From Thighmaster to Bench Press- Written By Vanessa Phillips lead trainer at ABOVE

So there I sit in the late 1980’s, at the age of 8. As I sit and watch tv, a commercial comes on for the one and only thighmaster. There is Suzanne Somers, standing about 5’5 and weighing about 125 pounds, make up done perfectly, in her leotard and she looked great! Fast forward to more commercials as time passed.  Cindy Crawford seductively making Pepsi the object of every man’s desire. Kate Moss letting no one between her and her "Calvin's". Everyone was going crazy over these women. I thought to myself, I don’t see it but I guess I have to stay thin. Reminders from family, friends, television, movies…stay thin, be skinny, eat salad…”don’t eat a meal on a date, pick at your food.” I put hard work in on the pavement ,treadmill, yoga, and Pilates classes. I managed to stay pretty damn thin from 1980 up until 2016. I met Rob that year, who I had no idea who would become my husband in 2021. He was big with visible muscles, and into lifting weights. We would go to the gym together and I’d get all that cardio in while he lifted. One Saturday morning he said, “wanna lift with me?” Gulp…sure I said. Thinking to myself anxiously how I have no idea what I’m doing and if this guy hasn’t seen me look foolish yet…here we go. He guided me through lifting and started me light and chuckled when my form was garbage, but he was supportive and quick to share what he knew with me. I was sore, could barely reach over my head to put my scrubs on; I felt that dehydrated sore muscle pain. I was intrigued. I wanted more. I felt flat, loose and skinny. I was looking for something that would give me a different feeling. Thin wasn’t it. 

We lifted together every single day we saw each other. I started to go on my own. I braved the LA Fitness free weight section all by myself armed only with a hat and earbuds so no one talked to me. I felt uncomfortable, with zero confidence. I pushed myself to stay uncomfortable while I watched my 37 year old body change. I felt strong. I felt solid and thick. Over the next few years, my confidence grew. I would continue lifting with my soon to be husband, look up my own lifts to try, learning new terms like "progressive overload" and "dropsets". Before I hit 41, I could bench press 150 pounds and I was getting compliments on my legs everywhere I went. I changed my wardrobe, I bought some smaller more revealing clothes; new underwear, a thong bathing suit. My relationship with Rob grew like my muscles. We pushed each other, connected in the gym, connected at home, I felt more attractive being strong. We became part of the “lifting community” where the serious weightlifters knew us ,and if one of us missed a day they asked where we were. There is a sense of community with the people that wake up before 5am to lift heavy weights. Women appreciated me much more. I received more compliments from women “how do I get my body that way” “I want those legs” “damn lady you are ripped” I felt unstoppable. I knew there was something missing in my appearance and in my self-consciousness about my body. I didn’t like or see the appeal in the “thin” women I was pushed to look like. I didn’t see the big deal about the Kate Moss’s of the world. I wanted to eat food and lift heavy weight. I met Rob at 36; I was 128 pounds, frequently sick, with multiple GI and kidney problems. It’s 2023 turning 2024; I will be 44 this upcoming year. I weigh 162 pounds and I’m rarely sick with full recovery of all of my GI and kidney issues. I feel strong inside and out. I feel sexier about myself and Rob and our relationship as every year passes. I have an 11 year old daughter that asked me when she was about 6 “mom is my stomach fat?”  That was a pivotal moment in raising a woman. I knew I had to teach her strong is HEALTHIER than skinny! It makes me happy that I can show my 11 year old daughter that women can be physically strong, great athletes, disciplined, and maybe a little scary while not giving up what it means to be a woman and still do things for our home and be feminine.  I found a passion in weightlifting and I love helping others find the same in them.