Tonia Goodman

I'm a woman who had been a stay at home mom for over 16 years (am now working and going to school) I have four children, ages 18, 16, 14, and 11. I was overweight and extremely unhealthy. I basically was so tired all the time, the docs diagnosed me with depression, although I wasn't. They put me on pills and I had to quit because the pills made me a moody mess!

I remember being so tired I could barely function and the mere thought of having to prepare dinner put me in tears, literally. I truly wanted to feel good but didn't. I remember feeling like I must be dieing, that something is really wrong because I was to young to feel that bad. I had no hope for my future because I thought if I felt that bad, what would the coming years bring when I did get old! Not only that, but I hated how I looked and would often sit with my arms in front of my stomach to hid the bulge. When I saw pictures of me, I'd just dismiss it as the camera adding 10 pounds, and tried coping by being in denial.

My husband had discovered a well known book called Body for Life and that is what we decided to use to get healthy and fit. It was simple, basic and made sense.
After 14 weeks of following this program to a "T" the results were amazing!!! So much so that a BFL champ who lived nearby talked me into doing a figure comp. She became my trainer and coach through that first comp and we did that comp together. I was waaaaay to thin, my posing was bad and I was more scared than I'd ever been in my life!!!

For all my life I'd never set goals and never worked towards any, now I had been for 24-26 weeks, but FEAR was always holding me prisoner( most of my life had been spent on the sidelines imprisoned by fear and miserable, missing out on all the good stuff out there!) I had committed to this comp in Des Moines and my trainer Kelly Adair would always encourage me and fill me with so many words of wisdom and empowerment, I knew I had to face this all consuming fear of mine!

I remember arriving to the venue and thinking "Oh my gosh!!, I can't do this, I just can't!" Every ounce of my being want to just run!!!
I didn't though I faced that fear, stepped on that stage and thought about how proud I was to have made it as far as I had. I didn't look like the other girls did, and was too skinny and all, but I felt like a winner , because inside I was!

From that day on I was hooked on figure competing... I absolutely LOVE every single aspect of being a figure athlete. I LOVE the hard work I put forth in the gym, often training just as hard as the huge guys and sometimes harder, pushing my body to the absolute limit. I love the diet even though it gets so tough and emotional at times, I love the entire roller coaster ride that comp prep brings about, because I discovered some things....

1) I know that on contest day, that no matter the outcome, I can live with it, if I know I did everything within my power to be at MY absolute best for that day

2) There are so many lessons and disciplines and character builders that come out of contest prep if we allow them. Every single part of my life is impacted by the disciplines I derive from contest prepping. Face it, this can be a vain, selfish sport, but that doesn't have to be. The journey is what we make it. I have not only become physically stronger, but mentally, emotionally and spiritually stronger, and am being a good example for my kids!

I'm truly so in love with and passionate about this sport!!! With as difficult as the journey is for that moment on stage, you got to love it, otherwise it is all vain. I love the camaraderie at the shows and rooting for those I become friends with, seeing what others have accomplished, it just really rocks. I told my husband after not competing for a year and a half , as we were attending a comp he was MC'ing that there is just something about this that feels like it's where I belong, it's like coming home.

I'm preparing for some comps in the 2009 spring season right now and have been able to put on muscle and thicken up and by the time April 17th gets here it will have been 2 years since I last competed and boy am I ready!!! I'm so excited I can hardly wait! Do I still struggle with fear even after bringing home 11 trophies and several Over All Title's...absolutely!!! I just work through it and once those curtains open and the spotlight hits me. I am into it and having an absolute blast!!!!

Tonia's website - Alive and Fit

Below is Tonia's contest history

005 Bluffs Classic Figure Open Class 2nd Place
2005 Cedar Rapids Best of the Midwest Overall Figure Champion
2006 Bluffs Classic Figure Short Class 1st Place
2006 Bluffs Classic Overall Figure Champion
2006 Bluffs Classic Novice Women’s Bodybuilding 1st Place
2006 Bluffs Classic Submaster’s Women’s Bodybuilding 2nd Place
2006 Cedar Rapids Best of the Midwest Figure Short Class 1st Place
2006 Cedar Rapids Best of the Midwest Open Women Short Bodybuilding 2nd Place
2006 Cedar Rapids Best of the Midwest Submaster’s Women’s Bodybuilding 2nd Place
2006 Southern State’s Classic Figure Short 5th Place
2006 USA’S Super Pro-Q Chicago Figure Short 2nd Place