Stilettos to Pom-Poms

In this memoir, the author shows that age, personal fears or lack of experience doesn’t have to derail a dream.

Simmons (Triple F, 2009) always wanted to become a professional cheerleader, but her stage fright and insecurity as a young girl caused her to abandon that dream. Decades later, after taking up a kickboxing class at her local gym, the author became interested in her instructor’s gig as a competitive fitness model. Soon Simmons was sailing off to a fitness training camp to learn how to prepare for fitness competitions. She emphasizes the importance of grabbing hold of wild ideas before retreating to one’s comfort zone. It was the author’s refusal to play it safe that led her to visualize herself as a fitness competitor, and fortunately for Simmons, her kickboxing instructor noticed her drive. The guide describes routines for training, dieting, preparing and auditioning, and the detailed accounts reveal that competitive fitness is not for the thin-skinned. While camp was an enriching experience for Simmons—she met women of all ages and backgrounds and bonded quickly—a competition in Nevada was a life changer; she learned how to push herself and compete. She also embraced the fact that her body would never be the same as it was in her 20s or even 30s. Through hard work, discipline and acceptance, Simmons worked toward her goals, and she documents even the smallest details, from the recipes for meals to prepping for interviews and auditions. The text seems aimed at readers who might want to become fitness models, competitive cheerleaders or pageant competitors. Simmons doesn’t hold back on any tips or tricks to success, and her voice is motivational and inspiring.

A conversational, uplifting narrative about attaining physical-fitness goals.