After her mother died of Alzheimer's disease in her 60s, Heidi Hommel Reid made a decision: stop waiting for the perfect moment.
In December, she stepped on stage for the first time in her life as a bodybuilder. She placed in two categories. Now, just weeks later, she's advanced to the Top 10 in the national Ms.
Health & Fitness Competition — and Macomb is watching.
'Life is too short not to pursue bold goals,' Hommel Reid said. 'Losing my mom made me realize I couldn't keep putting off pursuing my dreams.”
She has been a fitness coach at the McDonough County YMCA since 2018, and teaches weight training, indoor cycling and yoga to women in the community.
Hommel Reid also runs a transformation coaching program. But this competition is different. It's her first time on a national stage, and the stakes extend beyond her personal dream. The Ms. Health & Fitness Competition supports the Andrew McDonough B+ Foundation, which funds childhood cancer research and assists families in need.
Community votes determine the winner, so every vote counts.
'Representing Macomb while supporting that mission makes the journey even more meaningful,' she added. 'It's not just about me anymore.'
Hommel Reid has spent more than 25 years in the fitness industry, and recently earned her National Board Certified Health & Wellness Coach designation. But her focus remains on the women she trains — helping them build lean muscle, gain confidence in the weight room and see health as something beyond the number on a scale.
'A lot of women are intimidated by weight training,' she explained.
'They think it's not for them. I want to show them it absolutely is.'
Voting for the Top 5 ends at 5 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 26.
If Hommel Reid makes the Top 5, voting will continue to filter people out by votes until finals, which begin March 27 and end April 2. Votes will be reset, and public voting will determine which finalist will be the grand prize winner of the 2026 Ms. Health & Fitness Competition, announced on or before April 24.
“This competition is about more than a magazine cover,” she concluded.
“It's about showing the women I train that it's never too late to pursue a dream — and that life is too short not to try.”
