Ashley Johnson makes her Pro Debut in Atlantic City!

                                           


In July of 2016, I sat before my computer writing about a new athlete aspiring to grace the fitness stage for their debut. This athlete, a sibling of a previous competitor from our team, had expectations to fill as her sister had acquired her pro card just one year prior.  In July of 2016, this same athlete competed in a WBFF show in NYC placing second in both Diva Fit Model and Diva Bikini. She also managed to win her pro card in Diva Bikini. Before the night was even over, and before she even realized her placings, she exclaimed, " I want to do this again!"

When I have athletes choose to compete more than once, I always ask them what is their motivation to compete again.  Especially after you win.  It is a rigorous process, you have no personal calendar and it can take up a majority of your life. People who do it, do not usually have a crew of people to do it with, and you can feel super lonley. Why do it?

You would think it would be easier the next time around, but on so many levels, it's actually much more difficult. It may not happen the same the second as it did the first. You may be a little less patient for the result. You may have different reactions to food.  Your metabolism may have changed. And on the pro level, you are also competing against a different platform of athletes. Athletes who have been in the game longer, built up muscle longer, and taken possibly years to perfect their physique. It's definitely not easier and we're so proud to present Ashley Johnson to the stage a second time, as a bikini pro. Just as she had when she took the stage the first time, it wasn't about the placing but the accomplishment and bringing a package that was better this time than the first time.

With just one day left, we look forward to seeing the outcome of Ashley's second show but , again, debut on the PRO stage in Atlantic City, December 2nd. Help us in congratulating Ashley as she takes on the best of the best this weekend

Follow Massiel as she makes her WBFF Diva Fit Model Debut!

Let me begin at the top. I stumbled into my current career unintentionally. Being a personal trainer was never in my "what do you want to be when you grow up?" List. I started pursuing fitness because I was overly stressed. When I realized I needed to make a change I was 24 years old. At such a young age I was completely out of shape, couldn't fit into my clothes and it all happened suddenly. It's like I was in my body but felt like it wasn't my body. I was so unhappy with my bachelors in business, stressed at my job as an administrator and with so many changes happening in my life during that year I began suffering from anxiety. The weight room became my therapy. My dedication began producing the physical results that I wanted and before I knew it I was guiding my friends into getting fit, got my certification and fast forward, I am about to make my debut as a Fitness Diva with the WBFF.
When I decided that I wanted to be a trainer, It didn't cross my mind to compete I just had the heart to help people learn to be healthy and fit and to do it because they loved their bodies, not because they hated them.My cousin Suehade, who is a PRO for the same federation was who inspired me and believed in me enough for me to muster the courage and take on this challenge.

The reason why I decided to compete is because after working out and after my experience in the gym for 3 years now, I wanted a new challenge. Sometimes personal trainers have this idea that they can figure it all out on their own and contrary to that I wanted to learn something new and to be guided professionally with accountability. I wanted to undergo this process for beyond physical reasons. Only people who have suffered from anxiety understand the intensity of the feeling and know that it takes a LOT of mental strength to be able to control and overcome an anxiety attack. I got into fitness not only to build my body but also to build my mind and so that's why I felt it was the right time for me to undergo the process of preparing for a competition. I understood that if I wanted to grow as a person I needed to continuously learn and to continuously be challenged and I am so satisfied with this prep because that is exactly what it has done for me!

I have been able to discover a strength in me both mentally and physically that I never thought I had within. No other process would have been able to teach me what I have learned about myself like this one.
This has been the most rigorous, yet most rewarding period of time in my life. I have not stepped on stage yet but I am content because no matter what happens I know I am stronger,  and I am better than when I first began. I have learned to channel a new level of focus towards a goal regardless of my circumstance and all the havoc going on in my surrounding. My faith, passion and consistency has reached new levels and although these things are intangible, they are the greatest possessions!