Karen Session Biography

How An Average Girl Transformed Her Body and Mind


Dreams can turn into a reality with a will, dedication, and effort. I embarked on bodybuilding at an unhealthy weight of 90 pounds at 5'4". I was in early stages of Anorexia Nervosa, a serious illness of self-starvation.

It all began as a simple quest to lose a few pounds to go to the beach in two weeks. I simply cut my meals in half and exercised a bit more and, viola, weight loss. I felt the sense of power. After my beach trip I remained on my "diet" and continued to lose weight. I became leaner and thinner. Others began to notice my new body.

As the illness progressed, I slowly began to fear food, thinking that anything that I put in my mouth would make me fat. My eating virtually ceased, my skin was dry, hair was falling out, I was weak, and began passing out. The closest people to me, my parents, were blind to my illness.

Finally, a friend confronted me. I was in dismay and denied all accusations. I was scared to death that she knew, but I was also grateful that someone aware of my situation. I knew I had a problem, but did not know how to overcome it. Sure, in my mind I did, but defeating such a condition is not as easy as it may seem. It wasn't until she called my parents that I made the inner decision to make a change, as I didn't want to be sent away to a clinic or hospital.

I went to the gym to gain the right weight the right way. Since I was underweight, the muscle gains came quickly and easily. Others in the gym began noticing my drive and physical changes and took me under their wing, introducing me to more advanced training techniques. Then, it was suggested that I compete in a bodybuilding contest. Now, I must admit that I admired the muscle goddesses that ruled the competitive stage on ESPN's female bodybuilding, but I never thought I had it in me to get in such condition. I always said that I would never do such a thing, simply because I didn't think I could.

It was suggested that I get an idea of what female bodybuilding was all about so I went to a local competition. From that moment on, I was addicted and wanted to be a part of the competitive sport of bodybuilding.

When I returned home from the contest with a quest to compete and I began my training. I had no idea where to begin or what to do. I failed my first attempt because I had no guidance or direction, but when I was told that I would never make it, oh, well that just fueled the fire. I was on a quest to Do It!

In 1995 I competed in my first bodybuilding competition, placing 4th in the Women's Novice Light Weight. I did well for training myself, but I wanted a higher placing. I competed two more times that season, placing 3rd in each competition.

I realized that I needed to add more muscle in order to place higher. I trained hard for the next season. I was sure to eat a small, complete meal every three hours and not to over train. I competed again in 1996 and received a 2nd, 3rd, and 4th place in various shows. However, I still was not satisfied. I wanted first place.

I began my off-season training for the coming year. I dropped my training back to three days a week and cut out a lot of the processed food items. As the show approached I started my pre-contest training. I started a 2-day on, 1-day off training split and began moderate cardio, which progressed weekly. I introduced carb-rotation and added more fat to my diet. I was seeing changes weekly, which kept the motivation in high gear.

In 1997 I won 1st Place in the Women's Open Light Weight Division, and Overall! Finally, I got what I was working for, and it was well worth the small sacrifices.

I went on to compete for two more consecutive years, focusing on making certain body parts better. In 1998 I wanted to have killer legs, a body part I thought was always under par for me. I hit Periodization in that off-season and built an awesome pair of wheels that turned heads on the street, as well as the competitive stage. I won 1st Place again in the Women's Open Light Weight Division and received 1st Place in 2 National Qualifiers that year.

In 1999 moved up an entire weight class, making my appearance in the Middle Weight Division. I received two 2nd Places that year, both in National Qualifiers.

I was headed to the Junior USA the next season, but I was burned out after four years of consecutive competing, with 2-3 contests a year. I took a break in 2000 and went back to school to advance in other areas of my life.

I decided to compete again in 2001 just to test the waters and reclaimed my 1997 Overall victory. I placed 1st in the Women's Open Light Weight Division and won Overall again.

After that contest I had some major life changes. I was laid off my job and I moved to another state. After I got settled I started my online business, The Elite Physique, (MsFit) where I write eBooks, newsletters, and articles on how to accomplish what I did in my fitness and bodybuilding era.

Now that I got a lot of complications out of the way, I am preparing to compete again. My goal is to have fun and be in the best shape rather than trying to win.

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Karen Sessions Placements and Awards

1995 - Pelican Iron Classic - 4th Novice Women's Light Weight
1995 - Bayou State Classic- 3rd Novice Women's Light Weight
1995 - Acadian Extravaganza - 3rd Novice Women's Light Weight
1996 - Natural Louisiana - 2nd Novice Women's Short
1996 - Natural Louisiana - 3rd Open Women's Short
1996 - Bayou State Classic - 4th Novice Women's Light Weight
1997 - Bayou State Classic - 1st Open Women's Light Weight and Overall
1997 - Southern Louisiana - 1st Open Women's Light Weight
1998 -Louisiana - 1st Open Women's Light Weight
1998 - Greater Gulf States - 1st Open Women's Light Weight
1999 - Louisiana - 2nd Open Women's Middle Weight
1999 - Power Lifting Contest - 1st Place Women's Division
1999 - Greater Gulf Sates - 2nd Women's Middle Weight
2001- Bayou State Classic - 1st Women's Light Weight and Overall
2001- Louisiana - 2nd Women's Light Weight
2004 - Infomercial for the NuWave Oven
2005 - Writing for Physique and Fitness Magazine
2005 - Platinum writer status on fitness at EzineArticles.com

Burning the Fat: Aerobics and Your Body

There are many great things about starting an aerobics program for your body. One of the greatest things about aerobics is that you can use it to burn fat in ways that are easier on your body than dieting.

It is very simple to burn fat using aerobics as exercise, because there are many ways that you can train your body to do the work that it is supposed to in order to really get the most out of the aerobics that you are doing.

While you are building up a sweat and working on your heart rate, all of your muscles are also getting great things out of the aerobics work that you are doing. As you bring new blood and oxygen to all of your body systems, you are going to find that you are giving yourself the best chance to really get rid of all that unwanted fat as you go along.

Working hard to burn fat is something that you can finally take control of when you are doing aerobics on a regular basis.
When you body is in constant motion, all of the body systems are working hard to maintain body functions at a normal rate.

Because your muscles need to be moving more, your heart is going to have to work harder because the only way to get your muscles to move faster is to supply them with more blood and therefore more oxygen. Because your heart has to work harder your lungs need to work harder to provide your heart with the oxygen that it needs to keep pumping.

All of these things are going to work in tandem with each other to make a situation in which you are really getting the most out of your entire work out. When all of these systems are working together, you are going to find that you are much stronger than you think you would be.

As your entire body fights to work harder, you are going to find that actually you are burning fat because your body needs energy to keep moving and to stay moving at a certain rate. It will find this energy in the stored pockets of fat that you have in your body. All of these things are going to happen quickly, and you will find that you are going to be much better off as you start to work out using aerobics more often.

Aerobics to Target the Abdomen

We all know that working out is something that is very important for us to be doing. You are going to want to get a workout so that you can be healthier, and so that you know what you are doing when it comes to getting a better outlook on life. Most of the people who get depressed and unhealthy aren’t doing aerobics, so no matter what your level of health is, aerobics are going to be good for you.

However, sometimes it is important to target more than one area when it comes to aerobics. You might want to work on something in particular. Often, people have parts of their bodies that they don’t like as much as others, and this can be very stressful. Most of the time, workouts seek to make your whole body stronger, and while this is important, if you have a problem area, you might feel like you want to work out it.

In order to target the abdomen while you are doing aerobics, it is important that you remember what the abdomen is and why it is important. It is not just your tummy area; this is a whole range of muscles that help you move and stretch in every piece of your daily routine. This is why targeting your abdomen during aerobics is very important.

When you are looking at targeting your abdomen, think first of repetitions. The best way to work on your abdomen is to add stretches into whatever you are doing aerobically. If you are walking or running in place, you should be stretching your body and stretching from side to side as you move. You have to be sure that the movement you are making is coming form you abdomen, however. It is all too easy to move your arms and legs and think that you are stretching your abdomen.

Another great thing that you can do while you are doing your aerobics is to kneel down and to then use your abdomen muscles to move up and down into different positions. Remember that you have to keep doing repetitions at a high enough rate of speed to keep your heart rate up. The more that you move, the better in shape you are going to get. This is a great way to target your abdomen. Again though make sure that the movements are coming from your tummy area.

Nutrients You Need

Healthy eating requires you to eat a number of nutrients every day. In fact, there are 40 different nutrients you need to ingest in order to keep your body healthy. That’s a lot of nutrients you need to know about! Luckily, you can break down all of these nutrients into smaller categories in order to keep them organized in your mind and make sure you get all of the foods you need.

First and foremost, everyone needs water in order to live a healthy life. Without water, we become dehydrated, and eventually die. You lose water when you sweat and through daily bodily functions, so water must be replenished. Drinking about 8 glasses a day is recommended. Of course, water is found in food as well as in drinks, so you can get your 8 glasses by eating foods like watermelon.

Of course, we need much more than water every day to survive. Another group of nutrients we can’t do without is proteins. Proteins are found in foods such as meat, eggs, and soy products. They provide the amino acids needed to build muscle tissue as well as help make some of the hormones in our bodies. Red blood cells and hair is also made from protein.

Along with proteins, a body also needs adequate amounts of fats and carbohydrates in order for us to have enough energy during the day. Fats are primarily used for energy during intense activity, like exercising, while carbohydrates are primarily used for energy during less intense activities, like standing, sitting, and other movements. Both the fats and the carbohydrates that we eat in a day can be stored for later use as fat, so it is important to eat enough for energy, but also important to regulate intake in order to stay slim and healthy. In the event that you are not eating enough fats and carbohydrates, your body can also provide itself with fuel from proteins.

Vitamins and minerals are also important nutrients for our daily lives. We get these from fruits, vegetables, milk, and most natural sources of food. Some of our foods, such as bread products, can even be enriched so that we get more vitamins and minerals in our bodies. There are dozens that you need to ingest regularly, such as iron, thiamine, vitamin C, and vitamin D. If you are eating a healthy diet, you can most likely get enough vitamins and minerals from your foods, but you can also take vitamin supplements to make sure that you are getting the right amounts you need to maintain body function. Supplements may also be available to help with other nutrients as well, so if you are worried, talk to your doctor about how you can be sure to be eating a healthy amount of nutrients.

Great Ways to Fail at Weight Loss

Great Ways to Fail at Weight Loss

Millions of people in America are trying to lose weight without much success. There are many reasons for this failure, although most would rather give up than fix their mistakes. Weight loss is hard! Without a little patience and knowledge about nutrition and exercise, your best weight loss plan may crumble. Learning the top reasons why weight loss plans fails is important so that you do not make these mistakes in your own life.

First, many weight loss plans fail because the people trying to lose weight follow too strict of a diet. When you cut back your calories, you will burn more than you eat, so you’ll lose weight, right? If you do this gradually, then yes, it works like a charm. However, if you suddenly cut too many, you won’t lose any weight at all because you metabolism will slow down. You also put yourself at danger for not getting enough for the vitamins, minerals, proteins, and other nutrients you need every single day in order to stay healthy.

Another common mistake is trying to go at weight loss alone. Everything you do regarding weight loss, from dieting to exercising, will be a hundred times easier if you have a partner because you will push each other not to quit. Working with a support system on a large scale is also important. Your friends and family should know that you are attempting to lose weight so that they can help you on the process and not tempt you by doing things like baking you cookies or taking up your gym time. Also, remember that professionals, like doctors and trainers, should come into the weight loss plan to help you shed the pounds.

Setting unrealistic goals is another good way to fail at a weight loss plan. When you set goals that you can’t easily reach, you push yourself to move forward and will feel successful even if you fall short. However, when you set impossible goals, you will find that you are easily frustrated. Don’t weigh in every day, don’t completely cut out all of the foods you eat on a regular basis, and don’t exercise to much right away. Gradually build up to reaching the goals you really want for your life, but smart out with smaller ideas.

Lastly, simply know yourself. Weight loss plans fail when you attempt to be something you are not. Maybe you have wide hips—a weight lose plan won’t completely change that, for example. You have to be happy with yourself on the inside before you change things on the outside in order to succeed at losing weight.

Burning the Fat: Aerobics and Your Body

Work up a Sweat and Lose That Weight...

There are many great things about starting an aerobics program for your body. One of the greatest things about aerobics is that you can use it to burn fat in ways that are easier on your body than dieting. It is very simple to burn fat using aerobics as exercise, because there are many ways that you can train your body to do the work that it is supposed to in order to really get the most out of the aerobics that you are doing.

While you are building up a sweat and working on your heart rate, all of your muscles are also getting great things out of the aerobics work that you are doing. As you bring new blood and oxygen to all of your body systems, you are going to find that you are giving yourself the best chance to really get rid of all that unwanted fat as you go along. Working hard to burn fat is something that you can finally take control of when you are doing aerobics on a regular basis.

When you body is in constant motion, all of the body systems are working hard to maintain body functions at a normal rate. Because your muscles need to be moving more, your heart is going to have to work harder because the only way to get your muscles to move faster is to supply them with more blood and therefore more oxygen. Because your heart has to work harder your lungs need to work harder to provide your heart with the oxygen that it needs to keep pumping.

All of these things are going to work in tandem with each other to make a situation in which you are really getting the most out of your entire work out. When all of these systems are working together, you are going to find that you are much stronger than you think you would be. As your entire body fights to work harder, you are going to find that actually you are burning fat because your body needs energy to keep moving and to stay moving at a certain rate. It will find this energy in the stored pockets of fat that you have in your body.

All of these things are going to happen quickly, and you will find that you are going to be much better off as you start to work out using aerobics more often.

All About the Atkins Diet

Over the past few decades, the Atkins diet has really hit the diet world with full force. This health phenomenon is based on The Atkins Diet, a book by Dr. Robert C. Atkins. His concept for weight loss is that we need to be concerned with the carbohydrates we eat, not the fat. Many people have found great success using the Atkins diet. However, it is not for everyone. Before you start the Atkins diet, or any kind of diet, talk to your doctor to make sure it is a good idea for you.

When you’re on the Atkins diet, there will be little calorie counting, but say good-bye to junk foods and processed foods. You will also be eating few carbohydrates and many foods high in protein. The theory behind the low-carb diet found with the Atkins diet is that by reducing your intake of these foods, you will enter a phase in your body called ketosis. During ketosis, your body will burn fat in the body for fuel instead of using the foods in your diet, which will in turn stop insulin production, which will in turn prevent more fat from being stored.

There are four main stages to the Atkins diet: induction, ongoing weight loss, pre-maintenance, and maintenance. During the first two weeks, you are in the induction stage. During this time, many people report losing 15 pounds or more, simply because carbohydrate intake is cut down to 20 grams every day. The only carbs you can have are low-carb vegetables, and even then they are very limited. The second stage, known as ongoing weight loss, will let you have 25 grams every day. You will then move on to pre-maintenance, in which you can try out other foods to see what carbohydrates you can add into your diet. After you’ve reached your weight loss goals, you may eat all good carbs, but the premise behind the diet plan is that you won’t want to eat these foods. Choosing healthy carbs will become a way of life.

As with any diet, you’ll have to exercise in order to lose weight. Healthy lifestyle changes, such as quitting smoking, are also important. Many people have called into question the safety of the Atkins diet due to its severe methods, and some say that the plan only makes you bounce back to your original weight as so as you hit the maintenance level. The key is to find something that works for you and your weight loss goals and that is healthy for your body.