WOMEN’S PHYSIQUE: TONI WEST
November Accomplishment: Nationals Overall and Class C Winner
Age 33
Height 5’5
Weight 130
Contest History/Highlights 2012 NPC Elite Physique 3rd Class; 2009: Natural Lakewood Bodybuilding 1st Heavyweight and Overall; Pittsburgh Championships Bodybuilding 2nd Middleweight; 2008: Pittsburgh Championships Bodybuilding 4th Middleweight; 2007: Pennsylvania Championships Figure 3rd Tall Class
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WEIGHT WORK “I started playing competitive sports when I was seven. I ran the 100 and 200-meter dash in the Junior Olympics when I was 14 and played soccer at West Virginia University, but I didn’t get serious [about weight lifting] until I got injured and had to do a lot of rehab for my hamstring. I joined a gym owned by bodybuilders, and that’s when I got into it, started reading magazines and thought ‘This is really something I could do.’”
KID STUFF “Right now, my daughter doesn’t understand that a lot of other moms don’t go to the gym every day. She’ll ask me “Don’t you know her from the gym?” about other people’s moms, or “What gym does she go to?” My daughter thinks working out and staying active is what everyone does – it’s a good, healthy role that she just assumes is part of everyone’s life. I wish every kid had the opportunity to think that way.”
A FIT WITH PHYSIQUE “When physique came out, it sounded to me to be exactly where I saw myself. Not where other people see me, where I saw myself . I wasn’t looking to break the mold or anything. I think physique – top to bottom, head to toe – is what looks like classic bodybuilding. I think it’s healthy. The look in general is more muscular than normal-looking fit girls, which I like, but less muscular than the pro women bodybuilders.”
PART OF HISTORY “I’m looking to do the New York Pro – it’s such a huge show – and would love to qualify for the Olympia! It’s going to be a historical event to be in that first Women’s Physique lineup at the Olympia. From the time I heard about it, from that point on it was my goal!”
THE BIG PICTURE “My goal first and foremost is to be healthy. Contests give me that extra motivation and push, something for 12 to 16 weeks that I am fully concentrated on. It gives me a purpose for workouts, a purpose for food, but it’s not all life consuming. My motivation is staying healthy, staying fit, staying active and giving it a bigger purpose. If I can motivate other people to like the way muscular, athletic women look, that’s what I want to do.”
