The Rest of the Story....

Picking up where we left off.... :)

Tom and I sat at Red Robin, dissecting the pictures he had taken and analyzing what had taken place when my class took the stage. Now let me tell you that I absolutely hate to go out in public after prejudging. I hate it because I'm stinky, sticky, black as tar (thank you, Pro Tan) but my hatred went away after receiving a text from The Boss saying I could have a burger (no bun!) and a Diet Coke   #thankyousweetbabyjesus

We decided to stop picking things apart, enjoy our food, and head back to the hotel because Saturday was going to be a busy busy day! I was scheduled to shoot with the most AMAZING photographer - Ana from Urban Chick Foto!

Ana and I met on siouxcountry back in 2010 and I shot with her for the first time later that year (you can see those photos here). Now, by no means do I claim to be a model. In fact, I'm the complete opposite of one but Ana has a way of making you feel like a million bucks when she's pointing her camera at you.

We decided that we would do the shoot at the show's venue and it proved to be the perfect place! It's so much fun to watch Ana at work. The three of us would be walking and chatting when she would stop and say "This spot is perfect" and the posing would begin!

Tom hates to have his picture taken but I was able to convince him to strike a pose with me for a couple of pictures. I told him we needed concrete proof that we know how to dress like grown-ups and that we do, in fact, own clothes other than gym clothes!  *if you would like to see the rest of the pictures from the shoot, please visit Ana's blog!

Once the photo shoot was over, Tom and I headed back to the hotel to eat and rest. The "resting" only lasted about 45 minutes as we were bored with the food we brought with us and the hotel room!

I still dream about this salad!!

We went for a stroll and took that time as an opportunity to check in with The Princess who was staying with her grandparents. The Urban Picnic was calling our name and we gave each other a high-five for deciding to take a chance on the restaurant. I highly recommend it if you're ever in Mesa! Once we filled our bellies, it was time to head back to the hotel and put my feet until the athlete's meeting.

photo credit

photo credit

I have always said that shows are a bunch of hurry up & wait and this show was no different. Each competitor is introduced individually and those competing in divisions that require a routine (fitness, physique, and bodybuilding) each perform a 60 second routine.

photo credit

photo credit

photo credit

photo credit

To pass the time backstage, I chatted with some of the other competitors (everyone is a bit more relaxed and friendly at finals versus prejuding), listened to my music, and just tried to be still. At the show's intermission, the names of those who placed in the top 5 of their class were posted downstairs (the dressing rooms for the female athletes were upstairs). I hid in a bathroom stall freshened up my makeup and finally got the guts to walk downstairs to see what the verdict was. As I was heading to the posting, a girl from my class walked past me, smiled, and congratulated me on making top 5! I had just enough time to run back up the stairs, send a text to Tom & The Boss saying "Top 5, baby", and touch up my glaze before the show's expediter was asking Figure Class D to line up.

As we stood backstage, I looked at the other girls of the top 5 and knew I had accomplished what I had set out to do. Fifth place was announced and it wasn't my number that was called. I breathed a small sigh of relief and kept smiling. Fourth place was announced and the show's MC asked number 77 to step forward. Yes....number #77...me. "Damn it!", I thought, "One spot away!"

photo credit 

photo credit

Tom and I met in the lobby and I could tell by looking at him that he was disappointed with how things turned out. I dropped my face and tried really hard not to cry. I was so upset that once again, I had let him and The Boss down.

Thank you, Thirsty Lion!

We decided not to stay for the rest of the show and hit up a restaurant that the woman sitting next to him at the show had recommended. The Thirsty Lion was just what we needed. It had tvs...music...beer...fried food...and more beer!

I wasn't as sad and pouty on Sunday as I thought I would be. It could be due to the mini-exploration trip we took, or the pancakes, or the hashbrowns, or the biscuits and gravy - it's hard to say :)

Mural we found while exploring!

I will admit that it does sting a little bit to have placed fourth at a show I was certain I was going to place higher at. Then I remember what it felt like to place dead last at the shows I competed in two years ago and suddenly, fourth place really isn't that bad.

Way Past the Due Date

So, I competed in the NPC Western Regional competition on November 9 & 10. I promised a recap of the show....and then NOTHING! I did not provide said recap...what a liar I am! Here is part 1 of a condensed, way over due recap of my last competition of the season.

errands!!

For this show, I decided that I would take most of peak week off and just "cruise", if you will, into show day. I worked Monday and Tuesday of peak week and I have to tell you, I'm not really sure why I haven't done this same thing before! It was really nice to not have to worry about scheduling meals, workouts, and cardio around my work schedule.

Gotta get your water AND potty breaks in  :)

I was able to run last minute errands without feeling stressed about time constraints and I was able to R-E-S-T. I told Tom that in the future, I am not going to work more than the first two (possibly three depending on the staffing levels at the library) days of peak week.

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As you all know, I have the crappy awesome (insert sarcasm here) luck of having my period almost every time I step on stage. You see where I'm going with this?? Yep, this show was no different. I was literally cursing out my uterus and whining to Tom & The Boss #1 that just ONCE I would like to step on stage without all the womanly functions drama! I was really worried that I was going be heavy, squishy, and/or soft and I was a bit but it wasn't out of control.

The morning of pre-judging

Right before heading to the athlete's meeting

I'm going to be completely honest here, the team (The Boss #1, Tom aka The Boss #2, and myself) really thought I had a chance at top 3 based on the way my physique was coming together Thursday and Friday right before pre-judging started.

Getting ready to head out

During the athlete's meeting, a woman sat next to me and after a few silent minutes, we began awkwardly chatting with one another. It turns out she knew me from my blog & siouxcountry - how cool is that?? Her name was Sheena and she was competing in her first competition. Sheena looked so beautiful and has made some tremendous improvements to her physique with the help of her coach IFBB Fitness Pro Whitney Jones of AZ Pro Physiques. I can't wait to see her on stage again next year.

The incredibly gorgeous Sheena is on the right!

During the time after the athlete's meeting and before stepping on stage, I just tried to be still and get myself ready. I did my makeup...listened to my ipod...glued my fake nails on...read some of my book...listened to more music...and right when I was about to start getting antsy, it was time to start pumping up & slappin' some glaze on.

Class D

Since there were 13 girls in my class, we were separated into two lines. Each line presented itself to the judges and then went to the sides of the stage. As the judges whispered to each other about who they wanted to call forward, I was nervous and slightly queasy. As they began calling numbers (in numeric order as not to give away placings), I crossed my fingers and kept repeating to myself "call 77...call 77..". Suddenly a voice says, "We'd like to see number 77" and I silently screamed "yes" but I kept it cool on the outside.

First call-outs! Jumping for glee on the inside!

The judges took us through a round of quarter turns but didn't move anyone around. I wasn't quite sure if that was a good or bad sign. After the second round of quarter turns, they began asking certain girls to switch places. After the changes, they took us through another round of turns.

I was never moved during the different rounds of turns and as I walked off stage, I was fairly certain I was going to place in the top 3. I wasn't quite sure how close to the middle I was...I sort of thought I and the girl to my left were "the middle" of the line of girls.

Tom aka The Boss #2 and I after pre-judging!

After I had gathered my stuff and went to find Tom, we talked about how we thought things had went. Since Tom was in the audience and could see exactly who was where, he thought "the middle" of the line was not who I had initially thought it was. I still held onto the hope that I was top 3 but we agreed that we would look at the pictures he had taken and dissect them over the burger I had been told I could have!

I'm going to stop here...I don't want to squeeze EVERYTHING into one post...

Up next...my photo shoot and where I exactly ended up placing....stay tuned!

Trophy in My Hand & a Grin On My Face!

I made it to the finish line, y'all!! At the end of this journey, I'm walking away with a 4th place finish. Not too shabby...especially when you think about the fact that I wasn't sure if I would be ready for this show just 2-3 weeks ago!

I'm in the midst of celebrating and relaxing. There are cream puffs (made with love from my mother-in-law), pancakes, candy, and even some sips of my favorite booze! I will provide a proper update in a bit but right now, I hear some type of carb calling my name! :)

Here We Ggggooooo!!!!

Ladies and gentlemen, it's that time again. It's time for me to hit the stage for my last competition of the year, the NPC Western Regional!

This is what I looked like yesterday afternoon. I am happy to say that I continue to tighten up and I'm crossing my fingers the physique I'm presenting to the judges is sufficient enough for a top 3 placing.

I've got my blinders on, my motivational music on my ipod, and I'm going to put the video below on repeat until the moment I leave the hotel to go to the venue.

Less than 3 hours until show time. Everything I've done is for this moment.

Let's do the damn thang.

Easily Distracted

The time is winding down. The day I've been working so hard for is not longer multiple months or even weeks away. Nope, it's DAYS....as in TWO...days away....ahhh!!!

There is a problem that I am experiencing that I need to remedy - like yesterday! I'm starting to be consumed by thoughts of who my competition is, what I will look like standing next them, am I good enough, you get the idea.

When I was trying to fall asleep last night but couldn't because all of these thoughts were filling my head, I remembered a really great post I read last year by the oh so wise Kellie Davis of MotherFitness.  The post was entitled "Go In Wearing Blinders" and I knew I needed to read it again. I got out of bed, turned on the computer, and took in the words that Kellie wrote. I kept re-reading one particular line and I've decided to repeat it to myself each time I am distracted by thoughts of my competition.  The line is simple and it states,

"You are not HER.

No matter who she is…

… you will never be her.

And that rocks because you are amazing!"

With those words running on repeat in my mind, I am putting my blinders on and focusing on fine-tuning ME!

Two days folks....then it's time to show 'em what I got....beast mode, baby!!!

Horns, Big Foreheads, and Progress Pics!

Wearing my horns proudly ;)

Hey y'all!! How are you?? It's been a busy time for me but I'm not complaining! Last Wednesday was Halloween and while I didn't get to partake in any of the candies and baked goods, I did get to "dress up". You know you're the resident troublemaker when you walk into the building, your supervisor looks at you and says, "You know that it's Halloween and you were allowed to dress you today". All I could do was laugh :)


I decided to start peak week off in style. Want to know what I did???

Yep! I...well...technically Tom (lol)....cut off all of my hair! I've been itching to do something different and I think I've settled on a new 'do for 2013 (I'm not saying what it is yet) but I have to start "from scratch". I love wearing my hair short for so many reasons including spending less time in the mirror in the morning!

So, peak week is finally here and I feel sorta like a pro at it now. Ok, that's a complete lie! I never know what my body is going to do the days leading up to a show! This time around, I decided to take more time off from work so I can rest, relax, and just feel less rushed so that will be a change. I'm a little nervous about going out of town at the end of the week. My sister is pregnant and is thisclose to her due date so I'm sending mental messages to my nephew to stay put until at least Sunday afternoon. Let's hope he's not stubborn like his mother and decides to do his own thing :)

I'll leave you with a couple of pictures from this morning's check-in. I would be a total liar if I said I wasn't excited about the second picture. I think I might be able to kill it from the back come Friday - there's still work to do but I think I'm closer than I've ever been - cross your fingers!!!

5 days, 3 hours, and 59 minutes until pre-judging. 

If ever there was time to go big or go home, this is it!