at that time back in 1990. Begged my mother for that, and tried to do the first ab exercise 5 times a day. It took me at least five weeks to get threw the beginner ab part of 10 semi dificult exercises, and then I made my way of becomeing a group exercise intstructor and personal trainer five years after that.

Then when I broke my back 3 years ago due to steriods that I was put on due to my Lupus, I seen G.I. Jane, and figured if she could look that good and be as tough as the boys. I could learn to walk again, and get my muscle strength back. I've gotten my strength and all of my muscle, just ended up with a layer of fat on my arms I didn't have, and want to get rid of it. Cathe has played a very big part both times, this last time, I was doing part of Cathe workouts 6 months after I broke my back and was still using a walker. Yes odd combo, but it was mainly due to not being able to stand for a long period then not being able to get around. I could out walk almost everyone with my walker, I just couldn't stand still.

Kit
 
mine was during the core work in bootcamp. I'd been doing the workout for about 6 months and alwyas had to modify ALL the core work. Then one day I was just able to do the twisty side planks. After that, I started wondering what my body was capable of if I actually started pushing it... that's when I really got serious.
 
When I saw Carrie Anne Moss on the first Matrix. I just knew that that was the body I wanted -- enough muscle without being scary-muscular. It took me a long time after that to get started though. I had my boy and everything changed. I just knew the gym wasn't an option, especially with the kind of child I have. It was only when I found Cathe that I believed it was possible to accomplish that goal (or most of that goal anyway) at home.

Pinky
 
When my husband was filming me with the kids in the sandbox. I didnt know the camera was rolling and, at one point, with my back to the camera (wearing shorts) I stood up and bent over to pick up my 18 month old son. I stood up and turned around and saw him with the camera, made a face and went on. later, I watched the video! Holy crap did I scream when I saw the back of my legs and the hamstring "jiggle"! I made a mad dash to the store to buy a book on weight training! I've never looked back and, by the way,the jiggle is gone and its all nicely toned now!!!!
 
OMG! For sure Linda Hamilton in T2 was my first inspiration (I was pretty young back then). I bought my first step in 92-93 (not sure now but it was as soon as step reebok released their first step bench). Then I bought some Firm VHS tapes and subscribed to M&F magazine and I was inspired by some of the fitness models like Monica Brant, Amy Fadhli and ex-bodybuilder champions like Cory Everson, then I discovered Cathe in the late 90's and she became my inspiration. :p
 
My first epiphany was Helen Hunt in Twister. When I first saw it I just thought I'd like to look like that. I too think Demi Moore is in awesome shape, GI Jane, Charlie's Angels.
Kali
 
My first epiphany was Angela Bassett in How Stella Got Her Groove Back and What's Love Got to do With It where she portrays Tina Turner. When I saw her I thought, "Now that's what I'm talkin bout"!!! I also admire Linda Hamilton when I saw her in T2. Wonder where she is now and if she's still got it like that??!!

~Marietta
FITXME
 
I was watching Oprah about 12 or so years ago, and it was a show on fashion,they had some guy, an expert, on clothing styles, really, I forget the point of the show. It wasn't fitness, just fashion...

RIGHT before they cut to the ending credits, Oprah said something to the guy, like "Oh wait wait wait! What about dressing to hide your body flaws...?" and the guy flipped his hand and said something (paraphrase)"Oh, there is no substitute for a good body. If you want things to look good on you, go out and get one...." There was a smattering of applause, but mostly he got booed before they cut.

I had just spent hours at the mall trying to find the right pair of jeans to make me look "just so" and realized I was trying to hide a pooch and a butt that just didn't look as great as it used to....and I kept spending $ and it was all an attempt to hide things I didn't really like.

I was in the military and already had access to a gym. I went straight to the bookstore and bought the first book I found, which was Rachel McLish's "Perfect Parts" which I still love, started working out, and also took a few mini-courses in weight training from another military gal I worked with who competed. I immediately fell in love with the stress relief (I had a stressful job...the kind you wake up in the am with a sore jaw from clenching your teeth all night) and then later the results.

I was a gym rat for 5 years before I had kids, and in surfing around looking for home workout ideas, found videofitness.com and Cathe. I was amazed I could get an advanced home workout, even weight training! Hooray!

Jen
 
this is a great thread! For me it was when my 3 year old daughter pointed to my stomach and said I was fat. I immediately joined a gym with my husband quietly rolling his eyes, thinking in his head, we'll be paying for something she never uses! I took a class and immediately clicked with one of the instructors (Kristin Kagen, from Step This Way) and wanted to be and look just like her! From that point on, its all history and I NEVER let my husband live it down that he thought I'd quit after a week. Now he probably wishes I was a little less zealous in my pursuit of fitness!
 
Interesting post, Laura.

It's hard to say how far back the desire goes. I certainly remember watching Body Electric on TV and wanting to look like Margaret Richard. And then of course there was the gorgeous Susan Harris in the Firm Vol. 1.

I could probably list about a thousand others!
 
Mine was at the doctor's office in Jan 2003. I stepped on the scale and weighed 150lbs. At that moment, I realized that I had to do something to keep the weight from continually increasing. I didn't want to be 300lbs like my mil and knew that I was heading towards it. I started watching what I ate and exercising. I've managed to keep my weight below 120 for over a year now. I'm in a much better place physically and mentally today.
 
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