Below is my 1st draft of a book idea that's been on my heart for awhile. I would appreciate honest feedback/thoughts/ideas on the excerpt & if you would like me to add anything, please share. TY!
Beautiful powerful reflection ❤️ will resonate w many many athletes before they have their own moment of Gaining The Whole World 🌎 yet losing their soul . Write on ! Right on 👍
Consider complementing your journey w a work out plan for their heart , their own plan to get spiritually fit , written in work out language & Strength training language they can understand and relate to and easy to apply , as they have been physically doing it their whole athletic career . Go and God Bless your efforts 🙏Xoxo
2. Include more transparency about the pressure in the competitive world, the extreme things women do or get pressured to do. I was trained by Jenny Lynn in the early years of Figure bodybuilding in Northern California. I was one of the fortunate ones that didn’t do extreme diets, pills, roids before I stopped competing. For that I have my health in my 50s. A lot of my friends are not that fortunate I think this needs to be shared by a role model like you.
Thank you for your comments and time in response. I will keep your thoughts in mind. Lots to cover in my journey, so maybe there will be more than just this book to come. My plan is to keep it short since that's what it appears that people want! ha
Have a RADIANT day and here's to great health in our 50s!!
I am 53 this OCT.. and feel that I also saved myself from the issues that come with compromising when I was younger. I thank the Lord for giving me discernment throughout the 25 years of stage time I experienced.
2. Since you are a good Christian woman, has any of the outfits or pictures you've been in seem too provocative or too revealing for a good Christian woman? Has any Christians you know or don't know got on your case for wearing those outfits or being in those pictures.
You might want to include that in your books.
I'm sorry if I was judging you when I asked those questions. I wasn't. I was just asking about your experiences regarding that.
Anyway, good luck, God bless you. You're goals, especially this one are in my prayers.
Hello Dennis, Thank you for your comments and encouragement about reading my book. I appreciate your time and value your thoughts..
Regarding your question.. sure, I've been a 'fitness/bikini' model since my early 20s- that means minimum 30 years of modeling. So, yes, I've experienced numerous comments from 1000s of people since I was plastered throughout all those years in magazines- both nationally and internationally. I would say though, a good 90% were positive and 10% could be more negative. But because I ALSO had 100s of articles and appearances again, nationally and internationally, people got to know me more personally and understand who I am- so ended up with fans feeling encouraged in their own goals, dreams and even, yes, faith. I have always been outspoken about my faith and expressed my thoughts on this topic.
There will always be those that have issues with things you do when you are in the spotlight, but God can also bring messages through messes that we all make.
Life is a journey of choices and decisions, I set standards for myself years ago and did my best to stay true to those.
My journey has been interesting to say the least and I know God is still working on me daily! Thank you, again, for your comments and support!~
That makes sense. I know Sherry Goggin, the fitness model that worked with you and Kiana on Flex Appeal, is also a devout Christian, so I wouldn't don't she's also received similar positive and negative comments.
This is bit long, so bear with please.
That's good. I'm glad God is still working on you daily. He is doing the same for me.
I'm a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the Mormon Church), despite all my sins. I've been a member since my childhood. I was baptized at 8. Despite growing up in the church, being actively involved in it, I wasn't very spiritual. It's a pretty conservative, high demand religion. We have a lay clergy, so members participate in teaching and other responsibilities, similar to our local leaders. Local leaders are called for a limited time. The affairs that are beyond our local congregation (aka wards) are controlled by the General Authorities--prophets, apostles, and seventies--in Salt Lake City. The General Authorities, except for some of the seventies, are called to their callings for life. Some seventies are given emeritus statuses. Women are called to teachings callings to like the men, except their callings more limited. For instance, they can lead some unit or program within the wards or Salt Lake City, but they can't lead the church in any of those capacities. Only men can hold and exercise the priesthood authority. Women, unfortunately, can't. That's why. I think it sucks, but that's the way it is.
Sorry for getting off track with telling my story. Well, anyway...I used to pray in private, but after a while I got bored doing it , didn't see the point, so I stopped doing it. Oh, yes, I would pray when asked to in church, at church activities, and by my family, but I always felt awkward doing it. I didn't know what to say. Or, at least, that's how I felt. In my pre-teen to teen years, I would only pray in private if things weren't going well. I prayed when was I all alone in my family's mobile home during a tornado. I prayed very hard then! I was grateful the Lord kept me alive. Unfortunately, after that incident, I went back my old ways.
When I was in my pre-teens, I always felt something was missing in life. Even with friends, family, and church, something was still missing. I just figure it out then.
It wasn't until my late teens and early 20s, that I began to develop addictions that I won't get into (they were non-alcohol/substance abuse related) and, long story short, ended up hurting my parents in the process. I promised them I would stop and try to get some help, but, most of the time, I had no intentions of changing at that moment.
When things got to the point where I would have been kicked out of my parents home (I was twenty by then), I realized I needed to change, but I didn't have an active faith in God. I let it get to be an idle belief for so long. I figured I could change was just rely on my inner strength to do what's life, become more active in exercise, and find better things to do.
It wasn't until I met some new friends at an outdoor church activity for young single adults that I decided to make some changes. I didn't say what my addictions were, but I did tell there was wanting to become because I could tell had strong relationships with God. They gave me some helpful advice.
When I got home I knew what to do. I got rid of my addictive stuff, and began to study scriptures--the church has four, including the Book of Mormon and the Bible--pray much more, and just strive to live a much more Christ-like like than I had lived before.
After coming back from a church activity, I wanted to serve a mission for my church where I go out and share the gospel--the teachings of the church--to people. My late Aunt Florence was there, so she got to hear to my good news. I first apologized to my parents for hurting them with my bad past choices and then I told them I wanted to serve a mission for my church. But as I talked to them, I so overcome with the Holy Spirit that I just broke down crying. I felt forgiven of my sins, cleansed from head to toe, and I was filled with so much joy. I did serve my mission from April 1998-April 2000 as faithfully as I could notwithstanding problems and sins.
So, here I am at 46 with a strong relationship with my Savior Jesus Christ. I pray for his help in losing weight through eating right and working out. I also pray for help in healthfully managing my systems with Autism and my anxiety disorders.
I'll continue to pray for you in your journey as well. May God bless you.
Beautiful powerful reflection ❤️ will resonate w many many athletes before they have their own moment of Gaining The Whole World 🌎 yet losing their soul . Write on ! Right on 👍
Consider complementing your journey w a work out plan for their heart , their own plan to get spiritually fit , written in work out language & Strength training language they can understand and relate to and easy to apply , as they have been physically doing it their whole athletic career . Go and God Bless your efforts 🙏Xoxo
Thank you, Kim, for this beautiful message of encouragement. I truly appreciate it and your time spent in thoughtfulness.
Definitely would read this!
Thank you for the encouragement and response!
1. Yes i would read your book
2. Include more transparency about the pressure in the competitive world, the extreme things women do or get pressured to do. I was trained by Jenny Lynn in the early years of Figure bodybuilding in Northern California. I was one of the fortunate ones that didn’t do extreme diets, pills, roids before I stopped competing. For that I have my health in my 50s. A lot of my friends are not that fortunate I think this needs to be shared by a role model like you.
Hello Bonnie!
Thank you for your comments and time in response. I will keep your thoughts in mind. Lots to cover in my journey, so maybe there will be more than just this book to come. My plan is to keep it short since that's what it appears that people want! ha
Have a RADIANT day and here's to great health in our 50s!!
I am 53 this OCT.. and feel that I also saved myself from the issues that come with compromising when I was younger. I thank the Lord for giving me discernment throughout the 25 years of stage time I experienced.
I agee with you Bonnie. Very good insight for Monica. God's blessings over you.
Actually, that sounds like a great idea.
1. Yes, I would like to read a book like this.
2. Since you are a good Christian woman, has any of the outfits or pictures you've been in seem too provocative or too revealing for a good Christian woman? Has any Christians you know or don't know got on your case for wearing those outfits or being in those pictures.
You might want to include that in your books.
I'm sorry if I was judging you when I asked those questions. I wasn't. I was just asking about your experiences regarding that.
Anyway, good luck, God bless you. You're goals, especially this one are in my prayers.
Hello Dennis, Thank you for your comments and encouragement about reading my book. I appreciate your time and value your thoughts..
Regarding your question.. sure, I've been a 'fitness/bikini' model since my early 20s- that means minimum 30 years of modeling. So, yes, I've experienced numerous comments from 1000s of people since I was plastered throughout all those years in magazines- both nationally and internationally. I would say though, a good 90% were positive and 10% could be more negative. But because I ALSO had 100s of articles and appearances again, nationally and internationally, people got to know me more personally and understand who I am- so ended up with fans feeling encouraged in their own goals, dreams and even, yes, faith. I have always been outspoken about my faith and expressed my thoughts on this topic.
There will always be those that have issues with things you do when you are in the spotlight, but God can also bring messages through messes that we all make.
Life is a journey of choices and decisions, I set standards for myself years ago and did my best to stay true to those.
My journey has been interesting to say the least and I know God is still working on me daily! Thank you, again, for your comments and support!~
That makes sense. I know Sherry Goggin, the fitness model that worked with you and Kiana on Flex Appeal, is also a devout Christian, so I wouldn't don't she's also received similar positive and negative comments.
This is bit long, so bear with please.
That's good. I'm glad God is still working on you daily. He is doing the same for me.
I'm a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the Mormon Church), despite all my sins. I've been a member since my childhood. I was baptized at 8. Despite growing up in the church, being actively involved in it, I wasn't very spiritual. It's a pretty conservative, high demand religion. We have a lay clergy, so members participate in teaching and other responsibilities, similar to our local leaders. Local leaders are called for a limited time. The affairs that are beyond our local congregation (aka wards) are controlled by the General Authorities--prophets, apostles, and seventies--in Salt Lake City. The General Authorities, except for some of the seventies, are called to their callings for life. Some seventies are given emeritus statuses. Women are called to teachings callings to like the men, except their callings more limited. For instance, they can lead some unit or program within the wards or Salt Lake City, but they can't lead the church in any of those capacities. Only men can hold and exercise the priesthood authority. Women, unfortunately, can't. That's why. I think it sucks, but that's the way it is.
This is the church's link if want to know more: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org.
Sorry for getting off track with telling my story. Well, anyway...I used to pray in private, but after a while I got bored doing it , didn't see the point, so I stopped doing it. Oh, yes, I would pray when asked to in church, at church activities, and by my family, but I always felt awkward doing it. I didn't know what to say. Or, at least, that's how I felt. In my pre-teen to teen years, I would only pray in private if things weren't going well. I prayed when was I all alone in my family's mobile home during a tornado. I prayed very hard then! I was grateful the Lord kept me alive. Unfortunately, after that incident, I went back my old ways.
When I was in my pre-teens, I always felt something was missing in life. Even with friends, family, and church, something was still missing. I just figure it out then.
It wasn't until my late teens and early 20s, that I began to develop addictions that I won't get into (they were non-alcohol/substance abuse related) and, long story short, ended up hurting my parents in the process. I promised them I would stop and try to get some help, but, most of the time, I had no intentions of changing at that moment.
When things got to the point where I would have been kicked out of my parents home (I was twenty by then), I realized I needed to change, but I didn't have an active faith in God. I let it get to be an idle belief for so long. I figured I could change was just rely on my inner strength to do what's life, become more active in exercise, and find better things to do.
It wasn't until I met some new friends at an outdoor church activity for young single adults that I decided to make some changes. I didn't say what my addictions were, but I did tell there was wanting to become because I could tell had strong relationships with God. They gave me some helpful advice.
When I got home I knew what to do. I got rid of my addictive stuff, and began to study scriptures--the church has four, including the Book of Mormon and the Bible--pray much more, and just strive to live a much more Christ-like like than I had lived before.
After coming back from a church activity, I wanted to serve a mission for my church where I go out and share the gospel--the teachings of the church--to people. My late Aunt Florence was there, so she got to hear to my good news. I first apologized to my parents for hurting them with my bad past choices and then I told them I wanted to serve a mission for my church. But as I talked to them, I so overcome with the Holy Spirit that I just broke down crying. I felt forgiven of my sins, cleansed from head to toe, and I was filled with so much joy. I did serve my mission from April 1998-April 2000 as faithfully as I could notwithstanding problems and sins.
So, here I am at 46 with a strong relationship with my Savior Jesus Christ. I pray for his help in losing weight through eating right and working out. I also pray for help in healthfully managing my systems with Autism and my anxiety disorders.
I'll continue to pray for you in your journey as well. May God bless you.