Isabelle Turell and Roger Lockridge share their stories of survival

Fit Rockstar Show host Isabelle Turell had several notable guests on her show. Some names you may recognize include eight-time Ms. Olympia Lenda Murray, two-time and reigning Ms. Olympia Andrea Shaw, Olympia 212 champion Shaun Clarida and 2021 Arnold Classic winner Nick Walker. Her latest guest may not be as familiar to most of her fans, but there was a very important reason why she had him on board.

Roger Lockridge is a contributing writer for Muscle & Fitness and has been writing in the fitness industry for over 13 years. He had too his very personal transformation which have attracted some attention over the years. He told Turell that his connection to fitness came from needing an outlet to overcome a rough upbringing.

“My childhood sucked, for lack of a better word,” Lockridge said. "I grew up in a home with two alcoholic parents and there were many incidents of domestic violence. I was also bullied a lot at school."

Lockridge's family was held at gunpoint one night by his father, who was drunk at the time, but they managed to get out of the house and stay at a local shelter. He specifically mentioned so-called childhood domestic violence. Even if the children themselves are not physically abused, they are still at home when the violence occurred and they are also at risk. After Lockridge shared his experience, Turell revealed that she is also a survivor herself. This was something she had never shared before.

"My grandmother's son pulled a gun on my grandfather. I was 10 years old at the time," the 2008 NPC USA bodybuilding champion revealed. "He was drunk and high. I didn't know how to react."

Turell went on to say that she actually stepped in front of her grandfather and asked the gunman to shoot her instead. The incident had affected Turell for the rest of her life, and she needed an outlet to cope. Both Lockridge and Turell credit fitness with helping them channel their pain into passion.

“It was an aggressive way for me to relieve that stress without negatively hurting others,” Lockridge explained. Turell also revealed that her experience helped shape the way she lives today.

"I took all of that, and other things happened, and I use it in a positive light. It actually made me the kind person I am today. What I went through was very traumatizing, and I never want to see anyone go through something like that."

Turell and Lockridge shared more about childhood domestic violence, Lockridge's experience telling his story as a teenager, his career as an advocate for other victims and survivors, and his previous work in fitness and strength sports. Go to www.wingsoftstrength.com to watch this and all episodes of The Fit Rockstar Show. Remember to follow @fitrockstarshow also on Instagram.