Jennifer Lang prepares to squat lift a set of repetitions, while training for the Chicago Summerbash 13. (Photo by Gregory Harutunian/for Chronicle Media)

Since June 2013, things have changed for Jennifer Lang through her own volition, and the beginning was all about a salad.

“It wasn’t even a healthy salad, cheese and stuff … something just clicked,” said Lang. “I just went home from work one day and made a salad. It was a start. I worked on my diet, and walked every day for my exercise. Two months later, I had lost 20 pounds, and that was the boost.”

Lang, 29, has fallen in love with weightlifting for more than one year, and is set to compete at the Amateur American Powerlifting Federation’s Chicago Summerbash 13, July 30-31 in Park Forest. The Lake Zurich-based native has entered herself in three events: open dead lift, squat lift, and bench press. She has never been in a competition before, and simply views the decision as an accomplishment to finish, and not back out.

“I watched training videos, talked with people in the industry, and then met women powerlifters and they’re so strong,” Lang said. “Weightlifting is something anyone can do, and if you’re consistent, you’ll see immense progress. Each week, increasing my lift weight also increased my strength, and the challenge brought physical changes.”

Using a gym membership with her sister, Becky, and guided by her friend, a personal trainer, Lang embarked on a journey of self-discovery only three months removed from that “life-changing” salad. Both people proved to be inspirational, and opened the door to powerlifting as a sport, something new and something she could do.

Jennifer Lang discusses her decision to enter a weightlifting competition for the first time, and the reasons behind her lifestyle change.

It also gave her a larger measure of confidence in her own abilities and a foothold in battling two personal issues: anorexia and bulimia.

From an early age, Lang was extremely aware of her body, feeling “way too big.”  By 14, she had developed both eating disorders. “I went down to 85 pounds, and it was a long ordeal for the next seven years … it’s never enough. When you get to a normal 130 pounds, it was still uncomfortable. I also had a panic attack in the grocery store because I ate more food than I allotted myself (500 calories per day.)”

“There were two bouts of anorexia, each lasting about two years, but bulimia was always there because it was easy to keep up with,” she said. “The panic of eating and gaining weight with bulimia is like a drug, with that euphoria after you purge, but the feeling fades away. It’s an addiction. Family and friends knew what I was doing, disappearing at restaurants, but I didn’t care.”

She stopped the anorexia when she was 21, growing out of the phase, due to physical exhaustion. Four years later, she was 235 pounds, wearing hoodies, sweatpants, and facing down an obsession. “I was super unhappy about myself, and food became an addiction,” Lang said. “I didn’t want anything to do with myself, and barely looked in the mirror.”

Then, came the salad.

Her current regimen in leading up to the competition is training four times a week for powerlifting, and body building accessory workouts for three other days. Developing one’s overall strength gets repetitive with specific exercises, although Lang is mindful of the benefits.

“I like staying active now, that’s important for everyone whether going for a walk, riding a bike, swimming … just move around,” she said. “I haven’t purged in years, and it helps to keep a positive body image for me, and my daughter, Chloe. She starts kindergarten this fall, and is very sociable. She knows ‘Mommy’ goes to the gym to be strong and healthy. She’s the light of my life.”

Lang currently dead lifts 260 pounds, squat lifts 215 pounds, and bench presses 145. For the competition, entrants inform the panel of their opening weight levels, and are given three chances in each category: starting with a conservative weight that is comfortable, a second try encompassing a more substantial weight, and the last attempt for a for personal best.

“Am I going to do a monster number for my personal best? Definitely. I’ll go all out for my own sanity,” she said. “I still struggle with my illness, from time to time, and there are days when I really have to keep myself in check, more than others but the choice is mine to make every single day. I’d so much rather live a life where I’m healthy, strong, alive, and fully present to those around me who I love and care about.

“Weightlifting has empowered and strengthened me, more than just physically, but mentally and emotionally, as well. It’s given me confidence. My family and friends will be at the Summerbash to support me. I don’t have any preconceptions. Just go there, give it my best, and finish. I’m also thinking about doing a marathon, sometime.”