Katie Dixon
As the son of a badass mom, the husband of a badass wife, and the father of a badass daughter… when I hear about women kicking ass straight through pain, turmoil, and other life bullshit, I get fired up. Today’s athlete spotlight, Katie Dixon, is exactly that. She has managed to make it through an ectopic pregnancy with surgery and complications, which lead to other bullshit, and come out the other side fired up, focused, and getting it done.
She has used @juggernauttraining AI since March of 2022, and she has her eyes on the Fall #GarageGymCompetition as well as an in person powerlifting meet in early 2023. And, she is a PGA and LPGA Golf Professional to boot.
If you like badass chicks who lift weights, today’s athlete spotlight is for you.
Katie, tell us a little about yourself
I was born and raised in a small town in Eastern Kentucky which is statistically the most obese and unhealthy area of the country. I grew up not really understanding fitness. I am a graduate of the University of Kentucky where I was also a Varsity Letter Winner on the Women’s Golf Team. We trained then, but it was more of a chore at the time and I didn’t really feel like there was a goal involved other than working out, because that’s what sports teams did. I am a PGA and LPGA Golf Professional at The Club at Ibis in West Palm Beach, Florida. I love my career as a Golf Professional because I get to spend my time getting paid for my passion! I also play competitively during the summers.
Ok, so lifting was just part of the golf game. Where did that change?
I had always dabbled in lifting and have always found it to be fun. In August of 2019 I was in the middle of a golf lesson and was overcome with pain and other details that I will spare. Later that evening I was rushed to the hospital and began the fight for my life. I was pregnant, but it was ectopic… growing in my right fallopian tube for 14 weeks. My tube ruptured so I was bleeding internally. My life was saved in emergency trauma surgery, but unfortunately the baby could not be saved. I spent 6 months in recovery, but even after that time had elapsed and I was cleared to resume activity, I was still in a ton of discomfort due to the trauma of the surgery. Doing a sit up or crunch was impossible as was most exercise. While I still have pins and needles as well as numbness, the pain finally subsided in late 2021, just as my marriage fell apart.
Needing a hobby, I acquired a cage, barbell, bench and plates and set up my Garage Gym. I had always followed Juggernaut, including Chad and Marissa and various other athletes. I initially read Mike Matthews Thinner Leaner Stronger book and got started with that program. I became addicted but wanted something with an end goal in mind, which is what led me to Juggernaut AI, following the power lifting program. I can do everything nowadays except a hip thrust. With a hip thrust, the bar sits directly over my scar and most of the time I have complete numbness so it makes it difficult to engage the right muscles for balancing the bar.
I started Juggernaut AI in March with the goal of a test meet on September 1 and will compete in my first official/in person meet in January 2023 in South West Florida if I cannot find one before.
I’m assuming that is where the Garage Gym Competition came in?
Yep. Since I have long followed Juggernaut, that is how I heard of the Garage Gym Competition. I decided 2 weeks prior to enter and give it a go. The night prior I had a dinner get together with friends at the Yardhouse. They ordered adult beverages and when they came to me I declined. My friends asked why I did so, and I answered I had a competition in the morning and I wanted to perform my best!
I HAD AN ABSOLUTE BLAST! I had never warmed up for singles the proper way, but after watching several Juggernaut and MegSquats Youtube videos I had a plan. I started with a 45 pound PR on squat, which I hit on my third lift. The previous 2 lifts were also PR’s. Bench is my weaker lift, but still hit a 15 pound PR. I do think I could have squeezed more if I had a spotter. With deadlift, I hit a 30 pound PR. I was extremely proud of myself and pumped because I had yet to start my real Powerlifting part of the Juggernaut AI program (Hypertrophy then Strength and Peaking), I had only been in the bridge program. I just started the Hypertrophy Cycle 2 days ago. I am super excited for my September 1 Test Day as well as the November Garage Gym Competition.
Tell me about your garage gym.
I love my gym. It certainly has its own vibe. I have a Cage and Bench. I have a standard 45 lb barbell and 400 pounds of plates. I have dumbbells, kettlebells, resistance bands of multiple types and I have 2 plyo boxes. I can do almost every exercise there is! This evening will be my first lift with new equipment. I purchased a Lever Belt, Knee Sleeves and Weightlifting shoes. I definitely have my eye on a belt for belt squats and a hydro carry similar to a sang bag. The idea of having a better storage system certainly interests me since I am nuts about organization elsewhere.
Do you train anywhere else?
I train at home 90% of the time. I do have a Gym Pass that allows me access to various gyms when I travel for golf. I train by myself for the most part, but would definitely not be opposed to meeting a nice gym bro to train with! One of the downsides of training alone is the lack of a spotter as well as the outside motivation. The last time I PR’d I had my sisters boyfriend, Erik, with me and he pumped me up so much and it felt amazing to just have someone there rooting for me. One of the biggest pro’s is my gym is open whenever I want to lift as well as I don’t have to worry about anyone stealing my squat rack.
What keeps you going?
I am a very self-motivated person. I am always striving to beat my personal best, which is a big part of golf as well. I just want to keep improving my lifts and myself in general. Prior to a lift, I get myself pumped up. I am good at focusing in the moment and pumping myself up which I am used to from competition in golf most of my life. I visualize completing the lift with good form. It is hard to describe because so much motivation to move the weight comes from within and Is almost exactly how I have prepared for golf shots my entire life.
What are your favorite PR songs?
I have a few PR songs I like to listen to while I lift… you should know I like a wide variety of music, my favorite being country, although none is listed.
- Big Energy – Latto
- Everywhere I Go – Hollywood Undead
- Levitate – Hollywood Undead
- Come Undone – Duran Duran
- Beautiful Mistakes – Maroon Five
- MotorSport – Migos and Cardi B
What does your fall competition schedule look like?
I am currently training for my September 1 test, then will gear up a new program for the Fall Garage Gym Competition using the Juggernaut AI app. For my meet in the winter I want to compete in the 73 kg weight class so I am cutting weight now using Renaissance Periodization’s RP Strength Diet App. After the Garage Gym Competition, I will train for my January 28 meet.
Drop a golf fact on us to wrap it up…
I am a very long hitter for a female in golf, especially only being 5 foot 1. Prior to starting training, my average drive was 240. It is now 265, and every now and then when the stars align, I can pop one out there three bills.
