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!.

I Did It!!!

Remember in my Shame On Me!! post when I said

 "I've also handed the reins over to someone else in order to be

 more competitive (would love to win an overall title one day!), 

make the necessary changes to my physique, 

and get my nutrition on point."? 

Well, it happened!!! 

photo credit

Last Saturday I won Figure Class A and the Overall Figure title at the NPC Terminator! I was honestly in shock! After prejudging, I thought that I had placed second in the class and I was perfectly ok with that. But in the end, it was my number and name that they called when they announced first place & the overall winner. I can't describe to you what it felt like to be standing in the middle of that line, tiara on my head, 1st place trophy at my feet, hearing my friends and family cheer for me. It was an amazing feeling and I will never forget it!

I know a recap (not only for this show but the Dennis James Classic) is necessary but I don't want to do that in this post. Right now I would like to take the time to thank a few folks!

THANK YOU!!!!!!!

• Thank you to Tom aka The Boss #2 - my unofficial coach & trainer, "It's Crunch Time" reminder, and partner in crime. I know prep is hard, not only for me but you as well. I know that the last few months have been crazy with all of the changes but you stuck it out with me and even made me grilled cheese sandwiches! Thank you for supporting and sometimes carrying me on your shoulders (even if I'm a walrus)! 
• Thank you to my incredible family (Mom, Dad, Reecie, Jonathan, Uncle James, Aunt Margaret, Little James, Clarisse, Josh, Josue, Pam, Jack, Crissy) for putting up with my "I can't have that" on Family Day, listening to my boring prep talk, and coming to my show! I love you guys and know that I couldn't have accomplished so many of the things that I have without you guys!
• Thank you to my #IronFamily! Nate, Jimmy, Pancho, Philip, and Brandy! You guys are so amazing. The encouragement, support, love, and positive energy you provide is more than a meathead could ever ask for! :)
• Thank you to my gym Desert Sports & Fitness, specifically Joella and Steve! I appreciate you guys making sure that not only I, but all of the other DSF members have a top notch gym to get gains in :)       Joella - thank you again for all of the times you've been my post office box and let me sneak my meals into the refrigerator. I'm pretty sure I owe you more Starbucks, yogurt parfaits, and chocolate than I can keep track of. Steve - I know I'm you're favorite. That's why you give me so much shit, right?? :) Thanks for keeping things interesting!
• Thank you to my amazing friends (Lo, KC, Marissa, Chelsea, Savannah, Jenny, and everyone else I forgot to name)! I have never been that girl who had a large group of friends but the friends I did have were/are QUALITY. You have no idea what your texts, lunches, video messages, shopping dates, dinner dates, etc mean to me. You help me keep my sanity. You remind me that despite my craziness & my tendency to close myself off - there are still people who want to be a part of my life and care for me. I don't deserve you but am so thankful for you. 
• Thank you to Mason for helping me prepare for this show. I know we didn't have a lot of time to work together but I'm definitely happy with what we were able to accomplish in such a short amount of time. P.S. Dafuq is "carb sensitive"?? ;)
• Thank you to those of you reading this! I know I haven't been as consistent with this thing as I have been in the past but I appreciate you still being here and following me on this wacky journey. You guys rock my world!

Now....where did I put my tiara?? :)

Shame on Me!!

It's been over a month since the last time I posted something! That's a damn shame. I offer no excuses. I go from feeling like I don't have much to say to feeling like I have so much to share but can't manage to form a coherent sentence.

What can I say?? I'm a hot damn mess :)

Let's talk competitions! I promise at some point to provide a proper recap post but right now, I'll just give you the Cliff's Notes version. I competed in Figure at the Dennis James Classic in Phoenix on May 31st. While my prep for the show was full of craziness, I arrived in Phoenix feeling pretty solid about the physique I would be presenting. In the end, I walked away with 3rd place. As I always do after each show, I emailed the head judge for feedback so I'm intrigued to find out what he has to say.

Here are some pictures to hold you over until I get an actual recap done!

Brandi (fellow #IronGal) and I met Dennis James after athlete check-ins!

Officially checked in - Figure Class D! 

Originally I had planned to do two July competitions following the Dennis James Classic but that plan has been completely revamped :)

My next show will be the NPC Terminator and it's in a little less than 3 weeks! The really awesome thing about this show is that it's here in Tucson! The Princess will be able to attend the show (I've been instructed that "you better win it, Mom!") as well as other family members, some of my friends, and my #IronFamily. It will also be fun to hang out with everyone after the show - bring on the food, booze, and shenanigans!

I've also handed the reins over to someone else in order to be more competitive (would love to win an overall title one day!), make the necessary changes to my physique, and get my nutrition on point. Past coach/athlete relationships did not work out as well as I had anticipated so I was hesitant to hire a new coach. I really figured Tom & I could continue to do this competition thing on our own for the remainder of this year and then when it was time, we would have a serious conversation about whether or not I should continue to compete.

While at the Dennis James Classic, I ran into a coach/trainer that I've come to know over the past few years. His fiancee and I have competed together at some of the same shows and as recently as a month ago, one of his clients rented one of my competition suits for her national debut. He and I politely chit-chatted like we usually do and then I heard myself saying something about me feeling like it was time for us to talk seriously about becoming one of his athletes. About a week after the show, I called him and we had a great conversation (complete with "AHA" moments for me) about my goals, my training, nutrition, etc. I didn't want to make any decisions without Tom's input so he & Tom spoke to one another the next night. In the end, Tom told me the decision was mine to make and he would support me no matter what I chose to do. He added that he appreciated that this particular coach was willing to not only answer questions from me but my husband as well. Tom told me he liked what he heard and thought it would be smart of me to work with him. What could I say after that!?! :)

Two weeks ago, I officially hired Mason of Team MFit AZ as my coach/trainer and from the moment I put myself in his hands, he has been whoopin' my ass!

The last couple of weeks have been an adjustment, not only because of my new training & meal plans but work as well. Mason asked me how I was feeling during my check in over the weekend and I told him, "Like shit" (I was being slightly dramatic) but he explained to me what changes he saw taking place and then  sent me this photo:

Of course I could pick this apart but bottom line, I look better 2 weeks out than I did one day out from my last show. It's been tough and I've felt weak at times but I know, to my core, that there's some good stuff on the other side (maybe a set of Dwight Howard shoulders??!?! lol). Both Mason & I have high expectations (no pressure!) and I don't want to let my new coach & team down - so I will do what needs to be done, even if that means wanting to knock over a StairMill!!

How I Get It Done!!

If you have been reading my blog for awhile, you know that my hubby Tom does the majority of my training. This is just one of the reasons I call him The Boss #2! 

Tom relishes in torturing me during our workout sessions...I think it's payback for me making him pick up his dirty laundry and grill ridiculous amounts of chicken for me while I'm in prep...just kidding! :)

We wanted to put together a quick video of one of my 

arm workouts so you could get an idea of what I do when I'm in the gym.

This video was shot about 2 weeks ago at my home gym Desert Sports and Fitness!

If you have any questions for Tom or myself, please feel free to ask them!

You can leave them in the comments section or email them to me!

Enjoy!

Hometown Glory! Part 2

After the show ended, I was able to take some pictures with my friends and family. My friends Kayla and Jenny drove down from Phoenix to watch the show! Kayla previously competed in bikini but is switching to figure. Jenny just competed at Team Universe and has her sights on a couple of other shows before the year ends. The three of us are seriously considering taking a California show by storm later this year so stay tuned for more info on that!

After taking quite a few pictures, Tom and I went to eat lunch. Our first restaurant choice, Silver Saddle, wasn't open so we went to another restaurant that was nearby. The food was less than exciting but it got the job done. We headed home and took a nap until an hour before the athlete's meeting. I have to stop here and say that this is one of the great things about competing in your hometown - you know where food is and you can go home to nap in your own comfy bed between shows :)

Once the athlete's meeting was over, I hung out in the theatre and waited for Tom to arrive. We had a quick chat about when I should eat my carbs, pump up, and he reminded me to smile big. I went backstage, hung out, and was enjoying a game of Word Mole on my Blackberry when one of the expeditors walked down the hall and stated that the show was running about 30 minutes ahead of schedule. This meant that I needed to be ready like yesterday! I quickly got ready and next thing I knew, Felicia Romero (yes...IFBB Pro Felicia Romero was the MC for the night show!!!) was introducing me to the crowd. I walked out, smiled as big as I could, found Tom in the crowd, and posed for my life (I sort of stole that from RuPaul's Drag Race!).

source

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There was a short intermission and during this time, they post the top 5 for each class. They hang the listing of each class and highlight in yellow the names of the five individuals that will be awarded trophies. Let me just say that I've done two shows with this particular promoter and my name has NEVER been highlighted so you can understand why I squealed when I saw my name in yellow! After the intermission was over, they began the trophy presentation. When it was time for our class, we all lined and waited as they began awarding trophies starting with 5th place...my number wasn't called...4th place....my number wasn't called....3rd place...again my number wasn't called....2nd place....#24! ME!!!!!!AHHHHHHHHHH!!! I did it!!

As I stood there having my picture taken with the other women in my class, I felt such a sense of accomplishment. This prep was extremely difficult for me and there were times when I wasn't sure that I could stay the course. Yet, I had an incredible support system that kept encouraging me and reassuring me that I could do it. I wanted to place in the top 5 at this show but I really had no expectations of doing well. I just wanted my daughter to see me on stage and make her proud. I wanted my friends & family to see what I have been pouring my energy, sweat, and tears into. I was able to do that and I was able to walk with a top placing.

After the show was over, I was able to speak with one of the judges and receive some quality feedback about what kept me from 1st place and what improvements I need to make for my next show. The judge ended our conversation by telling me that I have made some serious improvements over the last year and that I'm headed in the right direction. He also commented that he could tell that I paid close attention to the small details such as my jewelry, makeup, etc and I should continue doing so. The conversation was very informative and the fact that it was such a positive interaction made me super happy as I headed off to the burger & booze that was waiting for me :)

I leave you with some pictures from the post-show celebration that I had with some of my closest friends including my favorite TFD wife & fellow blogger Chelsea and Tom's wonderful family! Also, you can find my pictures from the show's photographer here!

Thank you again for joining me on this particular journey and giving me your support! It means more to me than chocolate & carbs :)

Hometown Glory! Part 1

That title is a slight exaggeration...lol...but I'm finally getting around to typing the show recap post I promised you guys a week ago!

My fake "I'm so happy it's my birthday" smile ;)

My lil family!

The waitress had everyone clap for her birthday - she loved it!

There has been a lot going since the show...I turned 31 on Monday (eek!)....also went back to work on Monday....The Princess turned 10 yesterday.....so you know that means lots of celebrating and LOTS of food!! I'm quite squishy right now...my weight is up several pounds...but you know what, I'm happy as can be!

So, let's talk show day! It was very interesting competing at home. There was no having to map out the drive to the venue....no trying to find restaurants for Tom to eat out at....no staying at a hotel...none of the madness that comes with competing out of town!

The Princess spent the night at my parents' house Friday night so Tommy & I hung out at the house & watched movies (I would not recommend "I Am Four"...not that you asked but I'm telling you anyway...lol).
I went to bed about 11:00 pm and slept pretty soundly which surprised me. Usually I have issuing falling asleep and staying asleep the night before a show but not this time! I got up around 5:30 am, got on facebook to send a message to the lovely ladies of Bikini or Bust, and then went to do a slow walk on the treadmill. As I walked, I read some portions of the book As A Man Thinketh by James Allan. I had been reading the book sporadically throughout this prep and it seemed like the perfect way to close this chapter. It is a great book about the power of positive thought - I will definitely blog more about it in the near future.

Representin' Tucson Fire and determined to "do the damn thang"!

It was nice to see a familiar face at the athlete's meeting. It was Ana's first of two back-to-back shows with the same promoter so I gave her some insight on how the show we were at (the NPC Terminator) would be different than her next show (the AZ Open). It was a small show - 72 competitors- there were only two figure classes - so despite usually being in class E at my shows, I was in Class B. I knew that the time would pass rather quickly so as soon as we got backstage I started doing the final touches...makeup, wig, etc. Time passed so fast that I was still putting on my glaze in the pump-up room when I heard, "24!! Competitor 24!!! We need you to line up!!" Yea....#24 was me! So I quickly threw on the rest of my glaze and ran over to where we were lining up. I had about 2 seconds to breathe and then it was time to hit the stage!!!

1st order of business backstage - take pictures!

2nd order of business - run out to the audience & take a picture with trainer aka The Boss #2!

As I started to walk out onto the stage, I realized I was looking at my feet. I have a tendency of doing that because I'm a klutz...lol...but I remembered the one thing that Tom would practically yell at me each time we would practice posing....he would always say, "Pick your damn head up, Tenecia. Walk out there with confidence and look the judges right in the eye". Instantly, I picked my head up, put a smile on my face, walked out there, and looked the judges right in the eye. I always try to make it a point to look into the audience for Tom and since my family was there, I looked right at them after looking at the judges. I can't describe the feeling that came over me when I looked over to see The Princess waving wildly at me with a GIANT grin on her face. I couldn't wave back but I did give her a wink which she told me, after pre-judging, was really cool.

My sister and parents at pre-judging!

The Princess and her baby were there too :)

There were six of us in the class and I was towards the middle when we initially lined up for our first round of quarter turns. They began to call numbers and move girls around...I kept saying to myself "Please let me stay in this spot. Please keep me here." I was saying this because the belief is the closer you are to the middle in the lineup, the more likely you are to be #1 or #2. They never moved me and when they began the next round of quarter turns, Ana and I were standing next to each other! They made us do a couple more rounds of posing and then thanked us. As we walked off the stage, Ana & I hugged each other and excitedly told one another that one of us was going home with 1st place later that night! I'm not going to lie - it felt incredible to stand there and know that I was one of the top physiques in the lineup!! It was a trying prep and if I could end it with a first or second place trophy in my hand, I was going to be a happy girl!!!

Since I still have quite a bit to say and this is starting to get long, I'm going to wrap for now. I will be back with part 2 within the next few days.

Thank you for reading my blog, following me on this journey, and supporting me even at the lowest points of prep. I am deeply grateful and touched.

The Moment of Truth

NPC Terminator  Tucson, AZ   July 16, 2011

 Class B - 2nd place!

That definitely tastes better than last place!!!!

I'll be back after my celebrations & food comas to 

update you guys in greater detail!!