CENTERVILLE —
When most people decide to eat healthy and work out, it usually only lasts a few days. For Centerville teacher Brooke Johnson, it meant a total transformation.
Johnson, 33, recently won Ms. Iowa Body Building, along with four other areas, and gained her professional figure card at a Des Moines competition.
“You just have to make the commitment; just do it. It’s amazing the changes your body can make,” says Johnson of eating clean and training.
She made the decision to eat clean last January, shortly after having her fourth child, when she read an article about the diet. “I thought, now is the time; it’s now or never, and I made the commitment,” says Johnson.
Her diet consists mostly of lean protein, vegetables, egg whites, chicken and whole grain foods. The rule of thumb when eating clean is cutting out anything processed.
Johnson says she has always been competitive and was an athlete in high school and college. She thought about bodybuilding when she was younger but wasn’t sure if she could do it. It was not until she started seeing her body change from eating healthier that she decided to hire a coach and start training for her first bodybuilding competition.
“It was an eye-opener; they are very subjective,” she said of her first competition.
Johnson’s husband, Matt, also competes. Together they hold the title of Mr. and Ms. Natural Iowa Bodybuilding Mixed Pairs.
“It’s nice to have someone to work out with, and it’s also a little more couple time we get to have together,” said Johnson.
Johnson says bodybuilding in Iowa has really taken off. Her last competition in Des Moines had 114 female competitors. She trains five days a week during competition season. During the off-season she usually works out three days a week but hopes to increase that this year.
“It takes a long time every year you’re going to look better,” she said.
Johnson is also part of a female bodybuilding team from Kansas City called Laser Sharp Fitness Team.
While eating healthy and working out has its obvious physical benefits, Johnson says it has been a positive thing in other aspects of her life as well. “It keeps me focused and allows me to be a role model for my children and students,” said Johnson.
After obtaining her professional card in figure, she’s working toward getting it in bodybuilding as well. “Being competitive, I really want to win one with my pro-card,” she said.
Johnson plans on competing at national events this coming season.
Local News
Related Photos
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Centerville resident Brooke Johnson recently won the Ms. Iowa Body Building competition. Photo provided
‘I made the commitment’
Centerville teacher Brooke Johnson transformed herself after her fourth child with diet, body building
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