Bikini Competitions, CrossFit, and Powerlifting What Extreme Fitness Really Taught Me

From the outside, extreme fitness looks inspiring.

Lean physiques. Disciplined routines. High performance. Mental toughness.

And while all of that can be true, there’s a side that rarely gets talked about especially to women and moms who think that level of intensity is the requirement for success.

I’ve lived in multiple corners of the fitness world:

• Bikini competitions

• CrossFit

• Powerlifting

Each one taught me powerful lessons.

And each one showed me very clearly what most women actually need and what they don’t.

My First Bikini Competition Discipline, Structure, and Sacrifice

I competed in my first bikini show one year after my daughter was born.

At the time, it felt empowering.

I was learning how my body responded to precise nutrition, progressive training, and consistency.

But it was also intense.

Bikini prep requires:

• Meticulous tracking

• Very specific food choices

• Long training sessions

• Saying no to social events

• Constant body awareness

It pushed me physically and mentally.

And while I’m grateful for the discipline it taught me, it came with a cost.

The Truth About Bikini Competition Physiques

This needs to be said clearly:

Bikini competition physiques are not sustainable.

They are created for a moment in time.

They require restriction, structure, and focus that most women especially moms don’t want or need long-term.

Maintaining that look year-round would mean:

• Chronic underfueling

• Elevated stress

• Reduced flexibility in life

And that’s not health.

What Bikini Prep Did Teach Me

Despite its extremes, bikini competition taught me invaluable lessons:

• How structure creates results

• The power of progressive overload

• The importance of precision in nutrition

• Mental resilience and time management

Those lessons stayed with me.

The extremes did not.

Opening a CrossFit Gym and Training for Performance

In 2016, my husband and I opened a CrossFit gym.

That season shifted my focus from aesthetics to performance.

CrossFit taught me:

• How to train for capacity

• How to push through discomfort

• How community fuels consistency

I competed in CrossFit competitions and learned how powerful it feels to be capable not just lean.

But CrossFit also taught me something important.

Intensity without intention leads to burnout.

Powerlifting Learning to Respect Strength

Around the same time, I competed in two powerlifting meets.

Powerlifting was different.

It stripped training down to the basics:

• Squat

• Bench

• Deadlift

Progress was measurable.

Strength was objective.

There was no aesthetic requirement only performance.

Powerlifting taught me patience.

Strength takes time.

Why Extreme Fitness Isn’t the Answer for Most Women

Here’s the honest truth:

Most women don’t need extreme goals.

They need:

• Consistency

• Recovery

• Proper fueling

• A plan that fits real life

Extreme fitness can:

• Elevate stress

• Encourage comparison

• Create an all-or-nothing mindset

And for moms already carrying mental and emotional load, that’s a recipe for burnout.

Longevity Changed My Perspective

After years of pushing, competing, and training at high levels, my priorities shifted.

I didn’t want to train against my life.

I wanted to train for it.

That meant:

• Strength without exhaustion

• Structure without rigidity

• Progress without obsession

Longevity became the goal.

Competing Again in 2023 With a Different Mindset

When I decided to compete again in 2023, it wasn’t about validation.

It was about curiosity.

I wanted to see what my body could do without losing myself in the process.

The biggest difference this time?

Awareness.

I knew the cost.

And I knew what I was and wasn’t willing to sacrifice.

What Extreme Fitness Clarified for Me as a Coach

Living through these phases shaped how I coach women today.

I don’t chase extremes.

I build:

• Strength

• Muscle

• Energy

• Confidence

Because the goal isn’t to look impressive for a moment.

It’s to feel strong for a lifetime.

You Don’t Need to Push Harder You Need to Train Smarter

If you’ve ever felt like you need to suffer to see results, I want you to hear this:

You don’t.

You need a plan that respects:

• Your hormones

• Your recovery

• Your lifestyle

Strength isn’t about how much you can endure.

It’s about how well you can sustain.

In the next post, I’ll break down the exact habits and framework that built my results — and how moms can apply them without burnout.