Jennifer Lynn Abrams

Today I am a personal trainer and full-time mother of two. I have been married for 5 1/2 years and know the meaning of multitasking! I have always been athletically built with wide shoulders and muscular legs. I was a sprinter on the track team in Jr. High (usually anchoring all my relay races), and I was heavily involved in the art of dance. From the age of 8 years old I have been performing in front of an audience under those bright stage lights. I have always felt alive and exhilarated performing and creating...it is there that I feel fulfillment beyond words. When I hear the beats of a drum or the keys to a piano my mind is creating movement. I even had the opportunity to audition for the Chicago Academy for the Arts High School at the age of 14 and was accepted. I declined the scholarship to attend my local high school and dance at numerous studios in the suburbs and the city of Chicago, (including a scholarship for Joal Hall). In the end I feel I made the best decision with my mom's help. She is Mother-of-the-year every year! My life would have been very different had I chose to attend high school in the city.


While performing with the dance company in college, rehearsals several nights a week, and completing 22 credit hours, I was approached by a male graduate student (5' 11", 260 lbs.), who was looking for a mixed pairs partner to compete with. That individual along with all my "North Quad" buddies are the reason I competed in my first competition, and my hunger for bodybuilding began. Their passion and commitment to their goals and dreams lives within me today! Smitty, Ron, Big Dave, John, Tony, Justin and Gabe, what can I say except...I will never forget any of you! How I actually got involved with lifting was with my husband, Michael. I lifted in high school a bit and was nominated "most likely to FLEX in front of the mirror", but didn't incorporate it into my daily life until my husband and I began working out together my sophomore year in college.

Six months Pregnant with my baby boy Wade.

I was a psychology major, realizing that I wanted to help people in a more preventative way by teaching them how to cope with stress and problems by exercising and obtaining the natural "high" that comes from physical work/ release. My maiden name is Reilly, and the alcoholism in my extended family runs deep. Finding a positive way to deal with difficulties was something I was forced to learn at a young age with a lot of incredible people such as; Dan, Char, Rex and the public speaking I did for the snowflake program and peer counciling groups I attended and led in high school.

My husband also introduced me to the magnificent great outdoors! WOW! What adventures we have had all over the United States. Rock climbing, river rafting, skydiving, cave splunking, back country backpacking, living on the road for up to two weeks. There is nothing in the world like waking up under the stars or on the beach...when it's all so simple you realize what life is all about....you become a part of the beauty

and feel connected and balanced. True peace! We even pumped our own drinking water in the back country, ate military rations and hung our packs in the trees so the bears would stay clear. I will never forget my travel days and the stories that still make me smile. My husband and I had some fantastic times with some incredible people. It is not where you are in life but who you are with that make it memorable and unforgettable!

My life is very busy and filled with love these days. Married with two children ages 5 years old and 4 months old keeps me busy at home, not to mention my personal training clients and my own work outs. But I have gotten very good at slowing down and taking lots of time to enjoy my beautiful children. I have been there for every milestone and event. I have read every book in my daughter's library to her and kissed my son enough times to leave a permagrin on his face all day.My husband is very involved, helpful and affectionate with our kids as well. I am so fortunate to have that. There are so many fathers who miss out and mom's who never get there time away. I am blessed!

My goal in body building is to be a positive role model to others. I would like to say natural female muscle is beautiful and that being a mommy, (or struggling with a challenge), doesn't mean you have to loose yourself. There are a lot of people who count on you. There is nothing more important than your health!  I want to stand for what is possible and attainable with hard work, multitasking and a lot of love and support of family and friends! Anything is possible... the only limits are those we place upon ourselves. Bodybuilding is an art to me. I am sculpting my own masterpiece and embracing the athletic, strong, feminine, creative women that I am.

Life gets tough when I train for a competition and I become extremely focused on my goal. I expect a lot of my husband and I don't think I can express adequately just how much it means to me that he has supported my dreams and ambitions, picking up the pieces where they have fallen over the years. I am truly blessed to have such an incredibly devoted and supportive partner and friend.
 
When I'm not working out I am kissing my baby boy and big girl! I am changing diapers, driving my daughter to preschool and picking her up, taking her to gymnastics and dance, cleaning the house, washing the dishes, feeding our German Shepherd (all 110 lbs of him), cooking dinner, grocery shopping, the dreaded chore (laundry), training clients,

All that we are will pass on to our children- our loves, our hopes, our dreams, our character. Therefore, let your thoughts be planted in rich soil and let your actions stand tall in a child's eyes. Just as fruit does not fall far from the tree, children do not stray far from their heroes.

e-mailing and calling family and friends, mailing bills, hugs and kisses to my hubby, scapbooking, watching a movie or decorating the house. I am a busy women, wife, mother, athlete and professional but I would trade my life with no one! I have everything I want and all the tools to make my dreams a reality.
 
My plans for 2004... Enjoy every moment and milestone in my son's first year and my daughter's 5th, nurse my son until he is a year old so he can grow up to be the healthy, strong man that I know he will be. I will return to the stage... stronger and better than before, as I will have one more little voice in my cheering section and one more smile in my life! I should be returning to the stage in April 2005. I plan to take your breath away! :)

© 2004 Jennifer Abrams
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