Most typical 50-year-old women would be content with slowing down as the days of running after kids, cooking meals for a small army and doing laundry nearly every day come to an end.
Sandra Mendoza is anything but typical.
The 50-year-old from Cañon City recently earned her International Fitness and Bodybuilding Federation pro status in women’s physique after her third bodybuilding competition, all of which were held within her first year of competing.
“I started this journey later in life, and within my first year of competing, I earned my IFBB pro card. That taught me that your age doesn’t have to define your limits,” Mendoza said. “If you’re willing to put in the work, stay coachable, and refuse to give up on yourself, you might surprise yourself with what you’re capable of.”
Mendoza, who moved to Cañon City from Pagosa Springs in 2003, said she started working out consistently to lose weight about four years ago and got into bodybuilding two years ago.
“When I started this weight-loss journey, my motivation was a few different events I had,” she said. “One was a beach vacation to Hawaii and then it turned into a wedding both my husband and I were in.”
Not one to shy away from a challenge, Mendoza said once she accomplished her weight-loss goal, she needed to set a new milestone.
“I told myself I was training for a bodybuilding competition just so I could trick myself to stay focused,” she said. “I honestly didn’t think I would complete the goal by actually stepping on stage, but I did, and I fell in love with the culture and the camaraderie and support from other competitors.”
Mendoza’s first competition was the NPC (National Physique Committee) Colorado Cup, where she walked away with six medals, earning first- and second-place finishes across each division she entered.
Her second show took her across the country to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, for the NPC North American Championships, one of the sport’s major national-level competitions. Mendoza finished in the top five, bringing home four more medals.
Third was the USA Championships in Las Vegas, where she earned her IFBB Pro card in Women’s Physique, an honor that, Mendoza said, many spend years working toward.
Having been active in her younger years, Mendoza said she was involved in a body mechanics (weight-lifting) class in high school.
After becoming pregnant her senior year and giving birth to her first son just six weeks before graduation, her priority became building her family and raising her children.
Then, in 2012, Mendoza was diagnosed with Ankylosing spondylitis, an autoimmune disease in the rheumatoid arthritis family.
“It took me a few years to get this under control,” she said. “I finally got tired of letting this disease control my life, and I was determined to take my life back.”
Mendoza and her husband, Nate, who have been married for 25 years, have four boys and her bodybuilding career has turned into somewhat of a family affair. She said they are very supportive and proud of her accomplishments and try to attend all of her shows, if possible.
“Nate has been one of my biggest supporters throughout this journey,” she said. “He’s right there beside me, supporting me through the long hours, the sacrifices and the challenges that come with competing.
“He even helps me with my hair and makeup for shows!” Mendoza added with a laugh. “Bodybuilding takes a tremendous amount of time and commitment, so having a supportive partner and family means everything.”
As her family has watched her build her businesses, work toward her goals and push through difficult days, she acknowledges that she is “incredibly grateful to have them in my corner. Earning my pro card was a personal achievement, but having my family there to share that moment made it even more meaningful.”
She points out that “life doesn’t stop just because you have a dream. You learn to balance your responsibilities while still making time to pursue the things that matter to you.”
Mendoza trained locally at Elite Family Fitness long before she earned her professional bodybuilding status. But bodybuilding is more than just lifting weights to form a muscular physique.
“It’s basically a full-time job,” she said. “I weigh every gram of food that goes into my body. I have a strict sleep schedule, workout and cardio routine. Bodybuilding is not easy. It requires sacrifice, consistency, patience, and a willingness to trust the process even when you don’t see immediate results.”
So, what advice does she have for someone weighing the notion or just starting in bodybuilding?
“It’s not about motivation; it’s about discipline,” Mendoza said. “Motivation comes and goes, but discipline is what keeps you showing up when you’re tired, when life gets in the way, and when you don’t feel like doing the work.”
She said her philosophy is “Designed by Discipline.” She said she believes we become who we are through the choices we make every day, especially when things get difficult.
“Don’t compare your journey to anyone else’s, and don’t get so caught up in the destination that you forget to appreciate what you’re learning along the way,” she said.
As for what the future looks like, Mendoza is scheduled for additional competition with two back-to-back shows next summer.
“My pro debut will be in Florida at the Tampa Pro on July 30, 2027, and the Max Fit Pro on Aug. 14, 2027,” she said. “We might squeeze in a few extra shows in the season too, but these are my current focus shows.”
In addition to being a competitive bodybuilder, Mendoza and her husband are local business owners, operating Atomic Vapor in Cañon City. She also owns The Body Lab, where she works with clients through personal training, online coaching, nutrition and bodybuilding preparation.
Mendoza is a certified personal trainer specializing in bodybuilding and nutrition. She finished school with the International Sports Sciences Association last October and started taking clients right away.
“I absolutely love working with my clients and helping them achieve their goals and seeing their confidence come back,” she said. “Seeing my clients trust the process and seeing how happy and proud they are of their accomplishments is the most amazing feeling. I want people to understand that it’s never too late to chase something that sets your soul on fire.”
Mendoza said achieving IFBB Pro status in Women’s Physique represents more to her than just a title. It represents the discipline, sacrifice and determination it took to keep pushing toward something she wanted.
“I’m 50, I’m a wife, I’m a mom, I’m a business owner, and now I’m an IFBB Pro. I worked hard for this accomplishment, and I’m just getting started,” Mendoza said. “I hope my story inspires other people — particularly women, who think their opportunity has passed — to stop putting limits on themselves.”
