Building a ‘winning’ body

Monica Beeman is a bodybuilder. She’s representing Cass County Fitness and community gym this Saturday in Shreveport at a combined professional and amateur bodybuilders’ show. Monica determinedly wants to win in her amateur category. She’s trained hard. Seven days a week ever since her first show appearance a year ago in Dallas. There she was Atlanta’s first competitive bodybuilder. Now Cass County Fitness has four who are participating in the sport. Monica came in second a year ago in her category. Now she wants to win. If she does, she’ll get the opportunity to achieve a pro card with the International Fitness and Bodybuilding Federation (IFBB). That’s professional level. The top.

The IFBB is the governing body of the professional level sport of bodybuilding and fitness founded in 1946 in Montreal. The National Physique Committee governs the amateur level of the sport.

“The pro card awarded by the IFBB once earned stays with you for life,” Monica said. “That’s why I want it.”

To win Monica has had to develop muscle, strength, fitness and a lean body. That’s 10 percent body fat. She’s done that. She says she’s ready for Saturday’s one-day show.

“It’s personal with me. I want to win.” But she has another intense reason. She’s general manager of Cass County Fitness and is 50 now. She looks the way she does and wants fitness members to realize something. “Let members, specially women over 40, know they can change their lives. The goal is personal accomplishment. You can. You don’t have to stay the same. Not all hope is lost. “You can go in the direction of your physical body. It takes time. It’s hard, but don’t give up on yourself. You can change your dreams whatever age you are.” That dream did occur for Monica. She once was 175 pounds. “I used to be heavy. Then, in 2021, I said to my body, ‘Let’s just lose weight,’ and began bodybuilding in this gym with trainer Matt Lovell of Texarkana.” After training, Monica entered her first bodybuilders’ show last year and won a second place in the National Physique Committee amateur level division. She needs to win a first here to qualify to be in the IFBB professional competition.

Monica prepares by having her year divided into two parts. The first is seven months called the off season where the body builder builds as much muscle as possible.

Then, the builder has four months of what’s called the cutting season. The diet and workout change so that for four months the builder can cut fat and get leaner.

Monica says the sport builds enthusiasm.

“Youth watch the adults achieve their goals. Everyone works out. Women have felt powerless, but now it’s empowering to be strong and in control of one’s body. I workout every day.”

Cass County Fitness is serving as the gym for four bodybuilders. Jacob Pyle, 46, has participated in one professional show while a member of another gym. Kaci McCall, 19, has participated in one show. Trey Adams, 21, is 16 weeks away from being in his first show.

The bodybuilding show to be held in the convention center in Shreveport May 25 is called the “Optimum Classic Championship.”

Monica said what she considers to be the meaning of the sport for Cass County is that most small towns never have a true gym where members can try to be a bodybuilder.

“I’m trying to change the culture a little. To know that Cass County Fitness is a gym with lots of equipment. You don’t have too be in big town to try you hand at this sport.”