When you first meet Mary Simmons, the first thing you notice is her striking physical appearance. Especially those incredible arms.

"I know, I get that all the time," said Simmons, regarding the attention her guns attract. "A lot of guys in the gym tell me they want to have arms like mine."

But it doesn't to realize that Simmons is more than just a pretty face with a set of killer biceps. The 34-year old bodybuilder and personal trainer is an intelligent, well-rounded person, with high moral standards and a stellar code of ethics.

She proved this recently at the Emerald Cup Bodybuilding and Fitness Expo in Bellevue, Wash. After placing second in her class of the Figures competition, the 5-foot-4 Simmons was approached by a couple photographers with enticing offers.

"They wanted me to pose for their web site and to model in their booths at the Arnold Classic and the Olympia contest," explained Simmons, whose runner-up performance at the Emerald qualified her for Nationals. "I was asked to sign a sponsorship contract for any upcoming National events. But the type of modeling they require is either nude, semi-nude or in lingerie in suggestive poses, and I am totally opposed to that type of exploitation."

So despite the lucrative offer, she declined, on the basis that her integrity was more important than the quick money. It was an easy decision for the strong-willed Simmons to make.

"I just don't think you should have to do that, it really bugs me how they exploit women," she said. "I'm not going to compromise my principles, because I want the women I train to respect me for who I am."

She added that she was, however, photographed ethically by Muscular Development, and will appear in the near future of the bodybuilding magazine.

Simmons operates a private training studio in Helena, Total Balance Fitness, with her partner and fiancé, Eric Nettleton. She first started lifting weights when she was just 13 years old.

"I was a Tomboy with lipstick," she laughed. "My four best friends were all boys, and we spent a lot of time in the Hiller Air Force Base (Layton, Utah) gym working out."

At 15, she entered the Western States Natural Body Building Contest. She continued competing in the event for the next six years, winning the women's team overall championship at 18 years of age.

By the age of 20, Simmons determined that the big muscles the sport demanded were not for her.

"There was no Figures category at that time, and I preferred a more feminine physique. So I quit competing and became a personal trainer," she said.

For the next 14 years, Simmons stayed away from competition, although she never stopped training. "I continued to lift weights and run, not only to keep in shape, but it was also my favorite way to relieve stress," she said. "Exercise, nutrition and rest have taken me through a lot of tough times."

Simmons has two children, Kameron and Korben Kerby. She moved to Helena about seven years ago. At 32, she became a widow.

Earlier this year, she decided to come out of retirement. She entered the Emerald Cup in the Figures division, which she describes as "not as bulky as regular bodybuilding."

The energetic Simmons starts every morning at 4 a.m., getting in a treadmill workout before training her clientele, which begins an hour later. She lifts weights two hours a day, six days a week, and does cardio every single day.

Her two main training partners are Eric Nettleton and Bonnie Jo Geier, both of whom are former power lifters. Nettleton will be attempting to qualify for Nationals in the upcoming Northwest Bodybuilding Championships, in Olympia, Wash.

Simmons possesses phenomenal strength-to-weight ratio. She performs lunges with 185 pounds for 15 reps, and deadlifts 225 pounds for five reps.

Simmons can do 25 pullups n seven with 45 pounds attached to her waist. And she's capable of doing 100 pushups, although she doesn't use the exercise anymore, because "chest is not that important in Figures."

In the building phase for her latest competition, she consumed about 3,000 calories and 200 grams of protein per day.

"I normally weigh about 122 pounds, but during the building phase I got up to 128, before starting my diet at 2½ months before the Emerald," Simmons explained.

She gradually reduced her caloric intake to 1,400 calories just prior to the competition. Simmons said she entered the contest at 120 pounds, with 9 percent body fat.

Her next competition will be the NPC USA National Bodybuilding and Figures Championship, at the Embassy Suite Hotel in Las Vegas, July 24-25. Actually there are four National meets she could attend this year, and according to Simmons, the more she appears, the better.

"There is a lot of politics in judging, so you have to be persistent and get your face out there often. You can't get discouraged," she explained. "My goal is to attain my IFBB pro card and get a PROPTA certification, which is the highest level for a personal trainer."

Each show costs about $2,000 to attend, and Simmons is hoping for some like-minded sponsors to help her make as many competitions as possible. She is offering to do fitness and nutrition seminars in return for sponsorships.

So does she have any regrets about passing up those exploitive offers in Bellevue a few weeks ago?

"Not at all," Simmons stated firmly. "My daughter Kameron is going to enter the same contest that I first competed at in Salt Lake, 19 years ago, and I need to be a good role model for her."

Curt Synness: 449-2150 or curt52s@bresnan.net