Inspiring through bodybuilding.

Tamara Addis works as the principle of Dobson High School. But her second devotion is to competitive bodybuilding.

“My job is to impact the future and to support our young people,” she told AZ Family. “But when I leave [school], I put in my hip-hop music on and drive to the gym. When I get there, the iron never lies.”

Addis has become something of a celebrity to her students, particularly the high school athletes. She has given talks to the sports teams, educating them on proper nutrition and more generally on positive habit-forming.

Sophomore basketball and track athlete Victoria Makli said, “During summer camp, I weighed a lot and I wanted to change that but didn’t know how. Then I learned nutrition was a big key. Coming into my sophomore year, I lost 40 pounds.”

Junior football player Jalen Youvella said his change was highly emotional.

“I was already on a nutrition plan but after our principal told us her daily routine, waking up in the morning early to prepare her meals, it kind of just motivated me to do it myself. After a week, I hopped on the scale and 10 pounds were gone. I was like, ‘Wow!’ I was almost crying because I never lost this much weight.”

Addis says that her co-workers often tease her about eating eggs and oatmeal during meetings, but her practices have rubbed off, and many of the have thanked her for making them more health-conscious.

Addis says that the gym provides a much needed release from managing 2,400 students

“It’s a really different pairing, but I find the two actually complement each other. I can be a positive role model for students in health and fitness and also I can use that health and fitness to keep myself healthy.”

She has competed in two regional bodybuilding competitions, and is in preparation for a third.

“For me, when I’m on stage and I’m in my competition suit, I’m ready to go. For me, it’s about showing off my art. In other words, I feel like I’m molding a piece of clay.”

“I have the energy and physical strength of someone half my age, not because of genetics, not because of I’m taking anything, but because I consistently take care of myself, physically and emotionally.”

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