This all came about two years ago while working as a Firefighter and finishing my Master’s degree for Human movement. During that time I was concentrating on hitting the books, going out with friends and living off of junk food like I was back in college. All this eventually caught up to me in the form of 40lbs of useless weight that I did not need or want. I made the decision to start bettering myself and wanted to do more than just go to the gym. I remembered my boyfriend talking about a friend of his that had recently competed in the NPC Western Naturals. I had him show me pictures and I was immediately hooked. I joined a gym and began my journey to a newer better me. I knew this would not have been an easy task since I broke my back in 9 places about 5 years prior and overcame cancer that had cost me my right kidney a year after that. I was told by my doctor that I would never be able to do any type of strenuous activity because my back was that of a 70 year old. But I was determined to prove him wrong.

Four years later I became a Firefighter and started my career. Being 40lbs over weight was not the best thing for my back either, but going to the gym and getting on a diet was. I immediately noticed a huge difference in my life style and mood once I started my diet. The diet was nothing but eating clean and working out 5 days a week, 2 days at the gym and the 3 days a week that I worked.

After 2 weeks I started noticing by body transforming and was impressed with the results. I was performing better at work and able to keep up with the guys, well most of them. I had a terrible set back a month before my first NPC show, which came in the form of a stress fracture in my right foot from over training. I again did not let this stop me. I bought a set of RIP 60 bands and worked out in my house with a full cast on until I was cleared to start back at the gym. Even though I was still working out, I had put 20lbs back on and had to essentially start all over.

I jumped back on the horse and began preparing to compete in an NPC competition. I followed a clean eating diet that consisted of healthy foods that I made at home and would bring to work. It was hard to continue to be good on my diet while eating at a firehouse. While everyone was eating burgers, loaded baked potatoes, French fries, ribs, cake, cookies and among other good yet unhealthy items, I continued to eat my chicken with Misses Dash and plain baked sweet potatoes because I was determined to compete in an NPC show. Eventually all my hard work paid off and I competed in the NPC Western Natural in March of 2012. I did not place as well as I hoped, but that is still not stopping from reaching my goal to become and IFBB Pro. I never would have thought that I would ever lose over 40lbs let alone get up on stage in a bikini in front of hundreds of people and be judged on how I looked. I instantly fell in love with competing in the show and am excited to compete again in the months ahead.

Since my show I have received numerous emails and text messages from friends and family asking me what I did to get to where I’m at now. What started as a personal goal for me has now turned into many personal goals for many of my friends and family that witnessed firsthand my transformation.

Bodybuilding/ working out has changed my life as a whole, and has definitely changed my professional career . I have more confidence because I have more stamina, more strength, and more cardiovascular endurance, which are all positive attributes to have when you have to run into a fire, extricate someone from a car, or even help someone up who has fallen. I now have the strength, courage, and confidence to perform my absolute best at my job and that also helps the citizens in Tempe when they call us during their most horrific hour and need a confident, reliable fire department to show up and perform all that is expected of them.