Sunday, September 28, 2014

Ramblings....

There is one thing I don't really have to worry about when I'm prepping for a show....and that is TRAINING!

I love to train. I love that clang the plates make when they hit one another. I love my home away from home aka my gym. I have fallen in love with my early morning workouts. I love walking out of the gym and thinking "I just killed that workout!".

That post-workout "glow" :)

There are times when I'm certain my head is going to explode if I don't get a weight in my hand right that instant. I'm serious. I've actually said those words...out loud....if that doesn't make me a gym rat, I'm not sure what does...lol!


My "I Think My Coach is Trying to Kill Me" face!

The idea of being the only female on the free weight floor used to scare the shit outta me. If Tom wasn't at the gym with me, I wouldn't go "over there" aka where the weights & scary beefy guys were. I was scared that they would make fun of me for doing exercises wrong, lifting too light, being a female, etc. But as time went on and I became more comfortable with lifting, I couldn't care less if I am the only female in the free weight area. Do some of the male gym members still give me the "what are you doing here?" look? Yes, they do but I just give them my "watch what I can do" look back :)


posted on my Instagram

There are times when I want to give up because I'm not sure I am mentally/physically/emotionally strong enough to continue competing. There are times when I question if this is the sport for me. There are also times when I wonder if I have what it takes to go the distance, to keep pushing forward.

The answer may vary from day to day but here's what I do know, I won't know what I'm capable of it if I don't at least try!




Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Any Plans?

Folks have been asking me if I'm going to compete in another show before the year ends and the answer to that question is "I don't know". That might sound ridiculous and kind of dumb to you when you read it but it's the truth!

Towards the end of last year, I began planning my 2014 "competition season". I had recently found out that there would be a new NPC show in Arizona (the NPC Dennis James Classic) so that show immediately went on my calendar. At the time, I was working with Randy from BYB Fitness and we discussed the possibility of me stepping on stage at Jr USA's in Charleston so that went on my calendar as well. I also wrote in USAs in July which, if I had to pick, was the one show I really really wanted to do! Plans were made....training schedules were put into place...

Then life happened.

Life happened and all my plans went to shit.

My old plan was no longer workable so I created a new plan. This new plan consisted of new show dates - the NPC Dennis James Classic and the NPC Terminator. The new plan consisted of shaking off my anger and hurt feelings and focusing on preparing myself for my first show of the year. The new plan consisted of me finding self-confidence and determination to prove that I could step on stage and be a force to be reckoned with.

The NPC Dennis James Classic came and went. I placed 3rd and given the road I had taken to get to the show, I was slightly disappointed but relieved that I had placed. Then I made a change to my new plan. I started working with a new coach and started considering the possibility of stepping on the national stage before the year ended. It would not be the national show my heart was set on but it would still be a national show.

Then life happened.

Life happened and the new plan went to shit.

I was confused. I was lost. I was angry. I was sad. I was angry. I was scared. But you know one thing I wasn't?

A quitter.

So, another new plan was put into place and right now I'm working that plan. That plan consists of a new training schedule, a new nutrition plan, and another competition way off in the distance. So when folks ask me if I'm doing another show before the end of the year and I tell them "I don't know", I'm not being secretive or coy or a jerk. At this point, I really don't know.

What I know is that when it's time, I'll be ready...bedazzled suit, stripper heels, and all!.