Sandra Vaughn

What would you get if you brought together a tough lawyer, a brainy doctor, an expert fitness trainer, a muscular, though feminine, bodybuilder and a professional sculptor? You would probably have the makings of a grade B action movie. If you were dealing with the real world, however, you would have Sandra Vaughn.
Sandra, a 40-year old transplanted Texan who can still pass for 30, is a legal consultant for CalTex Petroleum in Irving, Texas. She is also studying to be a physical therapist and already has certification from the Coopers Institute and Baylor Physical Fitness Institute. As a trainer, she works with many female clients and has encouragement from renowned fitness expert Larry North. Her attributes in the field of bodybuilding earned her a first place trophy in her very first contest. But, her most unusual characteristic may be that of a sculptor.
Unlike other fitness trainers who work on a general overall training regimen, Sandra takes a different approach through kinesiology.
“I can actually sculpt a body by how it’s connected,” she explains. “I line up the body for balance. I see the way the muscles resist, the way the body is sculpted.”
From there, she designs specific workout programs for each individual. Despite the complex explanation, her methods get results. Though she is not in competition currently, Sandra still boasts a 38-inch chest, 25-inch waist, 36-inch hips, 23-inch upper thighs, 15-inch biceps and calves, and only 14 percent body fat. That is what attracts her clients to her.
“Women see me and say ‘I want to look like that’,” Sandra says.
As a child growing up in Alabama, Sandra saw the benefits of bodybuilding early on. Her three brothers were big on weightlifting. She toyed around with the idea of bodybuilding for years, but only recently became serious about it.
Obviously, it has paid off. In her first competition, at the NPC Lackland Classic in November 1998, Sandra took first place in the middleweight division. Among the people who came to see her win was her mother, who originally thought the NPC was a beauty pageant. Sandra has since then placed second and third in the Masters division of two tournaments. Despite her success, she only plans on doing one more tournament, mostly because of the long, grueling preparations involved.
Her debut at the Lackland Classic required 16 months of preparation. She had to reduce her body fat to seven percent (the national average is 21 percent). She took lots of protein and had to eat six meals a day. She also had to deprive herself of carbohydrates for a short time. All this took a toll as her body stopped functioning normally to conserve energy. The results were mood swings, ovulation stoppage and a first place trophy.
“It was something I wanted to do,” she says. “I just wanted to prove it could be done. Anyone with determination and correct knowledge can do it.” After her final competition, Sandra plans to resume her studies and eventually do rehabilitation therapy which works to strengthen muscles before surgery. She will also continue to train clients while taking flying lessons and keeping up with her SCUBA certification. To relax, she loves to dance and read, but working out is still her passion. “There’s nothing more calming to reduce stress than working out,” Sandra says. Apparently, the opponents at her next contest had better hope Sandra is not too stressed, otherwise they may have no chance to win.