Progress

                                             
     We are just shy of the 8 week countdown to the Emerald Cup in Bellevue Washington. I know I say it a lot, but DAMN!....time goes by so quickly. The next 8 weeks is major GO TIME! This is also the fun and crazy part of prep for me. I start to diet down, begin posing multiple times a week with Joe Valdez and his prep crew, the training becomes more focused than ever, and of course, the work and social calendar is always insane. I can NOT skip a beat when it comes to diet and training as we wind down to the end. This means always being prepared. Always having my food pre cooked and measured. Lifting and cardio sessions are always scheduled in for the week. There is no room for excuses. Its that simple. And trust me, it really is once you find a routine and keep the rhythm moving forward.
     On Monday I met with Jessica with Glam Girls Swimwear to design my new competition bikini. She was really sweet and wonderful to work with and I'm really excited about my new suit. =) For this competition I went with a gem tone royal blue. Its going to take about a month to make since it is all custom. I'll post pics when I get it. Its gonna be GORGEOUS!!
     My Sundays will now be booked with trips to Costco with Mommy dearest and group posing with Joe. Along with the group session, I will also be meeting with Joe once a week for one on one posing and walking help. ***much needed*** I'm going to have Joe take a weekly picture documenting the dieting down progress over the next few weeks. I started my carb cycling on Wednesday, (March 6th) so this is when the big transformation will start. This is the portion of prep that I LOVE! Seeing how small tweeks in a diet can drastically change your physique floors me! This is the time where will power, determination, consistency and motivation are all tested. But the results are worth the difficult and trying times.
Carb cycling is basically high and low days of carbs. Even on my low days I'm on a plenty big dosage of delicious carbs, but the high days are an overdose of the delicious carb goodness. ***DISCLAIMER*** ***only carb cycle under the supervision and direction of a coach! do not try this on your own.*** For any diet, nutrition and training advice may I HIGHLY suggest seeking out the brilliant mind of Jason Phillips. =)
     As always, its always hard to post pictures of one self. Especially wearing a super small competition bikini. That being said, only kind words please. If you don't have anything nice to say, just don't say it. It takes a lot to open up and post pics. I'm doing it because I want to share the transformation and experience with all of you. So here it goes!!! Thanks for your support! Let the transformation begin!

3/6//13

3/6/13

***i need a tan***  #whitegirl #winter #casper

10 weeks out!!! ***contest prep round #2***

Flights are booked and registration is paid. I'm headed up to the Northwest for the Emerald Cup in Bellevue Washington!!! In just 10 short weeks I will be stepping on stage (in a NEW, {thinking blue} bikini) for competition #2!!! I am beyond excited for this show. Its stepping up my game a little bit being a bigger more credible expo, but I'm ready for the challenge. BRING. IT. ON!

I'm flying in 4 days early to spend time with my friend Marissa in Oregon. Then we will make the 4 hour drive up to Washington the day before the show starts. Marissa is a fellow competitor (figure class) and has been a true inspiration and loyal sidekick for me during my prep. I can't thank her enough for her understanding, support and hospitality. ***you should follow her blog here***
Contest prep is no different really from the last time. I was able to build some muscle during my short off season (praying for a bigger bootay), so now its time to maintain  muscle and lean the heck out...aka...the fun part. =) Eating is plenty and the lifting is heavy. =) 10 more weeks to stay on track.

One night, while catching on my smut (Star magazine), I was reading my horoscope. "A door from your past will open a door to your future". And what do you know, a door from my long ago past, did open a door to my future. I never would have guessed it either, all with a little help from the mighty Book.......FACEBOOK!
Turns out, an old friend of mine knows a casting director of some sort. This person saw me on her facebook and approached me about fitness modeling. Emails and pictures were exchanges and BOOM! I am signed with Arizona Model and Actor Management. I can not WAIT to start on this next adventure with Gail and her agency. Very much still in shock and almost disbelief until I book my first job and cash in that check!! =)
Hard work and dedication pays off. I am very grateful. And will now always read more into my horoscope. ;)

I hope everyone is having a fantastic 2013 so far and is sticking to their goals and resolutions!

Emerald Cup

Here we are, 14 weeks away from my next NPC competition. I decided on the Emerald Cup, taking place in Bellevue Washington on May 3rd and 4th. Its a huge 2 day Fitness Expo as well. I'm super excited about for it. My friend Marissa, who competes in the figure category (her coach is also Jason Phillips), has  competed here many times and has LOVED the experience. We will be making the trip together for the jammed packed weekend.

I took a nice break over the holidays from a "strict" diet and let myself indulge a bit. Training never quit though, and actually, I think the extra calories (good and bad) fueled my workouts a bit! Since November Jason has me on a strength cycle (think Wendler), followed by a bunch of accessory movements. An example of a leg day would look like this:
Using my 1 rep max back squat:
75%- 5x
85%- 3x
95%- 1x or more
then,
EMOM for 10 mintues:
3x Front Squats, followed by 3x Thrusters (65#)
then,
a bunch of weighted walking lunges, weighted step ups, SLDL etc etc.
THEN, theres more. We finish with a crossfit style workout! This varies depending on what muscle group is the focus that day, and ranges from 8-15 minutes.  It's been fun crossfitting again, but its definitely tough in a globo gym. The training is working the way it should though. Its keeping me "full", building muscle and burning fat. Whats also nice about this programming is that I have ZERO cardio to do. =)
My current menu is super easy (tons of food and variety) and filling too. Gotta eat to fuel these workouts!!!

The next 14 weeks is going to FLY! Spring is always a busy time of year in AZ with all the events we have, and visitors making their way thru. I'm looking forward to it all! I will keep you posted on progress.

Weight: 131#
BF- ??

Giving Thanks

I hope everyone enjoyed the Thanksgiving holiday this past weekend. Lets not forget what we were thankful this past holiday, and continue to carry and pass on the love and thanks every day of the year.
Happy Thanksgiving to all!!!

the spread

appy table

D and I relaxing, waiting for dessert

the sweets

pumpkin cheddar muffins

I am thankful for my loving family. My health and wellness. The job that I love. My dearest friends. I am thankful for many more tomorrows. Making and achieving goals.
#blessed

A week later...

   It's been a week since the competition. It felt weird, not training not being on an eating plan, not going to group posing class on Sunday. There was no routine, no plan. It just felt weird. While I did enjoy the first couple of days, I honestly....couldn't wait to get back on a schedule! Now starts my "off season". Which doesn't mean relax and slack off on training or eat whatever I want (I've already done enough of that this week). My training has switched back over to a more heavy strength movement, with some accessory movements and usually finishes with a "crossfit" inspired workout. I'm really enjoying the change and the intensity of the new programming, I actually get nervous when I see the new workout email come in my inbox everyday (a good nervous). Goals are to continue to build more muscle where needed; glutes, shoulders and lats. I would still like to one day try the figure class (probably take a year at least), but for now I'm going to stick to the bikini class and let my physique decide as we get closer to a show, I'm not going to force anything. 
Since its off season I will also get a weekly cheat meal!! YAHOO!!! Time to finally start checking off restaurants on my huge growing list of places I want to check out. And it couldn't be perfect timing for a off season....its the HOLIDAYS!!! Thanksgiving is my favorite, and I'm going to enjoy every bite if it!! =)

   The show was AWESOME! I had such a blast. It truly was such a great experience. I'm looking forward to continue working with Jason and doing my next one in March. 

5th place

I couldn't be more proud of placing in my first show. And also still very shocked at the same time. Every single competitor in every class brought their A game and looked stunning.

Class "E" top 5 line up

I would like to thank my friends, family and co-workers for your kind support. My sister for flying in from CO to come watch. Thank you to everyone that attended the show (especially Mom and Amanda for attending both long, late nights). A BIG thank you to Jason Phillips for all his hard work and dedication over the last year. I can't wait for our next show!! He is truly amazing at what he does! I also couldn't of done it without Joe Valdez and his wife TJ Kelly, along with the rest of Team PT Joe V for all your help with posing and day of show prep, they all made the weekend so effortless. And much love to all my new friends I've made at the show!

96 Hours and counting...

We had our last Sunday group posing session . I'm going to miss the weekly posing crew. It was so cool to watch all of our bodies change week to week and have people to talk to that could relate to the experience we were all sharing.
I also had fun watching the physique women and body building men pose. Its a workout in itself for them to pose! One of the girls was practicing her routine to "Gundam Style". It was pretty freakin cool. She did the exact dance moves, then would morph into the required posing (think bicep curls and ab flexing) for the physique category. Definitely something to watch if you are going to the show.
4 more days....thats it! Just 4 days! HOLY. COW! I'm so thankful that I took most of this week off from work. I can focus on the remainder of my prep and relax. Turns out, I will be lifting until Thursday. No complaints here, it will keep me busy and my mind occupied. My split will look like this:
Monday- Back
Tuesday- Shoulders
Wednesday- Chest/Bis/Tris
Thursday- Upper Body (Pump up workout, light weight/fast reps)
Should be a fun week of workouts! Thursday will also be my carb up day (I like the sound of that), so the workout is more full body to get the carbs into my muscles to finish filling me out.
Today I meet with Joe for some more one on one posing. My body is coming in perfectly, but gotta nail down the stage presence! There was a girl in class yesterday that had it down pat! For the first time, I saw my competition. The girl in the pink bikini. She is my rabbit for the next four days.  Nothing is going to stop me.
#eat #sleep #train #work #hustle #kill

My post show stash. Can't wait to dig in! Feel free to add to it. =)

**Christmas bread, baked goods from clients, fun size candy, ice cream, treats my dad brought from Canada, Cadbury Mini eggs (my FAV, I will NOT share these)**

Final countdown

Its actually here. The final week of prep. I can not believe that in 7 days I will be stepping on stage, in a bikini, wearing heels, with a super dark tan and a smile on my face!!! And I couldn't be more excited for it!!! No matter what the final outcome is, I know that I have worked so hard, and learned so much from this experience. There's nothing I would take back, or wouldn't do all over again.
A lot of people have asked me if there is a prize, or prize money if you win this type of competition. There is not, at least not at the novice (local) level. I was never doing this for the prize. I've been doing it for ME! Yep, selfish right. ME!!! Its been close to  a ten year goal of mine to do a show, and as approach 30 years old, I'm finally doing it. BOOM! Theres one prize. The new physique I've achieved....BOOM...another prize. The knowledge in nutrition and training.....theres a 3rd and 4th prize. The pride, will power, determination, the work, the hustle.....the list goes on. All prizes in my book. And I'm taking it all home. =)
The final week of prep is super important. I will meet with Joe (posing) everyday until the show. I will continue to lift until 2 days before the show. Cardio will still be done fasted for 30  minutes everyday, but I can only WALK on the treadmill with an incline. Its normal for the body to fight a little at the end with the body fat drop, which is exactly what mine was doing, so we had to turn the cardio down a notch. I'm ok with that! Its actually kinda relaxing to do something less intense for a change.  I have all my appointments set up for the next week; nails, hair, waxing, tanning and of course a massage!
Jason changed my diet for the final week as well. Guess what......MORE CARBS!!! GASP!!! I don't fully understand it, but I guess we are "carbing" me up, or "filling me back out". So every meal has a protein (tilipia, chicken or egg whites) paired with a carb (cream of rice, white rice or yams). Doesn't sound to bad does it? I know most of you think that all a bikini competitor eats is air and water. Its so not the case here, and I actually get pretty defensive when people make silly assumptions. (I'm sure there are plenty of other girls on a zero carb, miserable eating plan, and I feel bad for them) I've said it before and I will say it again...Hired. The. Right. Trainer. =)
Halloween came and went and not only did I not eat one piece of candy! I really didn't even want any!! Thats huge for me. I love Halloween fun size candy. I did freeze some. Act like. 
Feeling really good about everything entering the final phase of prep. Getting lots of sleep and drinking plenty of water. Dreaming about my post show meal and treats! Who's buying?!? =)

Thanks for following my blog! It means a lot.
Keep you posted on the next 7 days!! =)

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