My Story Growing up I was the only girl of three brothers and a middle child. I was born and raised in Iowa. I spent most of my childhood living out in the country. We raised horses, cows, pigs, and several other animals. I woke up every morning and had chores before school and also after school. My father built the house I was raised in. I remember the summer when I was 10 and we were building that house. We all had to pitch in and help; one thing I had to help with was putting in the floor. One of my first experiences with a hammer and nails. I also spent summers helping bail hay. To this day I will pitch in and help tear down shingles from a roof. High School I was a cheerleader for football and wrestling. Captain of both squads my senior year. I was also involved with putting together our yearbook. After high school I went on to Cosmetology School and worked in the industry for about 5 years.

I’ve always enjoyed working out. I’ve been at it since I was 18 years old. I’ve been very serious about weight training for the last 4 years.

In August of 2002 I entered a Body For Life Challenge. It is a 12-week program focusing on nutrition and exercise to achieve your best body. My main goal was to see if I had a six-pack under the layer of fat. I’ve never been a big person but I would be what you considered skinny- fat. I wanted to look like a fitness model. So I started my 12-week journey and haven’t looked back and yes after 12 weeks I achieved that six-pack.

I decided to take it to another level and enter a competition in April of 2003. During that time I was studying for my Personal Training Certification, I was working full time at Cabinet Manufacturing Company with a lot of heavy lifting and I had a family at home as well.

After a failed 15-year marriage, I decided it was time to things into my own hands and make things better for my girls and myself. I’m still working at the cabinet plant and putting in a 40 plus workweek. I get to the gym 4-5 times per week. I decided to go back to school and am now earning a business degree. It’s tough juggling work, kids, school, and gym time. There are many days I’d like to throw in the towel but in order to achieve my dreams I press forward everyday. I love the fitness industry and really enjoy helping others achieve the goals they create for themselves. I enjoy taking part of those goals and encouraging people create a new life by making healthy choices and feeling better about themselves at so many levels.

 I have so many different facets to my life and they are all challenging and different in their own rights. My co-workers have a hard time seeing me as a figure competitor and fitness model. They see me everyday in jeans, a ponytail, and safety glasses on, not very glamorous. My friends in the fitness industry have a hard time seeing me in a factory doing challenging work everyday. So different, yet a huge part of my life.

My Accomplishments

• Mid- Illinois Figure championships – April 2003- 4th place
• Iowa Regional Figure Championships- April 2003- 2nd place
• North Star Figure Masters- Bloomington, MN. - November 2003- 1st place
• North Star Tall Figure November 2003- 4th place
• Mid- Illinois Figure Championships April 2004- figure short 2nd place
• Adela Garcia- Friedmansky Figure Championships June 2004- Figure tall 5th place
• Jr. Nationals- June 2004 Figure class C
• Central USA Figure Championships 2005- 3rd Figure Medium
• Kansas City Figure Championships 2005- 3rd Figure Tall
• Jr. Nationals 2006- 16th Figure Class C
• Figure Nationals 2006- 15th Figure Class E

• Real Gainz Fitness Magazine – Cover Girl 2006
• Oxygen Magazine- Future of Fitness June 2006
• Fitness Physique Magazine- Fall/ Winter 2006
• Bodybuilding.com – Fitness competitor of the week.
• Bodybuilding.com- Transformation of the week.

My Stats

• Name: Kim Schaefer
• Home: Waterloo, Iowa
• Age: 38
• Weight: 125
• Height: 5’6”
• Hair: dark brown
• Eyes: brown
• Shoe: 8 ½
• Size: 4