Christina Sondgroth
by Gene X Hwang
June
2004 - At a lot of local shows you often
see first timers on stage making their first foray into the world of competitive
bodybuilding, and you have to appreciate the hard work, sweat, dedication
and bravery that it takes to get on stage.
For some, it is an accomplishment just to get on stage, but for others,
they strive for higher goals.
Christina
Sondgroth is one such woman. Preparing for her first show, she admitted
that before our shoot, that she didn't quite feel like a bodybuilder.
One look at her physique would tell otherwise.
The 36-year-old
Sondgroth has been training for three years, and is preparing for the
2004 NPC Modesto competition and the 2004 San Jose almost immediately
thereafter. At 5'7" and 148 lbs. at the time of our shoot, she already
looks like she could get on stage, and should do very well.
Her impressive
upper body is punctuated by thick pecs, full arms, and tight abs. Her
legs are notable for her calves which already could be the envy of many
National level competitors. So how did she get so far so fast? Well, Sondgroth
has been training for three years, but was overweight before that.
"I started
training in July of 2001, after coming home from a trip to Mexico with
my husbands family. After having 3 kids (ages now 14, 7 & 5) I had
put on a lot of weight!! I use to be a model in High School so this was
a very depressing state for me. When we got home from Mexico and I saw
a picture of me in a swim suit I cried," explains Sondgroth.
"I swore
if it was the last thing I did, it would be to get in shape. I signed
up at the local Gold's Gym and have been there for three years now. With
the help of a program called Body for Life, I reached my goal of size
7 (from a size 15) in 12 weeks, but it wasn't enough. I had been bitten
by the Iron bug."
Before that
Sondgroth was exposed to bodybuilding through her younger brother, who
"used to compete in bodybuilding and was so addicted to it,"
she says.
"I remember
me and my four sisters making fun of him and how crazy he was about the
sport. I have since humbly apologized to him. I understand the passion
and desire he had. This sport is so reliant on self-discipline, it is
you - all you."
Her time
in the gym got really serious only in 2003 so most of her gains have been
more recent and they have been impressive to boot. For six reps for various
sets, she does flat bench presses with 195 lbs., dumbell bench presses
with 75 lbs. In addition she does crossovers with 80 lbs. which helps
to create her inner chest thickness.
For her guns,
she does dumbell curls with 45s or 75 lbs on the EZ Bar. Rows she does
with 160 lbs. and squats 205 and deadlifts 195. Isolating each leg, she'll
do 315 lbs. on each leg, or both together with 690. Pretty impressive
numbers which have resulted in the following measurements:
Chest |
37"
(40" flexed in a lat spread) |
Biceps |
12.5"
not flexed, 14.5" flexed ("after training, or we like to
say after getting swole they come up to 15" no problem!") |
Forearms |
11
1/4" not flexed, 12.5" flexed |
Waist |
28.5" |
Hips |
37" |
Quads |
23" |
Calves |
15" |
Impressive
numbers all around, but of course in bodybuilding it is more about how
the total package comes together and as you can see, it's coming together
quite nicely!
"The
strength that bodybuilding gives me reaches beyond my muscles. I have
gained strength in my body, mind and soul and I am not looking back. I
decided this year to take it a step further and compete in Modesto and
San Jose in July. I went to watch my first show ever in May at the Contra
Costa."
"It
was an awesome experience for me, very positive. I met Nicole
Berg and Gerri Deach; they were awesome and I swore right then and
there that I wanted to be just like them when I grow up,"
she says with a laugh, implying that she's not yet big enough.
"I emailed
them the following week and they wrote back with words of encouragement,"
she adds, and the support doesn't end there.
"My
family has been awesome! My kids are so excited for me and my boys want
me to win them an Excalibur [Editor's note: as in a sword]
- they have a spot picked out on the wall for it. I promised them if I
didn't get one this year I will next year for sure."
Of course
with such a positive future ahead of her, she's just focusing on making
the best of her first show and training and dieting hard. When asked about
her favorite parts to train, she answers in her typically upbeat way...
"Do
I have to have just one? I could tell you that I don't like training legs,"
she adds with a smirk - "who does? But I love any upper body part!"
With that a another impressive flex of her upper body, Sondgroth is on
her way to a very bright future in the sport of bodybuilding for hopefully
a long time to come.
Christina
can be contacted via email at: Lifting4ever@aol.com
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