motd Tues June 26, 2012 - Robles

[Guest guest]

GOLDEN GIRL

Tuesday, 26 June 2012

I'll bet most of your minds are racing to

that classic comedy series of the 90's starring Bea

Arthur, Rue McClanahan and the forever young, Betty

White. (I just love Betty. Her late husband,

Ludden was one of my favorite TV game show hosts.)

But today, I want to focus on another Golden Girl

and she's only 23 years-old. You probably haven't

heard of her yet. But, by

if you tune in to this summer's Olympic Games, you will! Her name is

Robles and

she's someone we all can relate to. That's why I want

you to get to know her.

will be

on the 2012 American Olympics Team.

will be on the 2012 American Olympics Team

this. She weighs 275 pounds and you're probably

wondering, what

can a 275-pound woman do in the Olympics?

Well, as it turns out...plenty! Any ideas of

what her sport is? It's weight-lifting.

Get this, can hoist 321, that's 321 pounds over

her head! Wow! That's about two of me. Put us

down, , put us down! LOL.

I find 's young life story very interesting. She

grew up in a city north of Los Angeles and was always

a big girl. Not just big but she's tall, too,

standing 5'10". was always the biggest girl in

school and, like us, she's oh-so familiar with the

bullying and name-calling that comes with her size.

The other kids would hit her, moo at her or ask, "Hey,

, when's the baby due?" (Any of those

nasty comments sound familiar to you?)

Worse than that, some members of her family could hurt

's self-confidence, too. She remembers being out

to dinner with family members and her grandfather

taking a look at two obese women dining in the

restaurant. He commented, "Look at

those two heifers eating." was crushed

and, thinking about her own weight, wondered what her

grandfather thought about her!

In spite of her

weight, was a very agile young lady.

In spite of her weight, was a very agile young

lady and her agility was spotted by a gym teacher in

high school. That teacher encouraged to join

the track team where she became a discus thrower. And

know what? was good...very good! In fact, her

position on the high school track team was the early

beginnings of an athletic career for which she earned

an athletic scholarship to attend college and has led

to her Olympics debut.

knows her current size poses long-term health

risks but for right now, she's in excellent health.

(I'm sure all of her training has a lot to do with

that.) She makes me think about some of the larger

ladies at Slimmons. I'd love it if, after the

Olympics, could join one of my classes at

Slimmons. What an inspiration she would be.

She'd also see, like I do, that some of the larger

ladies at Slimmons work out just as hard as the

smaller-sized students. So don't tell me, if you're a

big gal or guy, you can't move that

body of yours. You

can!

is hard at work, not just lifting weights,

but working to get other big women to have more

positive self-images, no matter

what they weigh. She reminds herself that even

though she's big, she

is still pretty. (How many times have I told

many of you the very same thing?)

Good luck

to you in London this summer, !

Good luck to you in London this

summer, ! You're a true inspiration

for me and for so many people of every size. We're

pulling for you to bring home The Gold this summer.

But, in the meantime, I'd say you're already one

heckuva Golden

Girl to

all of us!

Love,