Meet Barbie Thomas
the incredible armless female body builder who is inspiring America. The
37-year-old lost both her arms during a horrific electrical accident as a
toddler but that hasn't stopped her from pursuing her bodybuilding dream. Barbie says she can do anything an average person can do -
except she uses her feet. That includes brushing her teeth, making dinner,
taking milk out of the fridge, texting, shopping, putting on makeup and even
driving.
The competitive mother-of-two was given an emotional
standing ovation by competitors and spectators at the NPC Junior USA Body-building Championship, South Carolina.
She said: "I'd
say to anyone, you can do whatever you put your mind to.”The only limitations
are the ones you put on yourself. Everyone has limitations and handicaps in
some way or another - mine are more visible than yours maybe."
Competition organiser, Tres
Bennett, was first introduced to Barbie when she requested that her trainer
be allowed to come backstage - a request he normally rejects. But was
astonished when she said: "I need
him to help me put on my costume. It's because I have no arms."
Barbie, who has been married three times began bodybuilding
back in 2003. She said: "I used to
read about all the fitness competitors in magazines - and I thought that was
the coolest thing ever. I wanted to be like them and do the things they were
doing. I thought it was amazing."
Thomas decided to take the plunge into the sport after years
of doubting herself and wondering if she'd even qualify because she didn't have
arms to do the competition mandatories:
"I finally called the locale chairperson and talked to him about it; and
he gave me the green light.
"So in 2003 I
entered my first fitness competition and loved it. Now it's in my blood and I
can't live without it."
Thomas lost her arms when she was two years old. She climbed
onto an electrical transformer and grabbed the wires. The electricity entered
her hands and surged through her body - scorching her arms down to the bone and
turning them into something 'like charcoal'
"The doctor said
I wouldn't live, and if I did live, I'd probably be a vegetable," she
said. "But God had a different plan
for me; I'm still here, healthy, and alive and well."
Not only is Thomas alive and well but she continues to push
her body to the limits by dancing, swimming and playing soccer.
"But after I did
my routine for the first time, people realised that I was an athlete just like
the rest of them - and I did belong up there." "I don't know why they
go as crazy as they do for me; maybe its something different."
So far, Thomas' greatest bodybuilding victory came in March
2012, when she came in fifth out of six competitors. She added: "It was
actually the first time I placed ahead of people - and that was a big milestone
for me. Even though I still was fifth place, I was happy I placed ahead of
someone - someone who actually has 2 arms and their whole body."
Bodybuilding gives Thomas a goal to work towards and makes
her feel good about herself. Her workouts vary each day from cardio and abs to
stretching and track work. When not competing, Thomas loves doing the things a
normal mum would do and enjoys looking after her two sons.
She added: "Yes
there are the challenges and trials that come with bringing up kids. I don't
think mine were any different - I just had to use my feet. But I got through it
and my kids got through it."
"Sometimes I have
to sit on the floor or sometimes I have to sit on the counter - but its still
the same stuff you do. The mind is a really very powerful thing and so is
attitude - and if you keep a really positive attitude and believe in yourself
and believe that you can - then anything is possible."
Credit: Mirror UK
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