The Story of My Life – True Story About How I Became a Bodybuilder. I.
Well I got this idea when I talked with one fan of mine on messenger and he was really interested about it. For me this look back is full of happiness as well as pain and sadness… Times were good and bad – as in everyones life. I dont think I am something special. I know a lot of lifestories about people who faced the real problemms, which was much bigger than mine… but it is simply my life and may be it will be interesting for you to read it.. Maybe you are the same as me….
PS: Notice that English is not my mother language or even not my second language. So I am sorry about the mistakes I do in grammar and spelling. Thanks.
Chapter 1 – Childhood in Communism, Revolution Wild Years and Touch by World of Muscles.
When I was thinking where to start my story, I considered I have to start from my real childhood in small mountain town in poor region of coal-mines area in the North. As I am not from USA you may see that I see the world by another eyes. Some problems here are the same, some are different… and also my childhood was influenced by the area I lived in….
I grew up in Middle Europe – but because we were behind the Iron Curtain, our country is sometimes classified as Eastern Europe…. But I have to say we were never a part of Soviet Union, however our country was communistic. So I grew up in Communism regime. I dont want to talk about this life a lot… but the first touch with the sport was also very influenced by this. There were two ways how to get out of here – as great athlete or great scientist…. even though it was very difficult.
My parents were both workers and they never entered any exclamation/protest against the regime – because they want the future for me… they wanted to let me study on the University and than manage my break-out from the country.
Sport was politicized too. It was a „fight against the imperialistic states and athletes“… And elite athletes were picked up from the crowd of small children. They had special schools and trainings etc.. When I entered the first class on the basic school, directly after the kindergarden, one day we were invited to the local stadium. There we had „sport games“ – and well, we WERE childern, so we took it as a game off course… we did not know that we are watched by „specialists“ who are searching for young talented children…
One week after this „games“ my family got the letter with the order to give me to the special athletics class – specialization short and middle runs…. I was 6 years old. My parents were reall brave and they refused… They told the comission that I am too smart to stay only as the athlete… So later I might stay in the average class but three – four times a week I was train at the local stadium after the school…. I was prepared to become athlete.
I was never slim. I was always wider and bigger than other girls… and I hated it…. When I was 9, I got some lunges disease and I had to quit the athletics…
And in the Autumn 1989 there was a revolution in our country. We became free.. and with the freedom came all the things we never saw before… Including action films..it was my first touch with muscles…
When I was 12 I started with karate. I was influenced by karate films – but soon I found the depth of the martial arts itself. It was a luck that my first „Master“ was a man, who returned from the exil from Okinawa – Japan. And he really hated film-like stories. He learned us the philosophy of this sport/art. Maybe it also saved me before the wild years – which were in our country after the revolution.
There was anarchy outside and freedom brought also drugs, alcohol, club scene – with all negatives. It is strange that the negative thing always come first…. Some of my schoolmates started to use drugs or alcohol during this years – while our Master learned us about the discipline and hardness…
We were only a small club and I was the only one female in the class. So I was never ashamed to doing the „mens sport“. When I am thinking about it karate probbably gave me the hardness on myself and self discipline, as well as a kind of indepence… I was not care that it is „cool“ to drink and live fast and that my schoolmates smiled, that I am „crazy“. But when I was 14 they gave me the title of the ugliest girl on the highschool. And I started to think about myself….
I got some thyroid gland disease. It was very common thing in my generation, partially influenced by Chernobyl catasrophe (probbably, because our country was not primary influenced a lot) or also maybe the not healthy enviroment near mines and chemicall industry. So I gained a lot of weight – FAT - that time… Despite doing the sport.
Some day in that time I saw Corey Everson in film Double impact.. and despite she played the negative character of Cara, I felt in love with her body…. I was in awe.
Internet was not common thing in that time – so searching for the informations was not easy. But one day I saw one magazine in the newspaper shop. It was some of the first issues of Muscle and Fitness magazine here. Corey was there – so I bought it and I found a „World of muscles“… and I was in awe again. There was not only Corey, but also some article about Lenda Murray and big plakate of Lenda inside..
I was early 14 and I KNEW that I want muscles!
Chapter 2 - 1995 First Year in the Iron World – 15 years old
Finding a gym was not easy in that times. Here were no commercial fitcentres yet. Only small clubs which grew up from the original underground clubs. Also supplement market was not developed yet. It was the miracle to find a good protein shake – which will not cause you the digestive problemms. We grew up on milk, eggs and cottage cheese/pot cheese and off course meat. I remember some disgusting recipes for homemade shakes done by milk + pot cheese + raw egg + brewer’s yeast and one banana for the taste… off course mixed - it tasted horrible. But we did everything for the muscles…
I remember how I first came into the club like this. It was in Atumn 1994 and I wanted to try it. I talked to my friend but she did not come. So I standed there in the dark and I tried to see something through the windows. I was not very brave.. but I was so curious and hungry to try it. But when I touched the doors I saw some really big men standing at the crushbar.. so I wanted to run away, but I run directly against the biggest former bodybuilder and powerlifter, who came in in the same moment, when I was back to run away. I striked his chest and I felt down on the ground. He gave me his hand and helped me back on the legs … than he asked me what I want and I told him with shaking voice that „I want to train too.. but I dont know how and I dont know how to start…“ So he hold my shoulders and moved me into the gym…. He told me that he will wait on me near the crushbar and will show me how to start.
Again I was the only one girl in the gym. There was not even the womens bathroom. And the dressing room was rather the storage…. But I was probbably the lucky one, that in the times where certified trainers did not exist I got the school from powerlifters and former bodybuilders in the old gym. I started with very basic exercises – and soon I was on squats, deadlifts, barbell rows and benchpress and my strenght and my body started to change. But I did not see it. I wanted to train only for me…for my good feeling.
Stage and competitions was nothing for me. It was a place for my idols, not for me. If somebody would tell me one day I will compete on Universe show I would laugh it in that times… But I loved it. The gym mates become my family.
Chapter 3 - 1996 Battle for Teen Nationals – 16 years old
One day in the Summer 1995 I trained in some other gym in another city, where I was with my family on the vacation. And that was the very special day for me – because first time I saw the real bodybuilder…
In our gym was only one former bodybuilder, who competed in 70ties… but this one was REAL COMPETITOR. He trained with a female, who was a bodybuilder too – as her coach. I was stared at them almost half of an hour.. Because I never saw muscles like this – defined, lean, awesome V shapes…. Off course than I felt awkward that I stared at them so much. And I start with my own training, when a heavy hand hited my shoulder. It was the man who trained the female… I started to apologize that I stared on them – but he laughed.
He told me he watched me too for a while. And asked me if I COMPETE… When I told him that I am from the city where is no club – he told me that I may train with him during the vacation and he will try to help me. So I got my first training program and first nutrition help. And I start to think about the competing in the teenage class.
When I returned back home I found that there is a new gym in the town, ruled by competitor too. So I went there and I asked to be a member of this club. But the owner told me that I may pay the membership but I will be not a part of the team, because I had no genetics for this sport….. I was embarassed. On one hand I had the positive comments from the bodybuilder I met on the vacation – now another bodybuilder told me I am nothing, zero, no genetics….
So I continued alone again. I learned from magazines, I was sitting in the library for hours, studying the books and I learned by attempt-mistake.
When I told to my parents that I will compete, they was shocked. And they told me that I will had no support from them. They thought it is only a children dream and I will stop it when I will have no support. But I was catched. Off course the biggest problem were money. I start to work in the local newspapers as a delivery girl, but than I start to write weather forecasts and bithday announcements and soon I worked as the reporter. Off course I was still on the high school – and the system of the lessons is different from USA.. so I was from 8 AM till 2PM in the school, than from 2 PM till 5 PM in the job, than from 5 to 8PM in the gym, than I start to work in the gym too, because I had still no money and the owner offered me, that when I will clean the gym - I will have free enterance to the gym… So I was at home at 9PM, learned how to cook my meals, because my mom refused to cook that for me. Later I added cardio from 6:30 to 7:30 in the morning – running and later stationary bike (because I had the keys from the gym)…
It may seems to be hard life, but I was young, full of energy and full of enthusiasm. I really believed I may do it. I may compete… And one Spring day in 1996 the Day D came. Regional championship. Only top 6 girls might continue to do the Nationals.. and there was more girls in bodybuilding than now.
I was so nervous, travelling alone by train at 3AM to the city where the competition was held. I knew nothing about carbing up or potassium manipulations etc.. I had no colour. My posing suit was make-over average suit…I came to the hall where the competition was held – small girl lost in the big world of bodybuilding…
And as I was the die-hard all the time - now – few moments before the show I really lost the confidence…Because it was another world. I was nobody from the village. Training in good but small fitcentre with no backup. They were girls from magazines – I competed against several teen champions that year – with their coaches.. in the fancy clothes.. tanned by competition colours.. prepared and great looking. So strong, lean and confident.
First time I did not know, if I am doing the right thing. I was near to cry. I was few steps from stage.. but I was not able to move. I decided to give it up. But in my life I striked a lot of important people when I was trying to escape.. So now I striked into the famous heavyweight female bodybuilder by mistake – when I was trying to „invisibly“ get out… She kept me in her arms and asked me what I am doing. And I was not able to hide my tears. I told her I wanted to compete but I have no coach and I dont know anything and I simply agree with those bodybuilder from our gym – that I have nothig to do on stage… She told me it is a nonsence and I can not give up two steps from the stage…
Than she took me to the registration and later she learned me aside how to pose corectly, she helped me with my suit – which was not 100% correct – and she helped me with the tan a little bit (we used some makeup)…. Later on stage I realized she is the head judge :) …
Off course my semifinal round was a dissaster in my eyes. I was only in one callout and I thought it will be better to not do the finals. In the break between semifinal and final round I sat on the stairs and I cried. I felt down so deep, when somebody hug my shoulders. When I raised my head up I saw the national team member man bodybuilder. He had some of his trainees there…. He asked me what happened and I told him I am the worst bodybuilder on stage.. He asked me where I have my friends and my parents and my coach and seemed to be shocked when I told him I am there alone. He told me they are my fans – as I have great shapes.. but my posing is not good and I dont know how to „sell“ my qualities. Than he took me to the restaurant and he wrote me some notes about last week precontest. He told me he believes I will do the Nationals and he would like to help me….
Later I saw that my parents came to see the finals… They finally put up with the fact I am competing and they told me they are proud on me, that I did it. All those facts gave me more energy to continue. I got into the National round , held 10 days after the regional.
Immediatelly after the show I decided to ask in my school for a vacancy – to be able to train twice a day. Our director in the high school was very „official“ and „stiff-necked“ man – so I was a little bit affraid how he will react. He always called us „young man“ or „young lady“ and I was red from head to toe when he asked me : „So, young lady, what is SO important that you can not go to the school for a week?“ I wanted to say only „because of the sport“, but instead I told : „Because I am prepairing for the teen nationals in bodybuilding!“… and I waited that I will listen something about female should stay a female etc… But I was very surprised when I saw a fire in his eyes.. „So you are a bodybuider, young lady?“ He told me…. „May you flex your biceps please??“ I was surprised – and he told me „Now it is easy, but in 60ties when we started to run up the bodybuilding here….“ HE WAS A FORMER BODYBUILDER!! We talked a long time and I got another set of usefull advices as a bonus to the school vacancy…
I started to train twice a day, but I let the insane cardio sessions be. I also added more red meat and I was ready to try some real precontest carb loading.
When I left the regional show I told in the hall, that if it will be necessary, I will sleep in the gym… to improve. After a week of better food, after a carb cycling and some water manipulation I came in my better shape – I had new posing suit, I had Jan Tana colour and I was much more confident than before…. I listened how one coach, who heared the sentence I said says: „Holly S** - she really SLEPT in the gym!“ Well – in one week I did more improvements than in the whole month before…
I was on the lower placings than in the regional round, but I beated some girls, who beated me in there. And I got some attention from the official places. I returned home with the feeling that now they have to count me in….
http://forum.bodybuilding.com/photo/showphoto.php?photo=2509713&ppuser=11257
Chapter 4 - 1997 On the Top and Alone Again – 17 years old
After the Nationals in 1996 I had a small pause to relax and regenerate after the starvation I did…. In the Autumn another important thing happened….
On the East people were hungry about all things comming from the West. Including muscles… Bodybuilding was on its top and in our country were held some Professional competitions… and I got the tickets for the GP Prague in Women bodybuilding. It was first time I saw professional bodybuilders life… I was few meters from Eva Sukupova, Andrulla Blanchette, Laura Binetti, young Yaxeni Orixen, Vickie Gates, Astrid Falconi, Linda Battaglia… etc.. I was really surprised and in awe how they look in real… And I really start to dream about this world…
Off course I was so naive because I did not know what it takes to be a Pro… But it made me keen on this sport more.
Also there was one important moment for me and my career too.. I met our national teenage team coach, who asked me if I have already a club. When I told him there is no other club in our city, than the one where the coach and owner refused to help me, this man offered me his help. He invited me in Autumn to the capital city and we started to cooperate via consultation.
It was the first year, when my preparation had some contour. It was not only few months precontest diet, but the whole system of periodization. I learned a lot of thing this year….
About 14 days before the Regional rounds in Spring 1997 I got the invitation to the National team bootcamp, where trained the best of the best under the controll of the head coach and his assistants. I was lucky, but soon I had to realize that I am still not a relevant partner for them.
http://forum.bodybuilding.com/photo/showphoto.php?photo=2509723&ppuser=11257
I came very late in the night, because I changed the trains badly and I missed my connection. The headcoach gave me the training plan and my food plan and sent me to sleep. I had a single room. In the morning I realized I am the youngest one in the whole national team.. and most naive. Others were experienced athletes and also some of them already had their jobs etc.. And I had nothing common with them.
We trained under the supervision of the headcoach and his assistant – who also gave help to others and who took care about them – well not me. It seemed that nobody noticed that I am also there… Only once when I came on the morning cardio lately I got a very bad comment from the headcoach and it was all… I trained alone, nobody discussed my posing routine, nobody gave me any support and in fact many time I had to ask why they invited me. Because I felt directly the same way as at home, training alone. After few days I announced my small „revolution“… I was not doing anyting wrong, but just my way… I slept a longer time, while I trained in the midnight, I did not eat with others and most of the time when I had a personal free time I was in my room and I drew some pictures. Off course I met there my rolemodel Jitka Harazimova – who trained with us for two days…
I tried to catch the interest from the coach few days.. To show that I am also the hardcore and I really can train very strictly..But nobody cared. So I trained as I was used to. One day I did EZ barbell curls. I had my palms hurted, because I forgot the gloves at home and bars in that gym were very sharp. My palms were bleeding. The blood slowly dropped on the floor under me. But I did not want to show I feel the pain. The more reps I did – the more blood I had between my fingers…The headcoach helped there to some guys and one girl…He told me if I am finished - to let him the EZ bar.. So when I ended up the set I gave it to him… And I was walking back to my room. When he looked down on the bar, he realized that the bar is red – not silver!! It was my blood. He shouted on me to stop, but I did not care. That was me… Alone again.
On the both championships that year I was on the 2nd place. Despite the fact, that on the Regional round my cathegory was joined to heavyweights and I had to compete against girls maybe 22-30 lbs heavier. My pictures appeared in some magazines. In those times with no internet and not spreaded magazines - pictures were something valuable. Only really good competitors – winners - had their pictures there. But despite I did not won I had more pictures than the winner. That was the good accomplishment to me.
Chapter 5 - 1998 First Injury Broke Me Down – 18 years old
Next chapter of my life was very short – but important. I was picked to the National team officialy and there were some voices about me represent on the teenage European Championship the next year. I had there all the support I needed. My parents were now fully behind me – as my biggest support and fans. I had nutrition provided by my coach (I cooperated with him still, but I was really more carefull to believe him to 100% )…. And I had a plan.
But in Winter I had a very bad fall with the barbell on my back and I pulled some ligaments. I had hurted knee badly. Doctors did not know what is with me and so instead the European Championship I was not able to walk without crutches and I was walking from one specialist to another. It was a big hit for me… because the predictions were very bad. It looked like I will be never able to bend my left knee and I will be never back in sport again. This really crushed my down. First time I was on my knees literally. And I was not able to fight.
In Spring I watched our National team going to Europe, while I was overweighted again and the head coach kicked me out. He told me when I will be able to be lean again, to come back. Not sooner. It was very unpolite….
Few months later I finally found a chiropractor, who helped me with my leg. My muscles were visibly atrophed there and I was at the beggining again. I let the sport be and I focused on the school. It was the last year on the high school and I was doing the exams for the University studies. In the Autumn I moved to Pilsen – to faculty of Social and Culture Anthropology.
