Barbie Thomas lost both her arms when she was
two years old in an electrical accident, but that hasn't stopped her from
living and pursuing her body building dream.
The inspiring America body builder said she
can do anything an average person can do except she uses her feet. That
includes brushing her teeth, taking her bath, dressing, making dinner, taking
milk out of the fridge, texting, shopping, putting on makeup and even driving,
name it.
Barbie was given an emotional standing
ovation by competitors and spectators at the NPC Junior USA Bodybuilding
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."
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."
Barbie, mum-of-two, 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."
"My first few fitness competitions I did
get some funny looks," she added. "I'm sure people were wondering
what I thought I was doing up there. Obviously it's a physique competition and
I'm missing part of my physique and I don't have the symmetry of what they are
looking for.
"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 it’s 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."
Having no arms hasn't stopped Barbie from dreaming
big and archiving her goals, even living a normal life. Being focus, determine
and having the enthusiasm for success can go a long way to help you in life.
Don’t put the blame on someone, on any
situation or condition you find yourself. Its time you move out of your comfort
zone and strive hard to archive that goal. It’s over only when you give up, don’t
relent even when there is a setback, all you need to do is to put a little more
effort. Believe what you are doing,
anything is possible.
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