Sights & Sounds - Day 1

Y'all.....Los Angeles was frickin' A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!! What an amazing city!! I had so much fun and I can't wait to tell you all about it! I'll save my adventures with my brother for its own blog post so let's start with Day 1 of TheFitExpo!

TheFitExpo was being held at the Los Angeles Convention Center and lucky for me, this was about a 10-15 minute walk from my brother's apartment. Friday night, Jonathan showed me where the Convention Center was in proximity to the restaurant we ate at and his apartment. It was an easy route and I wasn't worried about finding my way the next morning. Umm....ya....except we didn't know they were going to close that particular route because the Grammy's were going to be taking place on Sunday. So, I had to take the "long" route and after a lenghtier power walk than I anticipated, I made it to the Convention Center and headed upstairs to meet the rest of the group.

Made it!

7:45 am and even though the expo didn't open until 10,
people were already in line and waiting to buy tickets!

Our room for the weekend - this was where we could refuel,
charge our phones, blog, tweet, etc in "peace &quiet" :)

I finally met Jody!!!
From my Instagram

Jody, Melissa, and I!
photo courtesy of Melissa Running It

From my Twitter 

After going over some of the logistics of the day, we were able to introduce ourselves to one another and chat it up. The first person I HAD to meet was Jody from Truth2BeingFit. I'm not quite sure how I "discovered" her blog but from the moment I started reading, I was a fan! Jody is 57 and still throwin' around heavy weight almost every day (she has been lifting weights for over 30 years!). I love that her blog is a mix of workouts, reviews, glimpses into her personal life, and lessons about learning the lesson that "I Am Enough". The second she & I saw each other. there was squealing and hugging (which you know is a big deal because I don't hug...lol). Then we spotted Melissa from Melissa Running It. Cue more squealing and hugging! The funny thing is, it felt like we had met before and had known each other for years. FitFluential is not only about blogging or having a presence on social media. It is about connecting with others, finding inspiration from others, and forming bonds and friendships.

The calm before the storm :)

I and the other Ambassadors were then escorted downstairs to where the expo would be taking place and told that we could walk the floor. I'm not saying it was like telling a group of small children that they had Disneyland all to themselves....bbbbuuutttt......it could have been :)

Spotted these leggings from J Fitness Wear!
Went back and bought them once their booth was officially opened!

From my Instagram

There were certain brands/companies I was looking for including RSP Nutrition, 6 Pack Bags, Smart Shake, and of course, Nubreed Nutrition. I found almost all of them (except RSP) but Nubreed is the only booth whose table I jumped on for a picture :)

Before we knew it, it was time for the doors to open to the public. There was a rush, literally, of bodies through the doors. I could hear people talking about who they wanted to see, what workouts they wanted to do, what they wanted to buy, and more. There was this excitement in the air that I can't quite describe. It almost felt as electric as the Olympia Expo.

From my Instagram

As I made my way over to the stage where the Ironman Naturally competition was being held, I walked past the Met-Rx booth. I glanced at the booth, glanced away, and then glanced back again. It took me a minute but my brain finally processed that I was staring directly at the current Ms. Figure Olympia Nicole Wilkins! I pulled out my phone and tried to be as sneaky as possible while lifting it up to take her picture. She looked right at me, laughed a little bit, then asked "Do you want to take a selfie??" DO I WANT TO TAKE A SELFIE?!?!?! While I wanted to jump up and down like a crazed fan, I calmly told her that I would love to take a selfie. Priceless moment!

Pro-Tan was right behind the seating area for the competition -
perfect location :)

The  competition color/tanner I use.
Yes...I use tanner....lol...

When you get up to walk the expo, you lose your
seat in the front for the Bodyspace Spokesmodel finals :(

Winners of the Bodybuilding.com Bodyspace Spokesmodel Search
photo credit

Over the course of the day, I watched the prejuding and finals portions of the Ironman Naturally competition. I also had the opportunity to watch the Bodybuilding.com Bodyspace Spokesmodel finals. Both competitions made me itch for the stage. The music, the Pro-Tan, the glaze, the posing. I missed it all as I sat in the crowd.

I have no idea what I was saying....
but I'm obviously I'm excited...lol

OMG! Krissy Chin!

In between competitions, I did a few more laps around the expo. I made my way back to the Nubreed booth because I needed to stock up and guess what?? As I'm walking by, I hear a voice yell "MrsFitLibrarian!" I turned and recognized one of the Nubreed guys that I met at Europa. We started chatted and while I was  paying attention to what he was saying, I could see that Krissy Chin was working the booth! I made a comment about Nubreed being smart to make her one of their sponsored athletes and next thing I know, I'm standing next to Krissy Chin - chatting with her - and posing for a picture!

From my Twitter

Jody showing them what a beast looks like!

Tasty samples!

The expo also had a "Healthy Living Pavilion" where various presenters had food demonstrations. I've never taken the time to attend a food demo so I decided that I would definitely do it this time around. Jody and I attended a demo by Dymatize and they started the demo by asking who wanted to be in a "flex off". Jody walked up with no fear, busted out her guns, and walked away with a box of Supreme Protein Bars! #winning

The expo in full swing!

Ms. Bikini Olympia Ashley Kaltwasser
*she told me to make sure to use flash for all of my pics! :)

CT Fletcher!! ISYMFS!

By 6:00 pm, I was still very excited but exhausted! I decided that it was probably a great time to head out. I knew that Sunday would also be a full day and I wanted to make sure I had enough energy to make it through it. :)

Walking home...

I'm pretty sure that as I walked back to Jonathan's apartment, I had a giant grin on my face. I would have never imagined that I would be doing this. This being driving to L.A. by myself....attending an expo on behalf of a large influential company...meeting people that I look up to and admire...exploring downtown L.A. on my own....

What an adventure.

And this was only day 1!

New Release Tuesday - Theme Song Edition

A couple of years ago, I started picking a theme song for my year. I felt like I should have a song that represented my goals for the year and so I began choosing a song that "spoke to me". I would then proceed to play the hell outta the song for the year at any given moment :)

Last year's theme song comes from the same artist as the song I have chosen for this year. My 2014 theme song was "Good Life". Whenever I was feeling pouty about the direction my life was going, I would play the song. Whenever I needed a reminder about why I was making certain decisions, I would play the song. When I won my show in July, I played the song. You get the idea.

This year, my theme song is "I Lived" by OneRepublic. The first time I heard the song, I stopped everything that I was doing at the time to listen to it. And then I started crying.

I'm serious.

I started to do the ugly cry, especially when the chorus came on.

Finding this song came at the perfect time. I had just discovered a quote by Henry David Thoreau that reads "Oh, God, to reach the point of death only to realize you have never lived."

My goal this year is to live.

I will do things I have only talked about doing.

I will bend, possibly break, the rules.

I will set lofty goals for myself.

I will break out of my comfort zone.

I will take chances.

I.

WILL.

LIVE.

Mind Games...

I have always been hard on myself. I have, for the most part, felt like I was "average" when it came to certain things. One of these being competing.

I am making the following statement without a shred of cockiness (I am merely stating facts) - I have done very well during my last 3 years on stage. I have won my class twice, one overall win, and seven top five placings. However, I still feel like an underdog. Like I'm not quite at the level I need to be in order to be a contender. Like I'm average. Like I have more weaknesses versus strengths in terms of my physique.

In my "More Than A Month!?!?" post I mentioned that during this off-season, I am working on, not only my physical well-being, but my mental well-being as well. During one of my earlier text exchanges with the Boss Lady, she told me "A healthy mind leads the way". She and I have discussed on numerous occasions how I tend to let my negative, self-deprecating thoughts take over and cloud my vision. The Boss Lady explained to me that in order to be my best self, I had to start working on changing my mindset and clear my head of negative thoughts.


I decided that I wanted to read a book that could help me figure out why I tend to be so critical of myself. Why to I get in my own way when it comes to making goals and pursuing them.

I found this book while searching my library's catalog and at first I was going to pass on it because it was only available in audiobook format. Then I decided that I would check it out and I would listen to it to and from the gym. It turned out to be a great decision.

photo credit

photo credit

One it helped me wake up and get ready for my workout. Two it helped me really think about what was going on in my life, the decisions I've made, the chances I have & haven't taken, etc. I now joke that I worship at the Church of Jen Sincero. She has really changed my life. This book is definitely librarian approved - read/listen to it if you can!!

Awhile back, Tom found this incredible video on youtube and played it for me. I instantly fell in love with it and told him I wanted to figure out a way to put it on my workout playlist. The man worked his magic and converted it, along with a couple of other videos, into mp3 files that I could add to my playlists.

And one of my all-time favorites:

 

One of the men that you hear speaking in the first two videos is Eric Thomas aka ET. The man is incredible. I feel like every time I listen to him, I can conquer the world. I downloaded his app and listen to him constantly.

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He really makes me want to do better - train harder - fight for more - aspire to be greater. His words breathe life into me every time I hear them.

I am learning how important it is to fill my heart and my mind with positive thoughts and people. While it may seem weird to others, this is what is working for me. This is what is helping me realize, like Jen says, that I am the only Tenecia there will ever be....and that I'm kind of a big deal. I get to perceive my reality so why would I choose to perceive myself as anything other than a super huge rock star of a person?

photo credit

Final Decision....

Things have been a bit crazy (to put it simply) since my last show in July. Cliff Note's version  - I lost my coach (what is it with me & coaches this year!?!!?). I ate too much. Work became chaotic. My stress levels were ridiculously high and so I ate more. I may have even drank...a lot....! I hired a new coach. I picked a show date. I started prep. My body was not really feelin' it.

You might be asking what I mean by "not really feelin' it". Well when I received my diet from my coach and started following it, I promptly saw a double digit increase in my weight. I may have screamed "are you f@$king kidding me?" the first time I stepped on the scale & saw the new number and gotten teary. Pictures were sent to coach followed by a telephone call. The decision was made to make a few specific food item substitutions and see how my body responded. If my body didn't drop any weight, we would stop prepping for the show and start focusing on my off-season.

Can you guess what happened?

Coach pressed the stop button.

When we came to the final decision that I wouldn't compete, I did my best to be positive about it. I told myself that I had been dieting all year....that I had a winning season....that I needed time off to grow & make changes....and while all of that sounded great, it still didn't take away the feeling I had that I had failed. That for the first time since I started competing, I was unable to finish a prep and step on stage. I had started something that I couldn't finish.

It's been a few weeks since I've officially been in "off-season" or as I like to call it "Operation Physique Overhaul" and I'm adjusting. I'm learning to enjoy the flexibility that I now have with my meals. I'm learning how to acknowledge that the work & effort I put in right now while directly affect what happens next season. I'm learning how to give the power & decision making over to someone else. And thanks to recent #jesussmacks (or truth texts from certain friends) - I'm learning to stop comparing myself to others and focus on myself & my journey. I'm also learning that it's okay to acknowledge that I have the potential to be successful & do some really awesome things in this sport.

Some days are better than others but it's a process, a lesson, a marathon....I just have to keep moving forward...

Show or no show...still taking ridiculous flexing selfies ;)

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!

That's Not You!

I posted this collage on my Instagram account about a month ago in honor of "Tuesday Transformation" and Fitfluential was awesome enough to repost it on their page that same day. I  honestly was really surprised at the reaction it got.

People seemed genuinely surprised that yes, it was indeed me in the first picture (compare the bell pepper nose in both pictures....it's me...lol). My mom even made a comment when she saw me that she doesn't remember me "looking like that".

Sometimes when I share my journey to now (this body, this attitude, this mindset, this "no, I won't eat the whole box of Thin Mints), people don't believe that I weighed in at almost 200 lbs (It's quite possible that it could have been more. I stopped weighing myself after the scale hit 198.8).

The pictures don't lie.

I was soft. I was doughy. I was ___ (fill in the blank).

It's not Tuesday but I thought I would share the picture above because it's Throwback Thursday...and technically both of these pictures are "throwbacks" :)

*I just realized I'm wearing the same exact dress & hair bow today 

that I'm wearing in the picture on the right*

If you want to see some other throwback (aka old!) pictures of me and my thoughts about shifting gears and becoming a healthier, happier Tenecia - check out a post I wrote a couple of years ago entitled "Face to Face with the Old Me"!

Put the Camera Down!!

Yesterday Tom and I had an early morning gym date before I went to work. We had decided earlier in the week to hit up shoulders (gimme those Dwight Howard boulder shoulders baby!) and I knew he was going to try and break kill hurt help me get closer to my goals.

The workout consisted of various superserts and while we didn't do a lot of difference exercises, we did a ridiculous amount of volume. One superset consisted of shoulder presses on the HumanSport machine and cable upright rows. I think we were on set 5 when I looked over at Tom and signaled that I was done. He gave me his "Shut the hell up and lift" look and of course, I knocked out another two sets.

At one point, towards the end of our workout, Tom pulled out his phone and started snapping pictures of me. Now, I  admit I can be found snapping photos of myself in the gym mirrors but it makes me feel really weird when Tom pulls out his phone and starts taking pictures. Don't question it. I'm weird, I know! Anyway, he tells me to hold my rep and I want to claw his face off. I'm tired, my muscles are aching, and I feel like people are staring at me. Tom doesn't care and keeps snapping away.

Later in the day, I get an email from him with several attachments and when I open the attachments, all I could do was stare at them. I'm not going to post all of them but want to share a couple of my favorites wiht you.

I was pleasantly surprised to see what I am going to call my "baby Ninja Turtle" back. I have definitely made some changes in my back over the last couple of years and Operation Build-a-Back will continue to be a top priority!

Even though I could barely lift my arms to put on my mascara this morning, training is one of the best things in my life. It makes me want to be stronger, better, more badass! I want to use this "time off" wisely. I want to make serious changes to my physique so that I can wow them the next time I step on stage.

Baby steps, Tenecia....baby steps.... :)

New Release Tuesday

"Show me how big your brave is"

Conquer your day, do that one thing you've been too

frightened to do, 

be the master of your fate, the captain of your soul!

Happy Tuesday!

PoW PoW - Gun Show!

This is a sponsored post and part of a campaign with Under Armour and FitFluential

photo credit

photo credit

I have always been a fan of women with biceps. I remember watching "What's Love Got To Do With It" and being fascinated by Angela Bassett's arms. She was so beautiful as Tina Turner and so ripped! What about Linda Hamilton as Sarah Connor in the Terminator movies?!?! I remember wanting to have her arms soooo bad and I'm pretty sure that this is when my obsession with bicep veins started!

As part of my participation in the Under Armour What's Beautiful campaign, I have been completing various challenges on my journey to crushing the goal that I have set for myself! One of these challenges was sheer PERFECTION and I couldn't wait to share it with you guys!

The Up in Arms Challenge is about sharing what exercise best shows off your arms! Now, I'm not being a showoff or jerk here but my arms are one of the best parts of my body. Some time back, I did a Things I Like About Me post and I wrote

"5. My arms. *I lift hard and I lift heavy.

 My arms can wrap themselves around The Princess 

and show her that I love her to the moon & back. 

My arms can lift my daughter's wheelchair in & out 

of the car without assistance. 

My arms can carry multiple bags of groceries in 

one trip from the car to the house. 

My arms look great in sleeveless clothing. #yeahisaidit" 

We can blame it on my never-ending quest to have arms like Angela or Linda! I couldn't decide on just ONE exercise so I'm going to share with you one of my bicep & tricep workouts!

Superset:

Standing cable rope curls

5 sets of 10

Standing tricep extension

5 sets of 15

Superset:

Seated incline bicep curls

5 sets of 12

Lying tricep pullover

5 sets of 10

Superset:

Hammerstrength bicep curl

5 sets of 10

Standing tricep kickbacks

5 sets of 8

LifeFitness dips

5 sets of 6

If you are interested in other arm workouts, you can check out the workout video Tom & I shared in my How I Get It Done post or head over to Muscle and Fitness Hers. IFBB Figure Pro Jelena Abbou shares her "bare bones" approach to arms training in her Better Bi's and Tri's article.

Feel free to check out the other challenges I've completed on my profile page! You can tweet or pin any of my images if you so desire! And if you're still dragging your feet, just join the competition! Stop stalling! I know you wanna! Head over to the What's Beautiful website and create your profile!