Slim for most of her life, Peggy Pullen put on weight due to medical complications during her first pregnancy.
I had five infections and I was bedridden for the last three months of my pregnancy, so I started gaining weight, Pullen, 48, tells PEOPLE. With my second child, I gained even more weight and went up to 240 lbs. I guess I just stopped caring because I was in survival mode, trying to take care of my children and recover from my sickness.
After having two more kids, Pullen could not seem to lose the baby weight, no matter how hard she tried.
I would hear infomercials about different diets and other solutions, and I tried everything that I saw on TV, says the 53 mom. I feltlost because I wasnt losing weight. Now that I know what I know through bodybuilding, I know that diets dont work because they make you skinny fat you dont gain muscle. The more muscle you have, the more fat you burn. I would lose 10 to 15 lbs. with a diet, and then gain that back and more.
In 2014, Pullen then 200 lbs. was at a pool with her family when another child called her a hippopotamus. Although the comment was humiliating, it sparked a renewed desire in Pullen tolose weight for good.
It was in front of my children, she says of why the comment was so hurtful. They all have been bullied, and I always talk about believing in themselves, and here I was being bullied in front of them. It was horrible. I went home and cried a lot, but I realized kids learn from what you do, not what you say and thats what kept me pushing.
After limited success through dieting, Pullen changed her focus to exercise and began bodybuilding. Not knowing where to start, she turned to Arnold Schwarzenegger for inspiration.
I was trying to build muscle and Arnold Schwarzenegger is the king of bodybuilding, she says. I started watchingsome of his motivational videos and usinghis workout videos. Arnold talks so much about the mind, and he says that if you cant convince yourself, dont expect anyone else to convince you that you can do it. It really helped me because there were so many times that I thought, I cant do this, its too hard.
Schwarzenegger even helped her get past the bullying she experienced from other gym goers when she first started weight lifting.
RELATEDVIDEO: Mom-of-Two Loses 125 Lbs., Goes from Obese to a Competitive Bodybuilder
Heres a mom thats really fat and getting in their space, and they didntlike it, she says of her gym bullies. They would laugh at me. It was pretty awful, but I had Arnold right there with me, and I got inspired to kick harder and challenge myself. I continued to lift heavier and heavier.
Pullen also stayed motivated by the support she found inBodybuilding.coms BodySpace online community, and says seeing her body changeinspired her tokeep challenging herself more and more.
I got hooked on bodybuilding, and its been a wonderful experience to know that I can actually do it, she says. Ill be 49 this year, and I feel like I look a lot younger.Its the secret of youth!
Now down to 120 lbs., bodybuilding has becomean integral part of Pullens life.
I work out six days a week and rest on Sunday, she says. Life is hectic being a mom theres always drama, and sometimes I sleep two hours, but I dont care. If I have to go at 2 in the morning or if Im working out at midnight, Im going to get it done. Its become a part of my life. Its a way to take out stress, it makes you stronger, it makes you think better. After Im done with a workout, Im on cloud nine, and I can handle life better.
FROM COINAGE:4 Ways to Work Out Without Killing Your Wallet
While Pullen looks and feels better than ever, she says the best part of her transformation has been being able to inspire others.
The best part is giving hope to others, and being a role model to myown family, especially mykids, she says. I homeschool my kids and I always tell them to be the best they can be, and here I was failing at that. Ive seen a change in them since theyve seen their mom become stronger.
And she finally feels totally comfortable in her own skin.
I no longer care what people think about me on the outside, because Im so much stronger on the inside, she says. Ive become a better person, better mom and a better human being.
Follow this link:
Mom of Four Loses 80 Lbs. Through Bodybuilding and Calls Arnold Schwarzenegger Her Inspiration - PEOPLE.com
