Tanji Johnson  Share

2009 Season Wrap-up

Goals set and reached for 2009
My main goal for the year was to break into the top three of the Fitness Olympia for the first time. Along with that, I wanted to simplify and streamline my business, Save Fitness. Competing took on a slightly more important role this year because I was finally with a company, Gaspari Nutrition, that paid its athletes a nice bonus for placing in the top three. That certainly gave me an added incentive to place better. With my business, I did hone it down into a unique and effective model, providing personal training, nutritional consultation, posing lessons, and choreography for a very reasonable rate to a group of about 35 fitness, Figure, and bikini competitors both locally in the Seattle area and beyond. I also produced two instructional DVD's that will soon be available on www.savefitness.net that are going to help a much wider audience. With the proliferation of Figure and more recently bikini competition, I feel it's critical that women are encouraged to compete in fitness also. I hope to use my own coaching skills as well as my visibility as a Gaspari athlete to help more women get involved, because otherwise I see fitness declining due to women not knowing how to prepare.

In competition, I started the season off with a somewhat disappointing finish at the Fitness International, but that fueled my motivation to improve dramatically for the fall shows. After taking runner-up at the Atlantic City Pro, the pinnacle of my career so far happened a couple weeks later at the Fitness Olympia in Las Vegas. There, I placed second to living legend Adela Garcia, who won a record fourth title. In my mind I had always thought I had the potential to win the Fitness Olympia, but I never really believed it was within my grasp. As a competitor at this level, your mind easily plays tricks on you and lays out various limiting scenarios. You can get caught up in thinking that politics and who you associate closely with or don't plays an equal or more important role in how you place than factors such as your physique and routine. I finally got over those silly notions and realized that as long as I show up in fantastic shape with a dynamite routine, I will be placed highly. Adela is going to be incredibly tough to beat and I respect her a great deal, but now I want that title!

Most memorable appearance of the year
Cathy LeFrancois and I spent five days in Mexico City at an event that I would compare to Mexico's version of the Arnold Classic. There were several competitions being held as well as a large expo that took place over the course of a Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The funny thing was that when I first found out I was going to Mexico, I was thinking it would be some resort town on the beach. I quickly learned that Mexico City is many, many miles away from any beaches! I also found out that greater Mexico City has a population of almost twenty million people, ahead of New York and Los Angeles and second only to Sao Paolo, Brazil in the western hemisphere. And surprisingly, a lot of them are very interested in fitness and working out. Cathy and I were at the Gaspari booth for three days and it was flattering to see how many people at the expo knew who we were and followed our careers. Luckily most of them spoke pretty passable English, as my Spanish isn't too advanced. I did learn a lot more Spanish in those five days in Mexico, and overall it was a great time.

Favorite new Gaspari Products of 2009
I can't pick just one product. The chocolate Myofusion is something I use every day and absolutely love. I put it in my oatmeal and make chocolate soufflés with it. When you're on a contest diet, treats like that are lifesavers. But in terms of new products that helped me the most in my competitions, that distinction goes to the stack of Mitrotropin and Cytolean V2. In the twelve weeks leading up to the Fitness O, I cycled four weeks on Mito, four on Cyto, and finished up with a final four weeks on the Mitotropin. This was by far the most effective fat burning stack I have ever used, because I got into the best shape of my life for the season finale in Las Vegas. You can bet I will be using those two products again when it's time to get in shape for the IFBB fitness stage.

Looking forward
Right now I am planning on doing four contests in 2010. I will start with the Phoenix Pro, then return to the Fitness International in Columbus. I say four contests, but if I do win the International it's likely I will wait until the Fitness Olympia to compete again. But if not, I plan on doing the Europa show in Dallas that happens a few weeks before that. I am leaning toward competing in all four events right now though. It took me eight years as a pro to finally get a great sponsor like Gaspari Nutrition. I want to represent them to the best of my ability while I am ‘in the zone' and doing so well right now. But as well as my 2009 season turned out, I want 2010 to be that much better!