Brief Bio: I guess I should start by saying, that I am far from an athletic person. LOL. I never played sports throughout my childhood or even lifted weights until my 20's. So, for me, being a Nationally Qualified Figure Competitor is such an honor.

I come from an overweight family and most of my childhood I was the "chubby" kid. I would go to school and feel like I didn't fit in and people would usually pick on me because I was different. As I got taller the way I looked had changed but I was still bigger than the other girls and so wished that I could be "normal". My parents never really ate very healthy and have struggled with their weight since my elementary school days, until this past year when they both lost over 60lbs. I am so very proud of them. I don't blame them for me being as a child and when I was growing up, as I got older I still made bad decisions. It's something I still struggle with daily.

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In 2004 when I met my husband he was really in to working out and eating healthy. I thought, this is exactly what I need to transform my body into someone I have always wanted to be, which at that time I just thought, skinny!! Never did I think I would love being muscular! In 2005 after training with Joe for about 8 months I had gone from 195 down to 147. This was a huge accomplishment for me and I couldn't have down it without the support from Joe. At the end of 2005, Joe and I decided we wanted to compete at the 2006 John Sherman Classic. There I was, two years after I met my husband I competing in my very first figure show, I couldn't believe it as I was standing there looking out into the crowd. What an amazing experience! I placed 4th that year in Figure D and was hooked! We did that show on our own with some help from a few friends who had previously competed and also by doing our own research on BBing.com. Then, in 2008, I chose the TX State Championships and placed 8th. I wasn't really where I wanted to be when I stepped on stage so I went back and re-evaluated what I wanted to do for the next season. In 2009, before competing again, I chose to start working with Bryan Barth out of Houston Gym in Houston, TX. I would come to find out that this was the best thing I could do for myself. In 2010, I placed 2nd at the Red River Classic in Oklahoma where I became Nationally Qualified looking the best I had ever looked up to that point. It is now 2011 and I just placed 15th in my very first National Level Show, The 2011 NPC USA's. If you have ever seen the girls on a National stage they are so lean and muscular and have the tiniest waists! I am 5'9" and while getting ready for USA's I kept thinking to myself, April you HAVE to get there. Do whatever it takes!

If you would have told me 5 years ago after my first figure show that in 2011 I would be standing on a National Stage with some of the best amateur figure competitors in the U.S., I would say you were crazy. It was a dream come true and I couldn't have done it without my friends and family supporting me. I truly believe it was a team effort :o) Bryan has totally transformed my physique and I can never thank him enough. He has helped me to see that I can do it, I just have to stay focused and keep my eye on the prize. I plan to continue my road to being an IFBB pro in 2012, I hope you will follow my journey!

I want to thank Bryan Barth for always telling me that I can do it and never letting me quit. I want to thank Angela Pena, for helping me all of those late nights with my posing and stage presence. I want to thank Thomas Rivera for taking me on as a Nutrition Depot Sponsored Athlete in 2010 and still supporting to this day. Last but definitely not least, I want to thank my husband, Joe. If it weren't for him I would have never even had a base to start with and probably would have just said, I'll never be able to compete. His love and support is what drives me on the days I feel that I just can't do it anymore.

2012 is starting a new journey for me to achieve the ultimate dream of becoming an IFBB Figure Pro and I want to thank iForce for making me their newest athlete. This is such an honor and I'm proud to be part of the team. Thank you for your continued support! Check out her pics below...