What a difference 7 months makes!

The first photo is from the NPC Midwest Ironman  of November 2009 and the second is from this month's NPC Jr. Nationals! Next stop, NPC Nationals in Atlanta! Lets see what kind of damage I can do there!

Something is missing....

In the wee hours of the morning, I have just finished the last touches on my packing. I have everything I need and I even created a checklist so I would be 100% that nothing was left behind before heading off to the competition tomorrow.
I have everything except a bag to put it in. Ugh! That's right I have everything laid out but I just cant decide what bag to put it in!
 This happens to me every night before a big event. The last time this happened was five years ago when I decided the take the MCAT. The eve before the MCAT I couldn't stop thinking about something I had read earlier in the day. I was so fixated on that "something else" that I could not focus on the big day ahead. I stayed up all night thinking about it and woke up exhausted.

What is that that? Why is that? Self sabotage maybe? Am I doubting myself and looking for a reason not to follow through? After ALL of my work, scheduled workouts, daily meal planing, Sunday sprints on the track, the turning down of countless social invites, I am now unable to decide on what suitcase to use!
INCREDIBLE!

Things are different this competition. I was a lot more focused that I ever was before. I took risks in places I never did before. I sought out nutritional talents to guide me through and practiced posing hours upon hours for months on end.

This is also the first competition that my parents will not be attending. I never thought about what it meant for them to be there until I realized that they wouldn't be. Its not anyone's fault per se, but I understand their busy traveling schedules and they understand my busy work/ training schedule. They are doing a lot of wonderful workshops and training seminars over the next month and rest and recovery is crucial after all that traveling! I put no pressure on them or anyone else to attend as I wanted it to be an effortless event for anyone.

Truth of the matter, is that I know when I walk out on the stage my mother's eyes will not be peering upon me and me makes me a little sad I guess...daddy too.

With that being said, I know they will be with me. I will be wearing my Health Care Reform/ Obama T-shirt in honor of my dad (when I'm not on stage ofcourse) and somehow I'm going to pull off the "Crab Most Muscular" on stage for my mother (her favorite body building pose).

But in Case I Cannot, This is for you MOMMY!

One Day Away!!!

"Cant wait" Brownies! One day away!

It's midnight Thursday doing what I do best. Piddling around. I think I got that from my Aunt! Actually I call myself getting ready for Jr. Nats by doing laundry, preparing my meals and packing my competition bag tonight.
It feels oh so "surreal". The message boards are ALIVE with other figure girls chatting in excitement about competing this weekend. I know I will be surrounded by over 270 of the best competitors in the NATION.
Its time to bring it on!

My motivation is doing my best and making my family proud.

And I have this to look forward to! Ive affectionately named it the "Can't Wait Brownie"!

Mmmm update pics to come soon.....

Bring it!!!

3 days out update!

So if you ask me to give you my first answer on how do I feel 3 days, 0 hours and 17 minutes out from Jr Nationals I would say

GREAT!!!

So my rear has become the "cat's meow"... :)

11-Week Booty Transformation | Blog | Lean Bodies Consulting

Two weeks out Quarter Turns

In the words of Vanessa Williams "IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII. I got work ta dooooo! I gotta job babe! Whoaaaaa!"
Two weeks to put in work!

Sick Moves! The Kettlebell Windmill!

This exercise is by far one of my favorites! I encourage you to try it!

The kettlebell windmill is a tremendous core exercise for the shoulder girdle, rotator cuff, trunk rotators, side flexors, buttocks, and hamstrings. This exercise will develop strength, increase flexibility, and develop body awareness in the hips, spine, torso, and shoulders.

To perform the Kettlebell Windmill:

1) Clean and press a kettlebell overhead with one arm.

2) Keeping the kettlebell that is overhead locked out at all times, push your butt out in the direction of the locked out kettlebell.

3) Turn your feet out at a forty-five degree angle from the arm with the locked out kettlebell.
4) Slowly lower your torso until your non-working hand touches the floor or front foot. Pause for a second and reverse the motion back to the starting position. Remember to squeeze your buttocks when rising up.

Two weeks out!!! Countdown begins!

I have a little less than two weeks to go. Im feeling pretty good. Im doing cardio everyday but nothing that I cant handle. The only thing I dont like is that cardio is on an empty stomach! Im so hungry in the morning! I do my cardio as early as I can so I can eat what happens to be my favorite meal of the day!
I still have some leaning out to do in my legs (quads and hams). I'm trusting the process and my nutrition coach to guide me the way!
This has been the best prep ever!!

My next Competition!

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My favorite time of day!

Breakfast!
It is by far my most relaxing moment of the day, especially on the weekend! It's my reward, following interval hills or sprints in the morning or just a relaxing moment to enjoy some delicious carbs! Ahhh... life's simple pleasures!

2.5 weeks out and I'm on Autopilot!!!

I am officially 2.5 weeks out from NPC Jr. Nationals! Im feeling pretty good!
I received my updated nutrition plan on Tuesday. The good part, is that he believes in carbs so Im having items such as sweet potatoes and brown rice regularly. The bad part is that he took out my greek yogurt! That was my only YUMMY GOODNESS!!!
As far as my workouts, Im still weight training 4days/ week but I have added sprints and intervals to my 5x/ week cardio program. Its pretty intense, but Im confident it will get me to where I want to go!