WBFF Figure Competitor Abigail Epps-Kluttz
Name, Bio and Stats
Abigail Epps-Kluttz
Abigail is the founder of AbsRenewal, a training company out of Manhattan KS. Abigail first became passionate about weight training under her weight coach at Blue Valley West High School in Overland Park, KS. She spent most her high school career in the weight room rehabbing not one, two, but three ACL Tears! She overcame and went on to played basketball in college. Abigail is a graduate of Northeastern State University in Oklahoma, where she majored in English Literature and Communications. She started in the business sector managing a local Starbucks. She loved it, but the hours and coffee addiction where out of control;) She then enjoyed applying her sales and marketing background as Producer for State Farm Insurance. After the completion of her husbands graduation of Optometry school, she decided to pursue her passion in the health industry. She became a certified personal trainer. She teaches Total Body Toning for Kansas State University and is the Assistant Basketball Coach for Manhattan Christian College. She recently moved to Olathe, KS this past month and is now in the process of rebuilding. Her website is under-construction as it takes on a new direction into Virtual Training. She believes our body is God’s Temple and she enjoys public speaking to women on this topic in regards to health, self-esteem, and inner beauty. Abigail competes in the Figure category in the North American National Bodybuilding Federation. However, she is now looking forward to competing in her first WBFF show with hopes of becoming America’s Next Top (Fitness Model ;) ) Her passion to see people’s bodies and outlook towards health renewed is what led her to the health arena. In her free time she enjoys what everyone else reading this blog enjoys…Tearin it up!
Where do you live?
Olathe, KS
What are your athletic achievements and competition history?
Figure Category- 2010 KC Championships- 1st place Novice
2010 NANBF OKC 2nd place Novice, 4th place Overall Open
2010 NANBF KC Classic 4th Place Tall Open
2011 NANBF Southern States Classic 5th Place Tall Open
Basketball – 2 year starter for Manhattan Christian College 2003-200
2nd Team All Region – Central Region 2004-2005
2nd Team All Midwest Christian College Conf. 2004-2005
What inspires you to compete?
1 Corinthians 9:25. Discipline, work ethic, and way that living healthy has changed my life is my inspiration. I compete because I love it! I strive daily to be an example for all my clients, friends, and family. I want my radical change and journey to inspire others to a life of health and longevity.
What excites you most about competing with the WBFF?
This will be my first WBFF show and it sounds like the sky is the limit! I love the opportunity it promises for exposure and open doors. You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take, this sounds like a shot worth taking!
What are your future goals?
I want to be a roll model and leader in the health industry. I want to be a successful fitness model. I want to inspire people and have experiences that will challenge me to continue to expand my vision and opportunities for growth. I want to continue to build a resume that will reflect my passion. Our bodies are a gift to be treasured and it’s a choice of Will to take care of them. I ultimately want to write a book and be a public speaker to women and young girls on topics such as Growing through Trials, Taking control of your Destiny, health, self-esteem, and inner beauty.
What obstacles have you overcome to achieve your goals (what’s your story?)
I was a train wreck spiraling out of control. I had gone through some very disappointing set backs that I let rob me of my joy. I became a very discontent girl. I had been an upbeat and energetic all my life and for two years I sunk into a diagnosed state of depression. I became frustrated and tired of Doctors appointments and new medications to try. One day it just hit me like a ton of bricks… “toughen up, and take control” I started reading the book The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. Through prayer and study I developed a new vision of the type of woman I wanted to be. I am by nature a dreamer..and I had stopped dreaming. I decided to get up, find passion, and start chasing. People and circumstances were no longer going to define me or alter my mood and behavior.
I decided to become a Personal Trainer. I got my certification and began training at a local gym. I became more energetic and healed through focusing on others and their goals. Bringing a sense of achievement and joy to my clients was a thrill. My clientele grew to be more than I could handle..over the year I ended up creating my own business and hiring four trainers! My passion was in sales and marketing so I slowly started to develop myself and company as a brand. One fellow trainer name Walter Barr continued to bug me to promote my business by doing a competition. He said it would be a great experience, I would learn a lot about the body thus making me a better trainer. I decided to do it. I figured the extra workouts would help release endorphins and keep me off the anti-depressants. Little did I know, this journey to the stage was going to be a Spiritual Renewal that God would use to challenge and prepare me for ministry.
All the components for getting ready for show directly tied into my life in a spiritual sense. As Christians our greatest struggle is against our fleshly desires. We are to be Aliens in this world, a light, a set apart people. Society and Culture tells us to live it up! Behave how you want, take what you want, feel what you want. It was this mentality and lack of discipline that had landed me in my depression. I am a Christian and we are called and taught to live a life of sacrifice that is holy and pleasing. I began to strive to take every thought captive, honor God with my decisions, body, mind, and life. To live this way takes an extreme focus day in and day out to go against everything around us! And trust me..I do struggle and fail daily! To compete I have had to develop a resistance and uncompromising will power. Denying myself everything my body wanted, going to bed early because it’s what my muscles needed, Training …the drive to walk into the gym day in and day out rain or shine, tired or awake, feeling it or not…it had to be done to achieve this goal. All these tedious little regimens were God’s way in my life to bring me back to understanding Obedience, discipline, and the power of Will! Just as I got up at 5 to lift…so i learned to pray at rise. Just as I denied my body of the foods I wanted…so I learned to deny other choices of gratification that did not produce Spiritual Fruit! To push my body beyond immeasurable pain on some days and fatigue, so I learned to take that same mental toughness and work on my thought life…battle my desires that did not bring the results that would win the race. More than anything…competing and working in the health industry has taught me that the daily grind is hard work! But it is so rewarding and it has altered my life. I love to see the fruits of my labor. And being a Christian is the same at times. It’s tough, it’s day in and day out a choice to live according to Biblical teachings..and it takes the same drive and choice to walk in the light when the dark looks pretty enticing. But If I didn’t train the way I have, I would not be getting to experience all these awesome opportunities opening up…and if I don’t practice walking in the light daily…the gifts and ways that God want to bless his daughter will be withheld. His Way brings true Joy! He tells us how to receive it! But nothing good ever comes without hard work and sacrifice! r you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.
How can people find out more about you?
Anyone you would like to thank who has been a part of your fitness journey?
My husband, family, friends and clients who cheer me on everyday and inspire me with their own stories and drive to achieve goals. My sponsor Wildcat Nutrition and Elite Performance. Diana and Micah for their hard work in the WBFF and bringing this opportunity to all of us trying to pursue our passions.
If you are competing in the WBFF US Central Championships and would like to be featured in our “Who’s Competing” section please read submission guidelines here:
https://hitchfit.com/dianac/2011/01/24/whos-competing/whos-competing-submission-guidelines/
To register for the WBFF US Central Championships visit www.WBFFSHOWS.com
For more information on photography services, tanning services, prizes and more visit
https://hitchfit.com/dianac/2011/01/23/news/wbff-central-us-championships-comes-to-kansas-city/
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