Tanya Franklin

With eight years of personal training experience, Tanya is an AFAA Certified Personal Trainer, holds an ISSA Nutrition Certification, and is a certified Group Fitness Instructor. Following high school graduation, Tanya enlisted in the Army, which is where she began her physical fitness training.  During multiple deployments to Iraq she led other soldiers in fitness and nutrition classes. Tanya’s drive to help motivate others to lead a healthy life style led her to promote the 2^nd Annual U.S. Forces Iraq Middle-East Classic Bodybuilding & Figure Championship in Baghdad, Iraq. Tanya competes in NPC National Bikini Competitions and has begun training for the Fitness division. Tanya organized the first ever SUNY Fredonia College Biggest Loser Battle of the Trident for the faculty and students. Tanya specializes in at home physical training, with the motto “Your place or mine, or even online, ANYTIME!”

Competition History

Pro Bikini:

·      IFPA Pro Galaxy Elite, Montgomery, AL, May 26, 2012, 4^th Place

Bikini:

·      The Natural North America, Arlington, VA, May 19, 2012, 4^th Place

·      OCB Natural New York State, Binghampton, NY, April 16, 2011, 2^nd Place

·      NPC Buffalo State, Buffalo, NY, April 2, 2011, 4^th Place

·      Arnold Amateur Bikini, Columbus, OH, March 3, 2011

·      NPC Jen Hendershott’s AWW, Charleston, SC, Oct. 23, 2010, 3^rd  Place

·      OCB Battle of the Sword, Pittsburgh, PA, Oct. 2, 2010, 1^st  Place-Pro Card

Figure:

·        OCB Battle of the Sword, Pittsburgh, PA, Sept. 22, 2007, 3^rd  Place

·       OCB Battle of the Sword, Pittsburgh, PA, Sept. 22, 2007, 5^th Place

Events Promoted

•    State University New York of Fredonia Biggest Loser Battle of the Trident, March, 2011

•    2nd Annual U.S. Forces Iraq Middle-East Classic Bodybuilding & Figure Championship in Baghdad, Iraq, May 24th, 2008

•    4th of July Last man standing aerobathon, 4 ½ Hours of Aerobics, , Tikrit, Iraq, July 4th, 2004

THE FULL STORY

I was born and raised in Sharon, PA, growing up playing baseball, softball, volleyball and cheerleading.  In the summer of 2001, after high school, I enlisted in the Army and was stationed in Germany.  With the stress of being away from home and the tragic events of September 11, I experienced a 20-pound weight gain. By January 2002, when the 14-18 hour guard shifts had finally slowed down, I went to put on my civilian clothes and they did not fit! Right then I decided that fitness was going to be my number one priority. From late night runs to aerobics in my room, everyone around me began noticing how determined I was. Soldier after soldier started asking for my advice when I actually didn’t know much myself except for what I had read in Oxygen magazine and on bodybuilding.com.

In February 2004, my unit deployed to Iraq.  Food choices and gym equipment were extremely limited and running outside with bombs going off was not fun!  I continued to learn and find alternative ways to stay in shape. I started aerobics in my room again with a portable DVD player. Other soldiers found out and petitioned the military command and KBR (which is in charge of Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR)) to let me teach aerobic classes to help other soldiers and civilians stay in shape.  It worked and that is where my fitness journey took off. I knew from that point forward my calling was to motivate others and lead by example.  Not only was I teaching others to stay in shape while deployed, keeping their minds off of home life, but I also held study groups on Sunday for everyone to learn about nutrition and healthy living.

In 2005, after returning from Iraq I decided to leave the military and continue with fitness.  I got my personal training certification and group fitness certification through AFAA. When I got home to Pennsylvania, I started studying to major in Exercise Science.  It also was my first time to try and compete in figure. I failed! I did not want it enough or truly understand what it took yet.  To my surprise, I just didn’t have the motivation, will power or the confidence in myself to compete, but I NEVER stopped trying!  Working at two women’s gyms in Pittsburgh and training ladies at their home, I was excited with the great results I was seeing with all my clientsBy 2006, I started contracting for the military but still continued to teach aerobics and train clients on base in El Paso, TX. 

During this period I decided to compete in my first figure competition. I did everything from diet, training, and posing on my own with the help of bodybuilding.com articles and Oxygen magazine. By Sept, 22^nd, 2007 I was as ready as I could get for The Battle of the Sword.  I placed 3^rd in Figure Novice class and then placed 5^th in Figure Class A.  It was the greatest feeling in my life and I was hooked, but I was going back to Iraq in October 2007.

In October 2007 I deployed to Iraq working for Honeywell Technologies. While working my 84 plus hour work week, my hobby remained helping others with fitness.  On May 24, 2008 I promoted the 2^nd Annual U.S. Forces Iraq Middle-East Classic Bodybuilding & Figure Championship in Baghdad, Iraq on Camp Victory. Eight women and nine men consisting of both soldiers and civilians competed. Two won their Pro cards. 

 In 2009 I moved to Mosul, Iraq where I continued to volunteer as an aerobics instructor at the MWR facility.  I taught cardio kickboxing and trained two civilians when time permitted.  There in Mosul, Iraq I decided to change my life and quit my job. In June 2010 I left Iraq to pursue my full-time career as a trainer to help change peoples’ lives for the better and be an inspiration to all!