Mandy Polk came within a few points of becoming a professional fitness competitor in a recent national competitive fitness contest, but she did walk away as the fourth best amateur in the country.

The 20-year-old Las Vegan placed fourth in the tall class of the 2005 National Physique Committee's National Bodybuilding and Fitness Championships held Nov. 18-19 in Atlanta. If she had finished in the top two, she would have been able to compete professionally in fitness events around the country.

The Memphis native, who moved to Las Vegas in October, began working out while in high school to get in good shape for the cheerleading squad.

"All my friends thought I was weird," says Polk, who regularly could be seen walking around the school campus with a protein shake in her hand. Chicken, instead of junk food, was on her lunch menu.

While working out one day, Polk saw a magazine article on women in competitive fitness and decided that was for her.

"I have always been athletic and I wanted to continue competing in something after high school," Polk says.

Even if she attains professional status, Polk won't get rich off the contests. "You can't live off it (the prize money), you have to be in love with the sport."

Polk says she moved to Las Vegas "to pursue more opportunities in the fitness industry, particularly in fitness competition and fitness modeling."

She trains with Don Spencer at Go For It USA and works out at a Las Vegas Athletic Club, where she has landed a job as a personal trainer.

"As a fitness competitor you're expected to train as a bodybuilder and an athlete," she says, so she works out with heavy weights and does biometrics and cardiovascular training.

Polk credits chiropractor Jon Petrick of Las Vegas Pain Relief Center for helping her overcome several injuries caused by overuse. Petrick also sponsored her physical therapy for the Atlanta contest.

Polk says she has learned a lot from being a fitness competitor, including not "living and dying by your placing. There are so many girls who've worked so hard, and only one can take home the trophy. You have to search inside and make it a learning experience. You learn so much about yourself with every show. You learn a lot about time management and keeping only positive things in your life."