NPC FIGURE COMPETITION RECAP April 2015- Pittsburgh, PA

MY NPC FIGURE COMPETITION JOURNEY!

Lets start by saying this prepping is serious!! Lol... As someone who has always struggled with emotional eating and binge eating, putting myself in this position was definitely something I had to work at every day!

I trained for this show for about 14 weeks... More like 7 consistently though! I know I was not as strict this time around, but for how I came out at the end, I'm pretty proud! I was not going for 1st for sure, nor did I deserve it for how many times I fell off track with my nutrition! Needless to say, this momma came out in 2nd in Open Figure, and I know what I need to work on!

This was 1 week out... starting to cut and lean out.  The last 3 weeks are the most critical and Im pretty sure I kicked butt those last 3 weeks which is what saved me! 

Ok... You may be wondering.. what the heck am I doing here?!? LOL.. This is one of my magical ways of trying to get rid of that extra water weight at the end! For figure competitions, you want to be as lean as possible, also cutting out your water from underneath your skin so you look leaner your vascularity shows.  Cutting out water around woman's butt and thighs are probably the hardest (at least for most of us!).  So I wrap in plastic wrap, then ACE bandage so it removes all the water from on top of your first layer of skin. Just make sure you don't have to go to the bathroom once you wrap yourself LOL.. I totally messed that up on day 1 of wrapping!! HEHE I did this for 5 days up until the day before my show.

PREPPING FOR SHOW DAY!

Since my show was on Easter weekend, I actually had to pack early because we went home to visit both sides of the family starting Wednesday. So I did my last minute shopping, getting my necessities, along with food prepping so I had everything I needed up until my show! Thats a lot of meals!!

Some necessities:

Hairspray, make-up, gummy bears (take 10 right before I go on stage to pump me up), bands (to do a few upper body workouts to pump me up), Suit, Heels, sewing kit (in case I break lol... totally possible to happen and that would NOT be good with how small the suit is to begin with),  jewelry,  distilled water, loose fitting clothes (robe to cover up before show), Bikini Bite (glue to hold your suit on you),   Hot Spot (to help with vasodilation before show), Sheen spray (to make you shine on stage), flip-flops, and YOUR FAVORITE TREAT FOR AFTER!! Yes, I got my Oreos!! LOL- I mean come on... who doesn't love Reese Cups and Oreos put together?!?! That is like heaven in a bag!!!

Here is some of my food prepping to take with my for the last 4 days up until my show! I had broiled some chicken, and this show, I was able to eat Filet Mignon Starting Friday evening and then Saturday morning and right after pre-judging! That was seriously like a cheat meal!!

I also had TONS of green beans, asparagus, sweet potato when I start carb loading again (I increase my carbs as I cut my water back), fresh Tilapia of course, almonds, and oatmeal!

Yes, I guess you can see I do have a little OCD in me, but I had to make sure I had every meal there for each day.. Nutrition is EXTREMELY important and you cannot go off any meal at the end! So yes, I have the date and which meal is there! :)-

If you do not have an ISO-BAG, I;m pretty sure you will fall in love  once you get it!! I  fit so much food in that bad boy!! It is my food savior!!

Getting pretty excited, 2 days before my show, I pampered myself a little with getting my nails and toes done!! Yes, I put dumb bells on my nails lol!! I'm creative aren't I?!?! :)-

Friday was here.... Evening time was getting a little stressed, but exciting at the same time! I arrived at my hotel, got my spray tan, and then I lay down and put my feet up (well try)... I enjoyed my first round of Filet and sweet potato with green beans!! Seriously, I felt like I was not suppose to have that since all I have been eating was tilapia and greens the whole time!! 

After I got my spray tan, I was more excited, but theres not much to do since you have to wear very loose clothing so it doesn't run onto anything. Plus as tired and weak as you are, you really don't want to do anything anyways!!  As I am so excited to see my abs come out, my hubby thinks its a great idea to dig into my Oreos in the evening (my most difficult time not to cave) and eat them RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME!! hehe ok I allowed him because at this point, there was NO way I was losing what I worked for and I knew soon enough I would get to eat them too!! 

YAY FOR SHOW DAY!!! Its FINALLY HERE!!! Ok, now the fun and excitement begins!!

Since this is a smaller show, pre-juding was not until noon, so I got my hair and makeup done at 9 am by Jameson Leigh who owns The Powder Room- She is a friend of a friend and went to school in New York where she obviously learned from the best!!! She did an AMAZING job and I am honestly so darn picky, I contemplate EVERY time having someone else do my hair and make up because I end up fixing it myself EEKK!! Needless to say, I did NOT touch anything  because it was PERFECT!!! 

If you would like to find Jameson out of Pittsburgh, PA and have her do any work for you (competition, or any event), CLICK HERE FOR HER LINK!

My new coach Adriane Deithorn, along with her sister-in-law Marne who also was in open Figure with me! This woman is absolutely AMAZING, along with her story!! She was one of my biggest inspirations, especially after hearing this woman has lost 200 POUNDS and was able to fulfill a huge goal of hers to compete in a Figure Competition!! Seriously, she blew me away with her story and her transformation!!!

Ok so I like taking selfies right before the show!! But this also helps me see what I can work on for my next show!!! I'm really excited to build a little more muscle, especially in my butt and legs and shoulders!!! I think that will make a huge difference as I go into bigger shows!!

 Left- My sister Desiree, one of my biggest supporters!! Love her so much and she hasn't missed a show yet!! She travels everywhere just to cheer me on, along with my 7 year old nephew!!!
Right- Adriane (my coach) and I who helped me so much the last 2 weeks until my show!! She is one person who gave me my motivation to even follow through with my show and told me what to do to fix what I needed!

Nothing like running into your high-school cheerleading coach at your show!! HEHE!! Actually her daughter Bria who I met when she was just a tiny little girl, was doing Bikini as I was doing Figure! Small world!! She rocked it by the way!!

Again, all my biggest supporters and fans who came to cheer me on!!! My moment was on stage at finals just hearing my boys saying "Hi Mommy!!" I totally heard those little voices and it made me want to break down in tears, but I held it together as much as I could lol!!

Hubs and I! I was so excited that he looked so proud of me!!  I know some men would not allow their wives to do it (Not sure I just hear that all the time), but he was there to support me the whole time!

Special thanks to Dana L. one of my coaches on my team Forever FIT who came out to watch my finals show!! That seriously meant so much girl!!!! Couldn't be thankful enough for the amazing friends and family I have who support me through these important times!!

 AND SHOW TIME!! Just a little recap on FINALS!

2nd PLACE IT IS!!!! I was proud of that! I know what I need to do to win, and I know I need to continue working on that control with nutrition!! 

One thing I am going to say that I was a little discouraged with NPC is as the winner came up and told me congrats that even her husband said I got 1st, I find after the show, her coach is a judge?!??! Is this even allowed?? Obviously it is and politics SUCKS!! lol!! It honestly makes me want to compete in a different organization, but at the same time, if I would get myself to a place where it wasn't such a close call, I wouldn't have to worry about that! So my goal, kick major butt and easily win 1st! 

BTW, the winner was extremely sweet and worked her butt off for first so to me she did deserve it!! 

I just do not believe a coach should be able to be a judge or have any type of working relationship with the contestants if they are judging... ok RANT OVER!! Lol!

Moving on to my first treat I had the next morning on Easter.... My post workout, CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER SHAKEOLOGY Ice-Cream!!! Oh it felt good to have this!! I have been addicted to my Shakeology now for 2 years, and its not so important about the calories, carbs, and fat that I am intaking as it is to get my dense nutrition and Super-foods to fuel my body!

It is hard to find a meal that contains 70 + natural ingredients and superfoods, your pre and probiotics, digestive enzymes, amino acids, and more.. but yes, Shakeology is one of my FAVORITE meals I eat daily!! It is my replacement for Ice-cream since that is one of my weaknesses!! Now I can officially say, I don't crave sweets anymore!!

Thank you all so much for following my journey, and cheering me on during this period!! I definitely had a lot of break downs, but I turned them into breakthroughs... all because I did NOT give up!! There were so many times I wanted to give up... especially the 3 times my previous trainer heard I binged on food and told me to get out of the show that I wont even place.  Then literally, walked away from me.. A woman can only handle that so much and I am so so thankful I have found the people I have to help me especially during my tough times! I am so beyond excited to start working back at improving myself to continue my journey as a Figure Competitor! 

If you would like more tips, recipes, motivation, and support during your own fitness journey.. whether you want to lose 5, 10 , 20, or 100 lbs, or even just tone up or build muscle, please fill out the application below for a spot in my next fitness challenge group held in a closed group on Facebook! I will be working 1:1 with you as you coach and we will get through it together!!

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NPC Figure Competition Pittsburgh, PA 5 Weeks Out!

NPC FIGURE PREP PITTSBURGH, PA 

I have not posted in a couple weeks about my journey through this 2nd show! :/ Time to catch up a little!! So this prep, I definitely struggled MORE than I did my first.  I did not have my head in the game as much as I did before, but its all coming together!! My first show, I started prepping 20 weeks out.  This time, I started 16 weeks out, but honestly didn't have my diet down great until 10 weeks out, and still struggled a bit!! 

After cheating over 2 days, I felt horrible!! Bloated, fat (keep in mind this is a competition to where I get down to about 8% body fat), and the only bonus was my veins are finally popping out during my workout!! :/

I am now 5 weeks out and am seeing a difference this week, but still have long ways to go for 4.5 weeks!! I've stepped up my game, and I feel great!! Only difference is that darn scale still isn't moving!! Ok, like I tell my challengers, DO NOT FOCUS on the scale!! It does not mean everything!! I am still not even at my start prep weight from my first show which was 134.. Right now Im 136!  On a good note, I've lost 12 pounds so far this prep.  So hopefully I've built muscle along the way and am hoping to get down to 125 for show day!! My first competition I was 124 on show day!  It's crazy how much your body changes as you train differently!!
This competition, I have used most Beachbody programs to prep!  I love being able to work out at home, but this close to competition, I NEED the gym for sanity and time alone, and also accountability in the evenings since that is the most difficult time for me!! It has been workout out really well doing my workouts in the morning at home, and 2nd workout at the gym! 
My cardio has been lots of PLYOS, a variety of 21 DAY FIX, INSANITY MAX 30 and for my weights I am doing 21 DAY FIX EXTREME, BODY BEAST and also incorporating Body Beast at the gym!  WHY INCORPORATE THESE PROGRAMS??!! 
Well, I can say for myself, I love changing up my routine.  There are only so many machines to use at the gym, so for me, tricking my body with different exercises only increases my metabolism and helps me get closer to my results!
So we all know that ratio with getting your results is 80% Nutrition, 20% exercise right?! 

HOW AM I GIVING MY NUTRITION 100%?!
I am incorporating the 21 DAY FIX EXTREME countdown to competition meal plan, but putting my own twist to it.  At this point, I am only doing 1 fat a day, protein EVERY meal, greens 4 of those 6 meals, and 1 meal I am using SHAKEOLOGY our health shakes full of high quality super foods and dense nutrition.  For me, nutrition is KEY to your results... The more nutrition you can fuel your body with, the better results you will get, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, the better you feel inside!! I love that getting all those super foods, pre-biotics and pro-biotics, antioxidants, phytonutrients, etc helps with my cravings, bloating, and digestive system.  Its one less meal I have to worry about getting in the proper nutrition, and its easy and convenient since I do not have much time to mess around with prepping food.  I literally take it to the gym with me and its my post workout meal and recovery drink that helps rebuild and repair my muscle tissue after breaking it down with a great workout!

I am eating a crap ton of veggies... ONLY sticking with asparagus and green beans!! 
Yea, you can say my pee smells worse than it ever has before.. lol.. Sorry TMI but seriously, I am eating asparagus about 3 times a day! 

I am also dousing that with Vinegar too and garlic! Tastes AHH-MAZING!!!


WHAT SUPPLEMENTS AM I TAKING TO PREP?
I am  actually currently using my SHAKEOLOGY for all my vitamins and minerals, but I am incorporating Phosphatidyl Serine to help post workout with reducing cortisol levels which then lowers muscle breakdown while reducing soreness post workout.  
I am now also incorporating Potassium and Magnesium since I am starting to cramp with practicing my posing.  By using both Potassium and Magnesium, they also help in preventing muscle cramping and twitching, especially when you are already on such a strict diet for competition.  
Before using this, I would literally wake up in the middle of the night in pain from my calves cramping and once I pulled my foot dorsal, my quad would cramp.  I have not had this happen to me yet for this prep, but I am preventing it now! Its terrible!!

This was my Leg day 6 weeks out.. quads starting to pop a little!! ;) -

In 2 more weeks, I will also add in a fat burner to help in removing any possible excess fat.  I do NOT recommend people doing this on a regular basis as it is very unsafe and potentially harmful to your body.  This is a TEMPORARY supplement used for only 3 weeks right before show day.  
I also am taking Glutamine post workout 2 times a day, once being before bed to help minimize the breakdown of muscle and help improve protein metabolism.

My struggle has been real... Food is an issue.. I think I can admit Im addicted to food.. BUT I have been working VERY HARD to control it, and I want everyone to know if they want to do a show but struggle with food, its still POSSIBLE to compete! It takes a heck of a lot of failures, patience, dedication, and will power, but it CAN happen if you laser focus on what is truly important!!
 Yea, I've stood in my pantry over and over staring at the food.... wasting time... staring more... but as time goes on, I get better!!
When I feel like caving, I reach out to my friends and family and ask for help! I go in my challenge groups/support groups I run for my challengers and ask them for help!! Yes, fitness coaches need help too!! We're human and if you say you don't YOUR LYING!!
My challenge groups have been my SAVIOR through this journey!! Being able to check in with them and keep myself accountable is so helpful!!

I totally took advantage of being the only one at the gym the other day!

Ok so I have a lot of fun during my workouts!! I am a big fan of doing my own thing!! :) Even hula hooping!! #5weeks!

So... My new obsession and craving?? VINEGAR?!?! Seriously, how does this even happen lol?!?! I literally drink the stuff... I dump it on my greens, my chicken, and sip down whats left if there is any! 

So as I am always looking for food or something to help my cravings and temptations that I am not allowed, I have found shoving a lemon in my mouth DOES help!! HEHE 
Yes, I just did this!! :)- 

Hey, I always say, whatever it takes!!! 

This was my last day of work as a nurse and when nurses are at work, you can ALL admit the food in those break rooms are NOT clean!! So I got my lemon in before going in!!

 Then the best part of being a retired nurse at 29.... Living my dream!!! Waking up stress free, going about my business and doing my workout, enjoying it knowing this is my life!!! This is the opportunity that was given to me!!
God has blessed me with what I want in life! I didn't wait for it to come though... I went for IT!! I took that leap of faith and took action!! 
Now I am officially FULL TIME fitness coach with Team beachbody, my career is being healthy, working out, working in workout clothes and PJ's, and helping others reach their ultimate health and fitness goals!! 
Can it get any better than this!?!? Im not saying its a piece of cake, but I will say when you love something so much it doesn't even feel like a job, thats when it feels like your completely just living a dream!!
Only now, its my reality! 

I know making a commitment to a healthy lifestyle is not always easy... Food is an addiction, just like drugs are.  The only way to get out of those bad habits of binge eating, emotional eating, is to do something about it.  Find support, accountability to help you get through those tough times, and you can achieve anything if you want it bad enough!!

I am now taking challengers to join me in my next 60 day Fitness Challenge to Better Yourself, Your Health, Your Life! If you would like my 1:1 coaching, support, tips, recipes, and more, please fill out the application below for an exclusive spot in my next group! Spaces are limited so please act fast if you are ready to commit!

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