Macey Toney wins at Phil Heath Classic

**Curt James** · 05-09-2015, 10:03 AM

Hallsville grad Toney wins overall title in bodybuilding debut

By Brandon Ogden
May 7, 2015

There's an old adage, "if at first you don't succeed, try, try again."

For Macey Toney, she's going to have create a new adage – have so much success the first time that you want to try to accomplish more.

Toney, who graduated from Hallsville in 2009, recently took up bodybuilding and competed in her first show at the Phil Heath Classic on March 28 in Houston.

Being that it was her first competition, Toney had to enter the novice division. Toney also entered the open division. The divisions are separated based on height, so at 5-1, Toney competed in Class A.

Toney defeated 14 other competitors to capture first place in the Figure Novice A division. Toney also competed in the Figure Open A division, again defeating 14 competitors to record another first-place finish.

She was then put against the winners in all of the other height classes that night, and she then won the Overall Figure championship belt.

"I was shocked," she said. "Of course I wasn't expecting to win overall at my first show."

Toney had originally planned to do a couple of other shows throughout the year, but since she won overall at her first show, her plans changed.

"My next goal is to go compete at nationals for the chance to become a professional bodybuilder," Toney said.

Nationals are scheduled for Sept. 3-5 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

"I have to win my class and then I can get my IFBB pro card," Toney said. "If I don't win that one, there's a show in Miami in November that I can enter."

Toney was a cheerleader throughout high school at Hallsville. As a junior and senior in high school, she ran track and competed in the 100-meter hurdles and 300-meter hurdles. Following high school, Toney spent two years each as a cheerleader at Kilgore College and Sam Houston State while studying health and kinesiology.

About a year ago, Toney decided to take up bodybuilding.

"I thought about doing about three years ago, but I never really had the opportunity," Toney said. "So finally, I said, you know what, let's do it.

"I had always been athletic and always worked out, but my best friend really got me into bodybuilding. It just started taking off from there and I set myself a goal, and once I set a goal, I go for it, there's no stopping."

Toney said it's a 12-week process to get ready for a show.

"A 12-week prep is what we call it, and in prep, you do all of your meal planning," she said. "You can't skip meals, you can't overeat and you can't under eat. You have to do exactly what your coach says."

Once at the show, Toney said they judge the competitors on stage performance, the look of the body itself, measurements and having a good overall symmetry. She said having a cheerleading background helped her have confidence in front of an audience.

"That's one big thing they look for is confidence," she said. "I was nervous backstage, for sure, but once I walked out there, it felt natural to me."

And after winning her first show, Toney's confidence should be higher than ever as she continues her quest to become a professional bodybuilder.

More @ http://www.news-journal.com/news/201...toney-wins-ov/