Spotlight On NPC Bikini Competitor: Jolynn Toma
Category you compete in: NPC Bikini
Date of birth: July 5, 1987
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Career: Marketing and Internet Sales Manager
Competition history:
2011 NPC IL State
2011 Jr. Nationals Chicago, IL
2012 NPC Iowa Midwest Championships
Next competition: TBD
What do you feel is the WORST part of contest prep?
I do all my food prep for the week in one day so weighing it all and cleaning dishes are exhausting, but I couldn't imagine taking time out of each day to try to get it done.
Would you please tell us a little about your workout schedule?
I tend to stick to a 5 day split for weight training and do cardio 6x a week for about 30 minutes. Once it gets closer to a show or shoot, I will up my cardio a bit more and increase the intensity.
If you had to lose one of your 5 senses, which one would you prefer to lose and why?
Easy... smell. That is if we were living in a fairytale where your sense of smell didn't affect your taste buds. Lets be honest, whether it's chicken or cheesecake, I still want to enjoy the flavors of my food. =)
If you could change one things about this sport what would it be?
I would love for prejudging to be on Friday/Saturday night and finals the following morning. The time you have to wait between the two is too long.
If you had a time capsule what would you put inside it and why?
My mom's secret pumpkin muffin recipe! ;) Ok ok.. all kidding aside I don't think there is a time capsule big enough for the information I'd want to put in it, but if I had to chose, I would pick some of the most important things in my life to share with those in the future: pictures of my family and people that motivate me, favorite quotes, money (you never know what the currency will be hundreds or thousands of years from now), and a story about who I was and what the world was like in the year 2012.
What is your favorite vacation spot?
Riviera Maya, Mexico is definitely my favorite of the few places I've been so far, but I would love to visit Hawaii, Costa Rica, and Australia.
What advice do you have for women who would like to get involved in and compete in the sport of bodybuilding?
Step back and look at the big picture - Take into consideration why you want to compete and where you want to go with it. You never truly understand how much work people in the bodybuilding world put into it until you walk in their shoes. I have HUGE respect for everyone in the industry and hope in the near future I can be standing on stage next to some of the best pro athletes in the world.
What is a day-in-the-life of Jolynn like?
I wake up at 4:30 almost every morning for my AM cardio, work 9am-8pm most days, fill in my weight training when possible, eat, sleep and repeat.
Favorite Motivational Quote:
I have several that I refer back to but these are three of my favorites:
- There are two ways to live. You can live as if nothing is a miracle or you can live as if everything is a miracle. ~ Albert Einstein.
Be thankful for what you have and don't take things for granted. Someone, somewhere is suffering much worse than you are.
- Life is change. Growth is optional. ~ unknown.
I actually saw this on a church sign in my hometown a few weeks ago, and it stuck with me. Things change around us daily, whether it be your job, your health, your family.. it's your choice what you do when that change occurs - be positive and make the best of it!
In closing, Who would you like to give a shout out to?
I want to start off by thanking my family and my husband. None of them have ever been introduced to this sport before and they have selflessly supported me through every decision I have made, both good and bad, as I venture on my quest to earn my pro card and make this a lifestyle change forever.
I want to then thank God, for without him, none of this would be possible. ~ 1 Peter 1:18-19 :: You know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.
Thank you to Jake Baumgartner and Lisa Bockwell of Baum Squad Fitness and all of my teammates. They are the foundation for my competition career and I look forward to working with them for many years to come.
And a huge thank you to RX Muscle for this amazing feature, the NPC, the IFBB, and all of my friends, fans, and supporters who continue to motivate and inspire me daily. If you haven't already, "like" my athlete page on FB (www.facebook.com/jolynntoma) I post quotes, tips, recipes and more to hopefully keep you motivated to live a fit and healthy lifestyle too! Feel free to message me 
anytime - I'd love to hear from you!
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