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Saturday, July 24, 2010

First show as a PRO

I'm getting the hang of this whole show circuit thing. It's standard procedure every time. Skin prep with Jan tana products so my color goes on even, pack extra sheets so I don't get charged by the hotel, bring all of my food aka lots of grilled chicken, rice cakes, yams, almonds, and natural peanut butter, have my "condition" checked and critiqued, and a whole lot of waiting around.

Yesterday was prejudging of the Europa Battle of Champions in Hartford, CT.  It was my first time stepping on to the stage as an IFBB Pro. I felt pretty confident since I had no real expectations other than to have fun and get the experience. (I'm the littlest one here!) It's nice walking out there with no pressure. I'm still on cloud nine after turning pro 2 weeks ago so being able to compete so soon is just icing on the cake. You only live once so do it all while you can, right?

Another hour then I'm off to get all dolled up all over again! It's a funny situation when you have to replicate the same look again the next day for finals. It's like ground hogs day. Finals start at 2:30 PM. Even though I know I'm not in the top 3 qualifying for the Olympia I must say that I feel like a winner regardless. Cheesy, huh? It's true though, I reached my goal of earning my IFBB Bikini Pro Card, I'm competing in my first show as a pro athlete, and I'm having a good time. I think it's easy to get so caught up in winning that we sometimes forget the real beauty of any sport- the journey to get to this pinnacle point. Tonight that's what I'm celebrating; being the best I can be. Many wonderful opportunities have come my way since embarking upon this goal. Not only did I achieve this goal, but I've been able to walk through the doors that are opening up for me. That's enough to make anyone feel like a winner. It's important to always be grateful for the journey towards a goal as much as the accomplishment itself.

People may think that other competitors are catty at these type of events, but honestly the other girls are very nice. I have yet to experience any of the stereotypical beauty pageant drama that goes on behind the scenes (supposedly.) All of the other competitors are beautiful and very deserving to be in this position. It's extremely comforting to know there are tons of other women who live such an extremely healthy lifestyle and have similar goals and aspirations. I'm not the only one eating tilapia and almonds for breakfast or eating a chicken breast out of a ziplock bag!

Many thanks to Lidia Conti for making me a great new suit. Purple is the color of passion. I love it! It's very simple and chic. Lidia does excellent work. Her website is www.lidiaconti.com. She makes custom suits that fit like a glove and look amazing on stage. Thank you to Laurie St. Michael for being such a talented hair/make-up artist and good friend, and of course thanks to Kim Oddo and Oddo's Angels, because I would not be here if it weren't for you!

Okay, it's almost time to eat again (it's always almost time to eat again!). I need to wrap this up, because it's starting to sound like I just won a grammy or something. A little bit too "rainbows and butterflies."

Saturday, July 10, 2010

IFBB Bikini Professional


Talk about a great day! I've been on a mission towards winning my IFBB Bikini Pro Card since last October when I won my first regional show and then went on to compete in NPC Nationals in November 2009 where I placed 2nd- missing the pro card by 1 spot. 

I've been in serious training since mid-March. All the hours logged in the gym, refusing the temptation of sweets and my other favorite foods, and early bed times paid off! I'm now an IFBB Bikini Pro! I've had a blast competing as a national level amateur competitor, but I'm ready to step onto the pro stage!  

Maybe I'm not that spontaneous after all...

Don't get me wrong, I love adventure, traveling, the ability to say YES! when a once in a lifetime opportunity comes my way, but there's one thing that may limit my spontaneity. I will never get up and go without HEALTHY FOOD! I've been eating small clean meals every few hours for so long that my body doesn't just start giving off signals of hunger every 2.5-3 hours, it demands it!

Photo above: Packing all my meals for a trip to the beach. No Thrasher fries or funnel cakes for me!

If I'm out all day running errands, or on a trip there's no guarantee that I will have my staple items like chicken, yams, raw veggies, and nuts. In order to stay lean (and away from the drive-thru!) I'm always ready with my prepared meals safely stored in my cooler. You'll never catch me in the airport without my trusty cooler as one of my carry-ons!

If you're serious about your training and physique goals you must plan for your success. Pack a cooler full of healthy options and experience sustained energy for all the adventures in life!