From Survival to Stage: Annette’s Journey
Today’s post is dedicated to my wife, Annette, and the incredible journey she has been on. From using a wheelchair to walking across the stage at a fitness competition, her story is nothing short of inspiring.
I handed the blog over to Annette to share her perspective, but before I do, I want to say this: it’s easy to see someone’s success without recognizing the work it took to get there. Annette’s moment on stage was just the visible part. Behind the curtain were countless health appointments, coaching sessions, posing classes, meal planning, and a relentless commitment to consistency.
At one point, I joked with her that she was going to win some swords — the trophies of her competition. Her response captured her mindset perfectly:
“I’m not thinking about the trophies. I’m thinking about today’s workout, the meals I need to eat, and the posing practice I need to complete.”
Annette never let herself get lost in the end goal. She stayed focused on what it would take today to succeed, and that discipline carried her all the way to the stage.
From Survival to Stage: My Journey to Becoming a Bikini Competitor
2015 – The Dream Begins
Back in 2015, a friend posted about her figure competition journey. I was so inspired that I hired her coach and began training. While I improved my health and lost weight, the first time I tried on heels, I knew I couldn’t do it. I took a posing class anyway, but my mobility issues made it clear: stepping on stage wasn’t possible.
2024 – A Shift in Perspective
Fast forward to 2024. After living pain-free for over a year since going vegan, something changed — I realized I wasn’t in survival mode anymore. I could dream again. That old bucket-list item of competing resurfaced.
In April 2024, I reached out to my coach at The Vegan Gym. Together, we made a plan: within one year, I would step on stage.
Building the Foundation
The process wasn’t just about diet and exercise.
- In June 2024, I started online posing sessions.
- By August, I was walking in five-inch heels at home to train my feet.
- I worked with a chiropractor, went to physical therapy, got massages, and added a daily stretching routine.
Every. Single. Day.
By January 2025, I was training in person with a posing coach every Sunday — an hour’s drive each way, 90 minutes in heels, calves on fire for days. But nothing was going to stop me. The pain was temporary; the dream was bigger.
Trusting the Process
My husband often reminds me of how much I’ve accomplished, but to me it’s simple: I do what I’m told.
- If my coach at The Vegan Gym says, “Eat this, train that,” I do it.
- If my posing coach @daniellerainwater says, “Practice this way,” I do it.
- If my chiropractor at Cummins Chiropractic & Wellness says, “Do these exercises daily,” I do them.
I trusted my team. My job was to show up, do the work, and stay consistent.
The Reality Behind the Stage
What people saw was me smiling on stage, maybe even winning a sword.
What they didn’t see:
- The financial investment
- The early mornings and sore muscles
- The sacrifices and discipline
- The countless small decisions to keep showing up, even when it was hard
A New Chapter
Stepping on stage wasn’t the end — it was the beginning.
I loved every part of it:
- The camaraderie of the women in posing class
- The support and encouragement backstage
- The confidence that grew with every practice
I even faced down my fear of public speaking, delivering a memorized speech on stage without notes. That moment alone felt like a victory.
Now, I’m excited to keep going — to keep building, learning, and growing.
Fit for Life
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned from The Vegan Gym is this: there’s no finish line.
The fitter you become, the harder you work to maintain it. The more disciplined you are, the more progress you can make.
This journey has been decades in the making — a path of pain, grit, setbacks, and resilience.
And now, standing here, I can say with certainty: I can’t wait to see where I go next.
Closing Thoughts
To close this out, I just want to say how proud I am of Annette. Over the last several years, she has accomplished incredible things — and her journey is only just beginning. I’m excited to see what comes next for her.
This wouldn’t have been possible without her incredible team: The Vegan Gym, Cummins Chiropractic, and her posing coach @daniellerainwater.
If you haven’t had the chance yet, I encourage you to watch the mini documentary that The Vegan Gym created about her journey. It beautifully captures her story in a way that words alone can’t: