One Crazy Morning I

I woke up bright and early on Friday morning (3:30am to be exact) so that Fox in the Morning could come to my house to film for their show.  They filmed several segments where the reporter, Keith Kizer, demonstrated at-home gadgets and asked me for alternatives.  He kept me laughing the entire time.  Check out one of the links below:
Part I

New Goals for 2011

Me at my Alma Mater (UNC) this month!

I have fallen in love with the fitness industry.  Whether it's personal training, wellness coaching or teaching Zumba classes - I have found my passion.   One of my goals for 2011 is to transition from my current career field into the health and wellness field.  There are a lot of fitness opportunities that are presenting myself and I feel like my big toe is peeking out door.  But, I need a couple of more things to happen before I take that full plunge!  January 2011 has some great publicity and opportunities so stay tuned!

Also, if you love Zumba - come check out my Zumba classes.  I'll be at APT Fitness & Absolute Dance (both in St. Matthews Station at the corner of Breckinridge Lane & Shelbyville Rd).  I'm also excited to be doing classes in the west end at First G Church and at some private locations!  Visit the Zumba section of my website for the class schedule and prices.

I appreciate all of the support I have received from others over the years, now it's my turn to return that support while helping others get in shape.  LET'S DO THIS!

I'm Getting Married

On October 22, 2010 my boyfriend proposed to me!  I was overjoyed.  Of course, the joy quickly turned to stress as I had less than six months to plan my wedding.  So, now I am in the mist of planning a Spring wedding.  It has become less stressful because most of the details have been planned.  However, I now must also re-evaluate how I will train over the next several months.  My original plan was to build, build, build muscle.  Add on those pounds (which would also include some fat) and let the good times roll.  However, the last thing I want to do is be "thick" in my wedding dress.  So now I've found myself still trying to build muscle but at a much less extreme pace.  We'll see how that goes.

I've also started teaching Zumba classes.  They are a blast.  This Winter I'm only teaching 1-2 classes a week.  However, starting in January I'll be teaching 3-4 classes a week.  That's a lot of cardio.  I must make sure that I eat the right type of calories to balance that type of activity - and if anything else, I'm hoping it helps with my glutes!

I'M BAAAAACK!

Wow, I wanted to add a blog to my website and remembered that I had created a blog when I first started competing two years ago. Back then, I was training for my very first competition - so much has happened since then!

In 2008, I ended up doing seven competitions - winning first at many of them. I went to my first national competition and switched from figure to fitness. In 2009, I competed in The Arnold and two national shows and was only four points from turning professional. This year I won my class in the Arnold still have the goal of turning pro.

One of the best things about competing is the people I have met along the way. Fitness competitors are some of the coolest people around and we have so much fun backstage. Although we are competing against each other, we build an amazing support system with each other. It was a great experience to watch some of my friends (like Stacy Wright) turn pro this year!

After this competition season, I decided that I needed a REAL off season. Most of the feedback from the judges is that although I have a great shape, I appear smaller on stage compared to the other competitors. I need to build some muscle, but in order to do that - it must take the right time, use the right weights and eat the right foods.

SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO TIRED

My body is SO TIRED right now. It's another week of "final week" prep. Most people take longer than 2 weeks between competitions. At the same time, most people take longer than 8 weeks to get ready for their first competition.

My day started at 5:00am this morning to get ready for the 5:45am spin class. It was pure torchure. That was followed by 75 minutes of working out at 80% of my usual weight. If I still had energy, I was encouraged to do another 20 minutes of cardio. That didn't happen.

Luckily I finished early enough to go back home and sleep for 45 minutes. Glorious, but not long enough. So now it's about 10:00am and I'm still here and work wishing I could lay in bed and do absolutely nothing. I'm not sleep, but my body is physically tired.

I guess it doesn't help that I'm back to drinking 2 gallons of water a day. I've already used the bathroom 6 times this morning. Luckily I'm already on my third of four bottles so the frequent urination should cease over the next several hours. I just keep thinking... this week, then next week... then rest, rest, REST!!!

Next Day Reflection

Winning my class qualified me to be in the National competitions. However, I don't think I'm ready for that just yet. Yes, I won my class, but it was only one competition and I had a small number of girls in my class. I have two more competitions coming up in three weeks and maybe if I am successful there, I'll consider a national competitions.

I also realized though my passion for both training and competing. The sensation for being on stage is one that is hard to describe. It's such a rush. If I could work part time and train seriously part-time I would love life. I may try to think of a way to make that happen.

With all of it, though, is finding a balance between life and training. These past eight weeks were really only about me. I couldn't hang out the way I wanted to and I was constantly tired. I had a full time job, my website and then working out. Many days it was too much. I pretty much ceased dating and if I went out, it was only for a short time. Regular food became a luxury and today was my only off day for several more weeks. I couldn't keep up like this for an entire year, but I definitely feel that I've made a lifestyle change that I hope to incorporate with my own life.

Competition Day (evening)

We had to be at the evening session by 5:30. I decided to head back a little early and left at 5:00 to walk over there. Unfortunately the doors didn't open until 5:15 so I stood outside in the cold with everyone else waiting to get in. Finals were much more laid back than pre-judging. The judges already knew who the winners were and this was just a show for your family and friends to attend. Larry and Charmayne drove up for the show and Larry took a lot of pictures.

We went out in out two pieces and then again after intermission. While standing onstage in our one piece they announced the top five. I was top five (which was my main goal). They then started giving out trophies... fifth place, fourth place and third place. It was now just between myself and the other girl. And the winner of Class B: #58. Hey, THAT'S ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was thrilled. It was my moment to shine.

With winning my Class came competing at the end of the competition for Overall Champion. My mind had really just been on getting pizza but it was worth the wait. The five other class champions and I were all backstage excited at what was going on. For one other girl, this was also her first competition. We pumped up and reapplied oil to our bodies. I sent text messages to all of my friends letting them know I won. At least an hour later the six of us went on stage for the final judging which was live. Another girl named Autumn won first place, but I was told I was a close second.

It was such a thrilling day. All my hard work paid off. So may people were impressed that I'd only been training for eight weeks. I floated into Domino's and ordered a pepperoni and sausage pizza. It was just great. I could have eaten the medium pizza but I didn't want to be sick in the morning. It was hard sleeping that night because I still giddy. I even woke up Sunday morning at 6 because I was still hype. As I walked in to the kitchen I saw my trophy and became excited all over again. It wasn't until about 11:00am in the middle of the Easter service that it all hit me. My body hurt and I wanted to fall asleep instantly. So, all today (Sunday) I've been relaxing as much as possible.

Competition Day (morning)

Competition day begins at 6:00 for meal one. At 6:20am there is a knock on my door and a woman named Rachel comes to apply my makeup. The thing that amazed me most about my makeup was that she didn't apply foundation because she said I really didn't need it. That was a major compliment and great morning boost. I ate meal two before heading to the Northern KY Convention Center.

They seated all of the athletes by section: Bodybuilders, Figure competitors over 35 and open figure competitors. As I looked around at the people sitting around me, I became less intimidated by them. I received my number, #58, and went on my way. There was a group of black women there. I found out they all trained together in Indianapolis and I attached myself to them for the day.

Pre-judging started around 11:00 for my group with our two piece outfit. As the women for Class B lined up, I realized that I was in better condition than many of them. I became hype. Walking on stage was such a thrill. To be under the lights with the attention focused on you was a rush. Since I didn't know what the judges were looking for, I couldn't really tell you how I compared. However, as we walked back stage, one of the other competitors in my group said she thought it was between she and I for first place. HOW EXCITING.

The second round was similar to the second round but we had on a one piece outfit instead. I felt my legs were better than my other competitors. By this time it was close to 3:30pm. There was a lot of down time between the rounds so I either listened to my IPOD, watched the show or talked with some of the other women. (by the way, some of these women were in amazing shape)

We had two hours between pre-judging and finals so I walked to the hotel across the street to watch Duke (puke) lose in the tournament. It was a wonderful break!

Last Day Prep

Friday was my final day of preparation before the competition.  I woke up Friday morning and looked at myself in the mirror.  I felt a little too lean and became worried that I would get blown out at the competition.  My spirits were a little down. I knew my form had changed, but at the same time I wanted to be a prospect to win. My morning started out going to my friend Renee's house to have my back tanned. She just had a new baby, and between his crying she helped with stage one of the tan.  I then rushed home and completed the rest. 

From there I went to a photo shoot because I wanted to document my progress that has been made.  A St. George's Community Center Board member, Melissa Mann Bean, took the pictures.  They were so wonderful.  She is so talented.  I couldn't believe some of the shots that she took.

I had to rush home from there so Larry could apply another layer of tan on my back and I finished the rest.  I must admit.  I really do like the color the tan makes me look.  I don't really look tan, I just look enriched.

I then headed to Cincy in time to watch UNC play in the NCAA tournament on tv.  Go Heels!  Check in was at the hotel where I stayed.  The lobby was packed full of people and I was intimidated by all the people there.  From an earlier email I thought I would be in Class C (it's based on height).  Instead I was in Class B. Man, I'm even short for a woman!

So, after checking in I went to my room to relax for the long day that was to come.  Oh, I forgot to mention that between all of that were the six meals that I had to eat.  Two of the meals were 3 oz of beef and a sweet potato.  The other four were 3 oz of beef and a cup of asparagus.  

Sweet potatoes are my new favorite food. Why didn't anyone tell me?

I've Set A New World Record

The results haven't been confirmed and there were no cameras around, but I honestly believe that today I set the world record for using the bathroom the most times in my office in a day.  I've been drinking two gallons of water for the past four days and today was the worst.  Every 30 minutes I had that rapid urge that I had to urinate.  It wasn't that subtle hint that it was time to pee.  It was that "if you don't get to a toilet in 30 seconds or less it's going to get really ugly" type of warning.  Luckily my office close to the restroom.  But come on, who wants to rush to pee every 30 minutes?  My co-workers now find it entertainment and know where I'm headed as I run down the hallway.  

Inside my office is manageable.  It's outside of my office that causes chaos.  It just hit like a flood in the middle of Target today and I had to put all of my items down in the middle of nowhere to rush to the front of the store to the bathroom.  It hit right when I walked into an office building and I prayed to find a bathroom close.  It hit on the way to a meeting where I was stopped at every stop light.  Not good.  Not good. (and did I mention that it's rained non-stop for the past two days!)

The worst thing about bathroom fiasco is that my urine senses a toilet.  When I get close to a toilet, my urine becomes so excited that it starts to rush out.  The urine doesn't care that I have on a belt, or a snap or panty hose.  So, I've found that each time I get steps from the "twa-let" I have to do a two-step shuffle for five seconds until I can fully get in pee position.

The water consumption decreases after today so I should be good.... but you never know!!!